CHAPTER 50
I walked into my grandparents' house and was greeted by the familiar smells of home-cooked food. It was New Year's Eve, and we were all gathered for what they called an annual family dinner. My grandparents had spent the whole day preparing a feast of traditional dishes, and the table was set with their finest china and silverware.
As we sat down to eat, my grandmother poured everyone a glass of red wine. We raised our glasses to toast the new year, and my grandfather said a prayer of thanks for the blessings of the past year. They showed me what it was like to actually be part of a family.
The food was delicious, and we all ate until we were full. My grandmother insisted on serving dessert, even though we were all stuffed. She brought out a homemade apple pie, and they each had a slice except me. I had other plans for the evening.
After dinner, we sat around the fireplace and talked about our plans for the new year. My grandparents encouraged me to pursue my dreams and to never give up on my goals.
As I pondered the question of what my goal was in this second chance at life, the word 'goal' struck a chord. I couldn't just keep chasing thrills like it was a mere hobby; I needed a purpose that went beyond temporary excitement.
Creating a life as Ghost would only lead to me becoming a criminal overlord at best, but as Tom there wasn't an actual goal. Like I was freelancing at life itself. I guess it's up to me to make a decision as to what goals I would like to pursue as Tom, either under the light or in the shadows.
As the night wore on, I knew it was time to sneak out. I had a job waiting for me, and I couldn't afford to miss it. I hugged my grandparents good-night and proceeded upstairs upstairs as if heading for my room.
I slipped out of the house and walked down the quiet street. The snow crunched under my boots as I made my way to the bus stop. I checked my watch and saw that I was running late. I broke into a jog, hoping to make it on time.
…
The job I pulled off with that crew the other day went off without a hitch. I got paid thirty percent of the loot, which was a nice haul. But we didn't count on the Green Arrow and his band of do-gooders being on our tail.
I could feel the adrenaline pumping through my veins. It was a rush like no other, knowing that we had successfully executed the heist. But now, with our pursuers closing in, I knew that we had to act fast if we were going to make it out with our lives and our loot intact.
It felt like I was playing a real-life video game, with my heart pounding as I directed my team of unskilled thieves through a daring heist. We had to move quickly, all while being pursued by the infamous Green Arrow and his team. The rush of adrenaline was intense as we dodged their attempts to catch us, using every trick in our arsenal to stay one step ahead. The stakes were high, but we were determined to pull off the perfect score.
As we raced through the back alleys and side streets of the city, I couldn't help but feel a sense of exhilaration mixed with fear as the thought of the plan being foiled came to mind. The Green Arrow and his team were formidable opponents as they knew every nook and corner of the streets, but we were determined not to let them catch us. I gave instructions to them as to routes they needed to take so they could lose the pursuers.
In the end, we managed to outmaneuver them and slip away into the night. But I knew that this was only the beginning of our dangerous game of cat and mouse. The thrill of the heist and the danger of the chase had me hooked, and I couldn't wait to see what other adventures awaited me in the criminal underworld.
Funny how we pulled off a heist a few hours into the New Year. While everyone was running their countdown to the new year, we looted a private bank.
Well enough of that now, It was New Year's day and I was having dinner with the family as I prepared to leave Star City.
As I slunk away from the scene of our latest heist, a troubling realization struck me: Central City had grown dull. Don't get me wrong, the speedsters that protect that place make for a formidable challenge. But the high-speed pursuits just don't get my blood pumping like these. There's something about a chase between equals, where every move counts and every second mattered, that truly exhilarates me.
Maybe I'm just getting restless, but I can't shake the feeling that we need a change of scenery. A new city, a new challenge, a new thrill to pursue. And with my skills and expertise, there's no doubt in my mind that I'll conquer whatever obstacles lie ahead.
Metropolis would be a good City but I don't want to stress about bothering about Superman, he was near impossible to get away from. Then there's Gotham, a true shit hole, a place where crime thrives even with the presence of the Boogeyman and his Crusaders.
I guess I just have to think about it and hopefully I'd make the right choice and not screw myself over by choosing one that could jeopardize my freedom, as I could either end up in jail or end up dead.
…
The Green Arrow perched on a rooftop, overlooking the dimly lit alleyway below. In the shadows, a group of goons were loading stolen goods into the back of a truck.
He called Batman as he seemed to think the incident from the other night was related to the group of thieves he was told about.
"Hello, Bats," Oliver greeted as he scanned the activity in the alley.
Batman wasted no time on pleasantries, getting straight to business. "Any news?"
Oliver's voice was tinged with surprise as he replied, "I don't know if it's related to the group you mentioned, but there's a gang here in Star City. They don't take up big jobs, in fear of getting caught but last night they bit on more than they usually chew and somehow managed to get away."
Batman's suspicions were confirmed. "I had a feeling that something like this might happen. Find that gang and get answers out of them."
Oliver's smirk was audible through the phone. "Already on it. I've got their asses as we speak."
"Good. See what you can get from them," With that, Batman ended the call and left the Green Arrow to deal with the rest while he hoped for positive feedback. If his assumptions were wrong all along, then it would seem he had been on a wild goose chase.
The Green Arrow waited patiently outside the warehouse, hidden in the shadows. He knew that the goons who had stolen the valuable artifacts the night before would be gathering inside. He had to act fast if he was going to catch them in the act.
As soon as he saw them all inside, he shot an arrow and glided down, ready for action. The goons were caught off guard, but they quickly recovered and a short, intense fight ensued. The Green Arrow used his trusty bow and arrow to beat the crap out of them, eventually subduing them all.
Now that they were at his mercy, he demanded answers. Who had helped them with the theft? The goons were uncooperative at first, telling him to go fuck himself. But The Green Arrow was not one to be deterred. He beat the shit out of the most stubborn of them and asked again. Finally, they revealed something that he wasn't expecting.
"It was a person who helped us, not a group," one of them said.
The Green Arrow pressed for more information, but all they could tell him was a name the person went by – Ghost.
The Green Arrow's mind raced as he calmly tried to piece together the identity of the mysterious Ghost. Was he a skilled thief or a cunning mastermind? With stray thoughts rampaging through his mind, he reached out to Batman.
As Green Arrow relayed the details of his operation to Batman, he couldn't help but feel frustrated that he had only managed to obtain an alias, 'Ghost.' He knew that Batman would expect more, but he also knew that he had given it his all.
As Batman leaned back in his chair, he thought of the first solid clue he's had since. "So it wasn't a group of thieves after all," He muttered to himself, "just one mastermind operating behind the scenes and using other thieves as pawns in his twisted game.
"Thanks, Oliver." Batman said.
Oliver, always quick to downplay his contributions, replied. "Sure, just doing my part in protecting my city. I'll try to track him down and see what I can find out. If anything comes up, I'll let you know."
"Sure." Batman said, ending the call without breathing another word.
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