#elusiveharry

“The only real prison is fear, and the only real freedom is freedom from fear"

I've been dreaming about this night all my life and now is my time to show him that he can be easily defeated.

"It's just the beginning of your end, Lion!" I grimace slightly, looking directly at him.

I walk slowly to the ring, my gaze still glued to him. He sits totally calm like he owned the whole world, I could feel his arrogant and hypocritical behavior from distance. The Lion was the law that ruled for years, and before that his father... generation after generation, creating his strong and invincible mafia.

Here she is! I couldn't believe I would see her so closely, at least not today, as she didn't attend any of the boxing match in the last month. Too beautiful to be in a room full of filth and blood. If only she knew the real Lion... all the trafficking with girls, intoxicating and beating them, along with his guards, the drugs and everything illegal...

I was introduced to the crowd again, everyone in complete silence, no clapping. Were they frightened?

"Don't stop moving, tight defense, watch your opponent's moves." I repeat Victor's words in my head over and over again. I'm kind of nervous and that's no good, the adrenaline makes my legs twitch and I try to take a calming breath, while the ref introduces my opponent.

The bell echoes in the hall, I meet his eyes and we nod, walking towards each other. I swerved to my opponent's right to change my position, trying to avoid his punch.

"Wrong move, buddy!" My leather glove destroyed his jaw and I could see his eye roll back, which was a sign that the match was over because seconds later he fell heavily on the floor unconscious.  His body hit the ground, a loud thump echoed in the hall, leaving everyone speechless.

The wall has been broken and it's time to go inside, into their shiny and cruel world, invited or not, and I knew the invitation was already in my hands.

Once I'm inside, it's game over for them all.

I couldn't hear anything else except my heartbeat and heavy breathing, time froze when I tried to steal one more look at her, but she's trying to do the same and locks eyes with me. Her eyes are literally glued to me, observing every inch of my body and I do the same. She's like a cliff and I'm on the edge.

Who the hell are you, Hope?

"Mr. Styles, the Lion wants to talk to you!" An unknown costumed man pats me on the shoulder, interrupting our staring contest with Hope. I was noticed, so let's see what impression I made.

I gather my things and slowly approach them, but she got up quickly and as if she wanted to run away and hide.

"Good job, boy." The Lion says, sipping from his whiskey.

"Your boxer is far too predictable. He always attacks after taking a step towards." I try to sound and appear calm, hiding the fact that I would like to strangle him with bare hands.

"He's not my boxer after tonight, you are." The Lion gestures the server to pour me a drink and gives me a sign to sit in his booth but I put my hands on the table, looking directly into his eyes.

"I don't think so."

Two of his guards come closer to us, trying to invade my personal space. Maybe this was some kind of intimidation, it wasn't working at all.

The Lion starts laughing. "That wasn't a question, Harry."

"I'm not working for anyone." I smile and take a sip of my whiskey, even though I don't drink at all.

"You're going to regret this, don't make it any harder."

I grab my bag, turn around and just leave him like that, knowing he'll come back and beg me to be his boxer. As I walk away, I hear him say. "He'll change his mind very soon."

There is no trace of the autumn heat from earlier that day, the rain is so heavy that it washes away my sweat while I manage to get to my car. Once I'm inside, I receive a text from Victor:

"30 mins, our place"

I keep thinking about the night over and over again. I did everything right, I was sure of it.

My thoughts are stopped by red and blue lights. Sirens.

Oh, shit! What's going on right now? I look around and hide my gun fast under the passenger seat.

"Is there a problem, officer?" I try sound calm and fake a laugh.

"You need to follow us to the police station, Mr. Styles!"

One of the officers leads me to a room at the end of the dark corridor, where I know I'll meet the Lion for the second time tonight.

"Well, did you change your mind or you want to make the biggest mistake in your life?" He nods to the officer and he leaves us alone.

His devilish smile made me hate him even more, but I have to admit I didn't expect him to be so quick. The fact that I'm in a police station is enough proof that he's the law here. I open my eyes and try to answer but he continues.

"I don't know if you understand that this was an order, and I'm not here to beg anyone. Let's see - Harry Styles, an orphan, 27 years old, has been fighting illegally for years and is finally making his way to the rich people to steal from them. Ah, did they tell you why you're here? I can do it for them, because tonight I lost my most expensive watch and I think you stole it. Isn't it in your car by chance? Shall we check?" He lights his cigar slowly.

"What do you want?"

If there was a lie detector in this room, I would definitely be dead in a second.

"I think I was clear enough, boy!"

"How much?" The Lion laughs at my question.

"Enough." He blows the smoke in my face. "You're running out of time."

"Good!" I say looking directly into his eyes, grabbing the cigar from his mouth and throwing it on the floor.

"Don't play with me, boy! Good what?"

"I'll be working for you."

"Ding, ding, ding. Great choice!"

„Officer, I'm very sorry, it looks like I've made a big mistake. My wife just called me and guess where's my watch?" He asks and turns to face me. "My watch is at home, I didn't even take it with me tonight. I'm sorry for wasting your time."

The Lion pats my shoulder and leans to whisper in my ear.

„Be ready tomorrow morning. And don't run, I hate chasing people!"

I try to continue with my plan after getting out of the station and arrive at our secret place.

"You're late!" Victor says.

"The trick with the police station. Nothing new but I wasn't expecting it to be so soon."

He laughs and pats me on the shoulder.

"No one followed you, right?"

"Relax! It's just us, no one comes to an abandoned building in the middle of the night."

"Did you win?"

"Of course I won. But you aren't asking me the most important question?"

"Are you in?"

"I'm in, Victor! After all those years..."

"You have to be careful from now on, H. We've been planning this mission for so many years, only you, me and the boss know about it. But he doesn't know who you are. Don't forget you're undercover! Your only goal is to find enough evidence of the filthy and illegal world of the Lion, so we can put him in prison forever."

Victor has been my only family for the past twenty years, he's the one who took care of me when they killed my father. All these years I've been dreaming about being part of The S2, which is a secret organisation of the government. They steal everything from you. Your life, family, friends. The only good thing is that I have nothing to lose. The S2 gives you a second chance, offering you a new life. They teach you to walk, talk... basically everything all over again. They transform you like clay. Sometimes it takes months, sometimes years.

I've completed more than fifteen missions the past seven years but this one... I've been waiting all my life for this one and the fact I can't kill this horrible filthy animal is destroying me. I don't want revenge, I want to see him suffer the way my father suffered because of him.

"I can't believe the first step is completed...after all those years." I say to Victor and look up to the sky.

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credit for the pictures to @hampsteadharry - link

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“Don’t stop moving, tight defense, watch your opponent’s moves.” I repeat Victor’s words in my head over and over again. I’m kind of nervous and that’s no good, the adrenaline makes my legs twitch and I try to take a calming breath, while the ref introduces my opponent.

The bell echoes in the hall, I meet his eyes and we nod, walking towards each other. I swerved to my opponent’s right to change my position, trying to avoid his punch.

“Wrong move, buddy!” My leather glove destroyed his jaw and I could see his eye roll back, which was a sign that the match was over because seconds later he fell heavily on the floor unconscious.  His body hit the ground, a loud thump echoed in the hall, leaving everyone speechless.

The wall has been broken and it’s time to go inside, into their shiny and cruel world, invited or not, and I knew the invitation was already in my hands.

Once I’m inside, it’s game over for them all.