[hr] [center][img]https://media.giphy.com/media/qSQKivPZ7wbfy/giphy.gif[/img][/center][indent][sub][COLOR=696969][I]Chicago, Illinois[/I][/COLOR][/sub][/indent][indent][sup][right][COLOR=696969][i]Present[/i][/color][/right][/sup][/indent][hr][indent][sup][COLOR=696969][b]Issue #1.00[/b][/color][/sup][/indent][center][color=A9A9A9]𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗦𝗛𝗘𝗥[/color][/center] [indent][indent][indent][color=dcdcdc][color=white]"I'm sorry, but he died on the way."[/color] That was what the doctor told James Pierce after the emergency surgery. The news left him feeling numb. He had thought that he was going to break down and start crying loudly. Just like in those sappy movies that Cole always watched. Then again, Pierce wasn't normal, unlike him. Cole didn't deserve to be gunned down in broad daylight. He spent part of his life to earn his bachelor's degree in English. And he had family and friends that loved and cared for him. Pierce knew he didn't. His family cut all ties after kicking him out. Most of his military friends have either died or vanished for his life. And the only person that ever loved him was murdered. [i][color=3788d9]It sho[/color][color=4088d0]uld ha[/color][color=4988c7]ve be[/color][color=5288be]en me.[/color][/i] The thoughts worsened when Cole's entire family visited James despite being grief-stricken. His mother, Diana, was grateful that he was alive even known her son was gone. His siblings brought a card and flowers for his "speedy recovery." Then, his friends came by with the same things to express condolences. The visits made Pierce hate himself even more. All of them were heartbroken and devastated over Cole's death. And yet, they still took their time to visit Pierce. He didn't deserve them. [i][color=5c88b4]I shou[/color][color=#6e88a2]ld ha[/color][color=778899]ve died.[/color][/i] Forty-eight hours after being admitted to the hospital, the authorities visited Pierce for details of the drive-by. He tried to explain every single detail that he saw, heard, and felt. But his emotions got him. A day later, the news showed footage of the shooting in the hopes of finding the gunman. Pierce thought of turning the television off but kept watching instead. The footage showed him and Cole walking together during the day. He remembered parts of their last conversation and how it was cheerful. That was always Cole. Then, the car appeared in fame as the back window was going down. The footage was paused before... Suddenly, Pierce realized that part of the car's license plate was visible. Of course, it was blurred out by the news station. And the authorities will never release the footage to the public. He turned off the television and planned on getting some sleep. The same officers came to visit two days to inform him and Cole's family (who came to visit again) that the car was found torn apart in a scrapyard. He knew what was going to happen and asked bluntly, [color=778899]"Is it going to be another cold case?"[/color] The officers didn't answer and looked away ashamed. That made him angry. A week passed since the shooting, and the authorities stopped visiting him. Pierce looked at his phone on the table and hesitated to grab it. He knew that calling him meant going back to the life he tried to leave behind. But he thought of Cole and the brief moments after the shooting occurred again and again. He had to do it. For Cole. Pierce picked up the phone and dialed a number. It took a few seconds, but a familiar voice greeted him. [indent][quote][color=0C710C]<"Cole?">[/color] [color=778899]<"Hey... I need a favor for you.">[/color] [color=0C710C]<"I can't believe you're calling me, man!">[/color] [color=778899]<"Yeah, me either. Look, I need you to-">[/color] [color=0C710C]<"It's been a while since we met. I thought it was the last time that I will ever see you.">[/color] [color=778899]<"I am not in the mood, David. Can you help me or not?">[/color] [color=0C710C]<"You sound more serious than usual. Wait for a second! Does this have to do with your boy toy?">[/color] [color=778899]<"David.">[/color] [color=0C710C]<"Are you calling me to invite me to be your best man?">[/color] [color=778899]<"[b]David[/b].">[/color] [color=0C710C]<"I am truly honored if that's the case. Does Cole like strippers? I was thinking of doing the whole cake thing-">[/color] [color=778899]<"Please stop...">[/color] [color=0C710C]<"-with the stripper and the candles-">[/color] [color=778899]<"Stop. Talking. David. I am not-">[/color] [color=0C710C]<"-Wait! What kind of cake does he like? I am honestly hoping chocolate, but it's up to-">[/color] [color=778899]<"[b]DAVID, COLE'S FUCKING DEAD! IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT TYPE OF CAKE HE LIKES. OR IF HE LIKES STRIPPERS. OR THE WEDDING. NONE OF THAT FUCKING MATTERS ANYMORE! JUST SHUT THE FUCK UP FOR A MINUTE, OKAY?![/b]">[/color] [color=0C710C]<"...">[/color] [color=778899]<"...David.. fuck, look, I am-">[/color] [color=0C710C]<"No... I-I am so sorry, James. I didn't know. Should've just kept my big mouth shut... [Sighs] What do you need to be done?"[/color] [color=778899]<"...The authorities have footage of the incident, and I know that the car's license plate is visible. I need you to hack into the department and find Cole's killer. Can I count on you?">[/color] [color=0C710C]<"Yeah... I will get on it immediately. Call you back once I have it. Bye.">[/color] [color=778899]<"David, wait, I'm-">[/color][/quote][/indent] The call ended before Pierce could apologize for the outburst. David was a good person and terrific hacker, but he didn't know when to shut up and listen. At least, he was helping to catch the killer. Pierce ended up placing his phone back on the table and going to sleep. He was thinking of Cole. [color=778899][i]Of all the people in the world, why did it have to be you, Cole? You were the only good thing in my life. Now... I will be there for your family. And I will find your murder and make him suffer for an eternity. That is a promise.[/i][/color] The recovery process took three additional weeks before Pierce was healthy enough to leave the hospital. David said that he was going to take him home. Home. It cost him and Cole a fortune to buy, but it was worth every cent. An ideal neighborhood with amazing and kind neighbors. A perfect backyard for parties and BBQs during holidays. Better than the old cramped apartment. Now, it was going to forever be a haunting reminder of the future that Pierce will never have. A nurse greeted him with a stack of papers to sign and a wheelchair. David was waiting outside by his van and walked towards James, who was getting up from the wheelchair. He greeted the former hacker with a light handshake. There was a sense of relief that he wasn't trapped in that hospital anymore. But he immediately noticed that David was quieter than usual. Both men entered the van, and James saw a sightly damaged license plate with a sticky note attached to it on top of the dashboard. And for the first time since seeing each other, David talked. [color=0C710C]"Found the fucker."[/color][/color][/indent][/indent][/indent] [hr]