I Want to Die, But I Am Immortal-Chapter 89: Police (5)

He restrained himself. He reined in his killer instinct. He had to find another way. A way that did not involve another death another reset. He had to play this game to its end. He had to see where this new path would lead him.

Adam’s fear and confusion melted away replaced by a cold calm acceptance. He swung his legs over the side of the bed and sat up straight. He looked the police commissioner directly in the eye. The time for acting was over.

A slow smile spread across Adam’s face. "That’s good news," he said his voice steady and devoid of any emotion. "I don’t know who these people are but I will find them." 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

The commissioner was taken aback by Adam’s sudden change in demeanor. The scared injured schoolboy was gone replaced by something else entirely something cold and dangerous. He let out a booming laugh a sound of genuine amusement.

"At first when the hundred-million-dollar bounty was placed on you everyone thought you were just a little kid who could be easily crushed," the commissioner said. "I even thought about taking you out myself to get that money. But everyone who went after you ended up dead. And you did it without leaving a single trace of evidence. It’s quite commendable."

Adam remained silent his expression unreadable. He was no longer a pawn in this game. He was a player. He was ready to deal with whatever came next.

"I have some good news and some bad news for you," the commissioner continued his voice turning serious.

The good news is that no matter what crimes you commit your enemies will cover them up. They will make sure you don’t go to jail. They want you to live a long life. They want to prolong your suffering. They want to give you a death so brutal so agonizing that it will be spoken of in whispers for years to come."

Adam felt a strange sense of relief. The fear of the police being on his tail was gone. He had a powerful albeit malevolent guardian angel.

"And the bad news," the commissioner said his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper "is that your bounty has been increased. It’s now one billion dollars."

The number hung in the air a staggering impossible sum. Adam’s eyes widened in disbelief. One billion dollars. For his head.

Before he could even process the information the commissioner continued. "Small-time groups won’t be coming after you anymore," he said. "This kind of money will attract the big players. The best assassins from all over the world the most powerful criminal organizations they will all be coming for you. I almost feel sorry for you."

Adam was speechless. He could not comprehend it. One billion dollars. What could his parents have possibly done to warrant such a price on his head? What kind of powerful family had they offended to deserve such relentless a pursuit? The questions swirled in his mind a chaotic vortex of confusion and dawning horror.

He was no longer just a target. He was the most valuable prize in the entire underworld. His life was about to become a living hell.

Adam looked the police commissioner in the eye his expression a mixture of cold resolve and genuine curiosity. "Can I ask you something?" he said his voice steady and calm.

The commissioner nodded. "Of course," he said.

"I know you won’t tell me who they are," Adam said. "You probably don’t even know yourself. But can you tell me why they’re spending so much money on me? Don’t they have anything better to do?"

The commissioner chuckled. "You’re right," he said. "I don’t know who they are. But I’ve been a cop long enough to know that you don’t mess with people like them. Many have tried before you and they all met a very bad end. Your parents were among them."

He paused letting the weight of his words sink in. "But I do have an answer to your second question," he continued. "Your bounty wasn’t increased by just one family. Most of the major families in the underworld have contributed to it. They’ve all chipped in to bring the total to one billion dollars. Do you understand what that means? The entire underworld is after a schoolboy who isn’t even eighteen years old."

He smiled a cruel predatory smile. "It’s so entertaining," he said. "You’ve captured everyone’s attention. Some people want to kill you. Others just want to watch you struggle to survive. They want to see what kind of a spectacular end you’ll have."

The commissioner stood up ready to leave. "And remember," he said as he walked towards the door. "Anyone who is with you is now in danger as well. This is the underworld. There are no rules no empathy. They will kill anyone and everyone to get to you."

He reached the door and was about to open it when Adam spoke again.

"I’m not worried," Adam said his voice a quiet confidence.

The commissioner stopped his hand on the doorknob. He turned and looked back at Adam a questioning look on his face.

"But I am worried about you," Adam continued his eyes locking with the commissioner’s.

The commissioner was intrigued. "And why is that?" he asked.

"I understand your situation," Adam said. "You’re not killing me yourself because you have orders from above. You could have killed me right here right now but you didn’t. You’re just a pawn in their game just like me."

The commissioner was stunned. The boy’s perception his audacity it was beyond anything he had ever encountered. He had expected fear desperation pleading.

He had not expected this. He had not expected to be analyzed to be understood. He had not expected to be pitied.

The police commissioner stared at Adam a newfound respect warring with his deep-seated fear.

The boy’s logical thinking his calm demeanor in the face of such overwhelming odds it was unsettling. He realized that the bounty on this boy was not just a number. It was a testament to his dangerous nature.

"And I have some advice for you," Adam continued his voice a low dangerous whisper.

"Keep your son away from me. If he bothers me in any way I will not tolerate it. And what I did to my friends will be nothing compared to what I will do to your son. I already gave you a trailer a few days ago."