Chapter 160 MESSAGE SENT
Rocco's POV
Night clings to the tree line like it knows what's coming. I crouch low, my fingers buried in damp soil as I anchor the last charge into place. The ground here slopes just enough. It's perfect for directing force away from the residential quarters and straight into the open sky.
Its controlled chaos. That's the art of it.
Joseph whistles softly from behind me. "You know, most people send letters." he murmurs.
Claude snorts as he tightens a clamp on a light rig. "Yeah well, we're illiterate."
I grin without looking up. "Clarence doesn't do stationary. He does statement. Loud and dangerous statements." I chuckle.
Behind us, Norville, Marvin, and Raven fan out with the extra 10 warriors. Each of them taking their assigned positions. Lookouts first. Always.
Raven signals from the ridge, all clear. No patrols close enough to ruin the show. This isn't an attack. Not tonight. This is a reminder. Loud and dangerous reminder. One that he will definitely know who's behind.
I key my comm. "Phase one ready."
Joseph taps twice on his wrist pad. "Lights primed."
Claude's voice follows, calm, and precise. "Smoke canisters are armed. Timers are synced. Sequence will cascade clean." I finally rise and look through the trees.
Benjamin's territory sprawls below us. Floodlights are glowing steady. Guards pace their routes with the kind of confidence that only comes from believing the war is over.
I almost feel bad. Almost. I lift my hand.
"Let's ring the doorbell!"
Joseph doesn't hesitate. He triggers the first sequence.
The night ruptures.
A deep, rolling BOOM cracks through the air. Not close enough to shatter buildings, but strong enough to shake windows and rattle bones. The ground hums under my boots as a wall of smoker erupts, thick and black curling up towards the sky like a living thing.
Then the lights hit.
Blinding white strobes cut through the smoke. They followed by violent, red and electric blues that pulse in sharp deliberate patterns.
Not random. I never do random. My work is always deliberate and well planned out. I take pride in my shows.
Claude laughs under his breath. "God that's pretty." I shake my head. "You haven't seen nothing yet. Wait for the finale." I say, as I get a wicked and evil grin on my face.
Another detonation. This one is sharper, much louder. It splits into the sky as golden arcs of fire, explodes outward. It's raining sparks that hits and die before they ever touch the ground.
The noise is deafening now. Sirens start screaming below. Shouts echo through the trees.
Joseph leans closer to me. "They're scrambling. That's funnier than hell!" he laughed as he watches the chaos below.
"Good! That means they're watching." I say, as I can't help but laugh as well.
Now it's time for phase 2. I flip my switch. The light switch.
The smoke thin, just enough for the real message to shine through. After this display here, Benjamin will know without a doubt it was us.
Massive burning letters formed, synchronized light burst, and timed flare charges.
First word.
ROGUE
It hangs in the sky. Blazing and unmistakable.
A second wave of explosions ripple outward. I have them timed perfectly to the beat of the generators we buried earlier. The sounds hit like a war drum.
KING
"Oh, that's going to piss him the fuck off." Joseph says as he lets out a low laugh.
"Oh that's not the main event. Wait for it. It gets better." I say with a smirk as I stand back and admire my own work. Fuck this never gets old. I live for this.
Phase 3 is my favorite. I outdone myself this time.
The next detonation sends a spiral of Crimson light, twisting up. They coil tight before bursting outward in a shock of white hot brilliance.
The smoke clears in rolling waves as the final pattern lights.
A CROWN
Not a pretty crown, nope. It's a jagged crown that is broken and sharp. Beneath it the last words burn into the night.
REVENGE
For a long moment, there's nothing but chaos below. The guards are shouting. People are running. The alarms are blaring. No one fires back. They don't even know where to aim.
Marvin's voice crackles through the comm. "Benjamin's guards are frozen. Some hit the ground from the sound waves alone."
"Any injuries." I asked quickly.
"Minor. Mostly just their pride hurt." Norvil laughs like a donkey.
Good
Clarence didn't want bodies tonight. He wanted fear. He wanted doubt. He wanted a knot in Benjamin's gut that won't untangle no matter how many walls he builds.
Claude checks his pad. "Final sequence ready."
I nod "Let's give him something to think about."
The last blast is pure Theatre. A rolling thunder, clap of sound and light. Smoke blooms outward in a perfect circle before collapsing on itself. The generators cut instantly. The ridge plunge back into darkness like nothing ever happened.
Heavy silence follows.
"Message delivered." Joseph exhales.
I glance once more at the now frantic light of Benjamin's pack. Guards are swarming. Voices are raised. The fear is sharp and fresh.
"Oh he got it. Every damn word." I say quietly. I turn around and signal the retreat.
We melt back into the trees. Our footsteps are silent. The adrenaline still buzzing under my skin.
I call over the comm for the rest of my men.
"Norvil, Marvin, Raven. Retreat." I got no answer. Joseph and Claude also tries and they were answered with silence as well.