2024-04-25
Author: Pencil Dancing
"Mr. Wick, it has been a long time since you last graced our city with your presence," the bald man said with a smile as they walked.
John turned to him and said, "I need to speak with..."
Before John could finish, the bald man interrupted, "I know. Ms. Alazwa. She's waiting for you."
Soon, the two arrived at the hotel entrance. Beyond the doors was still a small plaza, now bustling as though a banquet were underway.
"Mr. Wick, welcome to The Continental Hotel in Morocco. I hope it suits your taste."
The bald man led John Wick through the crowd and deeper into the hotel.
"This way, please. Ms. Alazwa never waits for anyone."
At last, the bald man brought John Wick to a room and said, "Good luck, Mr. Wick."
Then he emphasized it once more: "Good luck!"
After wishing John Wick good luck twice with a smile, the bald man left the room.
Once the bald man was gone, the hall was completely empty. John Wick took a few steps inside.
On a round table, he spotted several photographs. John Wick casually picked up a small frame, which held a picture of Sophia with her daughter.
As John Wick looked at the photo, two Malinois appeared in the room, glaring at John viciously with their teeth bared, as if ready to attack at any moment.
Just then, the sound of a pistol being cocked came from the far end of the room. A woman emerged, holding a pistol as she walked toward John Wick.
At the same time, she said, "Do you like dogs, John?"
John Wick looked at the approaching figure and said uncertainly, "Sophia?"
John Wick put the photo frame back on the table, then raised both hands to show he meant no harm.
Seeing John Wick raise his hands, Sophia showed no mercy and fired directly at his abdomen.
Bang!
The bullet struck John Wick. The impact and pain sent him crashing to the floor at once.
Lying on the floor, John Wick looked at her and immediately said, "Sophia, you can't kill the holder of your Blood Pact Badge."
Sophia kept her pistol aimed at John Wick as she stepped closer. "I didn't kill you. I just shot you."
Sophia looked down at John and found that he was not injured. "Nice suit."
John Wick took a deep breath and shook his suit. The bullet immediately fell out.
It was the latest bulletproof suit John Wick had custom-made at the Continental Hotel. It was why he had not been injured, though getting shot at close range still hurt immensely.
John Wick looked at Sophia and said, "It's good to see you."
Sophia gritted her teeth. "I should blow your head off right now."
John Wick lay on the floor and said, "I know."
Then he slowly sat up on the floor and gradually slipped one hand into the inner pocket of his suit.
Watching John Wick's movements, Sophia stopped him. "Don't do that."
What John Wick pulled from his pocket was not a pistol, but the Blood Pact Badge Sophia had once given him.
Looking at the Blood Pact Badge in John Wick's hand, Sophia still kept her gun trained on him. "You've been excommunicated, John."
"That Blood Pact Badge means nothing now."
John Wick held the Blood Pact Badge and slowly rose to his feet. He opened it and held it before Sophia.
"This is your blood."
"Your contract."
"When you needed help, I helped you."
John Wick was putting what he had just learned into practice, repeating to Sophia the words others had once said to him.
Hearing John Wick say that, Sophia sighed, lowered the pistol aimed at him, and looked at him helplessly. "Sit."
The two Malinois immediately sat down.
John Wick glanced at the two Malinois, but did not lower the hand holding the Blood Pact Badge.
Sophia said helplessly, "I meant you, John."
Sophia then turned and slowly sat down on a nearby sofa.
Seeing John Wick seated on the sofa, Sophia said, "You do realize I'm management now, don't you?"
"I don't provide services anymore, John."
"So I don't go around killing people with a gun anymore."
John Wick waved a hand. "I'm not asking you to kill anyone."
"I just need you to take me to him."
Sophia asked, "To whom?"
John answered, "Your old boss, the man in charge of The Continental Hotel in Morocco."
Sophia stared at John Wick blankly for a moment, then said slowly and clearly, "You want to kill Burada."
John Wick hurriedly said, "I won't kill him. I just want to talk to him."
Sophia looked thoroughly puzzled. "What can he give you?"
John Wick sighed as though recalling something. "Guidance."
After getting her answer from John, Sophia said, "Listen. When I agreed to take over this hotel, I made a deal."
"That deal said I had to follow the High Table's Rules."
"If you don't plan to kill him, then he'll kill you."
"He'll probably kill me too, because I'm the one who took you to him."
Sophia then said with a serious expression, "If I make one mistake or make one enemy, someone could come after my daughter."
"I know what you did to get her out."
"But I can't take that risk. I'm sorry."
John Wick lowered his head and asked in a deep voice, "Do you want to know where she is?"
Sophia stared at John and said seriously, "No. I never want to know."
"Because I don't trust myself not to go looking for her."
"A part of me longs to see her, and every day I have to kill that part of myself."
"To keep her safe."
Sophia's voice turned somewhat desolate as she continued, "Because sometimes, you have to kill what you love."
"That's why I gave you that Blood Pact Badge back then."
"That's why I'm sitting here now, unable to find release."
John Wick looked at the Blood Pact Badge in his hand and said, "Consequences..."
Sophia nodded. "Yeah. Consequences."
Looking at Sophia before him, John Wick still said, "I'm only asking you to try."
"No matter the outcome, you and I will be even."
John Wick then placed the Blood Pact Badge on the table and pushed it toward Sophia.
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(End of chapter)