### Nocturnal Games ###

Zero had immense self control and right now it took all of it to not to tear the hospital apart. The doctors are a bunch of wuss, was his conclusion.

Finally after 4 long hours of tension laden atmosphere he had enough. He barged into the ICU ignoring the protests of the doctor. He HAD to see his sister again.

"She will live, but right now she needs rest.", said an elderly doctor. The doctor could sense the anguish on the young man's face and decided to ease his pain a little.

After a few seconds Zero tore his eyes away from his sister and said "Thank you. It means a lot."

He went outside told his parents the good news. They had aged a lot in the past couple of hours.

Grant took his son outside and set him loose, he said, "Do what you have to do." and he simply walked back. Zero stood there baffled as if a heavy weight had been lifted from his heart.

He took out his phone and called Thirteen "Any news?"

Thirteen was already on his way to the hospital when he received the call so they arranged to meet at a bar nearby.

"So what do you have for me?", asked Zero.

"A name and a plan.", replied Thirteen.

Then he outlined the plan in detail.

"First step of the plan is abduction and interrogation of a man named John Stanson. Mr Stanson fancies himself as a voice of justice, he would have some names from the guild elders. At least those who he needed to contact directly.

Second step of the plan is inflicting damage in personal life. Identity theft, clearing out their bank accounts, posting their personal photos on popular websites and stuff. You know all these are small stuff and don't really matter but I am feeling bored so why not.

And then we come to the third step killing them in game till the point of time they cant even walk properly.

Finally visiting them in real life and giving them a free sex change operation."

Zero was pensive. "Why cant we just give them a wedgie while we are at it. I intend to kill these bastards slowly and painfully. I don't have time to play games with them."

Thirteen replied "Yes that is what I thought at first. While I know that your homicidal tendencies are acting up, but consider this you kill them once and they don't get a chance to beg for mercy do they? Its like the terrorist scum that we kill; imagine if you had the opportunity to slowly torture and kill them over 100 times... how enjoyable that would be."

Zero silently shuddered when his friend's inner Jack the ripper acted up.

"You know you are the most sadistic bastard that I know right.", mused Zero.

Thirteen: "I beg to differ man. Have you ever seen Nine eat. He is a walking chicken apocalypse."

Oh this made Zero smile for the first time in the evening.

"That being said I have ordered a game headset for you and a full briefing for you is in the folder. I also have a surprise for you which you will find in game. Now lets go and talk to Mr Stanson." said Thirteen.

"OK. Where do we need to to go.", asked Zero.

"To the parking lot of course. I had to put him onto the trunk of my car. I could not bring him inside the bar now could I?", replied Thirteen

15 Minutes later John Stanson was in a world of pain. He could not even comprehend what he had done to antagonise these thugs.

Zero picked up a bolt cutter from trunk, looked into John's eyes and swiftly cut off his pinky while removing the cloth from his mouth.

"AAAAAAAARGH!!!!", John Stanton was crying like a baby now.

He could not believe his eyes this fucking asshole had cut of his pinky and to add more to his disbelief he now saw the bolt cutter circling his other pinky.

Zero knew the pain threshold for the little weasel in front of him had been crossed. So he whispered into John's ear "Tell me everything that you know about Drak guild including their identities and I will let you go." and just to ensure that John told him the truth he cut off John's remaining pinky.

John howled in pain and sang every single detail that he knew.

Zero then started fiddling with the pliers kept in the trunk. Ignoring John's frightened eyes and pleas he inserted the pliers into John's mouth and pulled out a couple of molars.

He picked up John's cell and dialled the phone number of the guild leader.

"Do you understand what time it is?", came the voice from the other side.

Zero was not a forgiving man so he barked into the phone, "Listen and listen good. You and your team mates dared touch one of mine. So I will deliver the same to you. You people will die... die so horribly that it will act as a lesson to others. Pickup your cronie from the bar at Lowendes street before he bleeds to death."

He then left Stanson bloodied and crying in the parking lot and started walking.

Let the games begin...