Chapter 2: Thunderclap

"RAAAH!" Carlos yelled as he launched himself full throttle at the stranger. Anti-climatically though, he was knocked out in a matter of seconds. Was it the alcohol? No. The bartender knew what happened. When everyone was looking and cheering at the Mexican, so sure that he was gonna win, the bartender witnessed the unbelievable stranger tilt his body to dodge with room to spare, then land a quick chop on Carlos' neck.

Although often seen in movies and frowned upon as a fraudulent technique by many, this is actually a fatal move. A chop to the neck, if done properly, can make someone pass out. This is because a sudden decrease in pulse happens when a certain receptor known as the Carotid Sinus gets overstimulated. It can, however, do fatal damage if the pressure is too much. Thankfully for Carlos, the stranger knew how to hold back.

While limping from an injury, the bartender knew right away what he did with the vodka and towel as well as why he was screaming in the restroom. It also scared him, because the bartender realized that this stranger just knocked someone bigger than him with an injury. 

"I knocked the guy out in exchange for the radio, per your request of course. Mind doing your part of the deal?" the strange man dropped his polite gestures. Well, he had good reason to do so, and most importantly, he earned it. So, the bartender merely smiled as he did as he was told.

*~~~*

This is Deutscher Demokratischer Rundfunk, bringing you the latest news.

Just earlier, a dead body was found in an abandoned manor near Heslacher Wand. Witnesses said that there was an armed man fighting against a group of men. According to the witness, which was an elderly couple and a few kids, the fight was said to last for merely a few minutes. Shots were fired in the process. Upon the arrival of the authorities, however, the said man and group were nowhere to be seen.

There were other witnesses who claimed that they saw a wounded man walking through the streets of Stuttberg. A police search has been dispatched for the potential suspect. As for the group, there are currently no traces of them.

*~~~*

"That's quite the situation you're in, brother." the bartender scoffed before pouring the stranger a glass of vodka, who proceeded to chug it down to the last drop and finish it with a big exhale. After this, the bartender took it upon himself to close the bar and kick all of the customers out. The reason why he became a bartender was due to the urge to know all kinds of people out there, and he thought he already did.

However, that belief was shattered just now. He might not know everything, but he sees something. The stranger's eyes... they were dark, but he has seen people with dark eyes before. His was simply different, though he didn't know how to describe it. He wanted to know him more than anyone he's ever known before.

"So, now that it's all set, mind telling me your story?" he said while expectantly pouring the stranger another glass, assuring him that it's on the house. 

"Why don't you actually introduce yourself first? By the way, I'm Ben." Ben stayed because he was a close friend. He took the bottle of Vodka and poured himself some as well. "And this old weirdo is Vince. Don't mind him, he has the weirdest of fetishes. One time I saw him rent Fat Betty in the nearby brothel-"

"Oh, s-shut up! Anyways, can I get this gentleman's name?"

The stranger pondered for a moment, then played with the drink in his hand. He then glanced into the eyes fixed upon himself. They felt familiar.

"Julius. You can call me Julius." 

"Oh, Julius. What a lovely name." Vince laughed and dashed awfully close to the young man, but Ben gave him a weird look for reasons he would rather not disclose. 

"Now that we've all introduced ourselves, Julius, if you would." the bartender and Ben sat beside each other.

For Julius, it was certainly weird. Ben and Vince were people he met just now, but he felt comfortable within their company. Such was the power of charisma, but he wasn't aware of it since he isn't so charismatic. Following his attempt to fix his wounds, he glanced into the window.

CRACK!

Lightning flashed once more, and like the storm and Stuttgart, memories flowed coarsely into him unconsciously. Altogether, he saw the distant past. The reason why he's here, the reason why people he loves are dying, why many other people are dying, as well as the horrifying truth-

That the person he loves the most was the culprit of it all.