The Face of Death

Comrade Monke entered the room. It was full of mannequins and women. They were all so beautiful! Monke made his way down the stairs and found Maria. She was the only other survivor of Ilya Ivanov’s experiment to create a monkey soviet superwarrior. Monke approached her from behind.


-Guess who?!


Maria turned around and she saw him, dressed in a nice Hawaiian shirt and jeans.


-Comrade!


They hugged and then walked towards the mirror.


-Look at you, so beautiful! Said Monke.


Then they entered the building: A bunch of men dressed in black suits and black sunglasses. They were armed with shotguns and uzis. The men walked downstairs and found them. She screamed in fear.


-Who are you? Asked Monke.


-Them that you’re gonna have to pay, if you don’t want your girlfriend’s face to look like she got into a fight with the local butcher!


Monke was about to reach for his gun, a Nagant M1895 revolver, when one of them fired a shot towards the ceiling. Maria then started crying.


-Where’s our money lady?


-It’s… in the drawer.


One of them continued to aim his shotgun at Monke and Maria, while the others went to collect the money. It was then that Monke seized the opportunity to dispose of them. At a moment when the man in the black suit looked elsewhere, Monke reached for his revolver and shot him in the head.


The other men in black grabbed Maria and aimed a gun at her head. Monke aimed his revolver at their heads and with precision, shot them quickly, one after the other, before they could hurt her. Maria fell on the ground but she was ok. Monke quickly helped her get up.


-Are you alright? Asked Monke.


He then noticed tears falling from her eyes.


-Why are you crying?


-You have no idea what you’ve done, Comrade!


-Who were those men?


-They work - or rather, they worked- for Tony Camonte!


-Who is that?


-He’s a mobster. Boss of all bosses, don of dons! He’s infiltrated every aspect, business and state. When he finds out, we’re dead!


Monke started walking around the room, thinking. It was then that an idea came up:


-Maria, what if I notify my service of this?


-You want to notify the KGB?


-Yes! They can protect us!


-I guess…


Comrade Monke and Maria left the building. They walked towards Monke’s car. They entered and drove all the way to the Soviet embassy of America. While driving, Maria was still crying. When they arrived, Monke parked his car in the parking lot, and they exited. They walked up the stairs and attempted to enter.


However, they were stopped by the guard.


-IDs please!


Monke sighed. He reached for his ID and showed it to the guard.


-Now can we enter?


-You can enter, Monke. But not the girl until I see her ID.


-Shit! She shouted.


-What? Asked Monke.


-I think I forgot to bring it with me!


-Then I am sorry Miss. You can’t enter.


-Look, just stay here, I’ll be back soon ok?


-Ok…


Monke entered the embassy. Meanwhile, Maria saw a black car with black windows on the other side of the road. She paid no attention. Inside, Comrade Monke walked to the office of the ambassador. He walked inside.


-Ambassador!


-Comrade Monke! Long time no see!


-Look, we have a problem. Earlier this evening, a bunch of men walked into my wife’s business, and they attempted to steal her money. I managed to shoot them, but it turns out they were working for Camonte. Tony Camonte.


-And you want protection from him?


-Aye!


-Alright, listen. We have a security company here that is a cover for soviet operations. We’ll send a force to protect your home.


-Thank you.


But then, Monke heard a scream. This was Maria. He looked outside the window and saw a bunch of armed men trying to invade the embassy. The ambassador quickly pressed a red button on his desk, which triggered an alarm. Monke ran downstairs and took out his revolver while running.


He reached the front door, and grabbed Maria from the hand. They quickly ran upstairs. Monke and Maria crouched and hid behind a desk in a room. They heard gunshots and screaming.


-Whatever you hear, don’t make a sound. Monke whispered in her ear.


Monke had his revolver in his hand. They hid for about six minutes when they heard someone enter. Monke did the sign of the cross and started praying a Hail Mary silently. He prayed that they wouldn’t be discovered.


Eventually, the man in black left the room. Monke and Maria got up. They peeked from behind a wall and saw no one, so they left. They moved downstairs and went to the front door. They then started running towards Monke’s car. As they were running, Monke heard a gunshot. He turned around and saw Maria on the ground bleeding.


Monke also saw an assassin aiming a gun at him. Smokes were coming out of the gun - it had just fired. Monke went over to Maria’s body, crouched and he saw she was still alive. He then tried to aim his gun at the assassin but the assassin fired a warning shot in the sky. Monke got up.


-Comrade Monke, I will finally have your head!


But then, Maria got up and the assassin pulled the trigger. Firing at and killing her instead of Monke. Maria fell dead on the ground once again. The assassin tried to fire again but he had ran out of bullets. Monke hugged Maria. She collapsed in his arms and died. The assassin then started running. Monke didn’t go after him. He was in shock. He couldn’t believe it. The love of his life, the only other survivor of Ilya Ivanov’s experiment, had died and now he was all alone.


The American police arrived. Maria’s body was taken, and Monke was still in shock. He walked towards the embassy, and saw the ambassador running towards him.


-Oh my God! Comrade Monke, you’re still alive! How is Maria?


Monke then started crying. And with barely understandable speech, he told him that she was dead.


The next day, Comrade Monke booked a flight back to the Soviet Union. But first, he attended Maria’s funeral, which took place in a small catholic church. During the funeral, Monke tried to jump in her coffin, but he was stopped and taken away.


The next day, he got on the plane, and left America for the USSR. When he arrived, he saw Miss Anastasia, the secretary of the “chief” of the KGB, waiting for him outside with her car. He walked over to her.


-Welcome, Comrade!


Monke did not speak.


-How was America?


Monke once again, did not respond. He was speechless. He simply walked over to the door of her red car and opened it. He got inside and turned on the radio, trying to cause his mind to forget about the loss of Maria. Miss Anastasia stepped inside as well and drove back to Monke’s dacha.


When they arrived, Miss Anastasia stopped and parked the car, stepped outside, and opened the door to Monke. Comrade Monke exited and walked back to the dacha. He got inside and so Anastasia followed him.


-So I took care of your bird while you were away.


-Thank you. Want a drink?


-No, thanks!


Monke went to his bedroom. He didn’t even bother locking. Miss Anastasia then understood that something terrible must have happened. So he picked up the phone and called the “chief.” He answered.


-Hey chief.


-Anastasia! Are you in Monke’s dacha right now?


-Yes. Listen, he is really sad. Do you know why?


-Miss Maria was shot. She passed away. She was killed by an assassin of the mob.


Anastasia was shocked when she heard this. She hung up the phone and went to Monke’s bedroom. She saw Monke lying down on the bed, looking at the ceiling. She walked towards him and sat down.


-Comrade, I know how terrible it is to lose someone. During WW2 my husband was murdered by a Nazi soldier. But you know what I did? I joined the partisans, tracked down the bastard, and gave him a taste of his own medicine!


Monke got up, and told Anastasia:


-I didn’t know about that. You haven’t told me before.


-Well, we all have our secrets!


Monke then walked towards the drawer. He opened it, and saw his Nagant M1895 revolver. He picked it up and put it in his holster. He then walked over to the kitchen, picked up the keys to his home, and went back to his bedroom. He gave them to Anastasia.


-Watch my house. I’ll be gone for a while!


-Where are you going, Comrade?


-To give Camonte a taste of his own medicine!


Monke took a cab and went to the airport. He bought a ticket to America and flew back. When he arrived, he took another cab, and he asked the cab driver to take him to a hotel where he could lay low.


-Alright, I will, but don’t expect luxury!


-Don’t worry! Just drive me there.


After a few hours, they had reached a small town in the countryside. Monke exited the cab, and walked over to the driver’s door. He knocked on the window and asked him how much he owed.


-It’s gonna be 200 dollars please.


-Take 300.


-Look, if you ever need me, just call me on my phone.


The driver then gave Monke a card with his phone and name on it: Konstantinos Papadopoulos.


Monke walked over to the hotel “Pygasus.” He got inside and asked for a room. They took him to room 7. Monke paid for a week, and they gave him the keys. He entered inside: It was far from the beautiful dacha he had been used to, but it was fine. Monke went over to the bed, and lied down, sleeping until the morning.


When the morning had arrived, he got up and took a shower. After coming out of the bathroom, he went to the drawer, picked up a pack of cigars, and put it in his mouth. He then picked up his golden lighter and lit it. He smoked cigar after cigar, thinking what would be the best approach to tracking down the assassin who killed Maria and, through him, reach Camonte.


He then came up with an idea: He had recently learned from Konstantinos the cab driver that “This guy Camonte, he controls 90% of the drug trade here in America.” Earlier, he had seen some drug addicts -most of them young children- hanging out in the town’s local park. He could start his research there.


He wasted no time: He quickly got dressed, put out the cigar, grabbed his revolver and left. The park was a couple of blocks away so he decided to walk. When he arrived, he began looking for drug dealers. He eventually saw one sitting down on a bench. Every time a customer approached, the dealer got up, received some cash, and then reached for his pocket.


He gave them small packs of cocaine. After the fifth customer had left, Monke put his hand close to his pocket and approached the dealer. The dealer saw him, and reached for his pocket to take the pack of cocaine. But Monke walked behind him, took out his revolver and touched the dealer’s back with it.


-Move quickly, to that alley over there.


-Ok, ok!


They moved slowly towards the alley and when they reached it, Monke pushed the dealer to the ground with his leg. Monke aimed his revolver at him.


-Take me to your hideout.


Monke and the dealer walked towards the hideout. When they entered, Monke was shocked by how much drugs there were in it. The dealer walked towards the drawer slowly while Monke was observing the drugs, but Monke saw he was moving and fired a warning shot.


-Hey man, take it easy! I didn’t do anything! Said the dealer.


-No, you just sell drugs to people and ruin their lives.


-Hey man it’s not my fault, they made their choice.


-How many?


-How many what?


Monke then picked up a small pack of cocaine he saw on a small table next to him.


-How many people and children have to die because of this shit?!


Monke then threw the pack on the dealer’s face which blinded him for a few seconds, enough for Monke to shoot his legs. The dealer shouted in pain and fell on the floor. Monke approached him slowly, still aiming his gun at him.


-Now tell me, where is Camonte?


-Relax I’ll tell you!


-WHERE?


-He is in New York! He has a front company, the Camonte Coffee House. I swear, that’s all I know!


-Where are their headquarters?


-In an old warehouse in Hell’s Kitchen!


Monke then stopped aiming his gun at the dealer.


-Too bad that what you’ve just told me is not gonna save you!


Monke shot both of his arms. The dealer once again shouted in pain. Monke saw a barrel of gasoline. He hid his revolver. Grabbed it and poured it, forming a trail that stretched all the way outside. He then took out his lighter, and ignited it. He then started running away. The dealer screamed in pain as he burned alive.


The next day, the police arrived and investigated it. They found the burned body of the dealer. It wasn’t long before this reached the ears of Camonte himself. One of his men, who was a corrupt cop, informed Camonte. Camonte was furious:


-WHAT? Who could have done this?


-I am afraid I know. But I don’t know whether I should tell you sir, as you could become so angry you would shoot me right here.


-TELL ME!


-Its Comrade Monke.


-Who is that?


The corrupt cop sighed in relief. Camonte did not know who Monke was.


-He’s a Soviet agent. During the 1920s he was created as part of a soviet program to create a monkey soviet superwarrior. He thinks that he and his dead wife Maria were the only ones who survived and turned out successful. In reality, there were many more survivors…


-What more can you tell me?


-Some time ago he tracked down and killed the famous anti-soviet vigilante the “Spy Puncher.” This guy’s no amateur! He has been trained by the USSR.


-And why is he so angry at us?


-One of our assassins killed Maria as retaliation for him killing a bunch of our men.


-What were you waiting for to inform me?


-I am sorry sir…


-Find this guy and kill him!


The corrupt cop then left the room. Meanwhile, back in the hotel, Monke was sleeping. When he woke up, he started making plans to take down Camonte once and for all. He would infiltrate the warehouse. However, he had to do it alone, because technically, he wasn’t on an official mission of the KGB.


A few nights later, it was time for the plan to be executed. Monke entered his car and drove all the way to Hell’s Kitchen. When he arrived, he parked his car on the other side of the road, and exited. He then went to the trunk, and camouflaged himself. He then moved silently towards a wall.


He used a hook to climb it and reach the other side. When he did, he hid the hook and saw a crate. He quickly ran and hid behind it. He then peeked and saw a guard approach. The guard went right next to the crate Monke was hiding behind. Monke used the hook and wrapped it around the neck of the guard.


He choked him to death. Monke then saw that the guard was holding an AK-47. He grabbed it and sneaked past some other guards that were coming. He then went inside. He explored the warehouse and eventually he found it: A room full of barrels of gasoline. He wasted no time: He planted the explosives he had built.


Monke then left the room. As he was sneaking out, a guard saw him and pressed the alarm button. Monke shot him with the AK but the damage had been done already. Monke then saw a ladder: he climbed it and reached the second floor.


A guard broke down a door and Monke shot him. The guard had a walkie-talkie on him. Monke grabbed it and heard a voice coming from it:


-Tommy, this is your boss, where are you? What’s happening?


-I am coming for you Camonte! shouted Monke.


Monke then climbed some stairs and ladders, gunning down dozens of more guards. He then saw a mysterious door with a “Do not disturb” sign on it. Monke broke it down and aimed his gun at the person behind the desk. It was Camonte! Camonte lifted his hands in the air.


-Hey man, what did I ever do to you?


-You people… You murder, you steal, you destroy people’s lives and think you can get away with it!


-You idiot! You have no idea who you’re messing with! You know what? I am sure my man enjoyed it when he blew your wife’s brains out! You mothe-


Monke did not let him finish his sentence: He shot him dead. But Monke’s vendetta was not over: he had to find the assassin who killed his wife! Monke went outside and saw guards approaching and running towards him. He shot a couple of them with the AK-47 but he ran out of bullets.


He then took out his revolver and shot the rest of them dead. Then he saw someone running for the emergency exit. Monke went after him. The emergency exit led to a rooftop next to the warehouse, which connected to more rooftops. Monke chased him and chased him until the assassin reached a door that connected one of the buildings to its roof. However the door was locked.


-Shit!


Monke finally caught up to him and aimed his gun at him. It was the assassin who had killed Monke’s wife. Monke didn’t hesitate: He shot him dead and then reached for the detonator. He grabbed it and pressed it, making the entire warehouse crumble and killing everyone inside.


The reign of terror of Camonte was finally over.


Monke travelled back to the USSR the next day. Despite the fact that he wasn’t on an official mission, he was rewarded with a medal. Monke went back to his dacha, he saw his pet bird was alive and well. Anastasia had taken good care of it.


Monke hid his revolver, took a shower, and lied down, eventually falling asleep.


The end of Tony Camonte, but Comrade Monke will return!