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Near Elite’s Other ComicsMarco Maglic’s A Deadly Roulette, Chapter One: The Debt

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Tribal Rose Comics presents Marco Maglic's A Deadly Roulette, by Karl Gustafsson, chapter one: The Debt. A narration asks if you can believe waking up and smelling the dirty air that is around you, the traitors that have left you behind, those who use you and those who hide from you. An old man sits in an office, looking pensative. He muses that they are everywhere, even you are one of them, and this world is not what it used to be. He declares that he's going to tell someone something that happened to him once, in the year 1932. In Autumn 1932, on a busy city street, a newsboy declares extra, extra, the Savallampis strike again. He says read all about the murder, just for one single dollar. A man approaches and says he'll take one, please. The young newsboy, Karl Gustafsson, says that'll be one dollar. The man hands him a dollar and he gives him a newspaper, then wishes him a good day as the man leaves. An older Karl reminisces that he was nothing special and that was fine by him, he had his own apartment since his mother had thrown him out, which was nothing unusual in hard times like then. He reflects that he should have gone to school like mother always told him, but it was already too late. It all started when he was eighteen, a day like any other, while he was working so he could afford his daily bread.

A car speeds through the roads nearby. Meanwhile, Karl spots what he would later describe as the most beautiful face he had ever seen. A young woman in a dress and hat walks down the street near him. The older Karl recalls not being used to seeing women when he was working as most of them were inside, happy in their homes. The younger Karl stares at the woman as she passes, while the older narrates that seeing girls that time always reminded him about how unexperienced he was with girls, not having had any girlfriends by then as he simply didn't have time to look for one because of his job. As the girl walks by, she suddenly turns and winks at him. The older Karl wonders if she really did just wink at him or if that was what he wanted to see. As Karl continues to follow the girl with his eyes, a blond man dressed in a blue suit tries to get his attention, calling him boy. The man shouts to snap Karl out of it, who suddenly comes to and apologizes profusely for daydreaming. The man asks how much for a newspaper. Karl tells him that'll be just one dollar. The man reaches into his jacket and asks if he can pay Karl with this, suddenly pointing a revolver at him. Karl recalls that everything happened so fast and he felt like his heartbeat and breathing stopped completely. The younger Karl drops the newspaper in shock as he thought why him and what he had done. The older Karl notes that he's still not sure why that man had the means to kill him that day, but states that this wasn't the time that he was going to die. A car suddenly screeches into view, catching the mafioso's attention. Karl takes the opportunity to run away and the man screams at him what he's trying to do. He raises his gun and shoots, but Karl leaps over a few wooden crates for cover. The car approaches as the man screams that they ruined everything and aims at it. Suddenly, a man in a dark suit and hat hangs from the car's window with a Tommy machinegun and fires it at the man, killing him.

As the firefight goes on, Karl, hiding behind the crates, screams for help. The car stops suddenly and two other men walk out. Karl thinks to himself that they must be Mafia guys and that he's seen too much and they're going to kill him. A man with a shaved head approaches Karl and asks if he's the one they rescued. Terrified, Karl replies maybe. To his surprise, the man reaches with his palm and helps him up. Karl thanks him and notes that he thinks the man just saved him from whoever, then thanks him again and asks for a name. The man introduces himself as Paul Pera, then notes that he must be Karl. Karl is surprised he knows his name. Paul Pera tells Karl to come with him as they have a lot of things to discuss. Pera takes Karl to a nearby coffee shop, sits down and tells Karl to have a seat. Karl replies that he thinks he'd rather stand up, but Pera stares him down and says when he tells him to sit, he sits. Karl relents and sits down. Pera notes that, as he may have noticed, he actually saved Karl's skin out there and says that means he owes him. Pera tells him he needs his help and Karl needs his. Pera reveals to Karl that the city isn't controlled by a Mayor or government as Karl may think it is, but rather, it's controlled by the Mafia, and that there are three general Mafia families there. Pera introduces himself as the head of the Pera family, who wear black or gray suits and fedoras, then there's the Finnish Savallampi Family and the guy who wanted to murder him was one of them. Pera calls them crazy pieces of shit, maniacs, and advises Karl to stay away from them if he can, telling him they usually wear blue or blue-gray suits. Last but not least, they've got the Jobster family, who are the Pera family's allies, always wearing white costumes. Pera states the city is not as safe as Karl thinks it is. The waitress approaches and asks if she can get them something. Pera asks for a cup of coffee and Karl for a glass of water. Pera then asks where they were and Karl notes he talked about some Mafia families and asks what it has to do with him. The waitress comes back with their drinks. As Karl drinks his water, Pera tells him he wants Karl to join his, leading Karl to do a spit take. Pera tells Karl if he were him, he wouldn't see much choice, as Karl has seen too much of his and Savallampi's families and is not safe anymore, but Pera can offer him lifetime protection and the only thing he has to do is to help his family by doing what he tells him to do. He tells him in two years his right-hand man Marco will aid him and train him, he'll learn how his famil works, what he should do and not do. Karl stutters that he understands. Pera drinks his coffee as Karl starts to feel sick, his mind an inferno of unclear thoughts. Pera tells him this is between him and his family only and threatens him not to go to the cops. Karl tells him of course and asks if he may go to the bathroom. Pera tells him to go ahead.

Karl enters the bathroom in a daze, not believing his ears that the leader of the Pera family asked if he wanted to join him. Present Karl recalls that he simply couldn't sit in front of Pera and come up with a decision so he went to the toilet and tried to think clearly. The young Karl holds himself to the wall. He'd only read about the Mafia in the newspapers he was used to sell and they weren't nice ones, all he saw when he read them was cold-blooded murders. However, Karl's father had told him they were rich, well-paid. Karl figured he could take the job, even if he just became a runner boy, he would earn more than being a boy who sold newspaper. Karl asked God why him of all people, then crouched down and figured maybe he really needs that protection Pera was offering him, considering someone might really be after him. He whispers to himself what if it was just luck that saved his life and wonders if this is destiny. Karl goes back outside and towards the table, but realizes Paul Pera has left. Instead, he finds a handwritten letter. He reads it. In it, Pera apologizes he couldn't stay as long as he wanted to because he had some important errands to run. The letter says Karl can find him at Caramella Street 14 and that he has three days to make his decision. Karl says to himself that maybe he still has time to escape that forsaken city, but is suddenly interrupted by a stranger greeting him with a boungiorno, startling Karl. The man introduces himself as Marco. The two leave the café and Karl asks where he's from, as he looks Asian. Marco replies that he's a little of everything, Cuban, Croatic, you name it. He then tells Karl if he makes fun of him he'll have two less balls to worry about. Karl stays silent in response. A little bit later, he asks what happens now. Marco tells Karl he wants to test him, something that Pera forgot to tell him. He casually adds that, if Karl fails, he's of no use to them and they'll let him get killed by the Savallampis. Karl asks why the Savallampis want him dead, but Marco ignores him and wonders how to test Karl. After a moment, Marco smiles and points to a nearby store, then tells Karl to rob it. Confused, Karl gives him a tentative okay, but asks how. Marco hands him a pistol and tells him to use it, to Karl's horror. Marco explains he will rob a black man in that store and to just pull out the gun and aim between his eyes, then tell him he's got ten seconds to give Karl all his cash. If the man refuses or takes too much time, Karl will pull the trigger. Marco asks if he's got it and Karl replies yes, he understands. Karl heads to the store, where the owner greets him. The phone rings and the owner goes to take the call. While he talks at the phone, Karl approaches the counter. The owner the turns around with a smile apologizing for keeping Karl waiting and starts to ask what he can do for him, but then notices the gun Karl is aiming at his face. Karl tells him to hand them over and that he has ten seconds. The man begs that he has a wife and kids.

Karl tells the owner of the store to please do as he says, but the owner simply mumbles back wife and kids. Karl says he didn't want this to happen and pulls the trigger. However, the pistol only fires water at the man's face, revealing it's a very realistic water gun. Karl looks in shock and confusion at his gun. Angry, the owner asks if Karl thinks he can play tricks on him and grabs something from behind the counter. Karl rushes out of the store, screaming gotta go, bye. The owner aims a shotgun at him and screams at him to just die, then fires. The shells barely miss Karl and hit the wall, with Karl screaming fucking hell. Outside, Marco smiles and says that Karl survived, then tells him to get in the car in case he follows him. Karl screams at him about the water pistol and the test. Once Karl enters the car, Marco tells the driver, Antonio, to get going. They drive off.

Inside the car, Karl, still nervous, complains that was totally unnecessary. With a wry smile, Marco apologizes but replies that it was unnecessary. Marco loses his smile, however, as he looks back and realizes they are being followed. The driver of the other car, a blond man dressed in Savallampi colors, says in Finnish there they are and now they're taken. To Karl's shock, Marco suddenly breaks the back window of their car and starts shooting. Another Savallampi shouts that they've seen us and tells the driver to go for it as he hangs from the window with a handgun. Marco tells Karl to give him the Tommy gun, Karl asks what Tommy gun, Marco tells him under his seat. Karl gives him the gun and screams what the fuck is happening, but Marco just orders him to get down now. Marco and the Savallampi fire at each other as the cars drive down the street. Marco says crap, this won't do, then tells the driver Antonio to lose them. Antonio tells him he's got it and to hold on tightly now. He slides the car and passes another vehicle. One of the Savallampis tells the driver not to lose them. They drive dangerously through the street, zigzagging between cars. Suddenly, Antonio causes a car crash ahead and the Savallampis' car hits the back car, losing control and flipping onto the street. Marco celebrates and tells Antonio to take them home now. Later, at Savallampi's mansion, Don Savallampi is furious that they escaped and asks how they could lose them, then screams that they can't follow one simple order. The grunts say it was an accident and one of them, Joosef, asks for him to give them one night to track them down. The Don tells him time is money. Joosef begs him to calm down.

Don Savallampi replies that he is calm and shoots Joosef in the head. The other grunt stares in shock. The Don turns his weapon towards him and asks his name. The goon can only stutter in shock. Don Savallampi screams at him to say his name, calling him a fool. The man says his name is Matti. The Don tells him very well and, with a crazed smile, says he's a little annoyed at the moment, so he wants him to do one last favor. He asks that Matti go and get Scope-Eye, then bring him there. Matti tells the Don there's no need to get hasty, but Savallampi asks if he's deaf and orders him to get Scope-Eye before the Don gets him. Matti rushes out the room. Later, in the parking lot, Matti heads to his car but is shocked to find a man already sitting in the passenger's seat. The man calmly greets him and tells him to get in. Matti enters the car and notes that the man knows him, but he doesn't think he's ever seen him. The man introduces himself as Ben Hasic, the Don's lawyer and the one who cleans up tracks from footmen such as Matti. As they drive, Hasic asks if he's going to get Scope-Eye, which Matti confirms, then says he'll need some help convincing him. Matti says very well then. Eventually they reach Scope-Eye's house. As they exit the car and head towards the front door, Hasic warns Matti to be careful because Scope-Eye doesn't like guests. Matti arrogantly retorts that he's not a guest but a Savallampi and starts beating on the door, shouting to open the door or he will. Matti then opens the door and asks if anybody's home. A bullet barely misses his head. Matti asks what the hell. Hasic enters the house and says to come with them. An Asian man with a large scar over one eye, Scope-Eye, continues to aim his gun at them. Hasic explains that it's Don Savallampi's order, to which Scope-Eye says oh, I see and puts on a pair of round sunglasses. As they enter the car, Matti mutters that the guy is creepy for sure. Later, as they arrive at Don Savallampi's mansion, Matti thanks Hasic for his help and asks if he isn't coming along. Hasic tells him he has some errands to run and drives off. As they watch Hasic leave, Matti tells Scope-Eye oh well, let's get you to the Don. Scope-Eye replies yes, please.

In his office, Don Savallampi shouts what is it. Outside the door, Matti says it's him and he brought Scope-Eye. Smiling, Savallampi says come in, come in, hurry. Scope-Eye enters and greets Savallampi in Finnish, which the Don reciprocates. They then start discussing in Finnish, the Don telling Scope-Eye it's an honor to meet him again and that he has need of his services once more. Watching, Matti thinks to himself that he studied Finnish for a year and yet he can't understand what they're saying. Scope-Eye asks something in Finnish which the Don seems to agree with. Scope-Eye then tells Matti thanks. Matti starts asking thanks for what, but is cut off when Scope-Eye grabs his head and stabs him through the neck. Matti falls down on the ground dead. Scope-Eye then asks Savallampi what he wants him to do. Savallampi replies he wants him to kill these two and puts two pictures on the table: Karl and Marco. The end.

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