Chapter Text
He stared into the mirror and it stared back. His shaking body barely holding up. Monster, that's what he was. Killer, psycho, animal.
His stare at his own devilish eyes. The same cold eyes his father had the day he killed her.
His fist met the glass before he could relive the dark memory. Broken bones and shattered glass.
-
“James honey can you set the table for dinner” His mother yelled from downstairs
The door was thrown open wood hitting wood. The sounds of heavy boots hitting the hardwood floor.
Ryan just wanted to go back upstairs. He father had so obviously had a bad day at work.
“Hi love. How was work?” His mother said kindly. Bringing out a freshly cooked lasagna.
“How do you think it went?” His fathers hardness was hard to hear. “Get me a beer will you” He shouted after her as she went into the kitchen.
Silence was a normal sound in the Haywood home. They ate in silence. Sat in silence. Lived in silence.
Ryan ate fast, wanting to get upstairs as soon as he could.
“So James how’s school going?” His mothers voice cut through the silence.
Mistake number one.
“Uh it’s good. I have all A’s” Ryan said quietly feeling his fathers dark eyes on him.
“Would you mind getting me another beer son.” His dads harsh voice spoke.
“No Ryan don’t. You've had 5 already” His mother spoke calmly
Mistake number two.
He glared at her. Harsh dark eyes.
“Go get me a beer son.” He repeated slowly.
Ryan hesitated a moment too long.
His fathers hand came into contact with his face.
He was on the ground before it even stung.
The kick to the ribs shocked him
“Stop it! stop it! He didn’t do anything wrong.” His mother yelled.
Mistake number 3.
His father turned to his mother. Eyes hollow and cold.
“Why.. do you insist on standing up for him?” His fathers words were harsh and slow.
“Why do you make me do this?” He asked taking strides towards her.
He grabbed her shoulders and stared at her with cold eyes.
“Why” He screamed and shoved her to the floor. She sobbed.
“I love you so much, but you always try to protect him. I’m just trying to make him strong” His father seethed kicking her body.
Ryan’s ribs was surely broken. He felt the pain when he stood.
looking towards the sobbing bloody woman on the floor and the tall man who was beating her near death he took off towards his mothers room. The gun was easy to find he knew where she hid it. She told him ‘only use it if you absolutely have too.’
He ran down the stairs gun in hand. He needed to stop him. He was going to kill her. He needed to stop him.
He stopped dead in his tracks. Looking into the cold eyes of his father.
The knife in his hand covered in blood. No remorse on his face. Not even batting an eye at the woman he killed.
His wife. Ryans mother.
Ryans hands were shaky as he held the gun up towards to the man standing over his mother's body
That wasn’t his father. Not anymore.
“Are you going to kill me now James?” He said sounding almost bored. “You don’t have the guts to shoot me James. I’m going to kill you. Just like I killed your mot…” He was cut off by the bullet.
‘Shoot to kill James. If you miss then who knows what he would do.’
Ryan fell to the floor next to his mother. “Mom? Mom it’s going to be okay. It’s gonna be just fine.” He sobbed into her body.
“The police.. they are on there way mom. It’s okay.. Just stay with me.” His sobbing becoming hysterical.
“It’s going to be okay..”
-
Three years later a 21 year old Ryan Haywood one of the most wanted men this side of los Santos.
Mask kills again.
Mask kills Judge Mathews
Mask takes out head of police.
He never wanted it to be like this. He only killed who deserved it. The monsters of the earth.
But what did that make him.
He met Geoff Ramsey on a whim. He didn’t do contracted kills often but when Geoff walked into his life he found himself doing more and more.
“Haywood we have been over this. If you need anything you can come to me.” Geoffs voice was kind for someone who name was feared on the streets.
“I’m fine Geoff. I just need a job” Ryan refused to take unearned money from anyone. Even more so from Geoff.
“How about you Join me and Jack upstairs? Work with us on heists and in the drug business? Join the Fake Ah crew as our third member?” Geoff looked him in the eye.
“Yes.”