For Better And For Worse
Chapter 73

MEXICO.

Even at home, Krist isn’t really free because people are always keeping an eye on him. Around 8 p.m., Gordjo and his men took him to a meeting with fellow dealers. Krist stays in the car with François while Gordjo and Rodrigue go to the meeting. Krist chats with François.

Krist: are you also a boxer?

François: no, but I am capable of defending Mr. Gordjo against anything.

Krist: you don’t have any family?

François: no, there are too many beautiful women to marry just one and deprive yourself of the others.

Krist: so you prefer animal life even though you are human!

François: are you insulting me?

Krist: no, no need, you already do it.

François: now you shut up. Otherwise I’ll get angry.

Krist: no, but you really don’t have any family, not even a mother, a sister, a brother?

François: what do you care? I told you to shut up…

He points his gun at himself.

Krist: I just want my wife to know I’m alive, just one call.

François: sorry Krist, no call, boss’s order.

Krist: I see, you’re a good dog actually. Do this and you do, don’t do that and you don’t do.

François gets out of the car and takes him out. He punches him once in the stomach, twice and third time, Krist grabs his hand and knees him in the stomach. When he is bent over, he turns behind and puts his left hand on his neck and twists his arm to bring it to his back. François hits him from behind with his left hand which he also catches. He hits his head against the car three times and lets go of his hands, then he hits him in the face with a shoe and he falls quite far from the car. So Krist gets in and starts, but then the barrel of a gun comes to rest on his ear.

Rodrigue: stop this engine immediately!…

He does not stop and Rodrigue removes the safety of his weapon.

Rodrigue: don’t make me repeat it!…

Krist: ok, calm down!

He stops the engine.

Rodrigue: now get down!

Krist gets off and he forces him into the back. François gets up and joins Rodrigue. Gordjo goes up with Krist. Rodrigue takes the wheel.

Gordjo: let’s go to the cave!

Rodrigue: sir, are you sure?

Gordjo: Do ​​you want me to repeat myself?

Rodrigue starts and they go to the cave.

DOTTAN.

Isabelle’s home.

This evening, Bruno visits his daughter. Isabelle had just returned from work a few minutes ago. Stella comes to open the door for Bruno and they then go inside. She leaves him with her daughter and goes into the kitchen.

Bruno: how are you, my darling?

Isabelle: Let’s say it’s okay. Are you okay at work?

Bruno: let’s say it’s okay. How are you coping with the death of your husband?

Isabelle: I can’t stand it, I live with it.

Bruno: it will be very hard to bear if you live alone like that. You need someone to support you.

Isabelle: I have Stella who gives me great support.

Bruno: I know but your baby needs a father my darling, life is quite difficult for children who don’t have a father.

Isabelle: that’s all that interests you, han dad, that I marry any man except Krist. Why do you hate him so much, why dad? Even dead you still hate him why?

Bruno: I don’t hate him, I’m just worried about you and my grandson.

Isabelle: if you want to come here just to advise me to remarry, then I prefer that you never come here again.

Bruno: I’m sorry my darling, all I want is for you to be happy.

Isabelle: well, I’m very happy without you, dad. You make me rather unhappy.

Bruno: I’m sorry my darling, really sorry. That wasn’t my intention at all.

Isabelle: you have to stop with that dad, I know you are delighted with Krist’s death but don’t show it so openly… Bruno:

what, but what are you talking about my darling, I could never be happy about the death of someone, even less that of my daughter’s husband…

Isabelle: you are lying to yourself, Dad, not to me.

Bruno: I’m sorry my darling, what will I do to erase this image you have of me?

Isabelle: There’s no need, I don’t hate you.

A little later, Stella finishes preparing the evening meal and they eat before Bruno comes home.

MEXICO.

The cave is a place where savage fights take place. There are different kinds of barbarians and brutes who fight there without leadership, without discipline or any rules. Gordjo brings Krist there to punish him for what he had done a few moments ago. They arrive and there is a big brute in the ring that no one wants to fight because he has already broken several of his opponents’ arms and legs. His name is Barock. While the commentator asks who would be able to confront him, Gordjo signals François to come closer. He gives her $50,000 and tells her to find the commentator. François therefore goes to see him with the money.

François: Hey, I have a guy ready to take him on. He bets $50,000.

He takes the money. Gordjo signals to Rodrigue who throws Krist into the ring.

Commentator: That’s it, we have an opponent, will he be able to face this undefeated champion? He bet $50,000 to win this fight. Place your bets!

Everyone bet on Barock. The bets rose to 95% for him and 05% for Krist. The fight begins. Krist attacks with several blows but Barock feels nothing, he remains motionless. Krist hits his head with his shoe and he feels something. Krist then jumps up to elbow him twice in the head but he grabs him and throws him to the floor. He wanted to stomp him again but Krist rolled to the side and he missed. He was about to get up again when Barock hit him in the stomach with his shoe and he fell far away. He gets up and stays in position. Barock approaches, Krist hits him with a slipper which he catches and throws him away. Krist gets up with pain everywhere but he gets closer again. He punches twice in the stomach and Barock grabs his neck with one hand and lifts him up before slamming him to the ground with his hand on his neck. He picks it up again with one hand and throws it far away. Krist was writhing in pain and couldn’t get up immediately.

*

François: boss, are you sure he will succeed?

Gordjo: Of course, he could even defeat death just to see his family again. He will get there, finally, I hope…

*

Barock approaches him and grabs his neck by both hands and lifts him up, wanting to strangle him. Krist tries to poke his eyes out with his thumbs and he drops him on his back. While he still puts his hands over his eyes, Krist hits him in the testicles with a shoe. He reaches down grabbing his balls and Krist elbows his forehead again and he falls onto his back. Krist gets up. Barock also gets up with blurred vision. Krist then quickly turns behind him and elbows his head twice more. He was about to fall on his stomach but he puts his left hand on the ground, his right hand on his head, both knees on the ground. Krist hits him violently in the face and he falls on his back. He gets up and rushes at Krist with all his strength. He hits so hard that Krist dodges. He therefore becomes exhausted quite quickly and Krist attacks him everywhere with different blows until he knocks him to the ground unable to continue fighting. Krist therefore wins the fight to everyone’s astonishment. Everyone who bet on Barock therefore lost their bets.

*

Rodrigue: damn shit! What is this guy!

Gordjo: it’s truly incredible and it’s exactly what I need. Now I don’t need to get too involved in drug matters. I have enough to make as much money as possible.

*

Krist struggles to get out of the ring to join Gordjo. François joins the commentator to collect all the bets that Gordjo has won. He joins them and they leave the cave. They are getting in the car.

Gordjo: I hope you have learned your lesson, never try to play a trick on me again that I don’t like. We’re going back!

Rodrigue starts and they leave. They return home and Gordjo’s nurses take care of Krist.

DOTTAN

Home of Isabelle.

Early this morning, Isabelle says her morning prayer and takes Krist’s photo to contemplate and pray for the rest of his soul. She caresses her belly.

Isabelle: hello Marie, it’s your dad, he was a good man and a wonderful man. I was sure he would make a better dad but life has been unfair to him. I know that wherever he is, he would do anything to see you born.

She stares at him for a long time.

Isabelle: I know right now that he’s not dead you know, it’s as if I still feel him.

The baby starts to move.

Isabelle: you too think the same thing han! But unfortunately we buried it and we have to accept it, we have to live with it and move forward. We will truly miss him very much.

She puts the photo back in its place and leaves. She joins Stella in the kitchen to help her but at one point, she escapes in spirit and comes back to her senses after several calls from Stella.

Isabelle: sorry, what were you saying?

Stella: is everything okay?

Isabelle: yes, it’s okay.

Stella: It doesn’t seem so.

Isabelle: It’s just that I have the feeling that my husband is still alive Stella.

Stella: it’s impossible, we buried him.

Isabelle: yes but what if the body was that of someone else?

Stella: there is one thing I am sure of, Isabelle, Krist would never stage his death to leave you. If he’s really alive, he would have done anything to contact you.

Isabelle: yes, yes, you are right. It’s just my subconscious refusing to accept his death.

Stella: but if you have doubts, we can exhume the body for a DNA test.

Isabelle: no, no, we are not going to disrespect her body. I just have to accept it.

Stella: I’m sorry.

Isabelle: yes, thank you. Let’s get it over with.

They finish the meal and enjoy it. Stella therefore goes to the university and Isabelle to the hospital.

Vincent’s home.

For Krist’s parents, the disappearance of their son still affects them just as much. This morning, Odette remains frozen in front of Krist’s photo when she had to leave for work. Her husband comes out of the room ready for work and joins her.

Vincent: darling, is everything okay?

Odette: Yes, I just look at my son and realize how pointless it was to have disagreed with him. Life on earth is only fleeting and fleeting. Instead of arguing with the people we love, we should rather enjoy them every day that they are still with us. We almost didn’t enjoy our son Vincent, when we were reconciled, he went to prison and now he is no longer in this world. If I could go back in time…

Vincent: you’re right my love, I’m sorry.

Odette: no, don’t be. I still know that my son is alive, darling.

Vincent: I know that you miss him a lot and I do too, but he is gone, my love, and we have to accept that. Come on, let’s go, you’re going to be late for work.

She gives her son a k**s on the forehead before leaving.