"BANG!"
Gunshots ripped through the alley, echoing off the brick walls.
"PLEASE! I'm beggin' you… I—I don't know a single thi—"
His muffled cries barely broke through the rope tied around his head. A group of men in black huddled in the shadowsb of the night, the rain slicking the streets around them.
"What we doin' with this one, huh?" one of the men asked, leaning against the wet wall, smirking.
"Chill," said another, tilting his head toward the tied-up man. "Wait 'til he shows. Then we see what he wants to do with this punk." He tightened the ropes on the man's wrists.
The first man shrugged. "Whatever, bro. I'm outta this tension."
Suddenly, footsteps echoed. One. Two. Three. They kept coming, growing louder, multiplying. Dim light revealed the newcomer.
A man in black walked ahead, flanked by a giant twice his size. More followed behind. Smoke curled from the cigarette between his fingers as he exhaled slowly, eyes cold and sharp.
He stopped in front of the man in the chair. Red, piercing eyes cut through the darkness. The muffled screams grew frantic, tears streaking the man's bruised face as he wailed.
The other men shifted uneasily, sweat forming in the chill. "Bro's fucked up, I swear," one muttered, voice tight with nerves.
Vian's gaze didn't waver. Beside him, a ginger-haired man rested an elbow lightly on his shoulder.
"Yo… this dude fucked up, yeah? He the one who played us?" Theo's deep voice sliced through the tension.
Vian nodded, flicking his cigarette onto the wet pavement. His finger slowly tugged the rope from the man's mouth. Blood and bruises painted his face, but he spoke immediately.
"I—I swear… I didn't betray you, Vian… it was… just a misunderstanding… yeah, a misunderstanding…" His voice shook, fear blazing in his eyes.
Theo chuckled, amused at the panic. The man froze as Theo held up a photo and stacks of documents, proof of the man's deals with their enemies.
"Hahaha… lies don't work this time," Theo said, tossing the evidence to the ground, letting the man see it all. His eyes widened in horror.
Vian remained still, silent, cold.
"T—this could be fake! Who are you to decide my fate? You're just—just an assistant—"
His words ended in a sharp crack as Vian fired a gun inches from his temple.
Theo smirked. Vian blew the smoke from the barrel, calm as ever. Vincent gave him a subtle nod, a small approving smile.
"Everything's clear. Handle him," Vian said, voice low, icy, almost relaxed, a quiet chuckle beneath it.
Without another word, Vian turned and walked away, leaving the man trembling. Theo chuckled, mocking him as he jogged to catch up with Vincent, others following. The man's eyes stayed locked on the group, terror and awe mingling.
One of the men muttered, "Yo, but… who's the ginger-haired dude really anyway?"
"Vian's brother, probably" someone replied.
"Look at 'em… they don't even look alike," another said.
A third cut in, voice sharp and commanding. "Enough chatter. We got a job, get paid, feed your families."
Some laughed. One muttered, "Family my ass." They went back to their conversation. Without warning, a gunshot rang out, one of them killed the man in the chair, cold and casual.
"BANG."
Thalassa's gaze flicked to the alley. Something about it felt off she shivered, imagining the shadows that came alive here at night. But whatever is that, she doesn't care, she casually turned to Ivy and said softly,
"Ivy, let's go… I know a shortcut to school." Her bag rested on her shoulder.
"Whatever gets us there fastest," Ivy replied.
The two walked side by side. Though it was daytime, the alley was still shadowed. Thalassa stumbled over a discarded cigarette butt, her eyebrows furrowing. She clenched her fists.
"People are disgusting," she muttered, picking it up and tossing it into a nearby bin.
Ivy's green eyes caught the dried blood smeared on the brick walls. Unease crept over her, but her face stayed calm. She leaned close to Thalassa and whispered,
"Thalassa… let's leave this place. Now."
Then, suddenly, she shouted, "who gets to school first gets 18 euros!!"
It was obvious, a trick to get Thalassa moving. If Ivy hadn't done this, Thalassa probably wouldn't have budged.
Thalassa blinked, snapped out of her thoughts, and sprinted to catch up with Ivy. The alley wasn't special anyway.
Or so she thought.