The dim lights cast a hazy glow over the worn tables of the local bar in Wind City. The door swung open, admitting a customer who calmly took a seat at the counter.
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8fGSS0z99s
"Frank, give me some booze," the man said, his voice a low rumble.
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgWRcNLnv6p
Frank, the bartender, poured a generous shot of whiskey. "Haven't seen you in days, Dave," he commented, wiping down a glass.
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsWwhR01wZq
Dave lifted his glass, a tremor in his voice. "Yeah, I was inside... The judge dropped my charges, so they let me out."
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGopCqYCifw
Frank smiled. "Good for you."
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVm8iTE0dC
"They put a cop to watch me, though, so I'm not fully free, you see," Dave said, the bitterness evident in his tone.
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9P4jjzJmND
Frank broke some ice into a glass. "Bummer. I was hoping to see you at the party."
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJLCAoZjVn
A shadow fell over the table as another man approached. "I overheard you say you were inside. Mind me asking where?"
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVOwSZziLzT
Dave took a sip of his whiskey before answering. "Red Grave."
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhBc2mPVxOj
The other man chuckled. "Believe it or not, I was there too, in the B section. Released a couple of weeks ago. I'm Dante, by the way."
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIQw1eYd14c
Dave laughed. "Really? What were you in for?"
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YXecJ4uK0
Dante grabbed a beer from the cooler. "Beat my boss with a chair. He told me to work on designs, then never used them. I stayed there for a couple of months."
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumYD8k2yI0
They shared a few laughs before Dave scanned the bar, noticing it was empty. "No ladies?"
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRXpE6UdA3
Dante wiped his face with a napkin. "Well, my friends were begging me to meet them at this place called Lastdrop. What do you say?"
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYAuYDvBonu
Dave grinned. "Let's go. I bet there are at least some girls there. Good night, Frank."
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlwtYjgQjxH
They both exited the bar, Frank pocketing the money Dave had left on the counter. As Dante drove, he stopped at a house.
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXrToLmRyH
"Why are we stopping here?" Dave asked.
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutFJLGXwSy
"Promised my friend I'd pick him up," Dante replied.
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiujMMxiG5s
They got out and walked to the door. Dante rang the bell, he grabbed the key and entered looking for them but there was no answer. He tried calling, but found a text message: "Where are you we are already here."
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRtMFzHP22
Dave scratched his head. "You should have called them before."
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡByyfC0vVOK
Dante smiled sheepishly. "My bad. Let's roll."
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdGr23XferF
Dave opened the door, only to find himself rolling onto the ground. He had been pushed by an unseen force.
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHfQuVX6Q1
Confused and disoriented, he looked up to see Dante standing over him, a menacing glint in his eyes.
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmVr85XkM7
"Wait, why?" Dave stammered, fear creeping into his voice.
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqmaCiG5uD
Dante didn't answer. He delivered a swift kick to Dave's stomach, sending him writhing in pain. Another kick connected with Dave's face, breaking his nose with a sickening crack.
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnUCVWMjfTC
"Please, you're going to kill me!" Dave cried, blood streaming down his face.
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjwpSpDyRmA
Dante leaned in close, his voice a cold whisper. "Stop crying like a little bitch."
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo5A47jemFw
Dave coughed up blood, his voice barely a rasp. "Why? Please tell me why."
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBynINkRaA
Dante rained blows upon him, each punch a brutal reminder of his helpless situation. He could feel his ribs cracking under the relentless assault.
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlYvLhlY5Co
Finally, Dante stood up and walked towards a drawer, pulling out a pair of gloves and a box of matches. Dave knew what was coming. He had been outmatched from the start, but now there was no escape.
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTgewm7MY43
He tried to crawl towards the door, but his broken leg made it impossible. He saw someone standing outside, a glimmer of hope flickering in his eyes.
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ9oXqD3ao5
Mustering all his remaining strength, Dave stood up and ran towards the door, screaming for help. But his jaw was shattered, his words garbled and unintelligible.
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xrfYuYXOA
Dante delivered another blow, a low kick that shattered Dave's other leg. He took a deep breath, his voice filled with a chilling calm.
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAW9GtiCBYI
"Remember a year ago? You dated a girl, fed her all that crap about loving her," Dante said, using Dave's own hands to pour fuel on his body.
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVebyGURXzK
"Then you invited her to see the house you'd move in with her, only to rape her. You and three other bastards."
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQKJHLaBRrH
Dave tried to speak, but his voice was lost. Dante held a lit match to his body, setting him ablaze.
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQldCdGms3
Dave screamed in agony as the flames engulfed him. Dante watched impassively, his face devoid of emotion.
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNG4IX5p3aQ
After the fire died down, Dante changed his clothes, cleaned the place, and headed home. He checked the door for his keys, found them, and slipped inside, trying to be as silent as possible.
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOvidHhN418
He made his way through the hallway to a room decorated in a distinctly feminine style, clearly his sister's. He kissed her forehead gently and went to his own room, placing his phone on the charger before falling asleep with a satisfied smile on his face.
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIIlCkZ5LCJ
The darkness in the room slowly gave way to the morning sun. Dante rose and closed the window, returning to bed. But a voice broke the silence.
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4dwS4GHPC
"Vi, Vi, wake up, it's 8:00 o'clock," a voice called.
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnnX5NMa1aU
Dante cursed under his breath"fuck"and got up. He showered, changed, and headed to the kitchen, where his sister was already seated.
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGvTmMyU0f
"Victor, did you take the car back?" she asked.
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuwsv7t6DiX
Victor swallowed his sandwich, avoiding eye contact. "How about 'good morning' first? And no, I'll take it after work."
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzhc15OACqZ
His sister put down her fork. "Then you need to give me a ride."
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjla2JwUMXz
Victor grabbed his keys and dropped his sister off at her therapist's office. On his way to work, he was pulled over by a police officer.
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmlbneLyhRm
Victor stopped the car, making sure he had his driver's license and registration ready. He felt a wave of relief wash over him as the officer approached.
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt6L8yJ4pao
"Sir, may I see your driver's license, please?" the officer asked politely.
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqrbVx9pMVs
Victor handed over the documents, his palms sweating slightly. "I'm sure I wasn't speeding, officer."
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJPvt6Qtcy
The officer smiled. "I'm sure I heard him calling you dante yesterday."
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhLPibliFqr
Victor's heart skipped a beat.
[Full book coming next month]
ns13.58.172.157da2
