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.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlJwlGYs7Y
"Frank, give me some booze," the man said, his voice a low rumble.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX7UF7I5YzF
Frank, the bartender, poured a generous shot of whiskey. "Haven't seen you in days, Dave," he commented, wiping down a glass.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡglprGzn7XB
Dave lifted his glass, a tremor in his voice. "Yeah, I was inside... The judge dropped my charges, so they let me out."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGCqPWLkcJo
Frank smiled. "Good for you."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡun9y1jLNMq
"They put a cop to watch me, though, so I'm not fully free, you see," Dave said, the bitterness evident in his tone.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00Vjhp9NMf
Frank broke some ice into a glass. "Bummer. I was hoping to see you at the party."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHtedPVbfn
A shadow fell over the table as another man approached. "I overheard you say you were inside. Mind me asking where?"
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr18jMM4iBn
Dave took a sip of his whiskey before answering. "Red Grave."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKywfFF1UUk
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."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMHz0jHeh5z
Dave laughed. "Really? What were you in for?"
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡueF7BeiZiN
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."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXrgUuZRpt9
They shared a few laughs before Dave scanned the bar, noticing it was empty. "No ladies?"
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZnpXIZUQk
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?"
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYkTd0usuOK
Dave grinned. "Let's go. I bet there are at least some girls there. Good night, Frank."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5z5g5BVANl
They both exited the bar, Frank pocketing the money Dave had left on the counter. As Dante drove, he stopped at a house.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtmP8GcFxtz
"Why are we stopping here?" Dave asked.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqgcauhYKB
"Promised my friend I'd pick him up," Dante replied.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVL6sqqW7D8
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."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKma2oJzp9V
Dave scratched his head. "You should have called them before."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0tMTb2Wbjh
Dante smiled sheepishly. "My bad. Let's roll."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYyrybtiOz1
Dave opened the door, only to find himself rolling onto the ground. He had been pushed by an unseen force.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYKyfZIXGRU
Confused and disoriented, he looked up to see Dante standing over him, a menacing glint in his eyes.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6J7CPwCZgt
"Wait, why?" Dave stammered, fear creeping into his voice.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZw1nTz5r3
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.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4y8Q2NVdBt
"Please, you're going to kill me!" Dave cried, blood streaming down his face.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8TNgVRkXzI
Dante leaned in close, his voice a cold whisper. "Stop crying like a little bitch."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpf6f8iq1uC
Dave coughed up blood, his voice barely a rasp. "Why? Please tell me why."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgX8iiSHqfo
Dante rained blows upon him, each punch a brutal reminder of his helpless situation. He could feel his ribs cracking under the relentless assault.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlCpt4r3JGV
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.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡforF8YQWNg
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.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjjVZ97TO5U
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.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZG6IdYtHkd
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.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQQhtBttzb
"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.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gq5rQOg2F
"Then you invited her to see the house you'd move in with her, only to rape her. You and three other bastards."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ekI16SOA4
Dave tried to speak, but his voice was lost. Dante held a lit match to his body, setting him ablaze.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf3P5u1S1Xh
Dave screamed in agony as the flames engulfed him. Dante watched impassively, his face devoid of emotion.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfNkCEwRO8b
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.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQ2P7R4a6l
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.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDjDfZZGda
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.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvomE1fyiB1
"Vi, Vi, wake up, it's 8:00 o'clock," a voice called.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ61jARZWLVl
Dante cursed under his breath"fuck"and got up. He showered, changed, and headed to the kitchen, where his sister was already seated.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOdWEtdd2jz
"Victor, did you take the car back?" she asked.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGO1vnhIhWz
Victor swallowed his sandwich, avoiding eye contact. "How about 'good morning' first? And no, I'll take it after work."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ41Vodb9AIJ
His sister put down her fork. "Then you need to give me a ride."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkGw6AjOFT3
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.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQWIF37utY
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.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERXfY1SOcL
"Sir, may I see your driver's license, please?" the officer asked politely.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDmM1QLE2u
Victor handed over the documents, his palms sweating slightly. "I'm sure I wasn't speeding, officer."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9j2AAlv63J
The officer smiled. "I'm sure I heard him calling you dante yesterday."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe8qTZcTmsZ
Victor's heart skipped a beat.
[Full book coming next month]
ns18.220.50.218da2
