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.
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡniRxCBADgN
"Frank, give me some booze," the man said, his voice a low rumble.
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡODNXmfHDgM
Frank, the bartender, poured a generous shot of whiskey. "Haven't seen you in days, Dave," he commented, wiping down a glass.
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQj5NxePlhc
Dave lifted his glass, a tremor in his voice. "Yeah, I was inside... The judge dropped my charges, so they let me out."
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkXtSbSCQfJ
Frank smiled. "Good for you."
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuzHru0YBhZ
"They put a cop to watch me, though, so I'm not fully free, you see," Dave said, the bitterness evident in his tone.
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhymukNRvJ
Frank broke some ice into a glass. "Bummer. I was hoping to see you at the party."
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3eiqv69uYu
A shadow fell over the table as another man approached. "I overheard you say you were inside. Mind me asking where?"
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIjOdElt3WT
Dave took a sip of his whiskey before answering. "Red Grave."
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKiHkOSpyWv
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."
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBkLlbpPumV
Dave laughed. "Really? What were you in for?"
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCe4mEuvG8
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."
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5c09dlhim
They shared a few laughs before Dave scanned the bar, noticing it was empty. "No ladies?"
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmaIuafbEob
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?"
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8QRwEGkPbP
Dave grinned. "Let's go. I bet there are at least some girls there. Good night, Frank."
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlKT5k0EYC3
They both exited the bar, Frank pocketing the money Dave had left on the counter. As Dante drove, he stopped at a house.
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1avnPAUmGp
"Why are we stopping here?" Dave asked.
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP6bPwxyA5k
"Promised my friend I'd pick him up," Dante replied.
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuLWUW93JlP
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."
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFhUufxB6Pc
Dave scratched his head. "You should have called them before."
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIighaLHv1w
Dante smiled sheepishly. "My bad. Let's roll."
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL9AXEW8ldQ
Dave opened the door, only to find himself rolling onto the ground. He had been pushed by an unseen force.
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2nHYA5pjW
Confused and disoriented, he looked up to see Dante standing over him, a menacing glint in his eyes.
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8eGVCUZ1Bg
"Wait, why?" Dave stammered, fear creeping into his voice.
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCtZr5Vk6j
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.
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuuYQ0jU7ul
"Please, you're going to kill me!" Dave cried, blood streaming down his face.
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGT9TVTL55B
Dante leaned in close, his voice a cold whisper. "Stop crying like a little bitch."
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3GZRN9bJcO
Dave coughed up blood, his voice barely a rasp. "Why? Please tell me why."
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtfJXJyxCSV
Dante rained blows upon him, each punch a brutal reminder of his helpless situation. He could feel his ribs cracking under the relentless assault.
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTKsf1HoZ58
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.
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDGFqBonhaX
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.
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc8ZY36jn1B
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.
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCjtOLLxB8I
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.
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBdyPFrWRw
"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.
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0SRFPVvhG
"Then you invited her to see the house you'd move in with her, only to rape her. You and three other bastards."
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKnFRktevf3
Dave tried to speak, but his voice was lost. Dante held a lit match to his body, setting him ablaze.
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxxD9ECtUHP
Dave screamed in agony as the flames engulfed him. Dante watched impassively, his face devoid of emotion.
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhqyNYFVOc
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.
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOeYRtebhga
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.
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdB8NTnp76f
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.
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjLkJr9sHP
"Vi, Vi, wake up, it's 8:00 o'clock," a voice called.
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6gFSGWf9j
Dante cursed under his breath"fuck"and got up. He showered, changed, and headed to the kitchen, where his sister was already seated.
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNnHuEyViCw
"Victor, did you take the car back?" she asked.
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6DxLOudwhS
Victor swallowed his sandwich, avoiding eye contact. "How about 'good morning' first? And no, I'll take it after work."
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6Ehzm5kff
His sister put down her fork. "Then you need to give me a ride."
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUgr6fv6tTv
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.
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCjAEaGz25
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.
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdACRQE3pUg
"Sir, may I see your driver's license, please?" the officer asked politely.
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWjmIXSAcb
Victor handed over the documents, his palms sweating slightly. "I'm sure I wasn't speeding, officer."
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRyUFuNNrj
The officer smiled. "I'm sure I heard him calling you dante yesterday."
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7wIIny2Wu
Victor's heart skipped a beat.
[Full book coming next month]
ns18.117.249.37da2
