"Hey Yuri...you're seriously sleeping there?"
"Got a problem with it?"
"N-no...but isn't that really uncomfortable?"
"Nope."
"But making a girl sleep on the floor is-"
I sat up from my sleeping position and glared at Eugene in annoyance.
My position on the ground was lower than his so I had to look up at him to talk. Being looked down on by this guy slightly pisses me off but I'm the one who volunteered to sleep on the ground.
Now that I think about it, isn't this usually supposed to be the guy's position? Why are our roles reversed....
I sighed heavily without saying a word and flopped back down. Looking up at the ceiling, I thought about what my dad said earlier.
".....Hey Eugene."
"Yeah Boss?"
"Do you think the hunters are ever going to find me?"
He was silent for a moment before answering.
"I wouldn't know....But don't worry too much, the only people apart from your family that knows about your background are me and the gang. You don't need to worry about us spilling your secret, we'd rather slit our own throats before betraying Boss!"
The corner of my lips lifted after hearing Eugene's confidence. I looked up at the bed for a while before shutting my eyes and responding.
"...That's nice to know."
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I had just begun to fall asleep when suddenly my phone buzzed and the screen lit up with a text message.
A notification? So late at night?
Glancing over at Eugene to make sure he was asleep, I quietly picked up my phone and walked into the hallway to check.
It was from an anonymous number. Suspicious.
---Jupiter Hotel Side Alley Door @ 2 AM.
The hell? This is sketchy.
I shouldn't go. It's obvious that nothing good will come from going. Curiosity killed the cat, it would be an idiotic move. My father's warnings are still fresh in my mind as well.
Just as I closed my phone and was about to re-enter the room, another message was sent.
---I know you've read it already. I would advise you to do as I say or else The Red will be meeting great misfortune very soon.
I froze. I never expected these people to have investigated me so much....they even know that I have connections to the club.
That's impressive. I always go to The Red when I skip my classes and I've always made sure to meticulously hide my tracks. It isn't a bad place on the surface, just a normal bar where office workers go to drink their sorrows away. However, the basement is where the real action is. Gambling, swindling, black market, all the interesting things happen there. Just like one of those gang hideouts that always show up in those movies. It's a place only for invited members to hang out in. I feel like it's a bit too exaggerated, but I can live with it.
It's a pretty good way to kill time, to be honest. That's why I always go there in my free time, so many fun things happen! I've even become the most trusted friend of the club owner, I hold high influence within the circle. I guess you could say I've become an important person within their community. Not that I ever show my face. Just showing off a unique card I have in my possession suffices when it's necessary.
Oops, I'm getting off track. I don't really have any obligations for the club, in fact they owe me instead. I've helped them get out of many problems when I was bored before so they feel greatly indebted to me.
Do I feel a responsibility to risk my own safety just to keep them safe? No, I don't.
But if they were gone then my main source of entertainment during school hours would disappear as well. It's too much trouble to find another organization and create a special status all over again.
I guess I'll go. If it comes down to the worst, I'll have no choice but to fight my way out.
Going back into the room, I put on a black hoodie, beanie, and changed from shorts into sweatpants. After jamming my tracker with a remote that I had made, I left the house through my room window without waking Eugene. It was the only way to avoid the cameras my dad had installed. I had already looped the camera that faced the yard before when sneaking out after school.
My footsteps were non-existent as I unlocked my bike and pushed it onto the road.
I looked back at my quiet house and took a deep breath.
I entered the address into my phone's GPS system and memorized the route to take. 45 minutes to get there, it was shorter than I thought. It located near the city's downtown district.
I checked the time. It was already 1 AM, there's no time to waste.
Jumping onto my trusty vehicle, I avoided the light from the street lamps and pedaled into the night. Hopefully, I won't be pulling an all-nighter today.
I took out my headphones from my hoodie pocket, connected them to my phone, and listened to the popular songs that had just recently come out. Humming along with the tune, I biked at a steady pace.
People aren't afraid of the dark itself.
They're afraid of what they might find in the dark, of what hides in the dark and what might be lingering within.
They're scared of the unknown, of what might be secretly looking at them.
They're scared of losing their vision, of not being able to see.
Tell me, have you ever heard of a blind person scared of the dark? Nope.
Also, bringing a bright light into the dark is probably the most idiotic move you could make. Although it increases your vision by a little bit, it also attracts things you don't want noticing you. Like they say, a moth to a flame. Things are always attracted to the light.
I'm not someone who's scared of the dark or what's in it. In fact, I feel at ease when covered in shadows. I lean more on the 'feared' side than the 'fearful' side. In the dark, I can do what I want without people seeing me, but I will still be able to sense them. I don't need light like other people, I guess I'm pretty abnormal.
I always feel much calmer when it's night time. My thoughts are always much more clear and even my senses are sharper. Haha, I'm what you would call a true night owl.
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I arrived at my destination after half an hour, faster than the GPS predicted but that's because my average speed was much higher than a normal biker. Since nobody could see me, I biked faster than usual.
I calmly stared into the dark alleyway next to the brightly shining hotel. 5 stars, must be pretty expensive. The security is also tight but there's none outside. I observed my surroundings. No windows along the wall, that's highly suspicious since that's unusual for such a high-class hotel. Normally there would at least be one-sided windows or something, but never none at all.
There was the door that the text had told me about. I tried to open it but it was locked.
I left my bike leaned against the alley wall before checking out the surroundings a bit more. I looked towards the corner of the alleyway and saw a well-hidden camera. It was on.
I grinned and waved at it with my other hand in my pocket. It would be better to act myself since it's obvious that they don't expect me to be a normal teenager. Might as well meet their expectations while I'm here.
I stretched exaggeratedly and took out my phone to check the time. Still 20 minutes before 2 AM.
Sigh.....did I leave too early? I have better things to do...like sleeping.
I turned towards the camera again.
"I wonder if I can get in before the appointed time? It's freezing out here. And I know the camera is equipped with a mic so you better not ignore me." I smiled while asking.
A long moment of silence before I heard the door unlock.
I smirked on the inside, this is fun. It's been a long time since I've last been interested in something new!
I strolled towards the metal door and opened it up without hesitation.