Light streams through the Venetian blinds, momentarily dazzling a certain auburn-haired man in his slightly rumpled king-size bed. His exhaustion has not worn off just like he expected, and it has set off his bells early in the morning.
Gray Langdon was born in New Orleans and he grew up in a luxurious colonial mansion in Lake Shore-Lake Vista. His life was perfect back there: freedom from his corporate responsibilities and an elite crew to do his bidding.
Everything was perfect, until last month.
On his twenty-fifth birthday, Gray got involved in a bar fight that went awfully wrong. Senator Arthur Griffin's son was harassing a club waitress, something Gray didn't like seeing. He tried to handle the situation properly, knowing eyes were on them, but young Alfred Griffin couldn't be asked nicely, and a nasty fist fight ensued. Gray, having superior mind and physical power, easily got the upper hand. But his temper went berserk, causing him to smash a bottle of Smirnoff on Alfred's face. After the fight, the senator's son was rushed to the hospital to undergo an emergency operation in the eyes.
The news of the fight made the national television and went on for weeks, and a trial was held to discuss Gray Langdon's case. In the end, it was the testimony of the bar waitress that proved the fight was only a result of self-defense. Despite the senator's overwhelming wealth and power, Gray won the case.
But the Langdon clan faced brutal shame because of the scandal. Gray's relationship with his father worsened and his hate for Helterground Corporations deepened.
"What you have done is an insult to our family name," his father had told him.
"I tried to protect a girl. Is that a shame?" Gray had retorted indignantly. "What's more important to you, father? Justice or self-image? Is this what power did to you? You have become arrogant and selfish, just like so many others. If mother could see you right now, she would be disappointed. I am disappointed."
"Gray, our company has always been about image and power. We cannot let any scandal ruin our carefully-built supremacy over the business world. As future heir, you should always remember that."
"I never wanted to be the next owner of this company. I never wanted to be like you." These final words drew the final straw on his father. And here he is: forced to live under his roof for the time being.
With great effort, he detaches himself from the bed and runs his pale, slender fingers through his hair. He stretches his lanky body and yawns as he slowly makes his way downstairs to the richly furnished kitchen where he finds his younger sister making a peanut butter sandwich.
"Good morning, sister," Gray drawls mellifluously. The girl jumps at the sound and shrinks back slightly when he sits beside her. This is the first time the siblings have had any interaction in twenty years and it surprises Gray how the girl looks exactly like their deceased mother.
"Hi," comes the small reply. He looks at her and notes the similar color of their hair, how some strands seem to have a reddish hue when light strikes them. The girl is slim, her skin is pinkish white, and has an attractive face.
"How was sleep?" he asks softly to lessen the obvious nervousness of the girl.
"It was good."
"So, Geline." Gray grins, putting her at ease. "Father told me you're a model now. Tell me about it."
"Oh." Her face darkens a little but it is gone as quickly as it came. "Listen, I kinda took a break from modeling."
This peaks Gray's curiosity. "Why?"
"The company I worked for is hell. There's a black-haired witch who runs the place. I don't want to go back there."
"Who is this black-haired witch?" At least, Gray hopes, New York is not a boring state. He could create another lair for his Scare Crew. If Cornelius Langdon, his father, thinks moving him to New York would make everything change, he's dead wrong. Gray is surely going to get things worse.
The anticipation is slowly building up now—
"Her name's Lucy Woods and she's very famous around here. She created her own brand right after graduating college. Everybody knows that she's a terror to work with. Some only stay because the pay is good." That's new. He doesn't know anyone else capable of spreading horror like him—let alone a woman. Geline's voice interrupts his thoughts and he forces himself to listen. "She's really evil. I can't believe Helterground allows her to do such damage. Just because she's the co-owner's daughter doesn't mean she could do what she wants."
The co-owner's daughter bringing havoc in Helterground? This is getting interesting. "Tell me," Grays asks nonchalantly. "What did she do to you?"
At this, Geline's face reddens and her eyes begin to well up. "She… she tripped me in front of the entire production staff on my first day at work. It was horrible!"
Gray's heart softens as he sees his sister snivel silently. He reaches over and pats her head gently. Geline looks up and wipes her tears away with the back of her hand. Her eyes, Gray notices, are as brown as his, too. "Don't worry, little sister. I'll make her pay."
"You don't understand, Gray. Lucy Woods is formidable. Very. She's really slick and tough."
"I am formidable enough, Geline. You know what I did last month, right? People like Lucy Woods needs to be punished. I'll bring her down and you can go back to modeling in no time." He stands up and pops an M&M from a crystal bowl to his mouth. Just then, a loud crash resounds from the living room.
"Ugh! Can't they keep quiet?" Geline complains, instantly forgetting her problem with the black-haired witch.
"They? Who's they?"
"Father said they're your friends in New Orleans. He figured maybe you're gonna warm up to him if you are not lonely." But Gray isn't listening anymore. He breaks up in a toothy grin and shuffles toward the brightly-lit living room. There, slouched in the white leather sofas, are his best buddies: Scare Crew. Travis Torres, the one lying closest to him, perks up and jolts his body upwards, slamming himself against Gray.
"Took you long enough to smell us, Leylouch!" Travis says, using Gray's middle name. The guy has a bleached white hair and striking blue eyes. The group often calls him 'albino' because of his corpse-like complexion. He's also a computer genius.
"Probably got his Southern nose all Northern now," Jacob Menzies joins the fray and tackles him down to the expensive Persian rug, his burly frame easily pinning Gray securely under him.
"Easy, boys!" Gray protests in vain but his friends won't leave him alone. His soft brown eyes land on the only person who doesn't seem to care if the rest of the Scare Crew turns him into a mashed potato.
"Yo, Marcus. Don't you want to join the party?" he asks, grunting when he manages to free his right arm from Jacob's vise-like grip. Marcus looks up from a Dan Brown book and slightly shakes his head, his silky black hair falling over his hooded eyes.
"Marcus Black doesn't want to get physical all the time," Travis says, giving up the fight and pulling Gray back to his feet.
"Because that is too barbaric, dickhead," Marcus shots Travis a glare and the group bursts into laughter.
"Are you guys just visiting?" Gray asks, fixing his messy brown hair and his rumpled shirt.
"Are you blind? We didn't bring these suitcases here for a visit of His Highness." Jacob gestures to the stack of traveling bags in the parlor and scoffs.
"So, you're staying here?" Gray couldn't quite grasp what they are saying.
Marcus puts down his book impatiently and strides to where Gray is. "It means we're staying here to look out for your sorry ass in case you screw up again."
The room is silent for a minute and Gray tenses, knowing this kind of topic is forbidden. He gazes at Marcus's clear blue eyes, unfazed. Then he slowly places his hand on Marcus's shoulder. Gray tightens his grip and he could feel the rest tense and prepare for a fight.
After a strained silence, Gray chuckles. "You're right, Marcus. Scare Crew is nothing when it isn't complete. When we're together, everywhere is our lair."
Travis grins, apparently relieved of the tension dissipating. "So bring it, boss. Mr. Langdon said we can stay here as long as we want to keep you company."
Gray grins and plops in one of the couches. "And to keep me in trouble."
"Right." Jacob sits beside him and begins to play with his iPhone. Gray ignores this and watches his crew instead. Travis boots his laptop and starts typing rapidly, the steady rhythm of the keyboard thrumming in silence. Marcus, unlike the other two, returns to his seat and reads quietly again. Their presence almost feels like home.
"So, are we bringing hell to New York?" Jacob asks after a stretched moment of silence.
"Nah." Gray tilts his head to one side and smirks. "My sister told me it's already hell in here. There's a certain badass who runs the place."
"I smell trouble already." Jacob wrinkles his nose and grins.
This earns a smirk from Travis and he punches Gray's arm. "Speaking of your sister, damn, she's hot. Can I date her one of these days?"
"No one dates Geline, all right?"
"Since when did you become protective?" Travis frowns.
"Since when I got a sister, sleaze ball." Gray shots him a baleful look and returns a punch to his shoulder.
"Tell us about this certain badass then." Marcus finally joins in the conversation and Gray leans back in the couch, briefly relating them the details Geline has given him earlier. He can't wait to meet this Lucy Woods and see if she's really as formidable as his sister says. Either way, he's going to make her pay for bullying Geline. And she's going to regret ever messing with a Langdon.
"How do we start the operation?" Jacob brings out a small pad of paper and a fountain pen from a black sling bag and the rest of the group comes closer. Their eyes glint in anticipation in the approaching hunt of another prey.
"I'll measure her up first. I will see for myself if she is truly evil, then we'll begin the job. Are you guys ready for another quest?" Gray grins wickedly as he looks around his loyal team. Scare Crew will have another taste of glory as they bring down this infamous Lucy Woods. And New York will be theirs for the taking.