"I'm pretty sure that you have someone tracing this call. So, I will give you until the end of the following two hours to deliver my boys to me. The time now is 11:45 which means you'll have until 2 to act on your chosen decision."
"Your math is kinda off," Po said.
"He he he, well look at you Mr. Smart guy. Since your brains are so big I trust you to make the right decision." He hung up.
"I think I need a new phone," Po said.
"We're saved."
"We're getting out of here." The captives yelled out and started hugging one another. Monke and the others ignored their moment of liberty and pondered.
"Does he have the student council?" Monke asked as he walked back to Po.
"It is a possibility, but he could also have some other different team," Joao added.
"He could also have someone who isn't related to us at all. I've traced the student council's phones to be at an area at least 10km away from the distress call." The secretary stated over the phone.
Po brought it closer to his mouth and said, "I almost smashed this thing forgetting that you were on the other side."
"Repeat yourself," Monke commanded.
After stuttering for a few seconds the secretary repeated his theory. It was silent and Monke looked at the boys.
'He won't dare kill us. Will he?" Was the train of thoughts traveling through their brains.
"Monkey," Joao called with a worried voice.
Monke looked at him.
"He should know how many of his men are with us, what will happen if we arrive with a lower number than expected? There were also those guys we took down at the entrance, does he want them too?"
Monke ignored him, "where is the distress coming from?" Monke asked the secretary.
"It's coming from the Bey area, those buildings that mark the end of our territory and the beginning of the red Lions'."
"So our enemy is the red lions?"
"Most unlikely, they just got beat by us at least 4 days ago. I don't think that would start anything this quick, plus their capo is away on a call to the inner circle just like ours. In terms of strength, we overpower them."
"So who are you suggesting to be a contender?"
"Leaf fall and Pirana, they are the only ones who were axed out of the family during the last meeting. My guess is that they are trying to rule all of Babylon 3rd and force their way back into the family."
"You're basing all of this on the fact that their capos are still here and thus they have their legion with them. Technically making them the strongest organizations left here." Joao added.
"Well yeah... Who are you?" The secretary asked.
"Don't mind him, what's important is that we actually have someone here to tell us where they are from," Po said as he walked closer to the captives.
They looked at each other and quickly back at Po to scream, "WE'RE THE RED LIONS!" They took out blue ties and they had the logo of a red lion, it looked just like the police logo but red.
Monke looked at Po, "what now?"
"Take them to the Bey area, I'll have the guys from the casino to join you along the way in case it is a setup. Monke is the acting capo so I'll leave the final say in this matter to him." The secretary suddenly paused, he had finished his work and all of his bravery left him. "I, I… I will be going now." He mumbled and hung up.
On the other side, the secretary collapsed on his keyboard and sobbed, "why wasn't I born in the inner circle? Dad, I blame you for being a bum, and mom I blame you for finding true love. You've cursed me." He squealed.
"So what are we going to do?" Po asked.
"Can any of you drive a minivan?" Monke said as he walked to the stairs. "I want to go to bed so let's end this as quickly as possible."
'Fuck it's still morning and I've already been worn out for the day.' Monke thought as he finally touched the stairs and descended.
The ten boys left behind sprinted toward him but made sure to keep their distance once stepping out of the hallway.
"I guess I'm driving them," Po said as he joined the crowd. "Tell the tenants to come back inside and clean up where they can. After that, you can either go home or back to school. You're free for the day." Po said as he waved his hand at Joao.
Once reaching the ground floor, Monke and the other guys proceeded underground while totally ignoring Joao who was just dismissed by Po. They went to the van and Joao went to do as he was told.
"Hey everybody, I was told to tell you guys to clean up before you settle down again inside." He tried his best to make his voice audible but he was only able to reach the front audience. They whispered among themselves to pass the message and Joao shook in place.
He tried to maintain a smile but that only made his face heavier and hotter, sweat found a way to the surface and gave him an excuse to hide himself momentarily.
One by one until a whole bunch of them, the people of the Merry block apartment building, part of the oasis project started by Monke made their way back into their homes.
He kept his face covered and tried to wait until all of them had gone inside, 'after that all I have to do is watch them and make sure that they get started and take my leave.'
A hand being planted on his shoulder woke him up and he was so rapid the owner jumped back. "I'm sorry don't me."
"What? I won't hit you!" Joao exclaimed as nervously stepped back from the girl.
"I'm sorry, but I saw that you were injured and wanted to know if I can help with your wounds?" She had a cornrow lemonade braid which slid down the left side of her head almost covering her face and on the right side, the fall of the braids was behind her ears. Her eyes were huge and of generic color, her skin was the shade of rich caramel depending on how the light hit her.
She had a smile on her face, mounted to ease the boy panicking in front of her. "So?" She asked one more time.
"Well it's okay, but I still have a job to do." Joao calmed himself and stood straight again.
"Don't worry about it, I don't think these people will betray brother King's command so let's just go." She insisted to the point of grabbing Joao's hand and pulling him in closer. "It seems like I'm taller than you."
"Shut up!" Joao exclaimed as pulled away from her light grasp.
She gasped and covered her mouth with her hands.
Joao cringed and didn't know what to do or say, but in instinct he tried to apologize to her. "I am so sorry I didn't mean to do that, I just don't like it when people touch me out of nowhere."
"It's okay," she smiled. "So does this mean that you won't let me help you?" she kindly asked.
Joao looked at her for a few seconds before clearing his throat, "I am sorry but I need to leave." He flew past her and walked into the cold streets. There weren't that many cars passing by and those that passed were either delivery trucks, factory trucks, or mafia errand boys and lastly was the cars of the few working class.
Meaning that a car that passed was either a truck, a luxury car, a sports car, or classic nonelectrical volks and bm. The Oasis was a dreamchild thought up by Monke, basically, it was a way for the mafia to turn their territories into destinations for dreamers and utopia for the residents.
In the 2 years that Monke was in charge of his own 2 buildings, he was able to turn them into places were everyone in Babylon 3rd to live. Due to the influx of people from the other three major territories, the higher-ups of the Divinity family ordered the creation of the oasis.
Although it is still being built, it has already given hope to the once death ridden gangster nest that was the outer circle of Babylon 3rd. Spanning across at least 4 completed apartment complexes, 1 ongoing and a casino block which hosted the Divinity family's main office. Joao's home was on the second building called, the Savanah, it was owned by the capo and the rooms in it were very expensive.
No one ever asked him how he was able to pay them without proper employment since he was someone who came from the inner circle.
"WAIT!" The girl screamed from behind him.
Joao turned and looked at her so she stopped to catch her breath, "I thought you might need to hear this. So earlier…