As August and I approached Keifi, an unsettling silence enveloped the area. The usually bustling tavern stood eerily quiet, with not a soul in sight. People walked past, seemingly oblivious to the establishment's presence, their gazes fixed straight ahead. The stark contrast to our lively visit with January just the other day sent a chill down my spine.
"I've never seen Keifi so quiet," August remarked, his face darkening with concern.
We exchanged a wary glance and hurried inside. The moment we stepped through the doorway, the sound of splintering wood reached our ears. My heart raced as we moved deeper into the tavern, the ominous cracking growing louder with each step.
"Listen here, gramps. You owe us money - since your usual muscle is off serving those high-rollers, we're your new security detail!" a harsh voice boomed from behind the kitchen doors.
August and I locked eyes, a silent understanding passing between us. Without hesitation, we rushed towards the kitchen, ready to face whatever threat awaited us.
Crashing past the swinging doors, I felt ice flood my veins at what lay ahead. Slumped in a heap by the far wall was Tusk, battered and swollen, his features marred by rising welts and red streaks. A trio of intimidating thugs stood above him, their commander - a monstrous brute with a jagged scar splitting his face - gripping an iron baton, the tip warped from countless savage blows.
Fury filled me like a fire in dry wood. I was ready to burst, all of my energy channeled into my clenched fists. I saw sheer fear in the eyes of our enemies as they turned to face us. My blood boiled, my veins bulging with the force of my pounding heart.
"Who are you, scumbags?!" I screamed, taking determined steps towards Tusk and the group of thugs. August moved in unison beside me, his presence a comforting reminder that I wasn't alone in this fight.
In a flash, the brawl erupted. Two of the smaller thugs rushed at August, while I charged straight for their hulking leader. His iron baton glinted menacingly in the dim light, but I refused to let fear hold me back.
I closed the distance swiftly, my body moving on instinct. With a powerful strike, I drove my fist into the brute's gut, forcing the air from his lungs. As he doubled over, I followed up with a devastating blow to his face, feeling the satisfying crunch of bone beneath my knuckles.
The thug crumpled to the ground, but I wasn't finished. With a final, vicious kick to his face, I ensured he wouldn't be getting up anytime soon. The rush of adrenaline coursed through my veins as I stood over his prone form, chest heaving with exertion.
I glanced over at August, who had already dispatched his two opponents with brutal efficiency. They lay sprawled on the floor before him, groaning in pain. Our eyes met, a silent acknowledgment of our victory.
I watched as August grabbed one of the thugs, lifting him off the ground with ease. "Who sent you? Who is collecting money from our place?" August demanded, his voice low and menacing.
The thug's eyes widened in fear as he quickly raised his hands in surrender. "It's Bricks' orders. We were just doing what the higher-ups told us, please spare us!" he pleaded, his voice trembling.
August delivered another swift punch to the thug's face before dropping him unceremoniously to the ground. "Get out of here, now," he growled, his eyes blazing with fury.
The two smaller thugs scrambled to their feet, hastily grabbing their leader and dragging him towards the exit. They disappeared through the kitchen doors, leaving us alone with Tusk.
August rushed to Tusk's side, helping the old man to his feet. "What happened, old man? Those guys are not even near your level," August said, concern etched on his face as he looked at Tusk's battered form.
Tusk shook his head weakly, his voice strained as he spoke. "They used some drug. I wasn't even able to move normally. This shitty Brick knows some alchemy or something like that. Piece of garbage." He barely had the energy to sit on the nearby stool, his body slumping forward in exhaustion.
I felt a surge of anger rising within me as I took in the sight of Tusk's injuries. The thought of someone using underhanded tactics to overpower our old man made my blood boil. I clenched my fists, my knuckles still throbbing from the fight.
"We need to find out more about this Brick character," I said, my voice tight with determination. "If he's going after Tusk and Keifi, he's messing with the wrong people."
I watched as August gave a quiet nod, appearing lost in thought. Something nagged at the back of my mind, but I couldn't quite put my finger on what felt wrong.
I moved to Tusk's other side, helping August support the old man's weight. "Let's get you upstairs and patched up, Tusk. We'll take care of things from here," I said, my voice softening with concern.
As we helped Tusk to his feet, I couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of something much bigger. The name Brick echoed in my mind, a looming threat that we would have to face head-on. But for now, our priority was taking care of Tusk and ensuring his safety. Everything else could wait.
As we helped Tusk upstairs to his room, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that had settled in my gut. August and I worked together to clean and dress Tusk's wounds, the silence between us heavy with the weight of our thoughts.
After some time, with our help, Tusk was finally patched up. He sat on the edge of his bed, his face still swollen and bruised, but a grateful smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. "Thank you, guys. I don't know what I would do without you. You don't need to look into this, I will solve this myself. Still have some contacts here and there, you know," he said, his eyes flickering between August and me.
I exchanged a glance with August before taking a seat on the opposite side of the bed. "This is personal for us too now," I said, my voice firm with determination.
Tusk's gaze narrowed as he looked at August, then back at me. "You two sure you don't want to say something to me?" he asked, his tone laced with suspicion. "Last time we spoke, you said not to mess with Brick, but now you're saying that it's personal?"
I felt August's eyes on me, the weight of our shared secret hanging in the air between us. I sighed, my gaze dropping to the floor as guilt washed over me. "You need to know," I began, my voice quiet. "And I wanted to say that today, just didn't have time."
I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the confession that was about to spill from my lips. "I lost my memories. So even if I knew Brick before, I don't remember him now," I admitted, the words feeling heavy on my tongue.
Tusk's eyes widened in surprise, his mouth falling open slightly. "What do you mean, you lost your memories?" he asked, leaning forward with concern etched on his face.
I rubbed the back of my neck, the weight of my admission settling on my shoulders. "It's a long story," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "But I woke up one day, and everything was just... gone. I don't remember anything about my past, about Brick, or even about myself."
August placed a comforting hand on my shoulder, his presence a silent show of support. I glanced up at him, grateful for his unwavering loyalty.
Tusk leaned back against his pillows, his brow furrowed in thought.
"I noticed that was amiss," Tusk murmured, worry evident in his gaze. "Though I hadn't realized the severity."
August turned to face me, his demeanor grave. "Listen, Brick operates under Assassin's banner, same as we do. And he resides in Dzvilla, just as we do," he explained with a deep exhale. "The city has strict protocols. We're forbidden from harming or robbing him within its bounds. Outside city limits, though Assassin's contract technically protects their agents from each other, that's harder to enforce."
Rage boiled inside me as I jumped to my feet, knocking my seat backward. I strode back and forth, plotting vengeance in my mind. "We'll devise a strategy to apprehend him," I declared through gritted teeth. "I'm going to inform January and December," I stated, seeking Tusk's backing with my eyes.
Tusk just exhaled softly, his expression a blend of fatigue and empathy. "Your personality may have shifted, but your headstrong nature and choices remain identical," he remarked with a faint grin. "Follow your instincts - you're all grown up now."
August's eyes darted to the clock on the wall, his expression suddenly alarmed. "Ugh, I've got to run, everyone. I'm seriously late," he announced, bolting toward the door. "March, head home without me!" his voice carried up from the ground floor of the tavern.
I wanted to ask where is he going, but Tusk gestured for silence. "Let him have his secrets," he commented, maintaining his weary smile. "Let's continue our conversation. Tell me more about what happened before you reached this situation."
I mirrored his expression and settled back down, finding a comfortable position. As I started sharing the sequence of events, a calming sensation spread through me. It was therapeutic to confide in someone who'd known my previous self, someone who might help me piece together my fractured memories and navigate the obstacles before me.