The lady turned to Duke.
"Now, let's discuss you. Where should we start? Shall we start with what you were doing at our warehouse? Or maybe... your abrupt move after thirteen men visited your previous address and vanished into thin air? Or perhaps..." She leaned in close, whispering in Duke's ear,
"Why you were really handcuffed?"
Duke sighed, his body slumping against the wall behind him. "Fine, you've got me. But can you at least remove the handcuffs before I say anything?" He looked at the lady, hoping for a glimmer of mercy. When no one moved to release him, he resigned himself to his fate. "What would you like to know?" he asked, his voice laced with defeat.
"Pretty much everything," the lady replied, settling into her chair with a graceful crossing of her legs. "I'm all ears."
Duke scratched his head, a wry smile spreading across his face. "You're not going to believe me," he warned.
"Try me,"
Duke recounted the events of that fateful day. He described how he was attacked on his way to deliver an item, omitting the fact that he had been double-tasking. He explained that after losing most of his earnings to his attackers, a friend briefed him about a new task that could help him recoup his losses. He referred to Nadia without mentioning her name, saying that she told him to replace someone and earn the money he had lost.
The lady pressed him for more information about this mysterious friend, but Duke hesitated, preferring not to disclose her name. However, he did reveal that she lived in his former vicinity, which he knew was a risky move, as it could lead them to Nadia. Despite his reservations, Duke was desperate to escape his current predicament and saw this as his only way out.
Duke continued to spin his web of deceit, embellishing the story of the warehouse attack "or some shit" in his words. He feigned a hapless demeanor, claiming he had lost his glasses during the chaos and struggled to find his way out due to his short-sightedness.
Earlier, when pointing at Mr. Buff, Duke had deliberately avoided direct eye contact, instead gesturing vaguely in his direction to reinforce his claim of poor eyesight. Even when addressing the Lady, he seemed to focus on a point adjacent to her, rather than meeting her gaze directly. It was as if he had anticipated this line of questioning and was prepared to maintain his charade.
Duke proceeded to answer the second question, denying any contact with others in recent days. The lady swiftly followed up, inquiring about his sudden relocation. Duke responded promptly, explaining that his rent was due and a friend he had met through deliveries offered him an affordable apartment. He admitted to using his savings to pay for it, promising to settle the full amount by month's end.
This was partially true, as Duke aimed to avoid raising suspicions.
When asked the third question, Duke hesitated before responding, "I'm embarrassed to admit this, but people seem to envy me. They think I'm living the high life, and I guess they're restless about it. I mean, I'm not just good-looking, but... never mind." He cleared his throat, trying to appear uncomfortable. "That guy, Mr. Buff, he found out I wanted to buy a game set with my earnings from the day's delivery, and he took the money." Duke recalled accidentally dropping the cash in Mr. Buff's car. "And then he wanted to... uh... you know... fu—" Duke stuttered, feigning unease, but the lady cut him off.
"That's enough. Thank you," she said, her tone firm but polite, ending the conversation.
As she stood up and approached the exit, Duke felt a wave of relief wash over him, thinking they were finally leaving. But his relief was short-lived, as a shimmering portal materialized in front of his door, taking him by surprise. He had only seen such things in movies and games. Just as he thought the lady and her minions were about to depart, she turned to him with an enigmatic smile.
"No hard feelings, Duke," she said, her voice dripping with an air of mystery. "This happens to people who get caught in a crossfire." Duke's confusion deepened as she continued, "Don't fight it, though. Let it take its toll."
As she spoke, the suited men closed in on him, cornering him against the wall making Duke discomfort grow.
"Your parents tried to oppose it after they got caught in a crossfire"
At the mention of his parents, Duke's eyes widened.
"It didn't end well. But let me tell you," She lets out tauntingly. "They were fighters" She whispered.
Duke's anger surged, and he lunged at her, but the portal vanished, taking her and some of the suited men with her.
The other two that she left pushed Duke back, and his head hit the floor with a thud.
As Duke struggled to regain his balance, he spotted an unusual pistol aimed at him. He dodged to the side, avoiding the initial shot, but the bullet grazed his thigh, and he cried out in agony
"Fuck!" he cursed, clutching his leg in pain.
However, as he examined the wound, he realized something was off. The bullet hole wasn't closing, and the pain wasn't subsiding. His body, for some reason, wasn't healing.
This was the moment he needed the system's aid the most, but it was nowhere to be found.
Duke's eyes widened as he gazed at the arm one of the men held. "What is that?" he asked, attempting to sound braver than he felt.
"This, my friend," the man replied with a sinister smile, "is a weapon designed to weaken your stamina and attack your immune system, causing you to die from the inside out."
Duke cried out in agony as he was shot again, this time in the arm. The pain was unbearable, unlike anything he had ever experienced before. Weak and helpless, he couldn't tackle his attackers in his condition, especially without the system's aid. The men ransacked his house, leaving him to suffer.
Desperate to escape, Duke's eyes scanned his surroundings, searching for a way out. He remembered that the wall he leaned against had a secret passageway leading outside.
With great effort, he sat up and used his uninjured arm to feel for the hidden door. Finally, he found it and rolled through the passage, groaning in pain as his leg hit a rock.
He was now outside, but his injuries made it impossible to move any further.
Just as Duke thought he was going to be caught by the men who had noticed his escape, a sleek black sedan swerved into the yard, cutting off the pursuit. The car screeched to a halt beside him, and the driver's side window rolled down, revealing Nadia's worried face. "Duke! Get in, get in!" she urged, her voice laced with panic.
But Duke couldn't move. The sound of the men's footsteps closing in on the backyard sent a surge of adrenaline through his body.
He gritted his teeth and stood up, groaning in sharp pain as he made a run for the car. He dove into the passenger seat, and Nadia floored it, speeding away from the suited men, who were left standing in the yard, guns still raised.
Duke turned to Nadia, confusion and suspicion etched on his face. "What are you doing here? How did you know I was in trouble?"
Nadia's response was laced with sarcasm. "Aw, you're welcome, Duke. Thanks for the rescue," Duke said after a moment, still panting and trying to process what had just happened.
Nadia's eyes remained fixed on the road ahead. "Anytime, Duke. But we need to talk. You're in a lot deeper than you think."
Duke muttered, "No kidding."