Erin walked through the double doors and into the dimly lit bar. The place was as rundown as he remembered, with old wooden tables and chairs scattered around, most of them occupied by rough-looking individuals. The air was thick with the smell of alcohol and smoke, a mix that made his nose wrinkle.
He had been here many times before, and each visit was as uncomfortable as the last. The people inside weren't exactly friends; in fact, most of them barely acknowledged him, except to remind him of his place. They knew him as the weak one, the easy target, and they never missed a chance to take advantage of that.
As Erin walked further in, he noticed the familiar faces of those who had tormented him before. They sat in their usual spots, drinking and laughing loudly, completely at ease. New faces were mixed in with the old, but they all had the same look in their eyes—the look of someone who was always ready to exploit any weakness they found.
He felt their eyes on him as he moved through the bar, but he kept his head down, trying to make himself as invisible as possible. Without a hood to hide under, blending in was a challenge. The best he could do was keep to the shadows and hope that no one would bother him.
The bar was noisy, filled with the clatter of mugs and the hum of low conversations. Erin knew that staying out of sight was his best option. The back of the bar seemed like the safest place, so he made his way there, keeping close to the walls. His heart pounded in his chest as he passed by tables, praying that no one would call out to him or try to start something.
But even as he reached the back, he couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. The people in this bar had a way of making him feel small, insignificant. It was something he had gotten used to, but that didn't make it any easier to bear. He found a seat in the corner, far from the main crowd, and sat down.
Erin kept his eyes on the table in front of him, avoiding any glances that might invite trouble. This was how he survived in places like this—by being as unobtrusive as possible. He just needed to get through this one last job, and then maybe, just maybe, things would start to change.
But for now, all he could do was wait and hope that the people in this bar would continue to ignore him, just like they always did.
It was nerve-wracking the way he lived his life, but it was the only way he knew how to live.
"You seem stressed out, so you should probably calm down a bit," said a voice beside him.
Erin hadn't been paying attention to his surroundings and now wished he had. The person next to him had decided to strike up a conversation, and from experience, Erin knew this wasn't a good sign. People who talked too much were often trouble, and trouble was the last thing he needed.
He stiffened, not wanting to engage, but the stranger didn't seem to notice—or didn't care. If this guy was the talkative type, they wouldn't mix well. Erin wasn't in the mood for conversation, especially not with someone he didn't know.
"You seem a bit spaced out. Is the job getting to you?" the stranger asked, pausing as if expecting an answer. Erin stayed silent, hoping the lack of response would discourage further interaction.
"Well, if it is, don't be. It's just a bodyguard mission, so it shouldn't be too hard. Maybe I should buy you something with my part of the cash afterward," the boy continued, seemingly undeterred by Erin's silence.
After a few moments of awkward quiet, the stranger spoke again. "It seems you're not much of a talker, but if you must know, my name is Mark. What about you?"
Erin realized that if he didn't answer, this Mark guy would just keep pestering him. It seemed he was the type of person who couldn't stay silent. Reluctantly, he steeled himself and gave a short reply.
"Erin..."
"Erin, huh? That's a nice name, but isn't it a girl's name?"
"It's a unisex name," Erin replied, keeping his tone flat. Inside, though, he was thinking, *Can you just shut up?*
He was growing tired of the conversation, but just as he was about to give up, Larry, the one in charge, started the briefing for the mission.
"All personnel gather 'round," Larry's voice boomed across the bar.
Erin watched as everyone began to move forward, even those who, like him, preferred to stay in the back. He would have stayed put if Mark hadn't urged him forward.
"Come on, let's go. If we don't, we won't get a good spot," Mark said enthusiastically.
*Damn you, Mark,* Erin thought bitterly as he was dragged to the front.
"This is the man you will be protecting," Larry announced, pointing to a tall man standing nearby. "All you need to know is that his name is Mr. Damien, and we'll be guarding him on his way to his estate and during his stay there."
"We should be grateful to him because he's covering our eating expenses as well," Larry continued. "And last but not least, he is one of the boss's closest friends, so we need to keep him safe. That will be all."
After the introduction, Mr. Damien started scanning the crowd, his eyes sharp and calculating. When his gaze landed on Erin, a shiver ran down Erin's spine. Something about Damien's stare made him feel like prey, as if he was being hunted. But before Erin could dwell on it, his system suddenly activated.
The screen in front of him flickered to life, and he heard a female voice in his head.
'Wait, what the hell?'
[New Quest]
[Quest Info: Murderous intent detected.]
[Objective: Survive.]
[Reward: You get to live.]
[Penalty: None needed.]
'What the hell?'Erin's eyes were drawn back to Damien, who was still staring at him with that unsettling smile. It was a smile that sent a chill down his spine—a smile that promised nothing good.