Zephyr scrolled through his phone, his eyes suddenly lighting up at a familiar profile picture. Miles Howell, decked out in hip-hop gear and shades, was a minor celebrity at school, less for any actual talent and more for his well-connected status. Even Zephyr, a quiet, unremarkable student, was Facebook friends with him.
Zephyr recalled Griffin mentioning Miles' friend, a shady loan shark preying on desperate girls. They'd send IDs, student cards, even explicit photos as collateral, risking public humiliation if they defaulted. Zephyr had been disgusted, though not exactly sympathetic. Now, though, Miles represented an opportunity.
"Yo, Miles," Zephyr texted. "Can I borrow some cash from your buddy?"
"Sure thing," Miles shot back. "What department are you in?"
Zephyr sent a picture of his student ID. "How much you looking for?" Miles asked after verifying it.
"Twenty grand," Zephyr replied, figuring that was the likely limit. He knew Miles could easily check his unremarkable family background.
Miles was clearly surprised. "Twenty thousand? What do you need that kind of money for? Even a back-alley abortion doesn't cost that much."
"Something important," Zephyr said curtly. "Just tell me what I need to do."
"Alright, alright. Leave your student ID, give me your address, and sign a promissory note for fifty grand – thirty grand interest, haha. Also, a video of you holding the note, reading it aloud, and confirming it's voluntary. I'll destroy it when you pay up."
"How long do you need the twenty grand for?"
"A month."
"Then you owe twenty-five thousand in a month. We go to the same school, so you know I'll find you," Miles said.
"Okay," Zephyr agreed, wincing internally at the exorbitant interest rate. It was clear Miles was deeply involved in this operation, if not running it himself. He probably had ways to ensure repayment. Defaulting would be a disaster.
Zephyr chuckled softly. Interest, threats... none of it mattered when the world was ending.
That afternoon, Zephyr arranged a rental car online and met Miles to finalize the loan. As Miles transferred the money, he eyed Zephyr curiously. "So, what's the big plan?"
"Something big. You'll hear about it in a week," Zephyr said cryptically.
Miles shook his head, a flicker of regret crossing his face. This kid seemed unhinged. Still, the money was sent. No student had ever stiffed him before.
Cash in hand, Zephyr headed to the rental company. Vans were hard to come by. He'd searched extensively online before finding one, and they were holding it for only two hours.
Arriving an hour early, Zephyr spotted the sign and breathed a sigh of relief. Inside, a young woman with a ponytail, Serena, stood behind the reception desk, dressed in a crisp uniform. She looked about eighteen or nineteen, fresh-faced and cheerful. She smiled and nodded at Zephyr while finishing up with a customer in a suit.
Zephyr sat down, noticing a Spanish vocabulary book peeking out from under her desk. This girl was probably a student, working part-time. Smart move for the rental company – cheap labor and a pretty face to attract customers.
"Hi, I'm Serena Dawn. How can I help you?" she chirped, turning to him after dismissing the other customer.
"Hi, I have an online reservation for a van…" Zephyr began.
"Oh… um…" Serena looked distressed. "I'm so sorry, but this gentleman just rented our last van." She felt terrible; she had taken Zephyr's reservation, but the boss had overridden it.
"I'm really sorry. If you're willing to wait, you can make another reservation. It should be available in a few days, once this gentleman returns it."
Zephyr was stunned. He couldn't wait. Thinking fast, he asked, "Has he paid yet?"
"Uh, no, but he's about to sign the contract…" Serena replied, confused.
The man in the suit smirked, sensing Zephyr's desperation. Too bad, so sad.
"If he hasn't paid, tell your boss I'll pay two hundred dollars extra per day, rent it for a week, and renew next week. I'll just be driving it locally, so minimal wear and tear."
Serena was taken aback, then looked at the suited man, unsure what to do. This was a new one.
"Three hundred!" Zephyr added.
Hesitantly, Serena said, "Sir, I need to call and ask."
The man in the suit sighed inwardly. He'd just been feeling smug, and now he was being outbid.
"Forget it," he conceded. "Give it to him." No point in even calling.
"I'm so sorry, sir, but you'd have to wait until the weekend to pick it up. This gentleman needs it immediately… How about I put you down for a few days from now?"
The man looked at Zephyr, who looked like a college kid. "Kid, why do you need this thing for so long?"
"Just… need it," Zephyr replied.
The man muttered, "Kids these days…"
Zephyr ignored their stares. He signed the contract, barely glancing at the draconian damage clauses. This van was going to have more than a few scratches.
"Your ID, please…" Serena said, smiling.
Zephyr slapped his fake ID on the counter and grabbed the keys. At the door, he paused. "Can you help me find a driver to bring it around back?"
He didn't have a license.