A beautiful Sunday morning...
(Hello! Can you hear me kid?)
The 19 year old, Alaric Danni gulped down his saliva, the phone close to his ear as he stood in a dark alley.
His white hair covered his forehead, allowing him to hide the fear in his silver eyes.
"Yes...I...can hear you." He responded.
(Where the hell did you think you were going to run? Uhm?! You must think I'm really stupid if you're pulling such a prank on me.)
Alaric could barely say a word.
What could he say?
In order to pay for his sister's urgent organ transplant, he needed to gather a whooping sum of $50,000.
Being raised in the streets, poor and almost homeless; an amount like that was next to impossible.
Even if he saved up every money he had possibly earned all his life, it wouldn't even cover a quarter of the money he needed.
With no other option, he decided to borrow money from a famous gang in New York, his home town.
Borrowing was the easy part, paying it back was an entirely different issue.
"I know I promised to pay you your money last week. And I'm sorry I haven't, but could you please give me a bit more-"
(YOU SH*T Fu*ker! Ass Wipe! C*ck Sucking Poverty Ridden B*tch Ass Mother F*cker!!! Fuck you! Oh boy, do you have any idea what I could do to you?!!)
Alaric was already trembling where he stood, looking left and right to make sure no one suspicious was closing in on him.
The gang name was called the Red Axe, a gang no one in their right mind would try to mess with. The connection they had with the city's police force ran deep.
(Hey fucker! I hope you are listening to me?! Answer , you shit head!)
"Y.. yes..."
(You have 24 hours to give me back my money, 24 hours! If you fail to return my 50 thousand dollars. I'll make good use of your sister, and skin you alive for my dogs. Don't even bother fleeing the city, you know I'll find you. Now get lost, broke boi.)
_Tinggggggg_
The call was over.
All Alaric could do was stand there, looking at the sky as rain suddenly began to drip on his face.
50,000 thousand dollars in under 24 hours? For someone who could barely see one thousand dollars a month, how was he going to pay back?
"Fuck this..."
He cursed.
If only he could be the only one to pay the price, then he wouldn't have to be worrying this much. But his sister was all he ever cared for in his world that was painted black and white around him, he couldn't bear to lose her. Not her.
"Rachael!"
His childhood friend suddenly hopped in his thoughts.
Though he hasn't spoken to her in months, luckily he still remembered her number.
From what he heard during their last student gathering, Rachael's father won a huge contract and was now the CEO of a multi millionaire company.
The famous Dragon snare. A company that was based on an advanced media and game production.
'It's worth the try, she's rich, I'm sure a few thousand dollars wouldn't freak her.'
Alaric began to dial the number on his button phone, yes...he cramped her number.
Once done, he called. Pacing around the alley nervously.
'When she picks, what do I say?'
'What if she doesn't pick?'
'Do I just ask for the money directly?'
These thoughts danced in his head like the swirling darkness around him.
Suddenly...
(Crk! Hello? Who is this?)
Rachael's voice echoed.
Alaric was shocked she even picked, he immediately composed himself.
"Hi... Racheal."
(Who is this, please.)
"It's me, Alaric, from college."
There was silence for a while...
(Ally? Is that really you?)
She didn't have any hostility in her tone, Alaric was off to a good start, and he made sure he didn't waste it.
"Yes it's me, long time no see, how have you been?"
(Oh I've been well Ally, I've searched all over for you. You just suddenly disappeared on us, Eidic and the rest were worried when you dropped out, where are you now?)
"Where am I?" Alaric looked around for a while, as if reading his environment, "I'm in ... Ithaca."
(For real? That's tots awesome, I'm close to that area! Papa wanted to do some business there so we kinda moved there. Wild life café, do you know where?)
"Yes I do."
Alaric responded, he couldn't quite understand why Rachael was excited, but as long as he could get on her good side, he didn't mind.
(Alright, let's meet up there in the next one hour, how is that?)
"Uhm... It's fine by me..."
(Awesome, see you there... Ally~)
She hung up.
Alaric took a deep breath, putting the phone in his pocket.
It was time to use the one asset he very well knew he had.
His looks.
All his life Alaric had been told how handsome he was, his white hair and silver eyes stood out like a sore thumb. People were envious, wanting to have such amazing and almost perfect features.
Alas, he was a poor loser.
Only those who watched from afar admired him, the moment they get to know him, they immediately pull away.
This time, Alaric planned to make sure Rachael gave him him that money, even if it meant he was going to gravel and beg like a kid.
"Okay, I think I'm ready."
..
Alaric went back to his one room apartment, looking for the best clothes he could find. They were all rags, but some were more presentable than the other.
Luckily he found two pairs that would fit him well and atleast not scream how low his bank account was.
A black jeans and a white top. They looked raggy, but with a little ironing, he would be able to pull it out as something presentable.
As always, his necklace was around his neck.
After a while, he was ready to head out.
He stood in front of the small mirror, the definition of 'Looks carried so hard, one could ignore the rest.'
Either way, his long lost friend was his last hope, and he doesn't plan on letting it slip from his finger.