Arion leaned against the wall of Rodrigo's garage, the faint smell of oil and cigarette smoke hanging in the air. The garage wasn't just Rodrigo's workspace—it had become Arion's new home after his father had kicked him out. Rodrigo, the gang's unofficial strategist and fixer, had plenty of reasons to let him stay. Arion had a sharp mind and a knack for making plans that turned into serious money for the crew.
"Morning, genius." Rodrigo strolled in from the other room, wiping grease from his hands onto a rag. "Slept okay?"
Arion shrugged, still nursing his first cigarette of the day. "Better than on the street."
Rodrigo smirked, leaning against the workbench. "Don't mention it. You're worth it. We've made more cash with your schemes in the last six months than we did all of last year."
Arion let out a short laugh. "Glad to know I'm profitable."
Rodrigo eyed him for a moment, then shifted his tone. "So, what happened with your parents? Still trying to guilt-trip you into school?"
Arion exhaled slowly, his gaze fixed on the cigarette smoke curling into the air. "Same story. They said if I stayed in the gang, I'm out for good. no House, no car, no inheritance."
Rodrigo whistled low. "Ouch. And you told them what?"
Arion smirked, but it didn't reach his eyes. "I leaved"
Rodrigo laughed. "Smooth."
"Doubt it," Arion said, flicking the cigarette ash into a metal tray. "But at this point, I'm done trying to prove anything to them."
---
The school hallway was bustling with its usual chaos—students rushing to class, chatting in groups, and the occasional teacher trying in vain to maintain order. Amid the crowd, Maria Vega stepped through the front doors, her pristine uniform and cautious expression marking her as the new girl.
In the principal's office, Rebekah Loon tapped her foot impatiently as she waited for her assignment.
"Rebekah," Principal Moore said, glancing up from his desk. "You're going to show our new student, Maria Vega, around the school today."
Rebekah raised an eyebrow. "Babysitting duty? Really?"
Principal Moore ignored the comment and handed her a schedule. "She's coming into a new environment. Help her settle in."
A few minutes later, Rebekah found Maria standing awkwardly near the lockers, looking around as if she weren't sure where to go.
"Hey," Rebekah called, putting on her friendliest voice. "You must be Maria."
Maria turned, her face lighting up slightly with relief. "Yes. That's me."
"I'm Rebekah. The principal sent me to show you around," she said, holding up the schedule like a trophy.
Maria smiled, her grip on her bag loosening. "That's... very kind. Thank you."
Rebekah waved it off and motioned for Maria to follow. "Come on. I'll show you the ropes."
As they walked, Rebekah pointed out important areas of the school: the cafeteria ("Food's decent if you don't mind questionable meat"), the library ("It's quiet—good for escaping the chaos"), and the gymnasium ("Try not to get hit by a basketball during practice").
Maria nodded politely at each stop, clearly taking mental notes.
When they reached Maria's first classroom, Rebekah gave her a final glance. "Look, if anyone gives you trouble, just let me know, alright? This place has its fair share of jerks."
Maria hesitated, then nodded. "Thanks, Rebekah. I appreciate it."
"Don't mention it," Rebekah said with a grin.
As Rebekah walked off, Maria stood in the doorway, feeling a mix of nerves and determination. She didn't know what Auroralis High would bring, but she had a feeling it wouldn't be boring.
---
The next day, the group sat together in the cafeteria, huddled at a corner table. Ethan leaned forward, keeping his voice low.
"I brought some weapons," he announced. "We might need them if things get messy."
Rebekah's eyes widened. "Weapons?"
Ethan shrugged. "Look, I'm not planning to use them unless we have to. But those guys in the woods were armed. Do you want to walk into that unprepared?"
Logan nodded thoughtfully. "He has a point. If things go south, we'll need a way to defend ourselves."
Before Rebekah could protest further, Maria approached their table, her expression a mix of curiosity and caution. Rebekah quickly introduced her to the group and gave her a brief summary of the situation.
Maria raised an eyebrow. "So, you're planning to rescue Phil yourselves?"
"That's the plan," Logan said simply.
Maria sighed. "Sounds risky. You're not seriously thinking about using weapons, right?"
Ethan rolled his eyes. "Only if we have to."
Maria shook her head but didn't press further. Instead, she hesitated for a moment, then glanced at Rebekah. "By the way, I have a date with Damian tomorrow."
The table fell silent. Logan's jaw tightened, but his expression remained cold and controlled. Ethan shot her a skeptical look, while Jake let out a soft, disbelieving scoff.
Logan, though clearly irritated, leaned back and said evenly, "be careful with him."
Maria narrowed her eyes. "Ok."
Rebekah, sensing the tension, intervened. "Okay, enough. This isn't the time to argue about Damian. We need to focus on the plan."
While the group was distracted, Justin, one of Damian's closest friends, leaned slightly forward at a nearby table. His ears caught every word of their conversation. His eyes widened when he realized what the group was planning.
Quietly, Justin stood and slipped out of the cafeteria, heading straight to Damian and Tim to share what he'd overheard—including the location of Phil.
None of them noticed him leave.
---
The afternoon sun beat down as Damian trudged home, his backpack slung lazily over one shoulder. He was dreading the inevitable conversation with his mother.
Inside the house, his mother, a sharp-eyed woman with a no-nonsense demeanor, stood waiting. Her arms were crossed, and the report card was clutched in her hand like a weapon.
"Damian," she said, her voice calm but icy. "What is this?" She held up the report card.
Damian sighed. "It's just grades, Mom. I'll fix it."
"Fix it?" she snapped. "You're barely passing! Do you want to end up like your friend Arion? Dropping out of school, wasting your life?"
Damian flinched at the comparison. "Arion's not wasting his life! He's doing fine."
His mother's lips tightened. "Really? Living off someone else's couch, running with a gang? That's what you call fine? Because that's where you're headed, Damian."
"I'm not him!" Damian shouted, his frustration boiling over.
"Then prove it," she said sharply. "Starting now, your allowance is gone. And forget about the basketball team—you're done until your grades improve."
Damian's eyes widened. "You can't do that!"
"Oh, I can. And I will. Don't test me."
Furious, Damian stormed out of the house, slamming the door behind him.
---
Damian stepped into the modest living room of Rodrigo's house, where Arion had been crashing for the past few weeks. The room was sparsely furnished—a scuffed wooden table, mismatched chairs, and a couch that doubled as Arion's bed. Arion sat cross-legged on the table, flipping through a deck of playing cards while a cigarette hung lazily between his lips.
Damian: "This place isn't exactly five-star, huh? I thought you came from money."
Arion (smirking): "Used to. Left all that behind. I don't need my dad's leash choking me. So, what do you want, Damian?"
Damian sank into the couch, his arms crossed, looking frustrated.
Damian: "My mom's on my back again. Grades, basketball, the whole thing. She cut my allowance and told me I'm off the team."
Arion (snickering): "Oh, man. Welcome to the club. That's how it starts. First, it's no allowance, then it's no roof over your head. Before you know it, you're sleeping on this couch. Trust me—I've been there."
Damian: "I'm not like you, Arion. This isn't my future."
Arion (laughing):"Sure, sure. Keep telling yourself that. Meanwhile, I'm right here, ready to bet you'll end up just like me."
Damian glared at him, the tension palpable. He sighed, deciding to shift gears.
Damian: "Look, I've got something. It could help both of us."
Arion:"You've got my attention. Spill."
Damian: "It's about that missing kid, Phil. Justin and Tim saw him being taken by some armed guys into a tunnel. His parents are offering $20,000 for his rescue."
Arion took a slow drag from his cigarette, exhaling thoughtfully.
Arion: "Twenty grand, huh? Sounds promising. What's your angle?"
Damian: "I need someone who knows how to plan this out. I could really use your help. And hey, it's a win-win. We get the kid, take the cash, and maybe my mom finally gets off my back."
Arion (grinning):"Aw, is this about proving yourself to Mommy? How noble."
Damian (annoyed): "No, it's about the money."
Arion: "Sure, let me think about it."
---
Later that night
Rodrigo leaned against the kitchen counter, swirling a glass of whiskey in his hand. Arion sat at the table, staring at the map of the city Damian had left behind.
Rodrigo:"So, what's this I hear about some missing kid and a $20,000 reward?"
Arion: "Damian's got a lead. Armed guys took the kid into a tunnel. He wants us to help. Says it'll make him look good with his mom or whatever."
Rodrigo chuckled, setting his glass down.
Rodrigo:"Kid's got no clue what he's doing. Why are you even entertaining this?"
Arion: "Because it's 20 grand. But it's risky. I'm not sure it's worth the trouble."
Rodrigo's eyes gleamed, his tone shifting to a more persuasive edge.
Rodrigo: "Not worth the trouble? Are you serious? Twenty thousand dollars, Arion. That's not just pocket change—that's an investment. Think of what we could do with that money. We could expand, grease the right palms, maybe even move out of this dump. And let's be real, if we don't go after it, someone else will."
Arion (shrugging):"Yeah, but Damian's an amateur. What if he screws us over? Or worse, gets us caught?"
Rodrigo: "That's why we don't rely on him. We use his info, take the lead, and cut him a small slice to keep him happy. You've got the brains, Arion, and I know the guys who'll get it done. This isn't just a payday—it's a statement. People will start taking us seriously."
Arion leaned back in his chair, a small smirk forming on his face.
Arion:"You really think it's worth the risk?"
Rodrigo: "I don't think—I know. Opportunities like this don't come around every day. You want to stay in this hole forever, or do you want to build something real? This is step one."
Arion nodded slowly, the wheels turning in his head.
Arion: "Alright. Let's do it. But we keep Damian out of the loop as much as possible. He gets a cut, but that's it."
Rodrigo (grinning): "That's my guy. I'll start pulling the crew together. We'll make this happen."
As Rodrigo started making calls, Arion lit another cigarette, staring at the map. He could feel the weight of the plan settling on his shoulders, but there was a spark of ambition in his eyes. He was all in.
---
Arion and Rodrigo's group arrived first at the entrance to the abandoned tunnel. The air was thick and damp, the faint hum of machinery echoing from within. Arion glanced at Rodrigo, his expression grim. "This better be worth it."
Rodrigo smirked. "Trust me. If this kid's worth twenty grand, it'll more than pay off."
The group moved cautiously into the tunnel, flashlights cutting through the darkness. They could see signs of recent activity: discarded food wrappers, boot prints in the dirt.
"Someone's been here," Rodrigo muttered.
Arion held up a hand, signaling for silence. In the distance, muffled voices could be heard, accompanied by the sound of dragging footsteps. As they crept closer, the group saw Phil—a terrified boy, no older than 15—being led by two armed men deeper into the tunnel.
"Jackpot," Arion whispered.
---
Meanwhile, Logan, Ethan, Jake, and Rebekah had just entered the tunnel from a different entrance, their nerves on edge. Logan held a flashlight steady, his jaw clenched. "Stay close."
Ethan muttered, "What kind of people bring a kid to a place like this?"
Jake rolled his eyes. "Let's just grab him and get out."
Suddenly, Rebekah froze, her flashlight illuminating a strange sight on the walls: diagrams, chemical formulas, and grotesque drawings of human anatomy. "What is this?" she whispered.
Ethan leaned closer, his eyes narrowing. "It's... experiments. Someone's doing something down here."
Before they could process what they were seeing, voices echoed through the tunnel. The group ducked behind a stack of crates, their hearts pounding.
---
Damian and his friends, Tim and Justin, entered the tunnel from yet another direction. Damian's focus was razor-sharp; his mother's words about responsibility were still ringing in his ears.
"Let's get this over with," Tim whispered.
They followed the faint sounds until they saw the armed men leading Phil. Damian signaled to Tim and Justin to stay back as he moved closer, his heartbeat loud in his ears.
Just as Damian was about to make his move, chaos erupted.
Arion and Rodrigo's men struck first, taking down one of the armed guards with a swift blow. The other guard shouted in alarm, drawing a weapon, but Rodrigo disarmed him with practiced ease.
"Grab the kid!" Rodrigo barked.
Arion pulled Phil to his feet and started dragging him toward the tunnel's exit. That's when Damian and his friends emerged from the shadows.
"What the hell?" Damian shouted.
Arion smirked. "Well, if it isn't the amateur hour. Thanks for leading us here."
Damian's jaw tightened. "You're not taking him."
Rodrigo stepped forward, his hand resting on his weapon. "And who's gonna stop us? You?"
Before the argument could escalate, Logan's group stumbled onto the scene.
"Wait!" Rebekah called out, her voice cutting through the tension.
Everyone turned, the air thick with unease.
Logan looked between Damian and Arion, piecing things together. "You all knew about this?"
Arion shrugged. "We knew enough. And now we're getting paid."
Rodrigo added, "But hey, credit where it's due. If it weren't for your little feud over here, we wouldn't have known where to look."
Arion tossed a wad of cash at Damian's feet. "Consider it a thank-you."
Damian glared at him but said nothing, scooping up the money.
---
As Arion's group disappeared into the shadows with Phil, Logan's group lingered, their frustration boiling over.
"What the hell just happened?" Ethan asked, his fists clenched.
"They beat us to it," Jake muttered.
Rebekah frowned. "How did they even know where to look?"
Logan's face darkened. "Maria."
Ethan turned to him, confused. "What does she have to do with this?"
"She told Damian," Logan said, his voice low and steady. "She had to have told him. There's no other way they could've known."
---
A dimly lit office, deep within Frank's underground facility. The air is heavy with the faint hum of machinery, and Frank sits behind a sleek metal desk, smoking a cigar. Victor enters, his usual calm demeanor masking a simmering frustration.*
Victor: "We've got a problem."
Frank leaned back in his chair, the cigar dangling from his lips as he raised an eyebrow.
Frank: "Let me guess. Someone took one of the test subjects."
Victor (nodding): "Yeah. A group of idiots managed to slip past the outer patrols. They grabbed the boy. My team found signs of a struggle, but they're long gone now."
Frank exhaled a thick cloud of smoke, his expression unbothered.
Frank: "And you're telling me this because…?"
Victor (hesitating):"Because it's a loose end. If word gets out about what we're doing down here—"
Frank cut him off with a sharp laugh, leaning forward to stub out his cigar on a metal ashtray.
Frank:"Relax, Victor. Word's not getting out. Not if you handle it properly."
Victor clenched his jaw, his hands tightening into fists at his sides.
Victor:"You're asking me to clean this up?"
Frank:"I'm not asking you—I'm telling you. Whoever took that boy, they're amateurs. They don't know what they're dealing with. Track them down, put a bullet in their heads, and bring the asset back. It's as simple as that."
Victor:"And if they've already handed him off?"
Frank smirked, his eyes glinting coldly.
Frank: "Then you make an example out of them. Find out who else they've told, and shut them up too. Permanently. No loose ends, Victor. None."
Victor nodded, his expression hardening as he turned to leave.
Frank (calling after him):"Don't make me wait for results, Victor. This is your mess now. Clean it up."
Without another word, Victor exited the room, his mind already working through the logistics of the hunt. Behind him, Frank picked up another cigar, lighting it with the same calm ruthlessness that defined him.
The hunt was on.