Alan woke up in the same alley from where he had been abducted. Confused. Slowly regaining his senses, he tried to assess the situation in a calm manner. All the craps had happened out of nowhere. He checked the time and date on his phone from his backpack. He didn't think Raven would return the phone to him including his other belongings but they were there. A question was, were his phone being tracked or did any data get stolen from his device? Though he didn't have many important things it still was a matter of privacy.
Sitting there, he realized that he was in the who-knows-what organizations territory for only a night and that felt ages. It was 5:30 in the morning and he could hear the chirping of birds which didn't appeal to him anyway. The threat posed by Raven didn't really shake Alan because it was Dravenors they were dealing with. Dravenor Family had a big control over the SigmaSos, undercity's biggest market that the cops had no idea how to deal with. It was open for them but not for the cops or High Society. If the supplies were to be stopped or shortage of goods took place, the beasts who were feasting with these would go berserk and tear apart whoever was responsible for killing the Supplier, that is Dravenors at this point.
Not that Alan's father Giovanni Dravenor, mother Marley la Vega or his older sis Kierra Dravenor were harmless. They also have on field combat experience and the daily routine of the fighting drills were never to be missed for the three of them. Heck if they were getting killed.
He stood up to head for his rented apartment in the city of Zerodyne Spire, where he has been residing for past 17 years. His family spent their days in the southern outskirts of the city and Alan didn't want to deal with them for most of the time. He had to go to them to pass the night and would return to his apartment in the city as soon as the sun rose. Maybe he didn't want to get into his family's business, maybe he just didn't like them, maybe something traumatizing thing happened in the past that Alan don't want to remember. Who knows what were the reason...
"You should head for the outskirts instead of the apartment here." a voice came as Alan was walking out of the alley. He felt like the sound was a cyborg version of the calm and seething voice he heard last night.
"No, I am not Raven so burst your bubbles now." said the man in a corner, his faced covered in a hood giving both a badass and lame vibe that Alan didn't know which one to go with.
Staying cautious regardless he asked, "Why should I listen to you?"
"You don't have to. But if you don't go, you'll miss a thrilling show. I don't know if you'll feel terrified, joyous or confused. What I do know is that it is interesting to witness what's happening out there. See ya-" saying this he disappeared. Vanished. Literally Vanished.
Alan got startled yet thought to come back to check the area where the man was standing. Swaying his eyes here and there to locate something.
"It couldn't be a ghost. And no matter how much Crytorian Co. advances and make progress in technology, they can't teleport people." said Alan to himself. That's when he looked to his right and found a cube. A hologram cube. So that man was a hologram only. He spectated the cube and found a note at the bottom of it. "IT IS NOT FROM CRYPTORIAN."
What the...
Disregarding the interaction with a holo of an unknown figure, he decided to head for the outskirts anyway. The school was off since it was weekend.
He came to a halt looking at the crowd in front of their house. Alan became a little upset. But his family could not actually get killed. It was one of the heinous and ill-reputed family that made their name and built their business even trading with murders. Shaking off the thoughts he proceeded to enter the living room from the compound.
Most of the people gathered in the front yard were general residents of undercity. He could still locate a few goons of the topdogs. Hovering his hand over his messed up grey hair vaguely trying to fix them which no one found attractive either way, he pushed the crowd made his way.
Crossing the compound felt like ages. Reaching the living room, he saw three dead bodies. The cold bodies of Giovanni, Marley and Kierra were lying low on the floor.
"The killer left a note." a voice of an older man came from the right. Alan was deep in thought trying to process this. To be honest he didn't feel anything. Maybe confused but not compassion. No matter how bad their relations were with each other, it still was his family. He couldn't feel the sorrow but was thinking how the ruler could die such a miserable death. The slashes visible on the face making it almost impossible to recognize that it was Giovanni.
The same older voice tried to preach Alan again "The killer-"
"Shut up." came lowly from Alan. He advanced towards the dead bodies to get a closer look. Examined them a little and gave a sigh. "They are dead" said Alan.
"I am telling you the killers left a note saying THIS IS THE CONSEQUENCE FOR YOU LITTLE ALAN'S BOLDNESS AND BRAVERY." said Giovanni's younger brother, Gerrard Dravenor. "Look, you've caused so many set backs in our business and trades already by isolating yourself in the city away from us. It caused them, the dead ones here, a lot of trouble because you could have made things way easier with your traits."
"I am not eligible for those-"
"Yet they are dead because of some bold thing you've done."
"My parent's aren't dead." came from the oddly straight face of Alan.
"You just confirmed they are dead, brother." a feminine voice came from Gerrard's back. Coming in front, Alan recognized her. Cramelin, daughter of Gerrard same age as Alan was. "Then what are you saying now?"
"What exactly did I say? Can you repeat please, sister Cramelin?"
"You said my parents are dead."
"What a blasphemous lie. What I said was 'They are dead' which is undoubtedly true but the Dravenor folks are alive."
"Have you hit your head on the way Alan?" said Luke, Gerrard's 20 years old son. "Are you playing pronoun games with us now?"
"No. You guys are just underestimating these snakes. They can't die with a few slashes at their own house like this. Their body is not poisoned too and I am affirmative of their combat skills and emergency tactics they possess." replied Alan.
Gerrard tried to speak, "So you are sayi-"
"Yes. I'm saying that these bodies are substitute bodies. Main branch of the Dravenor has not withered yet."
"Enough of your nonsense!" shouted Gerrard. "A good for nothing heir like you just wants the properties without getting involved into the danger of daily trades. I am the one who's suffering the loss of a brother here. You have no clue how I am feeling."
Alan stayed silent about the same time as a leaf needs to fall from its twig and then said, "Negative. Affirmative. I'm not here for the properties and yes I have no idea how you are feeling. I have no interest. Because having years of experience in this deadly society yet you are unable to deduce this simple incident, I have no interest in the emotions of such a man."
"You are just insulting the dead here Alan, by declining their death." Cramelin said.
Alan tried to roast the girl but understood the atmosphere and didn't want to create another scene there so he restrained himself. Barely.
"Alan, don't step into our territory again. It won't be good for any of us." came from Gerrard.
"That's a relief. I know how close you are with my father. That's why I am warning you. They aren't dead."
Ignoring Alan's tales, Luke said "Just go already. We'll transfer hundred millions to your bank."
"As if I am in wait for them. It's a loss for me since I won't be able to explore this mansion freely now that I am an outcast. Anyway. Bye bye."
The crowd was also confused. Some of them gave expression in belief of Alan some discarded his tales completely. What bugged Alan was that the few topdogs attending the place stayed completely silent during Alan's visit. Didn't even rift their eyes to Alan that much. As he was walking out, he heard people calling him "Cold blooded Alan." Being annoyed he gave a little scream saying "Come up with a cooler one you backdated rascals."
Saying that, he stepped out of the mansion, fully aware of what big of a mess he got stuck.