Keifer's POV
They're so noisy! What's with these two? It looks like Jay-jay left them, so now they have the freedom to fight non-stop.
A kid and a childish person.
I took out my secret phone and texted Jay again, but still no response from her. I've already sent several messages, but nothing. She's probably not even holding her phone.
She's the only girl I know who doesn't care much about her phone. Others practically have theirs glued to their skin.
I heard my stomach growl. I should have eaten more earlier at Sir Alvin's house. But the problem is, Ma'am Cindy's cooking isn't good. I just didn't want to say anything. She might point a gun at me.
Speaking of guns, maybe I should start learning how to use one. Yuri knows how, and of course, he has a license. I can't say for sure yet, but sooner or later, I might need to use one.
I stopped thinking when I noticed that it suddenly became quiet outside. It seems like no one's around anymore, so I quickly went to the door and opened it slightly to peek.
I see no Pokémon—I mean, human.
I stepped out and made sure the door was locked. I put the key back in its usual place and started walking away, but just as I was about to reach the stairs, I ran into someone I wasn't expecting.
Percy…
"What the…" he whispered. "I thought you were in London."
I'm caught. There's no way out now, so I just have to make sure he keeps quiet.
"Just visiting," I said and looked around to check if anyone else was there besides him. "Listen. No one must know that I'm here."
Suddenly, he flashed a wide grin. I could already tell what was running through his mind. As always.
"Make me," he said while grinning like a lunatic.
I knew it.
I sighed heavily. "I'm not joking, Percy."
"So serious." He pouted his lips like a girl.
I felt a vein pop in my forehead out of irritation at his expression. What did he eat this time to act like this? He must be low on vitamins again.
I took out the disposable phone from my other pocket. There was a message from Angelo, but I didn't open it yet. I turned back to Percy.
"I need to go. If you could just keep your mouth shut."
He finally straightened up, but I could still see traces of mischief in his smile.
"What are you even doing here?"
"I already told you, I'm just visiting around."
I started walking down the stairs, and he followed me. It was lunchtime, which meant many students were scattered around. A lot of people would see me.
I adjusted the hood of my sweater hoodie. This was part of the things I had Honey get for me. I put it on before coming to school.
"Aren't you even going to check on Jay-jay?"
He said it in a teasing tone.
"I saw her already."Even if it was just for a moment.
"Ayyiieeehhh… You miss—"
I immediately covered his mouth. With how loud he was teasing, someone would definitely hear him. Especially here in Section E's building.
"Shut your mouth," I said calmly.
He slightly nodded. I slowly let go of him, but I kept my eyes on him. If he pulled any tricks, I would really punch him.
Try me.
He opened his mouth to speak again, so I quickly raised my fist. He noticed it and backed away.
"Easy, boy," he said, pointing at my fist.
I lowered it and glared at him. "I'm in a hurry."
"Then leave. You're so grumpy." He rolled his eyes.
I turned my back on him and walked away. I saw Ci-N walking at a turtle's pace toward somewhere. I just passed by and walked even faster. I kept my head down as I walked past some student groups.
I didn't even notice who they were. I reached the gate without anyone greeting or paying attention to me. As I stepped out, the guard looked at me. I pulled down my hood to show my face.
He nodded and let me through. I hailed the first taxi I saw.
"Just drive," I told the driver, and he continued driving.
I took out my secret phone and texted Jay-jay to let her know I was leaving. I knew she wouldn't see it again, but I still wanted to do it. Then, I took out the disposable phone to read Angelo's text.
From: Demon
Message: I already talked to them. Would you like to hear the update?
I called him right away. I can't waste any more time. I need to become a member of his group. Having them as my allies is like having my own gold mine.
["Keifer."] He said upon answering my call.
"I want to hear it. Where can we talk?"
["Where are you?"]
"Pinas."
["That fast? I expected you to come back about…"] He paused as if thinking. ["…never?"]
I chuckled. "That could happen."I smiled wickedly."If I were with Jay-jay."
["And that will never happen."] I could feel his anger and his urge to smash my face. ["Let's meet at Kinground, and that's where I'll slit your throat."]
He ended the call, making me laugh. I immediately told the driver the location.
It didn't take long before we arrived. I quickly paid and got out.
I stopped for a moment when I saw the familiar cars. There weren't as many as before, but I knew it was the same people.
I went inside and briefly greeted the bouncers. I walked straight to Tiger's office.
"He's here!" someone announced.
"A round of applause for our new member!" It was Ervin Schnee.
I looked at Angelo when I noticed his gaze on me. He was holding a glass of liquor.
Tiger approached me and put his arm around my shoulders. "Are you ready?"
"Ready for what?"
"He's not ready for initiations," Angelo said as he poured alcohol into his glass.
I turned to Ervin, who was grinning at me, waiting for an explanation. He took a sip from his glass before putting it down.
"Unfortunately, we can't start the initiation because you're a minor."
What?!
"Then when? Do I have to wait for my 21st birthday?" I asked in disbelief.
"18 years of age will do," Angelo replied. "Here in my country, 18 is the legal age."
Tiger removed his arm from my shoulders and lightly pushed me toward one of the chairs. I kept my eyes on Angelo and Ervin, who were sitting together.
"Listen, kid," someone said as they sat beside me.
"You're almost 18, so you don't have to worry."
It was the guy who looked Korean or Chinese, the one with soft features. I nodded to him before turning back to Angelo.
"But maybe we can give him the requirements now," Ervin suggested.
He waited for the others to confirm. I didn't know that there were requirements needed.
Angelo put down his glass, stood up, and signaled for me to follow him. I did, glancing briefly at the others before finally stepping out of Tiger's office.
He didn't say anything, so I remained silent as well. He led me to the middle of the disco floor, where the glass office was in full view.
"Listen, Keifer. In what you're about to do, there will be things you'll have to sacrifice to get what you want," he started. "This is not a joke. What you're getting into is serious. This is not an ordinary fraternity."
"Just get to the point."
He gave me a deadly look. "This is serious!"
"I know. But I don't understand what you're trying to say."
"Once you join this group, there's no turning back. There are rules you cannot break—because the price for breaking them is your life."
"I… I need this," I almost sounded like I was begging.
He glanced at the glass office for a moment before slipping his hands into his pockets. He shook his head and massaged his nape.
"The requirements are very simple. First things first, make sure you have enough money to pay for the annual fee."
"I have a company and a bank of gold," I said, but he ignored it and continued explaining.
"You must be of legal age—which will happen in a few weeks. You must have a group of friends that can potentially be recruited as Low or High rankers."
I guess he already knows that I'm aware of those High and Low Rankers.
"Make sure you'll be powerful."
"Not a problem."
"Education is a must. Make sure you'll finish college."
I sighed. The requirements are so basic. Even if he didn't say it, I would have had all those things anyway.
"That was basic. Isn't there anything more challenging?"
I could see irritation flicker in his eyes.
"Learn to use guns and be ready to kill someone," he said in a serious tone.
Kill someone.
Can I do it? Will I really take someone's life just for this group? I don't know if I can.
"There's actually more I need to explain, but as you said, those are just the basics for you."
He started walking away but suddenly turned back to say something.
"There's a contract you'll have to sign. At the end of it, there will be an empty line where you'll write the name of the person who will receive everything you leave behind if something happens to you. Who will you write down?"
The person who will receive everything I leave behind…
I could put my siblings, but they'll inherit the Watson fortune in case something happens to me.
"You'll put Jay-jay?" he asked.
I nodded. "That should be fine, right? Even if we're not married yet."
Usually, people put down a relative's name in cases like this. Angelo raised a brow at me.
I smirked. "We'll get married soon anyway. So, I see no difference."
"Too much confidence, Keifer, too much."
He looked like he wanted to strangle me on the spot. But he quickly returned to his serious demeanor.
"The name you write there is the sacrifice you make for the group."
A chill ran down my spine. What does he mean?
"What—?"
He cut me off. "If you make a mistake or break the rules of the group, they will take Jay-jay from you."
"Then I will put someone else."
"Put your siblings' names, your friends, or any of your relatives. But you can't put random names."
Dammit.
"Who did you put?"
I was expecting him to put his mother's name, but of course, he's a smart ass.
"Someone that they can never take away from me."
"Because she already ran away," I said, and I saw pain in his eyes.
He shrugged it off and continued walking back to Tiger's office.
"Make sure you follow what I said, or you'll lose her," he said without looking at me.
I looked at Tiger's office. All of them were watching us. Ervin raised his glass while smiling.
His message was clear to me. He wants me to follow what he said so I won't lose Jay-jay. But it feels more like he's using Jay to control me.
My fist clenched in frustration. He's up to something. He's planning something, and I'm sure he'll use it to get what he wants.
I heard the disposable phone in my pocket ring. It was a message from the pilot of my private jet.
He gave me the flight schedule. In three hours, we'll be traveling back to London. I need to go back before Keigan starts getting suspicious.
I haven't received any messages from Honey yet, so I wasn't worried, but she was probably already playing with the idea in her mind.
I decided to leave since the journey could take hours. The jetport was far from the city. After leaving Kingsground, I had to walk to find a ride.
A taxi cab stopped in front of me. I told the driver my destination and let him drive. As I expected, the trip took more than two hours.
My fare was expensive. The money left in my pocket wasn't enough, so I paid with my wristwatch instead.
He could buy ten taxis with that.
I saw the pilot holding a cup of coffee as he walked toward the jet plane. He stopped when he saw me.
"You're early."
"Can we leave now?" I asked him before getting inside the plane.
He followed me in and checked his wristwatch.
"I'll get the plane ready."
Before sitting down, I checked if the flight attendant was with us again. Thankfully, she wasn't. Or else I might end up killing Mr. Moskovoski.
I waited almost half an hour before we took off. I decided to sleep first. The flight will take eight hours, and I'll have nothing to do during that time.
I didn't know how long I had been sleeping when I woke up to a phone call. It rang multiple times, so I grabbed both of my phones from my pocket.
It was coming from my secret phone. The call ended before I could answer.
Edrix has so many missed calls.
I couldn't help but wonder why there were so many. My phone rang again, and I answered immediately.
"Edrix," I said.
[ "Keifer…" ] He sounded so distressed. [ "F*ck! It took you so long to answer!" ]
"What is it?"
He cursed multiple times. I couldn't understand, and for some reason, uneasiness suddenly hit me.
"Edrix! What the hell is happening?!"
[ "It's C-N and Jay-jay! They were attacked!" ]
Fvck!
"Who? Is it one of the gangs that challenged us?"
My fists clenched. He was just within reach earlier, but I failed to realize that something would happen. This is my fault! I shouldn't have left.
[ "No! It's Mykel's group!" ] he said angrily. [ "Bro… come back! Jay-jay is struggling!" ]
"I'm on my way," I said before ending the call.
I quickly went to the cockpit where the pilot was. He looked startled when he saw me.
"Mr. Watson," he said in shock.
"You have to turn this plane back," I commanded.
"We can't. We're almost in London." He pointed at his watch.
Two more hours and we'll be in London. But I need to go back. Jay-jay needs me.
"Do what I said, or I will jump out of this plane!" I said in anger.
He shook his head and turned off the autopilot.
"Go back to your seat," he said, and I did. I could feel the plane turning.
Just wait for me, and I'll make them pay. I will break them.