Today, Paul wasn't followed by Mia. He got to his apartment without any interruptions, took a shower, ate the leftover food from the morning, and as the sun hide itself and darkness covered the whole island, he changed into his all-black outfit. Then, he left his apartment and caught a taxi.
About 20 minutes later, the taxi stopped. He paid the driver in cash and walked for a few minutes until he saw the left turn ahead, then he walked at a normal pace and turned left.
" I didn't thought that girl would be useful, verta.. is it ? I'm sure I've heard that name before but, am not sure when or where. "
"The numbers on baldy's place, it was very esay decode when I've got the right key word from her, I just adjusted numbers lining orders with the help of verta , deducing right numbers and positions them, after that just turning numbers into latters. Simple Nihilistic cipher codes. "
" But this is not every normal individual in city knows about this, that's what clicking me, don't you think too? Something happening in city, I don't know if it's high - tables behind this, i just need know, who would go this far hide some simple " Message " that's why I'm also here, draydenstreets or should I say "Verta ".
Paul usually didn't go out much,only just for work, but after looking at the map, he could recall the right alleys and turns. He had some basic knowledge of the area and its people, so he was thinking about how to get what he wants.
The alley he turned into was dark but wide enough for at least three people to walk side by side. In just a few steps, he reached the end, turned left, and walked a few more meters before turning right.
After about six or seven steps, he noticed faint yellow lights and the distant sounds of people. He walked toward the destination he had in mind , when he first exited from his apartment.
He gradually slowed his pace; to his right was another dark alley that likely connected to the main street. He glanced with the corner of eyes slightly and continued walking forward, slightly to the left.
As he walked by, a few people were sitting there in tattered clothes on cardboard sheets, surrounding the fire, warming themselves while chatting about their lives to pass the time. They glanced at him but didn't pay much attention; a random teen showing up likely wasn't a big deal to them. With one look, Paul could see there were about seventeen.... eighteen people in sight, including himself, but it was too dark ahead to tell if anyone was sleeping up ahead.
The people here are all tramps or homeless individuals, simply looking for a place to spend the night. As soon as the sun rises, they leave and either collect trash or sit on the streets to make some money. There are three groups gathered around the fire.
Paul walked towards the right side of one group, consisting of four men who seem to be in their early to mid-20s. They're sitting next to the pillar supporting the overpass above. Occasionally, the sounds of cars, buses, or heavy vehicles can be heard, but it's not too loud. They are burning tire to keep the fire up.
Paul approachs them and undone his hodd trying appear friendly as possible,they are sitting on small boulders or bricks, he looks to his left and right and found the half brick, and placed it beside one of the man, and sat down not speaking anything, like he was already on of them.
They have already noticed him but didn't mind anything, some random teen coming here wasn't something new to them, and they also know the reason for what they come here for.
"Yo!! I almost got pinched by that bitch cope. "
"For real, if it wasn't for those dumb assholes, we'd be bustin' our asses behind bars."
"Hey?!! John.!! who the hell you yappin' with, gettin' all amped up?"
" Ahh.. me? you mofos ain't gonna believe it, juss look."
"Bh.. Ha.ha ha this is Ryan's alt.. Ha ha haaa."
He was just listening to their baseless chatter without speaking anything until the man sitting to his left , tapped his shoulder slightly, looking at his direction and said in little hard and mocking tone, trying to pressure Paul -
"Haven't seen ya 'round here, kid, whataya need?"
The other three went silent too, stopping their chatter, and looked at with corner of their eyes, but Paul didn't even flinched even in a slightest and replied normally -
"Lookin' for some stuff, heard I'd find it here."
Guy nodded real slight, still starin' down at Paul, kept his tone steady and asked -
"Which one, 30, 50, or 100?"
Paul replied calm-like - "I ain't here for green, I'm askin' for white."
After listening to what Paul said , all four of guys eyes lit up with greed and lust , Paul could clearly see that, the man said his tone changing from mockery to curiosity and greed -
"Haha, but ya got the cash, right?"
"Of course," Paul shot back, obvious-like, why'd he be here without cash on him?
Guy asked now a bit softer - "How much ya lookin' for exactly?"
Paul stood up slowly and replied - " are you taking interview out of me or what? I'll tell ya everything on way, of course there's one line for ya too. "
Guy slowly stood - up to stretching his hands slightly and thought " This kid sure know his stuff well, but just one.. " before replying -
" We'll talk lines and shiit about later. "
And looked at his miserable group " Looks I've to go my niggas, see ya gays on different light. "
And walked away with Paul.
As they both walked out of from under the overpass, the guy asked, he is probably around 25 , medium size black hair with mix of light brown, black eyes, small beard growing around his face, his mustache visible, white skin, his face have little rough marks and one thing to notice that, right in his forehead above his left eyebrow, there's a "X" Design black tattoo binded with chain. He is wearing dark blue colored t-shirt with some animated design on it underneath black leather jacket and blue colored Jeans his both hands in his jacket's pocket.
" So.. Where you came from?.. of course if wanna keep privacy that's okay for me, anyway I'm Roxy."
Paul thought that it's better to give some info about himself because he've to come here more like this and had to interact with them, he kept it short and replied - " Gumla, week ago , my place is in Brighton, someone from my school told about this place. And I'm Paul. "
"School ? " - Roxy repeated thinking of something.
"Saint Anthonys" - Paul said quickly.
"Saint Anthony, saint Anthony ohh.. I remember, prolly that kid told ya abt this place. " Roxy said while rubbing his head with his right hand fingers.
" Yeh ,probably... " Paul replied faintly, he have no idea which guy Roxy is talking about.
" If ya got yerself in any trouble, just lemme know, alright?" Roxy said, puffin' her chest slightly , tryin' to flex some empty confidence.
Paul gave a small nod, and after six or seven minutes of walking, turning left and right, they were close to their destination. On the way, Paul attempted to turn on the flash of his phone since it was really dark; one could barely see the walls beside them. However, Roxy told him to turn it off. Without questioning him, Paul complied and switched off the flash. Roxy then said to him—
" If ya trouble walking then, u can walk behind me. "
Paul did what Roxy said, following him closely, walking just behind him. Eventually, Roxy turned right and disappeared from view. Paul picked up his pace, turned in the same direction, and saw Roxy a few steps ahead, where he caught up to him at a normal pace. Roxy glanced back and said,
"Wait here for a sec; I'll call the keeper."
Paul nodded knowingly as Roxy turned and went to call the keeper .
With nothing else to do, Paul scanned the area around . He noticed two connected houses or something like that , both featuring a single small window and a locked wooden door.
Shifting his gaze to the left, he saw only a wall and a streetlight pole, with wires running overhead. The road in front of him was wider than the alleys he'd just walked through, wide enough for two motorcycles to fit side by side, while the way ahead likely led to the main streets, he thought as he recalling the map.
Paul's gaze was once again locked on Roxy as he approached the house. Roxy was knocking softly on the window, carefully glancing left, right, and occasionally back at Paul. He could barely hear the tapping and wondered if it might be some sort of secret signal, but he quickly brushed that idea aside.
"Nah, I'm just overthinking this,"