The dim lights cast a hazy glow over the worn tables of the local bar in Wind City. The door swung open, admitting a customer who calmly took a seat at the counter.
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdlsw21P3lo
"Frank, give me some booze," the man said, his voice a low rumble.
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXHj4MQ7mMI
Frank, the bartender, poured a generous shot of whiskey. "Haven't seen you in days, Dave," he commented, wiping down a glass.
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHw0qwwYoS
Dave lifted his glass, a tremor in his voice. "Yeah, I was inside... The judge dropped my charges, so they let me out."
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxwftmJrIF7
Frank smiled. "Good for you."
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQBbiCa2Ay
"They put a cop to watch me, though, so I'm not fully free, you see," Dave said, the bitterness evident in his tone.
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJrzHMbqli
Frank broke some ice into a glass. "Bummer. I was hoping to see you at the party."
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSp50yIMZ2r
A shadow fell over the table as another man approached. "I overheard you say you were inside. Mind me asking where?"
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxCWes2bXp0
Dave took a sip of his whiskey before answering. "Red Grave."
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj6XX37mXzs
The other man chuckled. "Believe it or not, I was there too, in the B section. Released a couple of weeks ago. I'm Dante, by the way."
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNaHbhlByVx
Dave laughed. "Really? What were you in for?"
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1yTIM7vTKH
Dante grabbed a beer from the cooler. "Beat my boss with a chair. He told me to work on designs, then never used them. I stayed there for a couple of months."
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXRtjG2L7cU
They shared a few laughs before Dave scanned the bar, noticing it was empty. "No ladies?"
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVdrBd43vZE
Dante wiped his face with a napkin. "Well, my friends were begging me to meet them at this place called Lastdrop. What do you say?"
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsWk8q3AXKk
Dave grinned. "Let's go. I bet there are at least some girls there. Good night, Frank."
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKtMyQwPhVJ
They both exited the bar, Frank pocketing the money Dave had left on the counter. As Dante drove, he stopped at a house.
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHEIb7vs7Zh
"Why are we stopping here?" Dave asked.
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNs9hCA4wpX
"Promised my friend I'd pick him up," Dante replied.
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJMo5zzJ2Ax
They got out and walked to the door. Dante rang the bell, he grabbed the key and entered looking for them but there was no answer. He tried calling, but found a text message: "Where are you we are already here."
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWaPJpPs7oe
Dave scratched his head. "You should have called them before."
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8HnHIAlRd
Dante smiled sheepishly. "My bad. Let's roll."
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5oWBxIAdR
Dave opened the door, only to find himself rolling onto the ground. He had been pushed by an unseen force.
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK15OhRUY19
Confused and disoriented, he looked up to see Dante standing over him, a menacing glint in his eyes.
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDKSNdiI29E
"Wait, why?" Dave stammered, fear creeping into his voice.
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6DnJCcr95w
Dante didn't answer. He delivered a swift kick to Dave's stomach, sending him writhing in pain. Another kick connected with Dave's face, breaking his nose with a sickening crack.
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhfHXe9ts0L
"Please, you're going to kill me!" Dave cried, blood streaming down his face.
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXgrJivPpe
Dante leaned in close, his voice a cold whisper. "Stop crying like a little bitch."
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxvaNOBloM
Dave coughed up blood, his voice barely a rasp. "Why? Please tell me why."
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEveTStjvw7
Dante rained blows upon him, each punch a brutal reminder of his helpless situation. He could feel his ribs cracking under the relentless assault.
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNFsE3rWT7
Finally, Dante stood up and walked towards a drawer, pulling out a pair of gloves and a box of matches. Dave knew what was coming. He had been outmatched from the start, but now there was no escape.
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5QAXxyqRC
He tried to crawl towards the door, but his broken leg made it impossible. He saw someone standing outside, a glimmer of hope flickering in his eyes.
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYzLqkVidl
Mustering all his remaining strength, Dave stood up and ran towards the door, screaming for help. But his jaw was shattered, his words garbled and unintelligible.
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKEZLOp9ATz
Dante delivered another blow, a low kick that shattered Dave's other leg. He took a deep breath, his voice filled with a chilling calm.
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡErevT2FXKS
"Remember a year ago? You dated a girl, fed her all that crap about loving her," Dante said, using Dave's own hands to pour fuel on his body.
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuzlqTbV4DF
"Then you invited her to see the house you'd move in with her, only to rape her. You and three other bastards."
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwEnMn0hxH
Dave tried to speak, but his voice was lost. Dante held a lit match to his body, setting him ablaze.
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrz4DnBClc4
Dave screamed in agony as the flames engulfed him. Dante watched impassively, his face devoid of emotion.
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF87plii8WO
After the fire died down, Dante changed his clothes, cleaned the place, and headed home. He checked the door for his keys, found them, and slipped inside, trying to be as silent as possible.
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡheadfWQHXs
He made his way through the hallway to a room decorated in a distinctly feminine style, clearly his sister's. He kissed her forehead gently and went to his own room, placing his phone on the charger before falling asleep with a satisfied smile on his face.
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG4DH9OxJgy
The darkness in the room slowly gave way to the morning sun. Dante rose and closed the window, returning to bed. But a voice broke the silence.
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM4UDCK9S4p
"Vi, Vi, wake up, it's 8:00 o'clock," a voice called.
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr4tmRwSQ0y
Dante cursed under his breath"fuck"and got up. He showered, changed, and headed to the kitchen, where his sister was already seated.
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2LUlKVCGKl
"Victor, did you take the car back?" she asked.
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv3jHqLVb5I
Victor swallowed his sandwich, avoiding eye contact. "How about 'good morning' first? And no, I'll take it after work."
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkLZbT8VMUo
His sister put down her fork. "Then you need to give me a ride."
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5nHLnrG4kz
Victor grabbed his keys and dropped his sister off at her therapist's office. On his way to work, he was pulled over by a police officer.
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2w0Nvym5wB
Victor stopped the car, making sure he had his driver's license and registration ready. He felt a wave of relief wash over him as the officer approached.
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQc5HNTSmR
"Sir, may I see your driver's license, please?" the officer asked politely.
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡej7C89C1zs
Victor handed over the documents, his palms sweating slightly. "I'm sure I wasn't speeding, officer."
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4tMUdC9XE6
The officer smiled. "I'm sure I heard him calling you dante yesterday."
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5N8aDdHP1w
Victor's heart skipped a beat.
[Full book coming next month]
ns216.73.216.65da2
