Bizarre Fate: An Urban Crime Xianxia Chapter 7: Baby's On Fire

They ran through a quick crash course of dont ss around with thugs. I wasnt a pushover, having seen my fair share of street fights. But the brutality and raw strength of these two surpassed any ager resistance I could put up. It didnt take long to deduce the fact these two were cultivators, ones whod broken through to a higher stage than . The whole of the gambling den ignored my struggle, and all I earned for my shouts of help was another jab to my gut.

They took my chips! The loss hurt worse than their elbow buried into my stomach.

Then they tossed into a tight barren room, just a bit bigger than a janitors closet. Furnished with a single table cramd in the center with cheap wooden chairs around it. Take a seat. Dont bother yelling, nobodys coming for you." The door slamd. I scrambled over to the exit, jiggling the knobto hear a jostle as it locked from the outside. Why hadn't they beat and tossed out?

Were they planning on killing ? I shoved my hands into my pockets, trying to ease my frayed nerves.

The cold aluminum of a cheap flip phone brushed my knuckles. Theyd been too stupid to check . I didn't let myself feel too much relief, taking a quick scan of the room. No caras, and a locked door. Maybe I had a chance. I whipped out my phone and scanned my contacts.

There wasn't a single person thatd have my back. All of my squad mbers were scared to associate with . If I called my psycho lieutenant, hed laugh in my face. And I didnt wanna drag Ma into this shit-fest. My hands shook as I set the phone on the table. There was one na, right under Mas.

Roo.

Fuck, really? There wasnt a choice. After fucking up my ssage a couple of tis, thanks to shaking hands, I managed to compose a ssage begging for help. Calling him was a piss idea, especially if he was still at our house. No matter what, I refused to drag Ma into this. This was my best shot.

The phone clicked shut, and I stuffed it away. Last bit of hope I had rode on my Uncle seeing my ssage, and sohow being able to help. Well, if they killed , hed know where Id died.

Didnt take too long before a woman entered, even if to it felt like an eternity. Her nails painted a bright blood tone, her eyeshadow the sa erald as a serpent's scales. She dressed in sharp attire, a sleek business suit. She wore a plain smile and shut the door behind her. The sound of the lock sealing us in followed right after. That left us aloneEither I wasnt a serious threat to them, or this lady could bash my face in without a sweat. Did this lady have a Soul Seed? She gestured to a chair. Sit. Please tell youre cooperative, Id rather this go quicker.

I remained standing. Easier to defend yourself on your feet than with your ass parked in a seat. Her smile sharpened, and the room lurched as my Soul Seed rang with a warning. Her body shimred purple, as a second figure stepped out from her. Tall, and thin, the purple condensed into a loose shape of a monstrous woman. One whose arms stretched past hunched knees. The Manifested Soul tilted its head in my direction, its eyes hid behind a black blindfold wrapped around its otherwise smooth face.

Fuck. It was impossible to tell what stage of cultivation she was at. But shed clearly broken past the Soul Seed stage, and even the one past that. aning her soul was either Refined or Awakened.

I sat my ass down and set my hands on the table in plain sight. She gave a smile and a nod; her Soul remained out, crossing the room in two easy strides. It lurked behind , a monster out of sight.

She took a seat, her nails tapped the wood. Let's see. Are you working for anyone?

Aint working with nobody.

The lie barely left my mouth, before I gasped. A sharp pain shot down my spine, my head slamd into the table. Shivering with an absurd lance of agony. Fifteen seconds of pure hell before it faded away. I huffed and struggled for air.

Now, now. That was a lie. Id suggest not doing that again. Well try once more. Who do you work for?

My head was heavy, but I forced myself to et her cold eyes. Im with the Brass Kings, I tensed, waiting for another pure injection of hell. Nothing.

Ah, one of the motorcycle gangs. Go figure. You have a Soul Seed, right?

I do, I responded with as little as I could manage, but not a lie. The pain didnt co. Lying ant punishnt. But Id be damned if I spilled every-fucking-thing to this bitch. Id found a way around whatever bullshit ability she had.

And just what Soul Ability did you receive from your Soul Seed?

This ti I bit my tongue. My eyes locked on hers, it was a bad idea to give away your Soul Ability to people you didnt trust. Her unconcerned face faded away, taking on the appearance of a predator toying with prey. If I wasnt allowed to lie, then I just wouldnt speak.

In a burst, my head snapped to the left, the chair under my ass tumbling away at the sheer power of her Soul smacking the side of my head. Barely able to register the pain from the blow before the left side of my face smashed against the floor.

Her Soul hunched over , its long fingers yanking to my feet. It righted the chair, then parked back into it. My face was a pure burning pain, as the strength of her Soul, brokered no contest. This lady overpowered completely and utterly. My bad luck never seed to end. A plaything to the powerful. I rubbed at my face.

Now, we try again. What is your Soul Ability?

This ti I let it spill. All about Fickle Fates power. My cultivation stage, and a few pointed questions from her about the Brass Kings and my rank within them. It didnt feel good to snitch, but it felt worse to get my face bashed in even more, which left with little choice. She got every answer she wanted, and I tried to draw out my answers as I sensed the conversation hitting its end. I didnt want to see what ca after the interrogation.

She filed her nails, before cutting off a rambling story about Tristan. Do you realize who I work with?

No. An honest answer. Not just because the thing before would drive a needle of pain in my spine with a lie.

The Segreto Famiglia. She said sadistic glee on her face. Oh. That was bad. All the gangs in New Valentine bowed their heads to the Segreto. Their influence in the underbelly of the Rising Sun spanned back to this nations founding. If the Sects ruled New Valentine in the light, then the Segreto reigned in the dark. You ca into our casino, cheated our family, then tried your best to lie and deceive. How do you plan to make up for this grievance?

I-I If you stuck a hand in Segreto business, you lost it; she maintained that evil smile of hers

I suppose I can be persuaded to offer you forgiveness if you pay the blood price.

Cold fear burned inside . A living nightmare, that I could only bla myself for. If Id just taken the five-thousand and left. If Id paid a bit more attention to the suited motherfuckers running this place, there were a thousand different decisions Id made that led right into this horrible ss.

Soone knocked on the door. The well-dressed lady frowned, gaze flickering to it. Enter. She called out, folding her legs.

The door cracked open to reveal one of the bastards who nabbed . His head bowed as if he were about to apologize to the woman, but he didnt get a second to explain before the last face I expected to see pushed past. Roo strode into the room, sharply scanning the Soul behind , then giving a wide smile to the woman. His hands spread wide, as if in a friendly greeting. Apologies, sorella. But, this boy is off the table. Please allow him under my care, I shall personally handle this matter.

He stole from the famiglia. A price must be paid, what would others think if he walked away without proper punishnt? she asked, her eyebrows raised.

As I said, he shall not be allowed free without paying a price, rather, I shall handle it. Youve done well, have pride. This will be resolved in a way which brings honor to the famiglia. You trust , yes?

She paused. I took the chance to evaluate Roo. My face still burned, and my mind reeled from the blow to my head, so I couldn't be sure if I'd heard him correctly. She bowed her head. A burst of purple mist behind , as she retracted her Soul. As you bid, so I shall do, Fratello. She stood up, brushing down her formal skirt; she paused pausing next to Roo and he leaned in and engaged the woman in a brief hushed conversation.

Roo gave her a fond pat on her shoulder and gave her a nod. Then she was gone. Co, passerotto. Follow.

We walked out of the gambling den, my uncle got a few respectful gestures from the n and won that seeded the place. Now that I knew what to look for, I felt dumb to not notice all the muscle in this joint, and that my commotion got their attention. Causing my ultimate downfall. Embarrassing.

The issue with thrill was it had a way of narrowing your scope of the world. It was easy to get so intoxicated with the energy thrumming in this place that fed my Soul Seed that making a mistake was inevitable.

Roo led out of the den, to his car parked down the street. He opened the passenger door for . Not a single word, even as he got into the driver's seat, he simply waited for to get in, started the engine, and took off down the road.