Michelle was leaning against his Nissan as Augustus pulled up behind him.
Getting out, a small bag slung over his shoulder. "I’ve got $30,000 in the bag and another $10,000 in my pocket, just in case," Augustus said, with a faint smile.
"Good," Michelle replied with a firm nod, and the two of them steadily began walking toward the club.
At least from the outside, it looks normal, Augustus mused, his eyes lingering on the ’Club Radiance’ signage—neon letters flickering in violet and electric blue, buzzing faintly like a warning.
"Thanks, Michelle. I don’t know if I could’ve done this without you," Augustus said, glancing at Michelle, the nerves in his voice barely masked.
Michelle shook his head. "Don’t worry about it. Just focus, we can’t afford to ss this up," he replied, eyes fixed on the club.
Augustus nodded slowly, and they both reached the club’s entrance.
"ID, please," the bouncer said, glancing at Augustus while stepping forward to block the door.
Augustus handed him the ID without a word. After a mont of careful inspection, the bouncer grunted approval and stepped aside.
After entering the club, Augustus’s chest slowly began to tighten, as if a weight were building up second by second with each step.
Neon lights flickered across the ceiling, casting dizzy patterns over the floor. Loud bass-heavy music pulsed through the walls like a heartbeat. Won strutted past, in revealing clothes, trailing heavy perfus that clashed with the acidic sting of alcohol carried in trays like perforrs in a surreal circus.
In one dark corner, a group sat hunched, quietly passing packets of powder between fingers while girls swayed lazily beside them, trying to please each one.
Augustus darted his eyes around. The air felt thick. Foreign. Like it didn’t belong in his lungs. He stiffened—but Michelle easily caught it.
"Calm down, Augustus," he murmured, his tone low and grounded, like an older brother steadying a younger sibling. "Don’t let it show, and I’m here, so ease up," he said with a light smile.
Yes, I should calm down, he thought and gave a resolute nod, eyes flickering around. "Should we ask where David is?" he asked under his breath.
"No need. Just follow ," Michelle replied calmly.
Augustus raised an eyebrow, glanced at him briefly, but said nothing. This wasn’t the ti.
They walked deeper inside. The music dulled behind them as they passed through a velvet curtain into a dim hallway lined with pulsating red lights.
"M-Michelle? Is that you?" A man with a crooked grin and a thug’s build squinted toward them. "Wow, it is you. Didn’t think you, of all people, would crawl back here," he said, half-laughing.
"I’m here to et Kairo. Mind your own business," Michelle said, his tone slicing clean through the air.
"Ooh, scary," the thug muttered, then turned around with a shrug. "Fine. Let do the honors. Follow ,"
Michelle gave Augustus a look, and they followed.
"Who’s the kid?" the man asked over his shoulder.
Neither of them answered.
He didn’t press further and led them through a narrower, darker corridor. The walls closed in.
A few more thugs loitered here, leaning against the walls. Whispers began to spread. So gave cautious glances. Others stiffened upon seeing Michelle, recognition flashing in their eyes.
Augustus stayed focused. His goal burned clear, the system’s task still lingering in his vision: Rescue David from the loan sharks and ensure his safety.
Finally, they stopped in front of a heavy door. A cheap plastic "Do Not Disturb" sign was taped crookedly to the center.
Augustus exhaled slowly, trying to calm his nerves but before he could settle, a voice from inside pierced the mont.
"Please... Please, give just one more week! I beg of you!" Hoarse. Broken. Each word was soaked in pain.
Augustus narrowed his eyes, tuning in—but relaxed slightly when the voice didn’t belong to David.
The thug who led them knocked on the wooden door.
It creaked open slightly. "What is it?" a rough voice called out.
"Michelle’s got business with the Boss," the thug said.
The door opened fully.
A burly bald man filled the entrance, towering and wide-shouldered. His gaze flicked from Michelle to Augustus, then lingered on Michelle—surprise glimring behind an amused smirk.
Augustus’s eyes sharpened. A deep scar sliced from the man’s eyebrow down to his ear. His knuckles were stained with fresh blood.
"If it isn’t the great bodyguard Michelle," the bald man said, voice coated in mockery.
"We’re here to rescue David," Augustus stated, stepping forward bravely. His voice clear and steady, though his grip tightened on the bag’s strap hanging over his shoulder.
With a flicker of a sharp glare, the bald man smirked. "Ohh, so you’re the kid that bastard was begging about... Co in. But you better have brought the money."
He turned to the room behind him and barked, "Get out. One week. After that, don’t bother begging."
"Thank you! Thank you!" the man inside whimpered, dragging his battered body past them and into the hallway.
Augustus caught a glimpse of his bruised face, eyes swollen, face bruised.
A flash of mory hit him: the first ti he had seen David lying down in the alleyway. But this man... was in far worse shape.
As the man brushed shoulders with Augustus in the narrow hallway, it jolted him back to the present. He glanced at Michelle, who was already moving forward.
Augustus followed behind resolutely, steadying his breath.
The mont they stepped into the room, a sharp, strange stench hit his nose—acrid, tallic, sothing between blood and burning chemicals.
Cough, cough.
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