The Matters of Power

Chapter 48- The Crimson Group [1]

It's clear to me that I was never the only one intended to defeat the gangs that Mr. Corvanez had set out for me. Quarter was also in this game as well but had Swift Cross to rely on that would follow his lead loyally unlike me who had almost nothing to work with. We talked for what felt like an eternity about our supernatural powers, what our abilities were, and any information regarding Mr. Corvanez and Pot. My regrets were that I couldn't tell him about my ability to transform my body, my suspicions about Julieta, and my inquiries regarding his injuries, but I guess some things are better left unknown for some things. By the next day, we all gathered at the usual spot except for Carl who never showed up, unfortunately. Yan had very little information to relay about the Crimson Group, and most of their members seem dejected towards the end, until I decide to step up and lay out the business card on the table, the same one I got from Pot days ago. "What's this? 'Red Buster's Entertainment Center'? You sure this got some correlation to them?" I nod. He picks it up and looks it over with his information board until he gasps. "Yeah, that makes sense!" "What does?" He places the card back on the table. "It's likely that they're using this place as a front. Ever since it was open, it has become pretty popular because of the wide variety of activities it has inside, and rumors have said that there are parts of the building that nobody has seen even though it tries to look like it fills everything. Plus, there's a small portion of a hotel right next to it that extends to it on the roof, so that's probably suspicious by itself. The only explanation that the hotel gave was that it was an 'employee storage area', but the plans on that floor don't have that in detail." Everyone else seems to agree on his theory and I'm inclined to agree. "So, we just scope the place out and hope that there's something suspicious?" "Right, but," Yan stops me, "it'd be too suspicious for a whole group of wary teenagers to go in there at once. We go in a certain number of people at random times to avoid prying eyes and focus on certain areas. Oh, and before you ask, I can cover the cost for our tickets."

*Sometime later, inside Red Buster's Entertainment Center...*

"How can he be able to give us entry tickets with how much they cost?" I observe the ticket that the entry booth gave me and see it's good for the whole day. "He works a lot even when we have school. He's good like that." Quarter seems unfazed by my question, but I guess it's expected since they are best friends. We got to the entertainment center's parking lot and hid out near a close group of trucks that blocks any cameras from the front of the building to see us. Yan had us group up in randomized numbers and had us go in in 4-minute intervals, with Quarter and I being the first people to go in ahead of them. Everywhere we look, there are types of entertainment that could keep you occupied here for hours on end: arcade machines, indoor parkour gyms, a bowling lane, a food court, and even a cinema corner, with an adults-only section that has a bar and billiards. "Now isn't the time to think of playing." Quarter adjusts his fake glasses and tugs his beanie to the side, "We gotta figure out any clues on where they might have a secret entrance, maybe in plain sight. I'll check the arcade and the cinema entry lounge while you head to the bowling lane and the food court. Try to play a game or two, but don't do anything that might be suspicious. These guys might as well have eyes everywhere in here." I nod in agreement, and we quickly go our separate ways, hoping that I don't draw too much attention to myself with how uncomfortable I am being in this type of environment.

I head to the bowling lanes first as it's the closest to me. Red Buster's really outdo themselves with quality, as there are plenty of well-maintained equipment and I hardly find garbage that soon gets picked up by the occasional staff passing by. There are more people here than I thought, but I do spot a few faces who I pass by in school who hang out with their own group at their lane. "Sir? Sir, there's a new lane available to play at." I snap back to reality to hear an employee call out to me by the main desk nearby. I approach them and inquire about the playing, "Yeah? Is it available for one person to play?" "Yessir. You can play for one game, and in case you need to, we have bowling shoes to rent. Look at the sign behind me for the cost." Seeing the price for the game plus the shoe rental and doing the math in my head leaves me with a deep hole in my wallet, as I don't have much on me to begin with and I didn't want to ask Yan or Quarter for more money. Between looking suspicious to the employee or appearing broke to the other guys, I think it would be better to just pay for the game instead. "Here." I pull out the money needed to pay and hand it over to them, where they do their register magic and pull out a pair of bowling shoes and my receipt. "Here you go. Head straight to the bowling lanes and head for Lane 21. Enjoy." I thank them and quickly change my shoes before reaching my lane and looking around the people that I'm near. I try to focus on certain people's minds to see if I can discover any information that's remotely useful, but the sounds of bowling balls clanging in the holding pit snaps me back. I realize that I can't stand around trying to read thoughts without giving myself away, so I quickly pick up the medium-sized ball of the bunch and slowly approach the lane. With a deep exhale, I walk towards the lane and drop the bowling ball just on the nose of the bowling line, seeing that the ball veers away from the center and use my Levitation ability to subtly swerve it so slightly that it gives me a strike. I do this for the rest of my game, trying my best to multitask thought-reading and ball control.

By the time I reach my second-to-last run, I suddenly realize that I'm attracting quite the crowd towards my lane as it seems that people are amazed at my 'skill' and my strike streak. I spot a well-dressed man towards the back of the crowd, staring intensely at me. "(Man) What an interesting play. I think he can be of some use here. Maybe I should ask him to check on him once he's done." The thought I manage to hear from him lifts my spirits, if only temporary as I finish the rest of my game with an explosive ending, with the crowd erupting in applause as soon as my bowling ball hits the strike. I must admit, it felt good to get this much praise from this many people even if I used my powers to cheat somewhat. "Congratulations, sir!" I look at the direction of the voice and see it's the same man I saw, applauding as he slowly approaches me from the crowd. "Wonderful game you just played. Let me introduce myself, I'm the manager of this bowling lane, and I'm impressed by the way you played just now. You've earned yourself a large bowling ball plushie from the main desk, come with me so I can give it to you personally." Seeing that he doesn't hide any malice from his gesture, I accept and follow him back to the main desk, who the employee seems surprised by the appearance of his manager. "Hey, get the kid the big prize, he just played a perfect game with strikes." The employee happily obeys and heads through a door to a back room, and the manager leans back. "You know, it's been a while since I saw anyone win a perfect game. You might just be close to earning a VIP pass upgrade, if you keep that up. Tell ya what, you win another perfect game the next time you come here, and I will personally give you the upgrade myself. This place can spot talent and loyalty, so ya ought to be proud." He goes on a bit of a rant about the benefits of being a VIP with Red Buster's, but I hardly pay attention as I suspect his motives based on his subconscious thoughts, though I can't act on them as the employee comes back with the plushie and I excuse myself to take a break at the food court.

I spend some time spending what little money I have left enjoying the food I got from the food court, occasionally spotting a Swift Cross member in disguise going about and sometimes having fun here. For some reason, the plushie feels off as I let it sit on the table where I eat and wonder if they did something to it. I grab the plushie and focus my sixth sense view on it, observing it to see some electronic device stuffed deeply towards its head. I instantly react by applying pressure on the area and continue until I hear a soft crunch from inside, then finally check inside the plushie's head to see that the device has been damaged beyond repair and can't function at all. Did they already know why I was here and were already bold enough to bug the plushie so they could eavesdrop on me? It's too dangerous for me to stick around here, I quickly engulf what's left of my food and leave the entertainment center, making sure that nobody tries to tail me as I walk and try not to get lightheaded from all the thoughts that I'm hearing. As soon as I reach a city block away from there, I send Quarter a message: "Had to leave suddenly. There was an urgent matter that I had to check back home." Hopefully he reads between the lines and doesn't actually think I was serious about that last portion. Seeing that I can't go back in there, I decide to head and skulk in relative peace before my parents suddenly decide to question where I've been all this time.

*Later, in the evening...*

"Sweetie, could you help me unpack the groceries? I'm about to make dinner soon." "Sure thing, Mom." I was surprised that my parents actually got home earlier than me, but I guess it's something I should cherish as it might be a while before they're pulled into working late as usual. I finish unpacking the groceries and temporary take over cooking as Mom answers the doorbell ringing.

"Marcus! You have a visitor! I didn't know you had such a friend!" I nearly drop the cooking utensils at her saying that, as the last thing I expected was someone from home knowing where I live.

I rush to the front door, and to my absolute surprise I find Guadaro of all people standing there.