The Matters of Power

Chapter 53- The Crimson Group [5]

It's here, the night that we destroy The Crimson Group and to prove myself to be able to finish Mr. Corvanez's dirty game. Me and the fellas had planned this meticulously for a long while, and everything has worked out so far perfectly. Before we even thought about infiltrating Red Buster's we had to create a facade, or at the very least a believable alibi, that can convince those around us that we aren't up to anything, and the best idea we had was... a sleepover of all things. We had to pull everyone together to convince their parents that we were going to have a sleepover with 'a few close friends' before the week of finals to hang out and (perhaps) study a bit, and it took me a while to convince my parents to let me go to the sleepover at Quarter's house. With Carl and the Guerra Family unable to help us in this fight, I only have Quarter and Swift Cross to rely on, and even then, we don't know everything about the Crimson Group because of our inability to access their restricted areas like 'Employees Only' and the like. After listening to Mom's lecture about how I should be a good guest in someone else's house and whatnot, I rushed over to Quarter's house to meet him and Yan to check on our preparations, but not before chucking my sleepover duffel bag the corner of Quarter's room. Everything was all set and we double-checked everything and everyone before they decided to execute the plan, except it took some time for me to dress up into my disguise as I was so focused on the planning that I neglected to change.

Now here I am, slowly approaching the entrance to Red Buster's with clothes that are worth more than my entire wardrobe and my body starting to feel stiff from all the pressure placed on me. I just hope that Quarter knows what do and actually uses the tool that I gave him. The inside looks a lot livelier than usual, and I see that more people are here because of some promotion that will make me blend in slightly easier... I think. My initial plan was to immediately go the bowling alley and get a perfect game, gaining the Crimson Group's attention and favor with the VIP pass, then figure out a way to get to where their leadership are and beat them to submission... or something along those lines. Knowing the Crimson Group, they might already be onto me from the start and are just waiting to isolate me and use me as bait to lure in the others. I decide to go with the flow for a bit, walk around the place viewing the attractions and even getting a bite at the food court before heading towards the bowling alley again. No sign of the manager from before, or any signs indicating otherwise. Screw it, I might as well play a game of bowling to get their attention and take my mind of this daunting task. Just like last time, I pay for my lane and equipment, getting a strike and strike over and over again that I get a large crowd gathering around me again. By the last set of pins being knocked down by my bowling ball (and a bit of my psychic abilities) I finish my game with a perfect score that sets everyone around me off and practically cheer for my success. I look around if the manager was observing me the whole time, but I don't see nor sense him around me at all. What a bummer. With that avenue failed, I'm not even sure what else I could do at this point other than shuffle around and try to rig the games in my favor. As I return back to the main area of the entertainment center, I feel someone giving me a hard slap on the back. "Wow, man! I didn't think I would see someone get an all-striker! That was some sick skill." I don't know who he is, but I might as well try to be friendly to them. "You think? I honestly didn't think I could get a perfect game here twice in a row." "Twice in a row?!" He is nearly speechless by that comment, "I've been coming here since they've opened and not once had I seen that before. Oh, sorry. Forgot to introduce myself, the name's Phinn. You know, like a shark fin, but with a 'P' and two 'n's?"

This guy is being awfully chummy to someone he hasn't met before, but maybe that's in his nature. "Oh. I'm Marcus. Have we met before?" "No, but I'm a sort of guy that has a- wait, you're Marcus? THE Marcus Fernandino? Dude, you're practically a legend at our school yet this is the first time I see you in person." I tilt my head in confusion, "You go to San Anton High as well?" "Yeah, I do. I'm a 3rd year, Junior, so it makes sense that I don't interact with Freshmen often. Man, you would not believe how jealous the Juniors and Seniors are with you, heck some of the girls in my class are starting to take an interest in you, and they are HOT, if you know what I mean." He rambles on a bit about my supposedly 'legend' within the school and San Anton, never realizing how famous I am with my peers let alone to the average kid. He stops in the middle of his speech and snaps his fingers in inspiration. "Hey, I know what you need right now. A VIP pass to this place. A perfect bowling game and the management here don't know about you. It's practically a crime in and of itself! Come on," Phinn quickly grabs a hold of my arm and yanks me forward with him, "we are gonna have a blast!" He ends up dragging me to the food court area, where the foot traffic and crowd has died down. "Alright, here's what we're gonna do: we are going to 'sponsor' a major party in here where we buy out a load of food and drinks to everyone in this building. For free! It's foolproof." I'm left absolutely dumbstruck by the audacity of Phinn's plan as well as his sincerity with it. My head can barely get around the total damage that will leave me in terms of money, "Seriously? That's your plan?! How can we even manage to get that much money to pay for every single mouth here?!" He grins, "Why, on my dime, of course!" He pulls out a fancy card from his shirt pocket. "My guy, I'm not letting you pay for all of this, no no, that's not what your role is. Listen, this is a combined effort between the two of us, a'ight? I will cover the brunt of the costs to whatever this 'sponsor' will be, and you will be the face of it all. Everyone will look to you, the good-looking Marcus Fernandino and his ever-greater generosity that will create a crowd that the management will have no choice but to take notice! Eh, how's that for a plan?"

It's absolutely ludicrous, that's what I think! Not only am I exposing myself even more than I have to, but he's also clearly using me for his own gain like everyone else before him has! Uggh, I wish I could shove his card in his mouth and storm out of here, but I can't get my emotions get the better of me here. I take a deep breath, "Fine. Let's get this show on the road, Phinn." Delighted, he rushes over to one of the food courts counters and has a heavy talk before returning, a piece of paper in hand. "We're all set. Help me rearrange the tables together and we'll start this sponsorship." After rearranging the tables to the way he wanted, Phinn suddenly pulls out a microphone and shouts for all to hear. "Hear ye, hear ye! For just this night and this night only, Marcus Fernandino and I offer you the chance of a lifetime to eat and drink whatever you want in this food court! Spread the word, we're all gonna have a blast 'till the end of the night!" Whatever nonsense he spouted, it got everyone nearby their attention and shortly thereafter a whole stampede of people start to begin crowding the food court, packing lines three times over and stopping by to thank us sincerely for our 'offer' before going wherever there is space left to eat. "Haha!" See, what'd I tell ya? Now there's no way they can't ignore us now!" As soon as he says that I notice an employee of the entertainment center approaching us through the crowd. "Good evening. Are you the gentlemen who are the main sponsors for this current event?" "Yep!" Phinn wastes no time taking the initiative. "My buddy and I are the ones who started this. Don't worry, this is all going to be on my charge. And you are?" "An employee here. I'm here to tell you that my manager has taken notice of your activities and sees it beneficial that we introduce you to our VIP system. As a matter of fact, we have a VIP room already prepared to go if you want to come along." This reek of a trap all over. Still, Phinn says something before I could protest. "Yes, please. Take us now." "Alright then, follow me please." Leaving the food court behind, we make our way towards some stairs that are not that far from the food court area and enter a new area that clearly indicates a VIP area. They even have a lounge area that directly overlooks the bowling lane, with a drinks stall that is manned by a single employee. Instead, we stop at a door that is labelled 'VIP Party Room'. "If you would please stay in here for the time being while my manager finishes some urgent matters at hand. Don't worry, there are other entry VIPs in there as well who are waiting too."

Sure enough, when he opens the door, there are two other people hanging about in there. And they're both female? I shut the door behind me and take a seat closest to the door as a precaution while Phinn beelines to the seats near the standing table in the middle. "Hello ladies. How are ya? You also being scouted for VIPs?" "Uh, yeah," the snobbier girl scoffs, "wouldn't be here otherwise. The old guy sure is taking his time, it's like he doesn't want to talk to us." The three of them started chatting nonstop about random subjects on the fly while I try to focus and use my Sixth Sense View to figure out where the Crimson Group are and the layout beyond the building. Where are they? "Hey, what's that guy doing in the corner by himself? Isn't he excited about being a VIP?" "Huh? Oh, hey Marcus, what's the big deal? Why're you just slumped and all moody when you should be having fun?" I look at them and wonder how they can be deceived so easily by a group that not even I can figure how to infiltrate with the supernatural powers that I have. It should have been easier than this, dammit! "...Hey, did this room always have a floor smoke-like effect?" One of the girls points out and I utterly failed to realize that they activated some floor effect. Yet why do I feel like I'm slowly getting tired by the second? "What the... this stuff smells funky..." Phinn slumps over, knocked out cold, followed by the other girls and I realize that this isn't some run-of-the-mill smoke effect. It's gotta be some kind of knockout gas! I quickly leap into action and try to open the door, but it's locked shut, no doubt by the Crimson Group. Dammit, I gotta get outta here, quickly! I hold in my breath as best as I can to not take in any more gas and start shoulder bashing the door with what strength I have left, with little success. There's no time left, I gotta use my psychic powers to open the lock from the inside before I pass out from lack of air. Focus, Marcus, focus! Imagine it like if it was a lockpicking minigame from one of those roleplaying games, yes, feel the right pressure needed... slightly turn the lock to... fit the hole...*click*. I instinctively turn the doorknob and push the door open to finally breathe out of that trap. I was sure I was gonna pass out before I cracked the door.

After some heaving breathing, I try to get up from my kneeling position and recover, but I see a menacing man standing before me, giving me an icy stare. "Amazing. How did you manage to get out?" Before I can even get a word out, the mysterious man kicks me far faster and harder than I had anticipated that I collide with the table in the party room. I can't feel anything... either the kick or the gas is making me lose consciousness, and I... can't do anything but watch the man tower... over me with a blank face as my eyes close...