Crimson Duty

Chapter Twelve - Crossing Lines [ACT ONE]

Shingle arrives back at Rehtomruoy Lane. He walks in, goes to the 2nd floor of the apartment complex and walks to room 13. He gets his keys out and opens the door.

Mike: Who is it?

Shingle: Just me.

He walks to his room and takes his map off the wall. As he walks out, Mike sees him with the map.

Mike: Shingle why do you have your map, where are you going?

Shingle: Antristian.

Mike: Bro that's like all the way across the country. What the fuck bro?

Shingle: I'm...

He stops for a second. He can't admit that he's trying to buy property because he's just gonna use it for producing and distributing meth.

Shingle: Uh, I just wanna go see grandma.

(Their grandma lives in Antristian.)

Mike: Alright then.

Shingle walks back outside to his car, gets in, and pulls out the map. He points at where he is to find out the directions to 316 Jetain Road. He also figures that he should genuinely visit his grandma in case Mike calls her to ask if he'd actually went. He starts the engine. As Shingle drives towards Antristian, his mind is consumed with thoughts of his new life as a drug dealer. He can't believe how easy it was to get to this point, but he knows that he can't let his guard down. He needs to keep expanding his empire, and he needs to make sure that no one finds out what he's really doing.

After several hours of driving, Shingle finally arrives at his grandmother's house. He gets out of the car and walks up to the front door. He knocks, and a few moments later, his grandmother answers.

Grandmother: Shingle! It's so good to see you, my boy!

Shingle: Hi grandma. How have you been?

Grandmother: Oh, you know me. Just keeping busy with my knitting and my garden.

Shingle: That's great. Can I come in?

Grandmother: Of course, of course. Come on in.

Shingle steps inside and is hit with a wave of nostalgia. He remembers coming to this house as a child, spending lazy summer afternoons playing in the garden and eating his grandmother's delicious cooking.

But now, he can't help but feel like an imposter. He's not here to visit his grandmother, he's here to cover his tracks. He spends a few hours with her, chatting and catching up on old times. But all the while, he's thinking about his next move.

As the sun begins to set, Shingle decides that it's time to leave. He gives his grandmother a hug and promises to come back soon. He gets in his car and drives to Jetain Road, his mind already back on the business of drugs.

But as he drives, he can't help but feel a twinge of guilt. He knows that what he's doing is wrong, but he can't stop himself. He's addicted to the power and the money, and he's willing to do whatever it takes to keep it.