Tides of fate

Chapter 2: A Deal with the Devil

Phuwin's heart pounded as he stared into Pond's cold, calculating eyes. The warehouse was dimly lit, the air thick with dust and an underlying scent of rust and old metal. Shadows flickered against the cracked walls, twisting like the fear crawling up his spine.

"Why am I here?" Phuwin’s voice wavered, but he forced himself to stand his ground, squaring his shoulders as much as he could under the circumstances.

Pond’s lips curved into a faint, humorless smile. He glanced at one of the men flanking him, a silent signal that sent a chill through Phuwin. The man stepped forward, crossing his arms over his chest, towering like a stone sentinel. Phuwin’s stomach knotted.

“You’re here because I called for you,” Pond said slowly, as though speaking to a child. His voice was smooth yet icy, every word dripping with authority. "People in my line of work don’t appreciate being ignored.”

Phuwin’s mind raced, trying to process this. How could someone as notorious as Pond even know he existed? And why had he been summoned? He was nobody—a lonely boy hiding behind walls and sketchbooks, not someone involved in the criminal underworld. His mouth felt dry, but he swallowed his fear and spoke.

“I don’t understand,” he managed, his voice barely a whisper.

Pond’s expression softened for a moment, as if he found Phuwin’s confusion almost amusing. He stepped closer, his dark eyes piercing through Phuwin’s defenses. “You’re not here to understand. You’re here because you have something I need.”

Phuwin’s brows knit together. “I have… nothing.” His voice cracked, but the sincerity was unmistakable. “I don’t know anything about you, and I don’t have anything to give.”

Pond’s smirk vanished, and he looked at Phuwin as if weighing his words. For a long, uncomfortable moment, he said nothing, his gaze boring into Phuwin until the boy felt like he was unraveling under the scrutiny.

“Is that so?” Pond finally murmured. His tone was calm, but there was a hidden edge to it. “Then tell me… why have you been watching my operations?”

Phuwin's eyes widened in shock. “I haven’t!” he blurted out, heart hammering in his chest. “I just read about you in the news!”

For a split second, Pond’s expression softened, an unreadable look crossing his face. He leaned in, close enough that Phuwin could feel his breath, a whisper of warmth in the icy warehouse. “Listen closely, Phuwin. In my world, there’s no room for ‘just.’ You’re either a threat or an asset.” His tone was low, almost hypnotic. “And you… you are one or the other. Which is it?”

Phuwin felt a wave of defiance flare within him, surprising even himself. He was sick of being misunderstood, tired of being treated like a problem. “I’m neither,” he replied, barely managing to keep his voice steady. “I’m just me. I’m not trying to be in your world. I never wanted any of this!”

The warehouse fell silent, Pond studying him as if he were some rare, perplexing specimen. Then, unexpectedly, Pond chuckled—a sound that was more unsettling than reassuring.

“Interesting,” he muttered, as if talking to himself. “Perhaps I can make use of you yet.”

Before Phuwin could respond, Pond straightened and looked at the two men standing beside him. “Get him a seat,” he ordered, his tone sharp and commanding. “And get him some water.”

One of the men dragged over a battered chair and set it down with a rough thud. Phuwin sank into it, his mind still reeling from the surreal events unfolding around him. A bottle of water was shoved into his hand, and he clutched it tightly, more for comfort than thirst.

Pond pulled up a stool across from him, resting his elbows on his knees as he leaned forward. “Phuwin, I’m going to be blunt with you,” he said. “I didn’t bring you here just for the thrill of it. You see, there are… opportunities I offer to very few, especially those outside my world.”

Phuwin’s confusion deepened. “Opportunities?”

“Yes,” Pond replied smoothly, his eyes gleaming with a hint of something Phuwin couldn’t quite place. “I need a pair of eyes and ears on the inside, someone no one would ever suspect. You, with your innocent face and lack of ties, are perfect for this task.”

Phuwin shook his head, incredulous. “You want me to spy for you?” The idea was absurd. He was just a high school kid, struggling to make it through each day, let alone navigating the dangers of the mafia.

Pond’s expression didn’t waver. “Exactly. And I think you know, Phuwin, that refusing me would not be… wise.”

A chill ran down Phuwin’s spine. He felt the weight of the ultimatum pressing down on him, the helplessness of a cornered animal. He knew he had no way out, yet the thought of getting tangled up in Pond’s schemes terrified him.

“What… what do you want me to do?” he asked, his voice barely a whisper.

Pond leaned back, a gleam of satisfaction in his eyes. “It’s simple. You’ll attend the gatherings of a certain group in your school—those who think they can interfere with my business. I want names, details, anything you hear. And in return, I’ll make sure no harm comes to you or your family.”

Phuwin hesitated, his mind spinning. He didn’t want to betray anyone, but he didn’t have a choice. Pond’s gaze was unyielding, an anchor dragging him into dark waters he didn’t know how to escape.

“What if they find out?” he asked, voice trembling.

Pond’s smile was cold, his words like steel. “That’s not my problem. It’s yours.”

Phuwin felt a lump rise in his throat. But what choice did he have? He had no one to turn to, no safety net to catch him. Pond was offering him a lifeline, twisted though it might be, and he couldn’t afford to let it slip away.

Slowly, he nodded, each movement heavy with resignation.

Pond’s smile widened, almost approving. “Good. Remember, Phuwin: the more you cooperate, the better it is for both of us.”

Phuwin looked away, a surge of anger flaring up beneath the weight of his fear. He was trapped, used by a man he barely knew, thrown into a world of deception and shadows. Yet he could sense something else, a glimmer of defiance buried within him. He wasn’t going to let Pond win without a fight.

As Pond rose to his feet and gestured for his men to take Phuwin back, Phuwin dared to glance up, meeting Pond’s eyes with a quiet resolve. “You may control me,” he said, his voice stronger than he expected, “but I won’t break for you.”

Pond’s gaze hardened for a moment, but he simply turned away, his words a soft, chilling echo. “We’ll see about that.”

As Phuwin was led back to the car, he felt an invisible weight settle on his shoulders, a dark cloak draped over his life. He knew that he was stepping into dangerous territory, but a part of him—the part that had long been trapped in silence—felt the stirrings of something new. An ember of resistance, a quiet fire he wasn’t willing to extinguish.