Bad On Another Level

° T E N °

C H A P T E R     T E N

Finally, after walking for what felt like two rounds around the world, Stefan began to slow down. And then he turned left, into an alleyway on the dimly lit streets of downtown.

I swallowed before slowly sneaking towards the alleyway, my back against the shop building before sneakily spying on what on Earth he was doing. Did geniuses really study in dark alleyways?

A man with a short, yet muscular figure awaited for him at the end. Unfortunately I couldn't make out any other physical details due to the lack of light.

"What do you want, kid?" I faintly heard the man say in a grumpy tone.

"Tell me where I can find Mr. Cloud Nine." Stefan replied determinedly, his hands shoved in the pockets of his trackpants.

Mr. Cloud Nine? Who's that, a superhero character?

The short man was silent for a moment, before asking with great suspicion, "Why?"

"I heard he's a legend in the black market, owning the greatest drug selling business in history. I want to work for him."

My mouth unconsciously parted and my heart dropped not once, but twice. No no no. Stefan, why?

The man chuckled heartily with incredulity. "Sorry kid, but my legendary boss doesn't accept just anyone."

He walked past him and down the alleyway, when Stefan laughed mirthlessly. It sounded quite evil, actually, and sent a shiver down my spine. "Don't you know who I am?" He said, his voice low and a little raspy.

The man sure felt the sudden iciness in his voice, and halted in his steps, turning around to look at him.

"I'm Stefan Chase." He said in a dangerous tone, stepping tauntingly towards him. Although the upper half of his body was under a thick shadow, I could see his eyes clearly gleaming.

I could practically feel the fear radiating off this poor, short man. "T-the guy who murdered his own brother?"

Stefan nodded.

My heart sank. At this point, my head was visibly peeking to watch the scene, but I couldn't move. I was utterly frozen, by his confirmation and this side of him. Oh. So the rumours are true.

He cornered the little bulky man to the wall merely a metre or so away from me, and the man squirmed. "Now, let me try again: Tell me where I can find Mr. Cloud Nine."

"I-I can't—"

Stefan banged his fisted into the wall, and clutched onto the man's neck, picking him up and slamming his back onto the wall. "—Why not?!"

"—Because he's disappeared! It's been years since he left the black market. Only a few of his most trusted men know where he is, and they're operating the business for him! Now can you let me go? I can't breathe..."

"Sure, right after you tell me his real identity, or how he looks like at least." Stefan muttered through his clenched teeth.

The man furrowed his brows. Now I could clearly see his skin was blanketed with tattooes, literally all over every single visible skin. With a raspy voice due to the lack of breathing, he asked. "Why would you need to know that if you just want to work for him?—"