Songbird

Chapter 19 ~ Motorcycles

"Done," said Tim, walking back to the group. Isaac, Devin, Shane, and Wesley were still seated at the gym's café table, all staring up at the old man. Tim put his phone away after making a call that lasted not even two minutes. "We need to go."

"Uh, go where?" asked Isaac, an eyebrow raised beneath his shaggy blonde hair.

"To the Pit, of course!" exclaimed Tim as though the answer was obvious. He started for the front door.

"Of course, back to the Pit," complained Isaac.

They stood, exchanged glances, and hurried after Tim.

"Who do you think he called?" Wesley asked Devin.

"No clue, but he knows people that we don't. He's our best bet to finding Jace."

"And then finding City."

"Yep."

They couldn't all fit in the Uber that was still there, but Tim said he just needed to get to the Pit, so he took a taxi ahead of them. Luckily, Tim's Gym was located on a busy street, and there were taxis waiting for passengers. The taxi and Uber sped off toward the dark pub that rested deep in the city.

When they got there, the taxi drove off, not wanting to wait. But the loyal Uber driver stayed.

The five went underground, across the tracks, and into the Pit. The heavy steel door was open, so Tim led the way inside.

The entire room was completely empty. Dust particles floated through the frozen air, creating a slight haze. It was cooler down here than above ground, but the air was strangely still. The lights flickered weakly on the ceiling, only about half of them were even on. The tables with the "BETS" sign hanging above still had papers and loose change strewn about.

The door to the locker room in the very back was cracked open, and that was where Tim headed. He seemed to know where he was going, so the group trailing behind him didn't ask questions.

Upon entering the room, everyone abruptly stopped. Devin couldn't help but let out a gasp.

Thirteen ominous men were huddled in that locker room, some standing, some leaning against the lockers, and some sitting on the long benches. They all wore black shirts and dark pants, and most had dark tattoos all up their arms. They looked like a typical biker gang... tough, intimidating, menacing men.

Tim beamed. "Friends! Glad you could make it."

"Friends?!" sputtered Isaac, clearly having no filter. Wesley, seeming strangely composed, shot him a glance.

One of the men stepped forward. He was rather short, but what he lacked in height he made up for in muscles. He clearly had the capability to beat any of Jace's friends into the dirt.

"Of course we made it," the short man said. "We are here to help Songbird."

A huge man in the back spoke up, a scowl on his face. "And to get City back." Shane recognized this man as Gordon, the security guard for Indigo, and Shane hid himself a bit further behind Wesley.

Another man stepped forward. His arms were crossed as he said, "And to crush Craton once and for all."

Tim nodded. He looked completely at ease with this crowd of frightening men. Wesley and Isaac were trying to stay composed; Shane was trying to hide his beaten and bruised face from curious eyes; and Devin was just trying not to shake in fear. If Jace were here, he'd find it all amusing.

But he wasn't there. And time was running out.

"Is Jenkins here?" Tim asked.

The short man nodded and stepped aside to make a path, as did some of his scary friends. Sitting among the huge men on a bench, overlooked by everyone who had entered the room, was a scrawny 14-year-old kid with a laptop on his lap. He had messy hair and wild eyes.