Aedes was alone again, sheltered deep within a narrow, shadowed alleyway, the fantasy key now safely tucked into his pocket. He had just finished devouring the surprisingly generous cache of snacks that Patricia had given him— an assortment of breads, crackers, and bottled water.
He had eaten so quickly that he nearly choked followed by a loud, satisfying burp. He was now down to his last remaining piece: a soft, buttery, and cheesy bread.
He held the plastic packaging, on which a sticker featuring a cute posed picture of Patricia. Aedes stared at the actress's bright, artificial smile for a long moment, then slowly lifted his gaze to the distance…
The Fantasy Tower loomed there piercing the dark skyline, so impossibly tall it seemed to scrape the stars. He reached into his pocket and touched the cold, metallic weight of the key.
"Fantasy tower…"
He whispered… Suddenly, the dim moonlight illuminating the alley entrance was blocked by a hulking shadow. A dangerous looking, middle aged man stood there, his face obscured by the darkness, radiating menace.
"Well, well. Look what the night dragged in," the man's voice rasped, low and greasy. "They said the lucky street rat would be hiding somewhere close to the event, and here you are, clutching that little golden ticket. I finally found you, boy."
Aedes instantly froze, his senses snapping to attention. He didn't move, only gripping the key tighter through the fabric of his pocket, his body instinctively tensing for a fight. The man stepped closer, his heavy boots crunching on the debris.
"Relax, kid. I'm not going to hurt you, not yet," the man continued, his tone sickly sweet. "You're just a hungry boy who got lucky. You have no idea what you're holding, or the kind of monsters you'll meet just outside this alley, let alone in that Tower. So, let's make a deal, shall we?"
Aedes remained silent, his eyes fixed on the man's massive frame, his posture indicating he wouldn't answer any questions. The man sighed, his patience visibly wearing thin.
"Alright, no more games. I'll go straight to the point: I need that key. I'm a professional with a family— a wife who depends on me, two daughters, and a son. Unlike you, who looks like an abandoned dog, I actually know what to do with a billion dollars. The truth is, boy, you'll be eliminated first in the Tower and make a mockery of the real players, or some lowlife will just take it from you tonight anyway." His tone shifted. "Hand over the key now and you can walk away alive. You get to keep your head; consider it a bonus for your cooperation."
Aedes and the man entered a cold, silent staring contest. The man, sensing Aedes's unwavering silence, took another aggressive step forward and reached out his hand, ready to grab Aedes's frail body. In a sudden, desperate burst of adrenaline, Aedes snatched the plastic bag, the one with Patricia's smiling face and lunged. He shoved the thin plastic forcefully over the man's head, covering his eyes and nose in one frantic motion.
The man roared, blinded and gagging on the plastic. "What the hell! Get this off me, you little freak!"
Aedes used the moment to pull the plastic tight around the man's neck, creating a makeshift blindfold and restraining him. The image of Patricia's pretty face, frozen in a cheerful smile, was stretched over the middle aged man's struggling head. Aedes turned, sprinting for the alley corner.
But as he rounded the bend, his momentum carried him straight into a second, equally imposing shadow. This new threat was wider than the first, with a cruel, mocking smile. Aedes instantly hid his hand, shoving the key deep into his pocket.
"Going somewhere, street trash? You really think you can run with a key that valuable?"
Aedes didn't respond, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he prepared to dodge.
"Don't ignore me when I'm talking to you!"
The man yelled, lashing out. Aedes swiftly sidestepped the kick, the wind whistling past his face, and didn't wait for a second attack. He spotted a narrow, external fire escape ladder bolted to the side of the building. With a burst of sheer panic and necessity, Aedes threw himself at the rungs, scrambling upward toward the dark safety of the rooftop.
Below him, the two men's voices were sharp with anger and frustration. The second man yelled up at him, cursing,
"Dammit, he's fast! That little rat can run!"
He reached the fire escape and started climbing clumsily, glancing back at the first man who was tearing a plastic bag with Patricia's smiling face off his head.
"The fuck are you doing, Jasper? Don't just stand there! He has the key! Are you going to let a piece of street trash outrun two pros?"
"Shut up and climb, Carl! I'm still trying to catch my breath— I-I almost suffocated on this damn plastic!"
Fueled by the calories from the snacks and the terror in his gut, Aedes found a sudden burst of energy. He climbed onto the first low roof and began to run, jumping across gaps between buildings with desperate agility.
He soared over the narrow alleys as the silhouette of the Fantasy Tower watched from the skyline. Behind him, he heard the heavy thud of the two middle-aged men landing on the rooftop, still in pursuit.
"Look at him go! He's trying to parkour!" Carl shouted as he hit the roof with a loud thud, his wide belly slamming into the ground as he landed.
"Hey! Maybe you need to cut the extra carbs." Jasper teased, "Or else you'll get defeated by a slime on your first day!"
Carl groaned, hauling himself up and gasping for air as he pushed forward.
"Shut your mouth and keep running! My gut isn't the problem, it's these cheap shoes and your constant yapping!"