Lucas headed toward the large building, where at the bottom of its steps stood a red metal door that radiated unease.
"Lucas."
He turned at the voice, tossing his cigarette aside. Stephen approached and placed his hand on his shoulder, visibly tense.
Lucas noticed immediately.
"Listen… we shouldn't go in together."
Lucas kept staring at him without speaking.
"That's what Jimmy said."
Lucas raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Jimmy said that?"
Stephen leaned in closer, as if the matter were serious.
"Yes. He said if one of us is exposed… the other won't be affected."
Then he smiled faintly.
"Smart, right?"
Lucas grabbed his bag, glanced quickly left and right, and then gestured with his hand.
"I'll stay here. You go in first."
Stephen turned to move, then suddenly stopped.
"Oh… I forgot, the code—"
"6969."
Lucas said it calmly.
Stephen froze, shocked. He had heard everything… even though they were whispering.
Lucas didn't care much. This wasn't the first time someone had let him down.
He approached the door slowly.
Baaah… Baaah.
He knocked.
A small rectangular window suddenly appeared, revealing two sharp eyes.
"What do you want?"
Lucas swallowed.
"6969."
The eyes disappeared, and the door slowly opened.
He entered.
The first thing he saw was a suspiciously tall and thin man, as if he hadn't eaten for days. A black hat covered his head, with dark shadows around his eyes.
"Come in."
Lucas stepped inside, examining the place.
Thick gray walls stretched on either side, like a never-ending corridor.
"Your name?"
"Lu… Lucas Bell."
The man smiled a wide, uncomfortable smile.
"Why are you nervous? Relax, man."
His voice was slow, and so were his movements… unnaturally so.
Lucas understood immediately.
Drugs.
Or maybe something worse.
"I'm relaxed."
He answered calmly, though inside he felt the opposite.
"I'm Harry… but don't call me Harry Potter, haha."
He chuckled to himself.
"I'm not eccentric."
Lucas shook his head silently, trying to ignore what he was hearing.
They turned left until they reached another door at the end of the corridor.
Harry kicked it open with his foot. Another window… two more eyes… then the door swung open.
Lucas entered… and froze.
The scene before him was complete chaos.
Bags of drugs scattered everywhere, cocaine, pills, stacks of plastic bags. A TV displayed UFC fights, and screams filled the room.
The smoke was thick, almost suffocating.
He felt a slight dizziness.
"Follow me."
Harry said as he closed the door.
Lucas moved behind him, his eyes scanning the room in shock.
Half-naked people, screaming from every direction, endless chaos.
They passed a bathroom, where scattered pistols lay—some disassembled, some ready.
The floor was filthy… condoms scattered about.
A crazy place.
They entered another room.
The music was so loud he could no longer hear his thoughts.
(How haven't they been caught?… Is the leader stupid? Or just doesn't care?)
He sighed, feeling an increasing unease inside.
Then they arrived at a room bathed in red light.
He liked this color…
But here, it felt suffocating.
Someone sat in front of a computer, wearing a white mask with a long mustache—resembling the mask from the movie V for Vendetta.
"Where's the leader?"
Harry asked.
"How many times do I tell you? He'll be back tomorrow."
The man replied without looking at him.
Harry smiled, pointing at Lucas.
"This is the real eccentric one."
"Thanks, Harry Potter."
A short silence followed.
Then suddenly…
Harry pulled out a gun.
Lucas froze, stepping back.
The weapon was pointed at his head.
"Last words?"
The masked man raised his hand nonchalantly.
"Harry Potter."
Baaah!
A small flame shot out.
A lighter.
Just a gun-shaped lighter.
Lucas looked up… to see Harry dancing slowly to the music.
He sighed.
(Madman…)
Harry stepped out, and Lucas followed silently.
(If this is just a joke… how much madness awaits me here?)
Doubt began to creep in.
How long will he stay here? And where does he even start?
He didn't even know how to act like them.
He inhaled… but it was just a suffocating mix of smells.
Suddenly, Harry called another man and spoke to him quietly.
Lucas tried to listen…
(Have I been exposed?… Did Michael betray me?)
His thoughts raced.
Harry returned to him, eyes half-closed.
"Go with this one."
"Why?"
"To show you where you sleep… we'll talk tomorrow."
Lucas' smile vanished immediately.
He lit a cigarette and followed the man.
They were cleaning the place at a strange speed… as if something important was about to happen.
They exited the building.
They arrived at a small abandoned house.
The door opened.
Lucas entered.
The smell of mold hit his nose hard.
Filth everywhere, walls covered with chaotic drawings.
(When was the last time someone lived here?)
He sat against the wall after clearing a small spot.
Placed his bag down and lay back.
He looked at the sky through the broken window…
Many stars.
Then…
Darkness.
A forest.
And a black frog standing in front of him.
It wasn't an ordinary frog's eyes.
They were… predator eyes.
Cold. Sharp. Like a lion stalking its prey.
Lucas approached slowly.
The frog smiled.
A smile… with teeth.
Sharp teeth, resembling those of a carnivorous fish.
(Frog… with teeth?)
Its mouth moved slowly.
"Hello, Arthur."
Lucas suddenly opened his eyes.
Sunlight filtered into the room.
He took a deep breath, then grabbed his phone.
Ten in the morning.
(It was just a dream… another strange one.)
He sat up slowly, rubbing his face.
Then he noticed… he wasn't alone.
On the other side, Stephen was asleep.
And next to him, another man… someone he didn't know.
(Clearly… he came in after me.)
He rose from his spot and moved toward the window.
He stood there, looking outside.
People walking.
Each to their work… their life… their problems.
(Everyone carries something…)
He exhaled slowly.
(Is anyone in my position?… or worse?)
(And if I die… will anyone care?)
His expression stiffened slightly.
(Could Stephen betray me?)
He nervously scratched his head.
(Impossible… what the hell am I thinking?)
After a few minutes…
Stephen moved slowly and then woke up.
He lifted his head, looking around.
Lucas… wasn't in his place.
Then he noticed him, standing by the window… smoking.
He got up and approached him.
"Lucas."
He didn't turn.
He kept looking outside.
Stephen stood beside him.
Lucas finally looked at him.
"I missed the hotel room."
Stephen laughed lightly and rubbed his face with his hands.
"We have to rise in the ranks… to get out of here."
Lucas smirked sarcastically.
He pointed to a nearby shop through the window.
"Let's go get coffee… I need it."
Lucas flicked his cigarette, releasing the last puff.
"We go together?… Shouldn't we be careful?"
Suddenly, Stephen quickly turned toward the sleeping man.
Lucas followed his gaze.
Stephen approached him and whispered excitedly:
"It worked. No one will know we met."
He nodded toward the man.
"Who's that?"
"A new guy… like us. He came in last night. His name is Pete."
They left the house together.
The air outside… was lighter.
They reached a small shop and each took a coffee.
They stood in front of it.
Stephen approached again, excited:
"I heard their group is weak."
His phone rang.
He looked at the screen… and smiled.
"Carlos."
(Carlos?)
Lucas watched silently.
Clearly, Stephen didn't waste any time.
In one day… he figured out the situation… and got someone's number.
(He got there before me…)
He ended the call.
"Carlos is waiting for us with Pete."
They arrived quickly.
The house was nearby.
A man stood at the door.
Medium height.
Messy blond hair.
Sharp features… serious gaze.
Dressed completely in black.
Carlos.
Next to him… a shorter man, with a thick beard.
Much older.
Pete.
Carlos stepped forward.
"Lucas, right?"
Lucas tilted his head.
"Yes."
"Good. I suppose Stephen told you about Pete."
He looked at Pete, then gestured for them to follow.
Lucas gave Pete another glance.
He smiled at him.
Yellow teeth… an unsettling look.
He felt something was off.
(I don't like this man…)
Pete moved his mouth in a hoarse voice:
"Nice to meet you, Lucas."
Lucas only gave a faint smile… no reply.
They entered the headquarters.
It was different from yesterday.
Cleaner… quieter.
No screaming.
No deafening music.
A children's program played on the TV… with no viewers.
The bathroom was clean.
Everyone was working.
Men counting money.
Stacks… he had never seen so much in his life.
Lucas' eyes stopped at the table.
(All of this… here?)
Carlos stood.
"The leader is in this room."
He entered first.
Lucas took a deep breath.
Prepared himself.
Stephen quickly adjusted his clothes.
Then they entered.
He was sitting on the sofa.
A girl on his right… another counting money on his left.
He stood slowly.
A Spanish man.
Tall.
Athletic body.
Black hair.
Thick mustache.
Calm features… and a strangely comforting smile.
Just looking at him…
made you feel at ease.
He confidently approached them.
"Hello… I'm Antonio Williams."