Four of a Kind

Rough Exposure

Red answered my phone. I told him to get the guy who gave us the card the phone who I assume is awake by now.

And he did with no further questions.

“Hello? Brian speaking.” he said meekly as if he just woke up from a long sleep which isn’t entirely a simile. I just hope he isn’t causing enough trouble to alarm the manor.

Once I heard him respond I returned the phone to the old lady. The lady took it and turned her back on me and spoke swiftly in a hushed tone.

I hated that. As if she and that Brian seemed like elders and I was just a child meddling in adults’ business and them talking privately on the phone looked like they were discussing what to do with me for doing something I shouldn’t have.

Okay, maybe it was all on me for interfering with whatever Marcus was doing in the dark abandoned alleyway and that it was none of my business. But sometimes it is exactly that kind of logic our country has where the majority would keep themselves to themselves to the point it hasn’t allowed our nation to progress at all.

I still had my beliefs in changing the system. And something tells me that whatever I stumbled upon to seems to be the key in helping me do so.

Hopefully.

The old lay wrapped up her conversation with Brian and faced me.

“It seems you are still new to all this and are not aware. I never thought people coming in here would be dealing the contract with me overseeing it’s procedures.” She said and brought out a yellow paper that seemed like something you sign on.

The authenticity it showed made me realize whatever I was walking into was bigger than it was.

“I need you to sign this. it states that

1.     You will be fully responsible for your actions and that whatever you do in a match.

2.     You will be held eligible for any actions done of your own free will outside game time.

3.     This world of ours is to be classified and kept away from outsiders.”

I stared hard at the paper not knowing what any of it meant. But being the ridiculously initiative person I am. Signed it with my bloody fingerprint and all.

“OK, so what now?” I asked eagerly.

“All in due time.” The lady replied folding the contract and stuffing it back into her drawer.

She then went to pull a book off a shelf place at the back of the wall and it rotated. Revealing a mannequin that was fitted with nothing but little knobs at each and every joint of its body. Beside the mannequin was a big blue-black box with tons of those little knobs. On its other side was another knob with what looked like gaming controllers.

I stared dumbfounded at all this and wanted to pee from not knowing what I was involved in until now.

“You will need these. I’ll give you a set along with the manual for it. Here.” She said handing me a box and bag contained with full of those little gadgets.

“You see kid, in the underworld. The rich want entertainment. You’ve seen those type of gladiator fights yes? Well, this is the modern version of it. Except this time most of the fighting will be done by two individual people.” She started.

I nodded only wanting her to continue and not me asking her any unnecessary questions that could consume more time and lead us off track.

“One will be the fighter, that is going to be your companion in your case, and you, the player who will be controlling the fighter’s every movement throughout the fight.” She ended.

I must be getting really retarded. It took me a few minutes once more to breathe in this whole new world I stumbled upon by pure curiosity and by each second I only want to know more.

“So, you mean, rich people pay to see backyard alley fights… that’s it?” I asked.

“Not just any, there’s also the way they fight that’s phenomenal. You see each fighter has been enhanced in ways you can only imagine.” She said dreamily.

“Such as?”

“The ability to breath fire that burns the opponent, or… I don’t know you name it. They have it.”

“So, you’re saying I have a superhuman sitting in my house now?” I asked incredulously.

“Not necessarily. He might not have powers at all. You have to buy them.”

“But where?” I asked dubiously.

“Right here.” She answered pulling another book off the bookshelf and showing me a wide rage of vials of serum.”

“This one let’s you get a increase in strength. But you also need a high-density level to withstand this strength or your fighter will get hurt. And these-”

I cut her off. I was so amazed. “So, you can purchase these? Just like that?” I asked with wonder.

“Yes… in Zoolots.”

“What are Zoolots?”

“Our currency.” She answered annoyed.

I swallowed. If this woman thought that I was a potential customer before, she certainly doesn’t think so anymore and is feeling pretty pissed she’s wasted her time on a penniless me.

“C-can you gimme a freebie please? I’ll be sure to pay you back once we win one round in this match of yours, sorry ours.” I asked with puppy eyes knowing damn well that won’t work at my age.

The lady rolled her eyes and when someone else walked in the room she realized she had better things to do than waste time on me and try to make money with other real customers.

“Here.” She said pulling down a vial randomly and handing it to me. “You better be sure you know what you’re doing otherwise the round table will send out one of their men to incarcerate you.” She said so with ease.

“Okay… thank you very much.” I told her and bolted out the room. not wanting to stay in that foreign place any longer I wanted to get back home a tell Red everything I learned.

That’s when it hit me. By the time I arrive it’ll be noon and both Red and Brian already gave me an impression that they were dumb enough to attract people and with the amount of time they’ve spent holed in that attic be it an hour or two, they were bound to get loose.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Red befriended that man. He seemed friendly though.

Clutching my vial, I took a taxi and made it back home within 5 mins or more.

I shouldn’t have wasted money like that I felt like a spoiled kid who wouldn’t use energy to walk a fairly short distance away so that I can save money.

I ran to the attic as fast as I could.

But it just so happens Heylian was blocking my way.

“You’re telling me everything.” Heylian bellowed between breaths of anger as she followed me to the attic.

She pretty much found out what I was up to and was stubborn enough to not let this one slip. I guess this was the last straw. She wasn’t gonna look the other way like she did to cover for me when I started smoking or bought alcohol into my home.

I thought of multiple scenarios this could go down when she meets Brian and Red in the attic. I clutched the vial tightly making sure I wasn’t gonna let her know any more than this I told myself.

She kicked the door opened. Which surprised me. I was more interested in the after damage of the kick than the reaction on Red, Brian and Heylian’s face when they met each other.

“Hey,,, you’re that…. That guy from this morning. I saw you then passed out. I thought it was a dream when I didn’t see either of you till now.” She emphasized the “now” looking at me with a glare.

I held my hands up in defense.

She closed the door now. Which again surprisingly worked and locked it.

She took a seat closest to Red which was …queer and held a bat from where I don’t know she picked up.

“Talk.” She said briefly.

I lied to her telling her that I overheard some random guy talking on the phone about how they had someone captive in an abandoned warehouse. I rescued Red as he was being held captive in there.

I started with how it was all due to my curiosity and how I dragged Andrew in to give me a ride to go rescue Red from the abandoned warehouse.

And well… lies beget more lies. It wasn’t any different from those stories that warn you not to lie. I got my karma immediately after I finished my plausible story.

Heylian kicked my in the balls and slapped me right before I could even react to the kick to the balls.

“How dare you lie to me!?” she bombed on me. “Do you think I’d fall for something that ridiculous? I already know what really happened when I found these two in the attic making the most obnoxious noise anyone could hear if they pass right by!!!” she said without even catching her breath.

I held my hands up in defense and looked at Red trying to determine how much truth or c**k-and-bull story they fed her. Red looked poker face at me. It could be him trying to give me a signal to shut up or keep a straight face and prevent laughing at how I was jumped.

“I know how he was caged in a giant water capsule and how you rescued him from some evil scientist. And now he has some super powers or something.” She said still red with rage. “He used to be a ex-soldier so they were gonna use his abilities in wars or so.”

I wasn’t a emotional person. I was very callous. Getting kicked in the balls wasn’t that much of a hit to my sentimentality. I corrected her on how the evil scientist was my regular bartender Marcus who seemed to work part time as a “Gladiator Breeder” with Paul and that Red was biologically enhanced to take vials that can give him a Battle boost to be used in battles that were for rich people that were running the underworld for entertainment before I realized my big mistake.

I guess I was so angry I didn’t have control of my feelings and it limited me to thinking irrationally.

Heylian was shocked. There was no other way to ease into describing how she reacted to what I just said. There was no time to waste. I had plans and ideas to talk about with Red and Brian. I needed privacy. But judging by the choice of words Heylian used to lecture me on delusional ideas and conspiracies people come up with when they are feeling depressed made me convinced that there was no way I could get her to leave us alone.

“Reeves, listen, I’m happy you made more friends your age but maybe these ones are a bit too extreme. Next time be a bit more upfront. I need to go take a shower. Your friends can show themselves out yes?”

And with that she left the attic.

I shut the door and turned towards Brian and Red. They seemed really chummy together.

“What else did you tell her?”

“Nothing” Red lied blatantly.

“He told her that he was actually a teenager who signed papers and stuff to hand himself over to the Red Hood. They in return would give Red’s family money while their son here gets shipped over to military school.” Brian offered.

So…Red was only two or three years older than me. What a surprised. He looked “Manly” with his well-built physique and light facial hair I couldn’t tell. Why would he lie to me about this I asked him.

“Just wanted to see if I looked grown-up in the perspective of others.” He replied.

I shrugged it off. “Brian you're free to go. Red let him. He was just doing his job. Maybe if he did it in a more respective manner he wouldn’t be in this situation in the first place.” I said looking at him and growling.

“And miss the opportunity to befriend this big guy here? I’ll pass.” He said jokingly and got out the attic and left.

“It was actually a waste of time keeping him captive. Maybe it made me feel satisfied but still. You should have come with me.”

“Why?” he asked perplexed. 

I told him the day’s happening from start to finish.

“Whoooaaaa” Red said. “So what’s your plan now that you know what you got yourself into?”

“Tomorrow’s a Monday, I can’t do s**t until school is over. Plus if Heylian catches you in here that’s just gonna increase the workload tenfold. I don’t want her to deal with you nor I.”

“Then leave.” Red offered bluntly.

“I can’t just leave!” I shot back.

“Why not?”

“Cause then my mom will be… angry and they… they ain’t gonna like it and will probably call cops for this. and you could be seen as the kidnapper.” I said pointing at Red.

“Relax.” Red said calming me down. All we need is someone to know we’ve left and is cool with it.”

“And let Heylian scoff at their attempt for covering for us?” I asked dubiously.

“Not if Heylian was the cover.”

I might be getting retarded every minute the moment I dwelled into this new world. But I had to take a minute to once again think about how abysmal the idea he gave was.

“Heylian was willing to kill you to prevent you from giving me “bad influence” and you expect her to be all for it for letting me go through hell? I mean why would I or she do that?”

“Good Point.” He replied thinking about it.

“Man, screw you.” I replied feeling pissed.

I wanted to leave this attic. I wanted to stop worrying about where Brian might be and go take a shower. I already had a plan and unlike the majority of people in my country who wasn’t willing to step outside their comfort zone, I was ready to initiate it tomorrow.

“Climb out the attic and come inside my room and sleep. I bought you a new set of clothes from top to bottom. I’ll give it to you to change into tomorrow.” I told Red.

He nodded. Feeling dejected about his shut-down idea and went out to meet me in my room.

I walked slowly to my room thinking about how I should go on about executing my plan to overthrow this new world. For all I know all that old lady said could be nothing but baloney so I had to test it out by injecting the vial on Red.

He was already in the room getting ready for bed. I feel bad for the guy not having anything to do and just stick around like my muscleman. But I promise that will all be over once we succeed in this plan of mines.

I waited for him to fall asleep and injected the vial in him.

That’s where s**t went wrong.