Downgrade

Butcher

I heard a deep sigh from her. She was already exhausted. Everyone was keeping their pace normal, not until I bumped myself on Trench's back. I rubbed my nose and turned to face what's behind us. It was a lofty, rickety brown ladder leading to a circular opening above us.

Cody cleared his throat, lending the map to Guilbert. He took a fine grip over it and started to climb up above. We heard small lively beats from above. Kinzel hurriedly passed us as she gazed at Cody who just reached the end. He slowly turned the thickly coarse wooden opening. There was a fierce, blinding light shines upon us and the loud thundering beats were heard down. Kinzel hastily went to follow Cody above who was frozen. She climbed promptly and when she saw the view, her eyes went enormous.

"The hell, did we get here!" She yelled.

Third Person’s POV

Who would have thought that the place they intend to go is the exact location they brought themselves into. Era departed the sewers just to pass the tunnel and now they stepped into a wild night out club, the Secret Club. It was the place where all leveled people come in peace and just for a fun night. It was a hidden gem to the most – where they can illegally transact goods with the others without having a negotiator in between. It is the common place to have power-ups that aren’t being sold in the market.

Kinzel stood still in awe as she cannot believe that she had taken herself again to the same place.

“D-Did Quinten already know this place?” She looked over the others behind them, their eyes were glued at the flashing, variant disco lights that looked like fireflies trolling around the building. Vixen was the last one to climb above and just before she can rest on the ground, she didn’t come out of the manhole but instead, she watched in amusement the Secret Club.

"I think he just discovered a path, but didn't intend to go outside that manhole. Well...who knows?" Loshiana uttered, raising both her shoulders.

The building is three feet tall and its walls were highly stable concrete. The wooden, arsenic door with a damaged, dirty white doorbell on its side, welcomed them. They heard laughter, tempestuous cries, and the flattering, sour beats inside. Cody pulled Vixen by her arms out of the manhole.

She tapped her clothes. They felt nasty as they smelt like the sewers. Dread.

“I think I’m going to vomit.” She scowled and acted to puke.

“Get hold of yourself. We’re not done yet.” Guilbert stated and went to the entrance door. He turned around to face his sister who’s scratching her head. “Why aren’t there any guards here?”

Kinzel sighed and crossed her arms. “Because there’s no need to put security in this place. As far as I know, there are also guards inside, having their enjoyment. Let me lead you and don’t do any unnecessary things, understood?” She looked at everyone.

“Yes, boss.” They answered in chorus and followed her.

With a deep breath, without thinking twice, she opened the door and everything went wild. People were losing themselves as they hurled with everyone on the dancefloor. The sound was beating loud as the lights portentously flickered above them. They have removed their scarves, not to catch the attention of others, instead, they wore some dashy, pleasing to the eyes clothes. They blended with the people as they hurled themselves to an obscure, thin path.

Bodies touch bodies. It smelt smoke and liquors. Hannah covered her nose while Carmilla was holding her by the hand. Her eyes roamed towards the tawdry, rectangular stage. There were poles and the ladies with their gauzy clothes, almost letting them flash their souls, waved their bodies around it. Carmilla recognized it and turned Hannah’s face to their direction they’re taking.

“Just look straight, dear.” She prompted.

Eyes were like reapers, slashing their souls as they headed in their direction. Those mocking faces, alluring ones, deceptive and outrageous. Judgment was a usual thing for them as they can clearly see it through the eyes around.

“Who wants grilled steak?! A man suddenly shouted from a left corner, near the podium. His apron was stained with oil and spices, together with his thick sweats all over his neck and face. His hair was damped and he had dark rounds around his eyes. Kinzel saw the man and eagerly made her way to him.

“Me. I want that steak.” She answered as she stood beside the stool bar.

“Aye, just wait there.” The man said without turning his gaze to her. He placed the food on a plate. Carrying it, he headed in their direction and said, “Here’s your order. That would be-”

He raised his head to see the person who just ordered the steak, but was caught off guard when he saw Kinzel with a smirk plastered on her face.

“Long time no see, Butcher.”

___

“Y-You’re the Butcher?” Trench utterly said pointing at the man.

It had been almost half an hour when they meet the man they were looking for. The man took them to his office and they didn’t expect that he’s also the owner of such a club. A man who’s secretly working as a butcher but a top expert in leading underhand transactions. He said that he doesn’t want to be recognized as the owner of the building in order for him to avoid the Committee itself, and only a few, his trusted friends know about his top-secret, and Kinzel was one of those people.

His place was spacious and the man often takes his rest over the couch where the others were sitting. A scruffy, pale red blanket was placed on the floor. His walls were covered with paintings and most of them are about the ocean. There was a large bone hanged over the center, which they presumed it was from a wild boar. Four lamps were on each side shedding some life for them. A shady, fervent crow was locked in its cage that was just beside a fish tank behind him. Its eyes were staring back at them.

Carmilla examined the Butcher, walking around as she gaped right through his features; dark-skinned, well-grown muscles, a rose tattoo over his bicep, a violent silky hair, and a piercing on tongue, lip and eyebrow.

“Dad always talks about you.” She whispered, rubbing her chin with her fingers.

The man smirked with audacity and said. “I’m getting used to it.” He winked at Carmilla which gave her the oozing chills down to her spine. Her eyebrow pinched.

“He got some fans. So it’s typical for him to hear things about himself.” Kinzel whispered to Carmilla and nodded.

“You never told me that you have an access to the gate.” Kinzel asked.

The man rubbed his nape and twitched. “Well…I don’t trust anyone, except for the Masked Man and if there’s a payment.” He scowled, his voice turned into a hyena.

“So, what brought you here? It’s been a month, Ms. Flores.” He went and settled in his old, low swivel chair. He clasped his hands on top of his table. The old tank of fish was glowing behind him, greeting them with their fins and scales.

“You mean Mr. Elikai Bryson.” Guilbert muttered. The Butcher turned his sight to him and paused. “H-How did you know that I call him like that?”

“We…are friends with him…He was the one who told us to come here and ask for your help.”

He clapped his hands. “That man. He never failed to give me new clients. So, how is he right now? Is he still being an Informant? It has been long since I reunited with him.”

Everyone suddenly went into silence, not until Miguel braced himself to answer the man. He stood beside Guilbert and leaned his back on the grey concrete wall. “He…was killed by Jack and some of the officers.” He softly said.

The Butcher didn’t say anything, he was fixed in his stead and stared at them for a while. Kinzel took a sigh. “We visited him a while ago, just before we took ourselves here, but we didn’t save him…he…was already dead when we got there.”

Finally, the man found his voice and said, “Why did they do it?”

“For information that Mr. Elikai had been keeping for so long.”

“They should rot in hell. How’s your plan doing? What do you need me to work for? I’ll help you, also for me to pay back the old pal.” The Butcher said. He moved his neck to see Hannah who was playing with Loshiana with a ball that Vixen got for her brother. “You even brought a child with you?”

Guilbert nodded. “We don’t have a choice and we still need to deal with something related to the kid.”

“Well, you should be careful.”

“We know.”

“What are they called?” Vixen suddenly asked as she placed her hand on the container. “Incys.”

Carmilla took a step to see the fish clearly. She had been hearing stories about it from her father. Mr. Everdeen said that the lovely, little creatures can be found inside an unknown cave. Nobody knows about the palace and even he still didn’t see one. People believe that they bring good luck to those who will capture them. And she guessed that the Butcher was able to get those and continue his business until now with the help of the fish.

“That’s a cool name. Are they your pets?” Vixen complimented.

“Kind of and they’re not free.”

“I’m not going to get one. Chill.”

“Just making sure. They’re the last one of their species.”

“Where did you get them?” Vixen was listening attentively as the man glanced over his pets.

“Well….you don’t have to know.” He chuckled.

Kinzel pounded a shabby, brown pouch with two gold bars. The man immediately took it and glimpsed on what inside. He grinned and crossed his arms. “You never failed me.”

Cody was glancing over the dark silhouettes of the people dancing. He got a glimpse of how they secretly give each other the power-ups potions, details, goods and the such. He shook his head and reverted his sight to the others who’re taking their time negotiating with the man.

“I heard you have a connection with Benjamin Fintstone, is it true?” Carmilla uttered.

“Oh, that man. Yes, I do know him. What’s with him?”

“Do you have chips there?” Kinzel hastily queried.

The man shifted and suddenly pulled his gaze from them. He was being cautious. “Uh…well, I guess you asked the wrong man here.”

Vixen snooped in and gently held the man’s shoulder. Her eyes were pleading. She had been devastated since the time Quinten left them and that made her not to care anymore. She needs, they need to pass and get to the top.

“You’re our only hope to get to the first gate. This is our only chance to bring what is right and also the justice for those who we lost along our way.” She pleaded.

The man looked at her. “You’re familiar. Did we encounter before?”

“No…”

“Well…Nevermind. I thought I’ve seen you before…Mmm…” He pulled a box from one of the compartments of his table and placed it gently on top. He pulled the cover and counted something inside it.

“I only got seven chips left here.”

Kinzel counted every one. “Do you have your chips?” She asked Carmilla and Trench.

They nodded. She looked back at the man. “Then, it settled. We’ll take all of that.” She added.

The man made a fine grip of the box. “Woah, wait. Not so fast, woman.” He uttered. “Why are you so eager to take this?”

Kinzel’s eyes narrowed. She was done playing well. “We have to save the child’s brother, okay and also we have to make our plan succeed. He had a power that can erase ours, and currently he’s in the hands of Penelope. So you better give those to us and damn, it can also save your life.”

“H-Hey. You’re not in your territory.”

“And, I’m not playing games here, Butcher. Mr. Elikai recommended you to us because he knows you can be a person to trust with. So…you better act like one…not for us…but just think that it is for your friend. He died, just like our friend in the shadows of those above us. I don’t know for sure what level you’re in, but please help us…the boy needs you…too”

A sigh was heard from him. “Fine...but if anything will go wrong, don’t you ever mention my name or my place.” He was serious.

Kinzel stretched out her arms. “Deal.”

“Deal.”

The man gave the box to them. There were all seven inside.

“You sure this will work?” Kinzel asked Carmilla as she positioned the chips on the table. The Butcher looked at her.

Cody placed his things on the couch beside Miguel who was reading Quinten's notebook where they found the map a while ago.

"Did you find something in there?" Cody blunted and peaked on the writings.

Miguel shook his head. "Not really. Though, I got hooked when he had written something about a young child he had met before in the Care Orphanage."

"Oh, what does it say?"

"Quinten wrote that the girl was really clumsy that he had to act like a hero just to save the person from those two other boys who were messing with her."

"I never thought he could be that manly to a girl." Cody chuckled.

"He's secretive. We all know that."

The others started to gather around the table. Loshiana was still taking care of Hannah and put the child's attention to toys. She heard Carmilla telling something about the chips.

"Fifi just went back to our level to tell my Father that we're heading to the first gate right now. Basically, he knows that we need his help...and I know that Benjamin is now monitoring our way. And perhaps, knowing that the Butcher and him are acquaintances, it wouldn't be hard for him to know that we're the ones asking for an access in the system..." She grabbed two chips. "Using these ones."

She breathed in and took a dagger out of her pocket. She looked at Kinzel and asked, "Are you ready?"

The woman nodded in response, placing her arm on the table and exposing her wrist to Carmilla.

Using the blade, she slowly cut a part of her flesh, enough for her to see the original chip that was implanted. Fresh crimson blood rushed on the table. Guilbert went to the couch and looked at a clean cloth. He grabbed one from those he got and gently placed it below his sister's arm.

Kinzel bit her lower lip as she dealt with the throbbing pain. Carmilla carefully took out the chip on her wrist. There was a red beeping flash coming from it.

"W-What's happening?" Kinzel winced.

"T-That's a sign that someone is trying to take her chip. It will notify in the system itself." Trench replied.

"Will she be alright?' Guilbert worriedly inquired.

Both of them nodded. Carmilla placed the original one, tainted with blood on the clean cloth. She took the new one and gently placed it on Kinzel's wrist. The light started to beep.

"I thought they're not working at all?"

"Benjamin is the one who gives this man these chips. That's why they're working. It will surely take the Butcher into a fine tip and will earn a lot just by transacting one of these to another. Apparently, our man is not so nasty." She elbowed the Butcher on his side which made him flustered. "I know you're not selling them easily to anyone. Of course, you have your own faith. Thank you for trusting us to have these ones." She told him.

The man made an awkward sneer as he scuffed his head. "You don't have to thank me for that much. I'm just giving it back what those men helped and offered me before. It's payback time."

When Carmilla successfully placed the chip inside, she stitched the wound thoroughly. Guilbert was the next one to have his chip, then came Miguel and Loshiana. Next were Cody and Vixen. Everybody got their chips.

The only person who still hasn't have hers was Hannah. The child was frightened that she intended to his herself behind the couch. Vixen sighed and walked to her. She knelt to face her as Hannah hugged her trembling, digging her face between them. She gently held her head and said, "Hannah. You know...we have to do it..for us to find Macky. Don't be afraid, I'm here for you. We are here for you."

Hannah slowly lifted her head. Her cheeks were red. She sniffed and wore bravery around her. Vixen smiled and rubbed her hair. "Come. I'll be right here." Hannah grabbed her hand and they moved back to Carmilla who gave them both a smile. The child sat on the swivel chair and placed her wrist on the table. She could hear her heart beats fast.

Carmilla looked at her intently. "Are you ready, Hannah?"

The girl slowly nodded in silence. As soon as Carmilla started to open it, she cried in pain. There was blood. Vixen immediately covered the child's face, embracing her. "Shhh...It's alright. Everything will be fine. Just a little more..."

"I-It hurts!" She yelled as her tears rushed on her dirty white shirt.

Vixen brushed her fingers through her hair. "I know...I know..."

When Carmilla replaced hers, she instantly stitched her wound and wrapped her wrist with a clean cloth.

Vixen wiped her tears. Hannah was still crying but she's able to deal with the pain now.

Carmilla stretched out her arms. "Now, we're all good." She satisfyingly clapped her hands.

Kinzel watched her wrist. "Yeah. Now, we just have to pass the gate." She stood up from her seat.

The Butcher was standing at the corner, patiently watching over them, not until he was curious. "Will you also find the one who kills Elikai?" His eyes showed mercilessness.

Guilbert took his stare to him, placing his hand over the man's shoulder. He tapped it. "We'll definitely hunt him down and let him suffer just like what he did to the old man."

The Butcher patted his back and smiled. "Then, I won't regret that I helped you. Now, before the gates will close, hurry up and pack up your things. There's no need for you to chill out here...Maybe in some other time." He giggled.

He lead them to a secret door where no one can see them. All of them thanked him and promised that they will bring justice for his old pal. They shook their hands. The Butcher knelt and faced Hannah who was starting at her wound.

He smiled. "Hey. When you come back, I'll give you one of my Incys. So, you should make yourself strong." He rubbed her head. The girl nodded and gave her a hug. "Thank you, Mr...What's your name again?"

"Just call me Butch."