The dim lights cast a hazy glow over the worn tables of the local bar in Wind City. The door swung open, admitting a customer who calmly took a seat at the counter.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8XP4hx6U68
"Frank, give me some booze," the man said, his voice a low rumble.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHwtMMyOT2
Frank, the bartender, poured a generous shot of whiskey. "Haven't seen you in days, Dave," he commented, wiping down a glass.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj4xpQ2WIgi
Dave lifted his glass, a tremor in his voice. "Yeah, I was inside... The judge dropped my charges, so they let me out."
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztLN8GmE03
Frank smiled. "Good for you."
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHkIPcjgva
"They put a cop to watch me, though, so I'm not fully free, you see," Dave said, the bitterness evident in his tone.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Tva9XATWb
Frank broke some ice into a glass. "Bummer. I was hoping to see you at the party."
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXYKpeoREz
A shadow fell over the table as another man approached. "I overheard you say you were inside. Mind me asking where?"
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhRwYkAAA9
Dave took a sip of his whiskey before answering. "Red Grave."
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhFnjDjjIha
The other man chuckled. "Believe it or not, I was there too, in the B section. Released a couple of weeks ago. I'm Dante, by the way."
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQUPIVZeYJI
Dave laughed. "Really? What were you in for?"
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvelpvVzC3N
Dante grabbed a beer from the cooler. "Beat my boss with a chair. He told me to work on designs, then never used them. I stayed there for a couple of months."
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcFQ1LFBxJ0
They shared a few laughs before Dave scanned the bar, noticing it was empty. "No ladies?"
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0U6vewiEah
Dante wiped his face with a napkin. "Well, my friends were begging me to meet them at this place called Lastdrop. What do you say?"
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCeAYGIgXU
Dave grinned. "Let's go. I bet there are at least some girls there. Good night, Frank."
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqv4X6XROyQ
They both exited the bar, Frank pocketing the money Dave had left on the counter. As Dante drove, he stopped at a house.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP14FetbCLc
"Why are we stopping here?" Dave asked.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVir46w9kq
"Promised my friend I'd pick him up," Dante replied.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBKcxtGk8u
They got out and walked to the door. Dante rang the bell, he grabbed the key and entered looking for them but there was no answer. He tried calling, but found a text message: "Where are you we are already here."
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdLQKTkR5j
Dave scratched his head. "You should have called them before."
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpmuRZyPGO0
Dante smiled sheepishly. "My bad. Let's roll."
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2xtFtyxYHt
Dave opened the door, only to find himself rolling onto the ground. He had been pushed by an unseen force.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrzlbgI95h1
Confused and disoriented, he looked up to see Dante standing over him, a menacing glint in his eyes.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0tvT7ELz8o
"Wait, why?" Dave stammered, fear creeping into his voice.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEweLqPD7AR
Dante didn't answer. He delivered a swift kick to Dave's stomach, sending him writhing in pain. Another kick connected with Dave's face, breaking his nose with a sickening crack.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEDuw2ImrII
"Please, you're going to kill me!" Dave cried, blood streaming down his face.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSHc0Q8szgF
Dante leaned in close, his voice a cold whisper. "Stop crying like a little bitch."
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3PNQ7F8Cm
Dave coughed up blood, his voice barely a rasp. "Why? Please tell me why."
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBIdeEDXbzz
Dante rained blows upon him, each punch a brutal reminder of his helpless situation. He could feel his ribs cracking under the relentless assault.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGhJb7gIbWT
Finally, Dante stood up and walked towards a drawer, pulling out a pair of gloves and a box of matches. Dave knew what was coming. He had been outmatched from the start, but now there was no escape.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5hpX0HkDOW
He tried to crawl towards the door, but his broken leg made it impossible. He saw someone standing outside, a glimmer of hope flickering in his eyes.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXDqjFSSGV
Mustering all his remaining strength, Dave stood up and ran towards the door, screaming for help. But his jaw was shattered, his words garbled and unintelligible.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkoZi2bxibH
Dante delivered another blow, a low kick that shattered Dave's other leg. He took a deep breath, his voice filled with a chilling calm.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0LFFLObBey
"Remember a year ago? You dated a girl, fed her all that crap about loving her," Dante said, using Dave's own hands to pour fuel on his body.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXBZrWfLPse
"Then you invited her to see the house you'd move in with her, only to rape her. You and three other bastards."
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW57I2pYLX6
Dave tried to speak, but his voice was lost. Dante held a lit match to his body, setting him ablaze.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG0HTU1uMlv
Dave screamed in agony as the flames engulfed him. Dante watched impassively, his face devoid of emotion.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcr9uUxkPUA
After the fire died down, Dante changed his clothes, cleaned the place, and headed home. He checked the door for his keys, found them, and slipped inside, trying to be as silent as possible.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGrWP5ee3BH
He made his way through the hallway to a room decorated in a distinctly feminine style, clearly his sister's. He kissed her forehead gently and went to his own room, placing his phone on the charger before falling asleep with a satisfied smile on his face.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrATlBMIfG3
The darkness in the room slowly gave way to the morning sun. Dante rose and closed the window, returning to bed. But a voice broke the silence.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzPD6GOaW8
"Vi, Vi, wake up, it's 8:00 o'clock," a voice called.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUk8WYuAmhH
Dante cursed under his breath"fuck"and got up. He showered, changed, and headed to the kitchen, where his sister was already seated.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡph63tdy8vc
"Victor, did you take the car back?" she asked.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxE3gUXpSgh
Victor swallowed his sandwich, avoiding eye contact. "How about 'good morning' first? And no, I'll take it after work."
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewI2cgaVrG
His sister put down her fork. "Then you need to give me a ride."
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡudOMiOXoNS
Victor grabbed his keys and dropped his sister off at her therapist's office. On his way to work, he was pulled over by a police officer.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8vgAb88ssb
Victor stopped the car, making sure he had his driver's license and registration ready. He felt a wave of relief wash over him as the officer approached.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYg1DBTVmfE
"Sir, may I see your driver's license, please?" the officer asked politely.
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcVNEE8f25S
Victor handed over the documents, his palms sweating slightly. "I'm sure I wasn't speeding, officer."
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK77tmrkGil
The officer smiled. "I'm sure I heard him calling you dante yesterday."
123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBHzZblATP6
Victor's heart skipped a beat.
[Full book coming next month]
ns3.143.115.237da2
然後按「加至主畫面」