It's been a long while since Yinsak felt the uneasiness he was feeling. Knowing that his family was doing their little schemes made him lose some good nights of sleep thinking about how he could interfere. Not because of some noble cause, but because he wanted to hear them beg on their knees after all of the years he had to withstand them.
His thoughts were interrupted by a knock from his door.
– Come. – He says while straightening himself in his seat to get comfortable.
Russ, the man he had a quick conversation with a while ago, comes in while adjusting his overcoat. He addresses Yinsak with a smirk.
– Good grief you're as much of a vampire as you are a dick. Ever heard of the outside world?
– Yeah. I also heard of the afterlife but never had the chance to visit it. – He answers with a twisted smile. – Maybe I could ask you to check the area ahead of me.
Russ sweatdrops at the comment before taking a seat next to Yinsak.
– So – Yinsak starts – , what are the news?
– I thought of a theory, but it's a bit of a stretch, so I don't recommend thinking hard about it just yet.
– Oh no, please, tell me. Last time you left one of those out I lost a decent chance of attacking them head-on. I'm tired of these wild goose chases that usually lead me to dead ends.
– In that case – Russ says while grabbing a small laptop from inside his coat. – , let me show you this.
He opens his modified purple and red laptop, taps in his password, and does some clicking before turning the screen to Yinsak. On it, several darkened pictures of people coming out of a black car. Four photos in total, all from the same moment but different angles. The people in it were a tall, old man, a woman with around the same age, and two younger-looking women.
Yinsak frowned. – It's them alright. Where are they in these pics and what about your theory?
– It costed me a special drone I had, but I managed to take those from the outskirts of Mox.
– Mox?! – Yinsak raises from his chair surprised. – Are you sure?
– Woah there, Yin. – Russ quickly explains himself. – I know what you're thinking, but hear me out. This is where my theory comes to play. I think they came to this place on purpose. Up until these particular photos, I never saw them anywhere near Mox, so I'm safe to assume that they figured something out and are trying to lure whoever's after them to there. I mean, just think about it. It would be too obvious and risky for them to have their secret schemes and meetings in the same city they live in.
– My old man doesn't care if he's a bit careless or not. – Yinsak angrily says. – The damn bastard is too full of himself to think anyone would even consider opposing him, let alone actually pull something off. How did I miss something so obvious like that up until now?
– Reminds me of someone... – Russ doesn't have time to finish his sentence as Yinsak death glares him, who flinches for a second. – I... don't think this is time for me to make jokes, is it?
– Not at all. These photos are from when?
– Two days ago.
– Then I'm going right now and you're coming with me. – Yinsak walks past Russ, heading towards the door. – Lock the door and bring the key to the amusement park's entrance in thirty minutes. I'll meet someone there.
Not waiting for him to respond, Yinsak closes the door behind him and power walks to said place while calling someone through his phone.
– Baxter? Of course it's me, you glutton. I'm going to the amusement park and I expect to see you there waiting for me. – He hangs up while reaching the elevator of the apartment.
Once where he agreed to go to, Yinsak sees a man waiting for him while leaning against a lamppost. Said man was no older than 20, had the sides of his head shaved, and brown eyes. He was wearing a shirt and pants that were a number larger than him and made of cotton, as well as slippers. One could easily mistake them for pajamas.
Baxter was eating an ice cream sandwich and drinking some soda when he spotted Astarosa come with a serious expression. He kept eating, not caring much for his tension.
– Did you just woke up or is this one of your jokes? – Yinsak sarcastically says. – Either way, it's not funny.
– As if you cared. – Baxter shrugs while taking a sip from his soda. – Besides, they're not pajamas. I personally ordered them to be designed this way.
– You're right, I don't care. Anyway, the first thing I wanna discuss is...
– Where's Russ? – Baxter cuts Yinsak, who growls mildly. – I thought we would wait for him.
– I told him to be here at this time. If he doesn't show up, you can fill him with whatever he misses. In any case, the first thing we'll do is...
– Don't start without me! – From a distance, Russ shouts while running. Yinsak's impatience is visible but he takes a deep breath and waits. Once the trio is finally ready to start, Yinsak tries to start again.
– Ok. As I was saying...
– Why an amusement park? – Cut again, this time by Russ, Yinsak death glares him, making him flinch for around two seconds. – I.. I was just wondering why you chose an amusement park over anything else for us to hold this meeting.
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
– Because it'll be less suspicious, you animal. If three people, one of those people being me, went to some dark corner to have a conversation, someone would most definitely find it weird and tail us. At least here the worst we need to worry about is with who's around us.
With that said, he gestures towards the entrance to the park. – Now let's get going. And you two better pay attention to me because I won't repeat myself.
While walking around the park like normal people, or as normal as three grown-ups, one wearing pajama-like clothes and the other going as an 80s detective could look like, Yinsak explained to the other two what he had in mind.
– This will be a two-part plan. First, we have to go to Mox and investigate my old man's hideout from up-close. This will be easy, considering that his security, if any, will be just cannon fodder.
– Shouldn't we focus on going undetected? – Russ points out. – I mean, out of us three, you're clearly the strongest. I can't put up a fight even if I wanted and Baxter is as lazy as he is a glutton.
Ignoring the taunt, Baxter takes a bite from a pie slice he bought while at it.
– As if I would bring you of all people with me. Nah, you would just drag me down like an anchor.
– So why the hell am I coming?
– You'll be our driver.
After swallowing, Baxter speaks right before taking another bite. – Keep going.
– The second part is to get as much evidence as possible. So, did you make the special camera I asked you to?
Russ pulls from somewhere inside his overcoat a small, cute-looking camera. – This bad girl is as hard as steel, waterproof, and unhackable. Also, you can only access its content with a password.
Yinsak snatches the camera from Russ' hand and spins it around to check it. The camera is dark red, barely fits in his hand, and only has five buttons.
– It also has a touch sensor. – Russ finishes explaining how the camera works. – That's how you'll put in the password to access the gallery.
Yinsak finally turns the thing on and takes a few photos, as well as a two seconds video to test it. – So, what's the password?
Yinsak enters the password Russ gives to him and checks the recordings. The quality is top-notch and the frame rate is passable. – Perfect. – After pocketing the camera, he continues. – This is a stealth mission, so only I and Baxter are enough on the actual fun part of it. Russ, like I said, you'll be our driver.
– Good to know that in advance. I'll be sure to bring a game or two to keep myself busy. – He cracks his neck. – So, when do we start?
– Right now. – Yinsak bluntly answers. Baxter raises an eyebrow.
– You're kidding.
– You wish. Go get your stuff, we leave in two hours.
– But Mox is, like, a four hours car trip from here! – Russ points out.
– Can't we do that tomorrow? – Baxter sighs while scratching the cut part of his head. Yinsak then knocks both men's heads, gaining their yelps.
– That's exactly why we're going right now. If we don't fool around, we should get there by 10 PM.
Russ growls with annoyance but he obliges for not having a word on the matter. Baxter doesn't waste time going back home to grab his stuff.
– We'll meet at the city's south entrance. – Since Russ is the one driving, he gives them their meeting point. – There, you'll see me in a red pickup truck.
Each of them heads to different directions. A little over an hour later, they meet in the designated area. Despite being one of the city's main entrances, the place was rather empty, barely having cars coming back and forth.
Once the trio quickly greets each other, they enter Russ' pickup, all sitting on the three-people seat, and they start their travel.
– Well – Russ starts. – , since this will be a rather long trip, I downloaded a handful of songs. Here.
He plays a playlist from an old-looking phone that was being used as the vehicle's radio. The music has a strong vibe to it, sounding like heavy metal. Not ten seconds after it started, Yinsak stopped it.
– I'd rather go deaf than having to listen to a minute of this garbage people call "music". Don't you have something decent?
– You clearly have no taste for music. – Russ says, visibly offended, but Yinsak grabs his own phone and replaces Russ' phone with his. A few seconds later, jazz starts to play.
– Now, that's more like it. – He says with joy in his voice. Russ pauses the music not long after it starts, gaining Yinsak's glare.
– My car, my rules. Now, either we listen to...
Baxter, who was eating a slice of pie, again, takes Yinsak's phone out and plugs his own while shaking his head.
– You two are old in both age and music taste. Who listens to jazz like this these days? And heavy metal? Really? Here, let me show you two what music is about.
Then, a genre that neither men aside him ever heard of before starts playing. It's beats resemble those of hip-hop but also has a tint of lofi to it.
– It's a mix called lofi hip hop. You can thank me later.
He then leans back on his seat and closes his eyes while taking another bite from his pie. This time, his companions do the same with relaxed expressions.
– This "lofi" sure is something and also kind of resembles jazz. – Yinsak says.
– And the hip hop beats give it the hype it would otherwise lack. – Russ finishes for him. – Ain't good old rock, but it'll do.
They spend the rest of the trip without exchanging many words, switching to other music genres along the way.
After a long trip, they finally reach Mox. Yinsak gives Russ directions to the supposed hideout, a place he is well aware of, and once there, they stop the car a good 100 meters away from an empty area with trees all around it.
– All I see is green and brown, Yin. – Russ says while leaving the car, soon followed by the other two. – Let's look somewhere else.
– But weren't you the one that took the damn pictures? – Yinsak asks him.
– Yeah, but I also ran for my life when they found my drone out and I didn't take the photos here. It was over there. – He points to his left and spins his finger, generalizing the area.
– In any case, you'll wait for us in the car. The actual hideout is in the underground and the door is hidden. Give me a second to see if I still remember where it's supposed to be.
While looking around for a concealed submarine-like trapdoor, neither of them realized they were being watched by a shady figure from a considerable distance. Said man takes the opportunity to throw two knives against a focused Yinsak. Unfortunately for him, the Astarosa had sharp reflexes.
To everyone's surprise, Yinsak grabs both knives with each of his hands while grinning. – I figured you would come out sooner or later. Come on, don't be shy or I'll have to go there myself.
– Who you're talking to and where did those knives come from?! – Still shocked, Russ asks with more authority than he actually has. Instead of an answer, Yinsak merely looks to a tree to his front.
From there, a man wearing military-style clothes falls and, while still crouched, smirks smugly.
– Looks like I'll have to ask for a higher paycheck. You're not worth the price they gave for you.
– A mercenary. – Yinsak growls but doesn't drop his grin. – My father wouldn't even think twice about dealing with me personally if he suspected I had something to do with the whole spying schtik. Who hired you? My sisters? Perhaps my mom? In any case, I suggest you drop the tough guy act and leave while I still feel like letting you go.
– Do you realize who you're addressing?! – The mercenary shouts with annoyance while unsheathing a machete. – You'll die so fast you won't even have time to...
The man didn't have time to finish his sentence.
With a blink, Yinsak appears behind him and elbows the man's back with force, causing a sickening crack. The man immediately fell unconscious, his machete falling from his hand.
After a while, Baxter speaks. – A bit overkill, don't you think?
– Is he alive? – Russ asks concerned. Yinsak merely shrugs nonchalantly.
The man growls weakly, answering Baxter's question. After that, Yinsak calls for him and they return with their search.