As night settled over the city, the towering buildings emitted a soft glow, offering a moment of respite and a break from the hustle and bustle of daily life. However, the peaceful stillness was disrupted by the sound of flying machines and technology that filled the air with buzzing energy.

The machines flew overhead, their presence was reminiscent of a police force as they patrolled the streets, checking every corner and alley with precision and purpose. The noise of their engines echoed throughout the city, creating a cacophony that shattered the relative calm of the night.

Amidst the modern and advanced atmosphere of the street, there was an old, stylish car that stood out like a relic from the past. It was parked before a closed arcade, its classic design starkly contrasting the surrounding futuristic technology.

Inside the car, an old man sat in the driver's seat; his grey hair was the proof of pearls of wisdom, and his dark eyes held a deep sense of purpose. As he savored the atmosphere, a young woman emerged from the underground, running frantically with a blonde wig in hand and tears streaming down her face.

The young woman's raw emotions were evident as she cried out in distress. "Noooo...this should never happen!" she cried, her voice shaking with emotion. "Fuck you, old man! I should never have believed you!" Her curses were laced with bitterness and regret.

The scene brought a smile to the old man's face. "It seems she hasn't succeeded either," he commented, amused by her outburst. The scene also sparked his imagination, and he couldn't help but laugh as he imagined what might have happened to cause the young woman to sob in anguish.

After a few minutes, the young woman disappeared. The old man expressed his appreciation by cupping his hands together, "Thanks for the show!" he said before opening the car door, which was old and difficult to handle. He then locked it with a padlock and walked down the underground stairs beside the closed arcade, using a wooden stick to help him down.

On his way down, the old man felt excited and eager when he saw a door decorated with vines. The moss and bugs on the staircase created an eerie atmosphere that added to his anticipation. He couldn't help but compliment whoever created this environment by saying, "Nice job!"

While he descended further, the old man's smile grew wider as he imagined what lay behind the door at the bottom of the staircase, quickening his pace and eagerness to fill his curiosity.

***

Gaith lifted his head in confusion, unable to comprehend the sudden disappearance of the young woman from his sight. "What...?" he muttered, feeling speechless and bewildered. Her unexpected departure left him with a sense of complexity and confusion. "Did she only come to give a warning?" he wondered aloud, scratching his head. "No, that's a stupid move..."

While he tried to make sense of the situation, a knocking sound interrupted his thoughts, emanating from the main door of his store. Gaith felt a lump form in his throat as he swallowed nervously, his attention drawn to the source of the knocking sound. His eyes widened in fear, and his gaze became intense as the knocking grew louder and more insistent with each passing moment. He stared at the door like a madman, his eyes turning red with the mounting tension and anxiety.

“It’s the first punishment?” Gaith's mind raced as he tried to make sense of the situation. He was aware that the best way to torture someone was to play with their psychology. Without hesitation, he fled to the door, and as he walked, the gravity felt ten times heavier. His blood pumped faster when he saw the cursed phenomenon glued to the door, which only appeared when he let his guard down.

When he arrived at the door, he felt a sudden tug on his hands. The lifeless hands of the dead reached for him, their grip tight and unyielding. He struggled to turn the doorknob, muttering in frustration, "Why do those damn white hands have to make everything so difficult?"

With trembling hands and a racing heart, Gaith summoned all his courage to turn the stubborn doorknob. He squeezed his eyes shut, afraid to witness the punishment that awaited him. But despite his fear, he persisted and finally managed to open the door.

A rush of wind swept through the room, sending a chill down Gaith's spine, “I’m ready!” he shouted.

“What are you ready for?”

But then something unexpected happened. Instead of feeling the expected anger and hate, Gaith heard a voice he recognized all too well. It was a voice he had not heard in years but one that he remembered very clearly. It was gentle yet firm, each word carrying a lifetime of experience.

“This voice ….” He whispered.

Little by little, Gaith opened his eyes to take a peep.

After his eyes were enough to see what was in front of him, he saw an old–middle-aged man standing before him with a smug smile. He wore a cloak that covered almost every corner of his body and a homburg hat perched on his left hand. In his right hand, he held a wooden stick that looked expensive and finely crafted.

To his surprise, it was someone he knew - someone who he had not seen in two years.

"IT WAS YOU— HAAAA!" Gaith shouted, his anxiety giving way to a mixture of relief and embarrassment.

The fear that had been accumulating in his body dissipated utterly, leaving him feeling embarrassed. Gaith could feel the heat rising in his face, and he knew that he must look like a tomato. He quickly closed the door, hoping that the man did not see the reaction he just did.

Unfortunately for Gaith but fortunate for the middle-aged man. He was fast enough to put his stick in the door before Gaith could close it properly. "Hey... Hey!" the man mumbled. "This is what you do to your sworn brother?" he asked.

Gaith's nerves were awakened as he spoke in a high-pitched voice. "Just what do you want?"

"Did I need a reason to check on my little brother?" the middle-aged man replied.

"The last thing I should believe is your words!" Gaith responded.

Their standoff continued, neither willing to let the other win. The tension was palpable as they pushed with all their might, the door creaking and groaning under the strain.

"Hey!" the man said. "Just let me enter first!"

Gaith responded by strengthening his push. "Sorry! My store is already closed!"

"Aren't you evil? How can you let an old man like me stay outside on this cold night!"

No response from Gaith as he strengthened his push, causing the door hinges to groan under pressure.

"Hey! Just let me enter first!"

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

"Sorry, customer! The store is already closed! Come back tomorrow!"

But neither was willing to back down. They continued to push, their muscles straining with the effort. Finally, with a resounding *Ting!, the door hinges gave way.

“Damn I’m fucked up!”

Both of them realized how bad their situations were as the door slowly fell in the middle-aged man's direction.

Gaith quickly sprang into action, gluing his fingers to the door and pulling with all his might. "Hoooowly!" he shouted as he lent the door on the wall beside him. He turned to face his uncle, Luis Heim II, also known as 'The eyes see all!'

Luis opened his mouth to say hi, but before he could speak, Gaith lifted his body from the outside and carried him into the warm, well-lit room. Once inside, Gaith unleashed a wave of words. "The hell are you doing? You almost died, you fucking idiot! You..." His voice trailed off as he struggled to find the right words to express his anger and frustration.

Luis felt a surge of energy from those actions. "Hoooh!" he exclaimed. "Do you not remember who I am?" Despite his relaxed tone, his words had a chilling effect on the listener.

At that moment, Gaith knew he was completely screwed. His face went pale and sickly. "That’s—" he tried to speak, but his words came out garbled and unintelligible. He felt like a malfunctioning robot that had been abruptly shut down.

He chose to apologize, "Sorry!" bowing his head to show his remorse. "I didn't mean that." he added, and looked up, meeting Luis's gaze.

Luis sighed, feeling both tired and ashamed. The young man before him was no longer the person he once knew - the man with bright eyes that inspired others to do their best. Instead, he saw a shadow of that person, someone who seemed lost and unsure of himself. Luis couldn't help but wonder, “Just who you are?” as he looked into the young man's eyes.

“It's okay, but don't call me master. I'm no longer your mentor,” Luis said gently.

"Then Gran--" Gaith started to say, but before he could finish, a wooden stick landed on his cheek.

“Not that!” Luis interjected firmly.

“Then Uncle,” Gaith suggested.

“Just call me brother like you used to in the old days!” Luis replied. “We're only twenty years apart. If you want to call the others 'uncle' or 'gramps,' that's fine, but not me.” He then took off his coat and handed it to Gaith. “Here!”

With a reverent gesture, Gaith accepted the coat as if it were a precious item. He carefully slung it over his shoulder.

“By the way, your eyes are still the same as ever huh, dark and pitiful!” Luis said.

Gaith took a moment to observe the man in front of him. "Brother!" he exclaimed, pointing at the copper-colored iron doorknob of the open door from earlier. "Look at yourself first, boss!" he added.

A smile once again drew on Luis’s face, “Well, my eyes already had been like this since I was born,” directing two fingers towards Gaith's eyes. "Not like over there!" he responded.

Gaith wanted to shout, "Whose fault is it that I've become like this?" But he chose not to. He had already decided not to blame the man before him - he didn't want to blame anyone anymore. But he couldn't back down either, not when his pride was at stake. "Well, you look completely different from two years ago!" Gaith said before raising his eyebrows. "You look more like an old man than the real old man!"

With the help of light and no more tight clothes, Gaith could see Luis's proper appearance. The once youthful face was now gaunt and worn, with hair that had turned almost completely gray, matching the color of his skin. Luis's hands were thin and bony, and his cheeks were sunken, giving him a skeletal appearance.

Although Gaith's words were filled with mockery, Luis responded calmly. He lifted his shoulders and fixed his gaze on Gaith, his eyes betraying a hint of sadness. "Well, it happened because someone who should have taken the job ran away, huh …." he said, his voice tinged with resignation.

"What a scary act," Gaith thought to himself.

Gaith knew there was no way the man in front of him would show a gloomy or weak personality. Luis was a man who ruled the underworld and had been his father's right-hand man to succeed him in the past. Gaith had spent several years with Luis and knew exactly what kind of man he was.

"Sure, sure," Gaith replied, nodding his head. "I'm sorry to hear that, brother, but we need to change places first!" he added, swinging his hand backward.

Those suggestions were agreeable to Luis, so without uttering any words, he walked past Gaith; as he walked, the unmistakable scent of books wrapped around him like a warm embrace. It mixed with the earthy fragrance of polished wood, giving the room a cozy, inviting feel.

As he walked through the aisles, the yellowish light from the ceiling cast a soft glow on the shelves, highlighting the intricate carvings and intricate designs of the book's spines. Each shelf was like a work of art, carefully crafted and arranged to create a symphony of colors and textures.

Luis' eyes sparkled, "Damn, what a cultured man you are, huh!" he couldn't believe what his eyes were seeing.

Gaith, who followed behind, smirking proudly, “Well, who do you think I am!”

He was proud of the design of the bookstore, especially when he was the one who built it first hand. However, that was not all of his masterpieces, “Brother, do you want to see something more amazing?”

Luis couldn't resist the invitation. With a grin and a sense of excitement building in his chest, he turned his body 180 degrees, maintaining his arrogant demeanor, “What are you going to show me?” he asked.

Though no words were spoken, Gaith's body language said it all: his arms crossed over his chest, exuding an air of quiet confidence. His stare was steady and proud, all of that enough to make Luis's face break out in a wide smile.

"Take the lead!" Luis ordered.

After Luis instructed Gaith to take the lead, Gaith proceeded to walk towards the counter a few feet away and Luis followed him. As they reached the back of the counter, Gaith reached up to a shelf behind the counter, his fingers deftly pulling out a book with an old-burned cover. Luis couldn't help but wonder what was so special about this particular book.

But before Luis had a chance to ask, Gaith had already moved on to the next step. He opened a drawer and retrieved another book, carefully placing it on the shelf where the burned one had been. As Gaith's movements triggered something within the bookshelf, Luis watched in fascination. The sound of machinery filled the air, and the floor shook beneath their feet. Slowly but surely, the bookshelf began to shift. It groaned and creaked as it moved, revealing a long dark passage that led downwards. Luis couldn't help but ask, "Is it what I think it is? A secret passage?"

Without missing a beat, Gaith turned his face slightly and gave a wink. "It's not done!" he declared confidently. He raised his hands and began clapping them as if they were an instrument, his feet following suit and creating a harmonious rhythm. With each clap, a bluish light illuminated the underground passage, captivating Luis's attention. He couldn't decide what was more impressive - the secret passage or Gaith's salsa-like dance moves.

As the dance came to an end, Gaith's hair became untied and covered his face, giving him an almost mystical appearance. At the same time, the secret passage was completely illuminated by the blue fire that came from torches hanging on the walls.

“So what do you think about this?” Gaith asked, “Broootheer!” he continued with his eyebrows raising up and down.

"Nice!" That was the only word that came out of his mouth—trying to maintain a sense of calm despite the excitement that was building inside him. His heart was beating so fast that the sound of it could be heard in Gaith’s ears. “By the way, is that—”

“Sssst!” Gaith interrupted, "Brother, who do you think I am?" he asked, his voice echoing off the walls of the underground passage.

Those words once again fired Luis's spirit. He closed his eyes briefly, taking a deep breath to steady himself. He then pointed his stick into the underground passage before opening his eyes. "Show me all you have!"

"Absolutely!" Gaith replied, his excitement evident as he led the way down the underground passage. With his long hair flowed freely behind him as he confidently strode ahead.

Luis's curiosity was piqued by the ancient appearance of the underground passage. The stairs were covered in damp moss, yet were surprisingly slip-resistant. The sound of water droplets echoed through the tunnel, and the torches on the walls emitted no heat, creating an eerie atmosphere.

"How on earth did you create this?" Luis inquired.

"That's a secret of the trade!" Gaith laughed. "Just follow me."

“Alright!” Luis replied with a blank tone as his face showed boredom.

When they encountered a white door that seemed out of place against the ancient backdrop as they reached the deepest part of the passage. "Prepare yourself," Gaith warned, turning to Luis.

“What—” as Gaith pushed open the door, Luis's words trailed off, his eyes widening as he beheld the sight before him.

–To be continued–