When Dalton came to, Malcolm was leading him into a dark alleyway. Dalton pulled away. It made Malcolm turn around.

“Boy, you’re back?” He sounded relieved. “That’s good.”

“Good?” Dalton still felt out of it. “You shot at me!”

“I didn’t. I hit your chains. I swear.”

“You set me up. You were hoping that I would lose.”

Malcolm gave a pained smile, his hands gripped into a white ball. “I lost some money. Just a few thousand. Nothing I can’t ask Eira for. Unless can I borrow some money from you boy?”

“You’re begging your subordinates for money? Your trash.”

“Says the man that ruined me financially!” Malcolm barked. “But your still my subordinate. And you did prove useful. You did win.”

“I…” Dalton remembered Nikolai’s angry face. “Do you think he would keep his word?”

“Nikolai is a man of his word. Even if he suspects you cheated-”

“I did not.”

“-he will give us better candidates to send to our world, and we’ll be able to actually have a bonus this year.” He licked his lips and rubbed his hands together.

“Okay, well, I’m going to go home now. I have tomorrow off, so I won’t be seeing you for a while.”

“Wait just a moment!” Malcolm grabbed Dalton’s arm. “I need you to do one more thing for me.”

“No. No. No! I’m done. I’m out! I want nothing to do with what you’re about to ask me. Goodbye!”

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“If you do this one thing, then I promise you more days off!” Malcolm yelled.

Dalton stopped. He considered for a moment. The more days he had off the more chance he could just get a job and leave the company. The problem was, what was the cost for it?

Dalton peeked from over his shoulder. “Alright, tell me what it is first. I’m not going to play the whole ‘you’ll tell me when we get there’ excuse you gave last time.”

Malcolm clicked his tongue. “We need to pick up Satoshi. I need your help with that.”

“Satoshi?” An image of the guy in the corner zipped in his head. “Ooh, the potion addict.”

“Don’t call him that. It hurts his feelings.”

“Is he not a potion addict? He sold me out to one of my clients, it was a big deal, but to keep it short, he caused me a lot of problems,” Dalton said.

“Alright, well, will you help me pick him up. He’s just resting at a clinic past this alleyway.” Malcolm motioned just up ahead.

“A clinic in the alleyway?” Dalton gave another look around the very dark alleyway where there were several people sleeping here. There was even a man facing a wall, bursting out in some creepy laughter. “We’re going to a potion den aren’t we?”

“Okay, yes, will you?”

“I want ten days.”

“Alright, sure.” He shrugged.

Dalton narrowed his eyes. “That easy? What’s going on here?”

“You already went through a lot. I thought you deserved more days.”

“Huh, well, that’s very nice of you.” Dalton scratched the back of his neck.

“What can I say, I’m your boss.” He pointed to his himself with his thumb. “I do the right thing, at the right moment. Now come on, let’s get my roommate home.”

“He’s your roommate?” Dalton didn’t want to know the situation there. “Alright, let’s just hurry this up, so I can go home.”

The clinic was a small brick building seated at the corner of the alleyway mouth with a neon sign that said: Clinic. Because that’s exactly how advertise that you are a clinic and not a potion den. They went into the Clinic, and Malcolm asked Dalton to wait at the entrance while he talked with the doctor.

A few minutes later, Malcolm came back with a woman in a black cloak.

“Right there ma’am. That is my payment right there. You should lock the door now. He’s making his escape!”

No shit! Dalton ran for the door, but he was able to budge the door open. Dalton turned back to see the cloaked woman holding out a glowing outstretched hand.

“Very well. He looks like he will be a good lab rat for my experiments,” the woman’s voice was very soft and sweet sounding. “Your debt has been resolved. You may take your potion addict home.”

“Thank you, Madam Witch.” Malcolm bowed and left through the back.

“Malcolm!” Dalton ran towards him, but he was stopped by the woman.

“You should worry about yourself.” With a wave of her hand, he dropped through a black portal.