After searching around for a while, the only things Gary found of Xin’s were a few of her school books, as well as her pencil case. He had been hoping for something more tangible like an item of clothing. The teenager felt quite strange sniffing her items, but he was trying to save her life, after all. Luckily, there wasn’t anyone in the classroom either… However, the smell was too faint.
‘It was easier tracking Tom’s shirt… then again, I was following the smell of his blood. I guess a Werewolf’s nose is just extra sensitive to that.’ Gary assumed.
For a brief moment, he was contemplating trying his luck with her locker, but seeing as someone had just stolen her stuff yesterday, he wasn’t too optimistic. Instead, he checked his phone. Kai had sent him a list of known hangout spots for red colour gang members, as well as some supposed bases of operations.
The upperclassman had even added a suggested order for him to check things out. At the end, he had even attached his personal analysis.
[I doubt the red colour gang that attacked today have fled far from the school. Riv himself might have returned to one of their bases, but I bet that a good chunk of those involved in the attack live close by.
[I know you didn’t want us to come along, and knowing your strength I can’t argue, but since you seem to be planning to attack them, you should at least wear the gang uniform. Don’t forget your mask either.]
Gary couldn’t help but get a smile on his face, when he read how Kai cared and trusted him.
A short while later, the high schooler found himself in an alleyway that was wider than most. He stopped just around the corner, as he could hear people talking on the other side. Having taken the advice, he was currently wearing his new black and gold blazer as well as the mask he had been gifted.
‘The red colour gang came to our school just after Kai told me the Underdogs know about me going to school there. The Grey Elephants should also know my real name by now, so they must be looking for me as well. Either way, right now showing my face isn’t the best idea.’
——
Around the same time, another tall handsome figure in a tight sports shirt was walking around what looked like a fish marketplace. There were countless stalls with different types of fish. Most of them were alive in containers, while others were being freshly cut up. The whole place had a distinctive smell, which was hitting Jayden in the nose.
Still, he ignored it as he was looking for something in particular. Turning his head countless times, he finally found what he had been looking for. Along one side of the market with stalls, there were also a few storefronts.
Heading inside a particular one, Jayden triggered the bell atop of the door.
“I’ll be with you as a second, dear customer.” The owner spoke from behind the counter. He looked to be talking to three people in the back of the shop. Jayden could clearly make out the red clothing they all shared. Walking up to them confidently, Jayden stood right behind them and was close to the counter top.
There were countless fish on ice, and behind the chopping board the large man would do his work.
“I’ll be with you in just a moment.” The owner turned around, assuming the newcomer wanted to purchase something.
“It’s okay, I’m not here for you.” Jayden smiled. “I’m here for them.”
Without hesitation, the Altered grabbed one of the gang members by the scruff of his neck, and slammed him right into the pile of fish that laid there in a bed of ice, he twisted and turned his head into the ice creating a few crunching sounds.
The two other members were too shocked at the sudden brutality, but they at least understood that they were being targeted. The one on the right was ready to make a move, though, Jayden kicked him in the side of his leg. A loud snap was heard in the shop, as the man’s leg was now bent inward.
The terrifying thing was that it looked as if it had just been a casual kick without much power in it, but it had been enough to cripple the gang member. With his hand still holding onto the back of the first gang member, Jayden lifted his body out of the ice, and slammed it down again. He Lifted it one more time and slammed it into the ice while looking the other person in the eyes.
Blood was forming in the ice, and it was hard to tell if it was from the red colour gang member, or one of the fish. The owner was shaking behind the counter, and seeing as Jayden wasn’t interested in him, he had decided to run into the freezing cold container and shut the door behind him.
“Today, your gang attacked Westbridge high school. During the attack, your guys happened to kidnap a girl. Where is she?” Jayden asked as he stared down the remaining gang member.
“I don’t know, I wasn’t part of the attack!” The twenty something year old had peed his pants in fright, hastily trying to back off, only to stumble over the passed out body of the crippled gang member.
“Well, you seem to at least know about the attack, and something’s telling me, you’re going to ‘remember’ more about it in a second.” Jayden stated, walking towards him as he let go of the first guy’s head. His body just slid down until it eventually fell to the floor.
Desperate to get out of the situation, the gang member searched for something to throw at Jayden. He found the knife which the owner had dropped during his escape, yet the Altered easily evaded the weapon. Jayden let out a sigh, before grabbing the last member’s head and dragging him behind the counter.
He then punched the man lightly in the head, before grabbing out his arm and placing it on the table. Next, he picked up the knife that had just been thrown at him.
“Wait! I’ll tell you!” The man cried out in a panic.
Not reacting in any way, Jayden swung down the knife, hitting it on the board, and slicing the man’s little finger off.
“Get talking, unless you want to lose them all today.” Jayden demanded, lifting the knife up once again. “Don’t try to bullsh*t me, either, or I WILL be back for you! You should know something about me … I hate gangs!”
——
In the alleyway, Gary had found a total of five red colour gang members who seemed to be having a good time together. However, less than a minute later, only one of them was still left standing.
The group had made a bomb fire out of some wood and more, and Gary had yet to get an answer from a single one of them. Currently, he had the last one held by the back of his neck, already beaten quite a bit.
He started to drag his body closer to the fire, making the gang member intensify his struggles.
“Tell me where she is! Tell me where I can find the girl you abducted!” Gary demanded, as he pushed the man’s head closer to the flames, now only inches away.
“STOP!!! I’LL TELL YOU, I’LL TELL YOU EVERYTHING!!!” The man pleaded to be let go.
Once Gary had gotten the information to find Xin, he chucked the man against the wall, knocking him out like the others. As he walked away, he had a single thought in his mind.
‘I hate gangs…’