The newcomers in Slough had stayed for a couple of days and they were starting to settle down. Killer, along with his father Earny, had pretty much made their decision that they would be staying here.
The place was far better than the last area they were in, and for Killer, the most he would be losing was his friends, with whom he didn't feel very close. Outside of school, he would only hang around with the other gang members, trying to get a position in a lower division gang of the Scavengers. Going back wasn't an option, and he didn't want to go back when staying in a city like this.
As for Herbert, the leader of the small gang that was in charge of recruiting the kids, he too knew that there was no going back. Finding out that the Scavengers were being run by a stronger corporation, they would wring him dry, asking for information about the Howlers, and even if he gave it, he felt like his life was still on the line.
In the current city he felt safe, but unlike the others, because he was a former gang member, they couldn't just allow him in the city. They gave him a choice: either leave or join the Howlers, and he had decided on the latter, joining one of the many squads. It was a far cushier job than he had imagined, so he had next to no complaints.
Then there were the rest. The group had been staying in the same apartment block as the workers. They were currently outside on the patch of green grass, sitting on a bench.
Vere, Elijah, and Vlad were there as well. The three were uncomfortable, just passing awkward smiles at each other. During their stay, they hadn't really talked to each other and were just reflecting on everything that had happened.
As for Vlad, although he and Vere had talked in the past, he hadn't said a word since he had woken up, and Elijah, knowing full well, had been keeping an eye on him. In fact, even now, there were members of the Howlers in the park, in black and gold uniforms, keeping an eye.
Eventually, a large limo went through the front gate and drove along the path to the front of the apartment buildings. There was no parking allowed in this area, but they were a special exception, of course.
Getting out of the car, three men were seen, of different heights but each one of them was wearing the black and gold Howlers uniform, with a mask covering their entire face.
As they walked onto the grass and passed many of the other Howlers members, they bowed down towards the three, and didn't lift their heads until they had fully passed them.
Reaching the bench, the three sat down on opposite sides.
"Austin?" Vere called out. "What's with the mask? I know what you look like and there's no member of the Scavengers here."
"Today we are here to meet you three as members of the Howlers," Kai answered. "And I don't mean the corporation, but the gang that runs Slough, Notsburg, and has alliances throughout the tier three cities."
Although their faces were completely covered, Elijah could tell who the large figure was, Gary, due to his green hair, and the blonde one that had helped them out.
'It seems like Gary might hold quite a high position in this gang after all. No wonder he trusted them so much,' Elijah thought. Not only that, but based on the smiles he could see on the faces of the workers and how much they helped them, it was hard to use the word "gang" for this group because it was completely different from what he had seen other gangs do.
"Although you guys might know who we are, the Howlers' members do not," Kai explained. "Our identity is a secret to the whole organization, and those that wear the mask are the ones that run things behind the scenes."
Vere was thinking back to what the blonde man had said before, how they were a gang that had taken over multiple cities. It was no wonder they had this strength, and seeing Austin here with his mask meant he had to be in a high position as well.
"We wish to talk to you all officially because we believe every single one of you can benefit the Howlers greatly. Someone from the White Rose, a talented woman who still has connections to a gang related to NIRV, and an Altered that can have a fresh look on life.
"We gave you a couple of days to decide what you want to do, and now we are here to listen to your answers."
The group looked at Vlad, thinking that he would be the first to speak. Since he had nothing left, it was a no-brainer, but his eyes, the life in them, was lost. So instead, Elijah cleared his throat, and he was the first to speak.
"I am a member of the White Rose, and I must go back to them," Elijah explained. "I am truly thankful for your group and everything you have done. I would have never been able to get my hands on the Altered solution without your help.
"Because of that, when I return, I want to do my best to help you. I don't know if NIRV knows that you guys were behind the attack or not. If they do, they will be all over you. With the solution, I will try my best to convince White Rose to run an investigation on them.
"Although I don't think there will be any final outcome, they will at least feel some pressure from White Rose, maybe enough for them to delay in finding out about all of this. I can't promise this though."
Kai nodded as he understood, and it was probably the most expected result. That was why he slid a small black card that had a number printed out in gold writing.
"We should stay in contact; there might be a time where you need our help in the future."
Elijah took the card, smiling, and thinking to himself that he never imagined he would be acquainted with a gang leader.
"I have something else I would like to suggest; I think I should take Vlad with me back to White Rose."
*****