Alex stared at the exit, his thoughts spiraling. How do I always end up in messes like this...? He exhaled sharply. Fuuuuck, what I'd give for Ael to be here.
With a sudden turn, he yanked the door open, stepped inside, and slammed it shut behind him. Leaning back against the wall, he let the weight of the moment sink in.
"You have a few more hours with me, kid. So let's make the best of it." Alex said. Jade didn't reply. A shadow seemed to pass over his face, and his usual energy dimmed.
"I know you don't wanna leave kid. But for some reason, you seem to wanna go. Probably some unfinished business you have… but it's alright," Alex continued, a little smile painted his face.
"You are right, but I'll tell you soon enough Mr. Alex," Jade replied, his voice quieter than usual.
"C'mon drop the Mr. Kid, kept that card I gave you?" Alex asked.
"Yes, I did," Jade replied.
"When you get home and anything gets too crazy, give me a call," Alex said.
"I would," Jade sighed, he turned his head to a painting on the wall.
"Wanna go get something to eat?" Alex asked.
"Yes!" Jade said, his eyes lit up. "I'm starving, I could eat anything, to be honest."
"Such a child." Alex laughed, rubbing his face with his hand. "There's a pizza shop not too far away from here, you like pizza?"
"I love it!" Jade replied, a hint of his earlier enthusiasm returning.
"Alright, let's go then," Alex said.
Alex walked over to his table and grabbed his phone, "Let's bounce,"
They left the office—Jade went first, Alex a few steps behind. Just before closing the door, Alex paused. His eyes lingered on the crescent one last time, a flicker of something unreadable in his gaze. Then he shut the door.
Outside, they crossed the parking lot in silence, slipped into the car, and Alex started the engine. They pulled away and began driving.
"So what's your dream, kid?" Alex asked, trying to recapture the lighter mood.
"Hmm. I wanna be rich one day. Maybe like a fashion designer. Or stumble on some hidden treasure."
Alex laughed. "You never know, kid. You never know," he said, pressing his foot a little harder on the gas.
The streets were quiet this early, bathed in the soft gold of morning light. A few joggers passed by, and shopkeepers were just beginning to unlock doors and raise shutters. The city hadn't quite woken up yet, giving everything a calm, in-between feel.
Soon, they pulled into the lot of a small Italian restaurant nestled between a laundromat and a florist. Its old sign creaked slightly in the breeze, and warm light spilled through the front windows.
They stepped out of the car and walked inside. The scent greeted them instantly—smoke, rising dough, melted cheese, and something faintly sweet from the ovens.
Inside was quiet, save for a soft radio playing in the background. They took a seat by the window.
Alex grabbed a menu, stretching a little in the booth. Jade picked his up, flipping through it with lazy eyes.
"Hmm… a chicken BBQ with extra cheese and pepper wouldn't be half bad," Jade said, leaning back slightly, already picturing the slice in his hands.
"Let's make it four then," Alex replied, then a waiter came to meet them.
"What can I get for you, sirs?" the waiter asked. He was a short, big guy with a large beard.
"Give us four of the chicken BBQ pizzas with extra cheese and pepper… actually, add some beef on it too," Alex said.
The waiter nodded and left.
"While we wait, let me tell you a story, Jade. I once knew a man. His name was Karim... Karim Kion... He was in his early 30s, he had a good life. Good job," Alex paused.
"He was one of those kinds of men who believed he was untouchable. He wanted money. He had money but wanted more and more. The only thing was his way was a dark way. He started hanging out with bad men. It started as petty scams then turned into selling drugs, trapping, going on... Missions. But one day he got caught and was facing 30 to life and the smart ass told on his gang and that got one of the gang members killed."
Alex's gaze sharpened.
"When he got free his 'gang' and others hated him. But they also feared him."
"And here is where a normal person would rethink his life and stay out of trouble, but not Karim, he wanted to 'belong,' He wanted to be major like the Mafia Bosses, and the 'heavy hitters' but when he tried to join the ranks they spat on him."
"They said any 'coward with a gun can rob a bank, any bitch boy can act tough.' Then one gang wanted to give him a chance. But he had to prove his ruthlessness. They suggested killing a woman to prove how cold-hearted he was. Cause a man can kill another man innocent or not. But it takes a special type of evil to kill a woman. So they went out at night."
They were driving. They were high out of their minds — pills, weed, liquor — cruising like gods who thought they couldn't bleed. Then they saw a woman. They covered her head with a cloth. Dragged her and put her in the trunk of the car. They took her to an abandoned building. And they took turns torturing her. Five men. Then they gave Karim a gun and told him to shoot her. But before he did, from what I heard, the drugs he took started to wear off and he had more clarity so he removed the cloth and found out… the woman was his fiancée. And she cried out to the heavens. Karim's eyes froze."
"He couldn't even contemplate how his corruption had so successfully changed his faith. He ran, lost and blind, until he found himself on the roof of another forgotten building… He cried out to the heavens because he became lonely and scared but he didn't see the grace of God, only the red eyes of the devil." Jade's eyes widened
"He pointed the gun to his head and pulled the trigger, his body fell from the roof. He died with his mind blackened... Drenched in the kind of darkness you don't come back from... They say both places are haunted now." Alex paused, his gaze intense.
Jade was speechless. His mouth was wide open, his face pale.
"That was 14 years ago. And it's a lesson. A reminder. Before Karim became what he was, he was in my school. Top of his class. Good man. But even demons used to be the product of holiness. Angels that fell from glory, but they danced, danced too close to the sun. So when the devil stretches its hand to dance with you... Decline. Because the devil's dance has no end," Alex continued.
"Sorry for ruining the mood. I just wanted to give you that little advice," Alex said, his voice softer now.
"But what if the devil doesn't wanna dance with you, what if you want to dance with the devil, what if..." Jade said, finally finding his voice.
"Depends, I've seen him before, multiple times, Just know, once you take that first step… You'd have to fight to leave, and that fight might be your last." Alex replied.
Jade sat in silence, letting the words marinate in his mind. His fingers traced patterns on the table, eyes distant. The weight of Alex's story hadn't lifted, it had settled in, heavy and quiet, somewhere behind his ribs, as he considered his own predicament.
The waiter returned, balancing a tray of four steaming pizzas like holy offerings. The smell hit immediately, sweet, smoky, rich, but it did nothing to cut through the silence at the table.
"Enjoy, gentlemen," the man said, with a polite smile that quickly vanished when he saw neither of them moved to respond.
They ate in near silence. Jade picked at his slice. The pizza was good, but the taste never quite registered. Not with his thoughts still replaying Karim's story in the background. Every crunch of crust felt like it echoed in his skull.
Alex, for his part, didn't push conversation. He let the silence be what it was, not awkward, not empty. Just there. Like grief. Or consequence.
By the time the last slice disappeared, Jade leaned back with a soft exhale, his stomach full but his thoughts hollowed out.
"You alright?" Alex finally asked.
Jade nodded slowly, then wiped his mouth with a napkin. "Yeah… just thinking."
"Good," Alex replied, standing. "Thinking means the fire's still on."
They paid, stepped outside, and were met with a sky cloaked in gray. The fog hadn't returned, but it hadn't really left either. It just hovered. Like something waiting.
They got into the car without a word. As Alex turned the key, Jade glanced back at the restaurant one last time.
The sign creaked in the wind.
And for a moment, just a moment, Jade he saw someone watching from the top floor of an abandoned building next door. A silhouette, still and distant.
Then it was gone.
He blinked and a sweat trickled down his cheek.
He just stared straight ahead as Alex pulled the car back onto the road.