Jin crouched down, picking up a stone to draw in the sand. At this moment, Jin was 9 years old. He sketched a family: a man and a woman holding hands with a child. Next to the drawing, Jin wrote the word "happiness." Kyoto, also 9 years old, approached from a distance.
Kyoto: "Jin! Jin! What are you doing?"
Jin looked up, his face sad and covered in bruises.
Kyoto: "Why are you sitting here? Why are you so bruised up?"
Jin: "My parents beat me. They fought, and I got caught in the crossfire."
Kyoto: "God, those two are awful! Don’t be sad, come on, you’ll make it big someday and things will be different."
Kyoto helped Jin stand up. "Come play with me, let’s go!" he said enthusiastically.
Jin snapped awake. In the present, he was lying near a park, hidden among bushes. Standing up, he staggered forward, his eyes empty. As he walked, he noticed a beggar sitting on the sidewalk. Jin stared at the beggar for a long moment, then rummaged through his pocket, pulling out his bank card and heading to find an ATM.
Jin walked slowly, scanning his surroundings until he spotted an ATM. He entered his password and checked his account, which held 35,000 pann from a payment Michael had given him. He withdrew 30,000 pann, then checked his wallet, finding only 10 pann left.
Jin: "I’ll keep 5,010 pann for food and small expenses."
He returned to the beggar and handed him 10,000 pann.
Jin: "Here, take it."
Beggar: "Huh? This money is for me?"
Jin: "Yeah, take it."
Beggar: "But…"
Jin: "Just take it."
The beggar’s hands trembled as he accepted the 10,000 pann. "Thank you, thank you! I’ve never held this much money before!" he sobbed, hugging Jin.
Jin patted the beggar’s shoulder. "Keep going, alright?"
Continuing his walk, Jin saw a homeless mother and child. He gave them another 10,000 pann, convincing them to accept it. The mother, hands shaking, hugged Jin tightly, thanking him profusely. Jin moved on, giving his final 10,000 pann to another homeless person.
With a blank, sorrowful expression, Jin muttered to himself: "Only acts of charity remind me that my true humanity is still there. A stack of cash is a luxury the poor and homeless can’t touch, let alone supercars or fancy houses. I’m poor too, but I’m luckier than them. If only my childhood had been whole."
As he walked, Jin noticed a bar called Ollie’s Beer, its sign showing a man holding a pint. Feeling low, he decided to go in for a drink. The bar was crowded. Jin sat at the counter, where a man was wiping glasses.
Man: "Hello, I’m Ollie, the owner of Ollie’s Beer. What can I get you?"
Jin: "A cheap, light beer. Small glass, please."
Ollie: "Got it."
Ollie filled a glass from a tap and handed it to Jin.
Ollie: "Here you go."
Jin sniffed the beer. "Thanks." He took a sip, then coughed after a larger gulp.
Ollie: "You okay?"
Jin: "Just choked a bit. Why’s this beer so strong?"
Ollie: "Sorry, that’s the lightest we’ve got. First time drinking beer? You might not be used to it."
Jin: "Yeah, first time."
Jin stared at the glass, lost in thought, turning it slowly before setting it down.
Ollie: "You alright?"
Jin: "I’m fine, nothing’s wrong."
Ollie: "You don’t look fine. I can help if something’s up."
Jin: "It’s nothing."
Ollie fell silent as another customer entered.
Ollie: "Hey, welcome! Nikolai, right? Regular?"
A young, lanky man in a jacket and cap sat next to Jin.
Nikolai: "Yep, that’s me."
Nikolai ordered a beer, lit a cigarette, and took a drag. Turning to Jin, he said, "Hey, why so glum?"
Jin glanced at him. Nikolai continued, "Got a bruise on your face. Got into a fight?"
Jin: "No, I’m fine."
Ollie handed Nikolai his beer. Nikolai took a sip.
Ollie: "I noticed the bruise earlier but thought it might be from a fight, so I didn’t ask."
Jin stayed quiet, then said, "I told you, it’s nothing."
Nikolai: "Alright, I’m Karalitov Nikolai. Nice to meet you. I love chatting and meeting new people."
Jin gave a soft "hm" and stood up. "How much for the beer?"
Ollie: "Lightest one we got, just 1 pann."
Jin pulled out 5 pann. "I don’t have 1 pann. Take this. I’ll come back next time." He walked out slowly.
Ollie: "Thanks, see you again!"
Nikolai: "That guy probably got beat up by cops or something. Looks so down, maybe his friend died or got jumped."
Ollie: "Don’t assume things like that."
Jin trudged home, exhausted. Opening his door, he collapsed onto his bed, staring at the ceiling. "Why am I doing this?" he thought, drifting into sleep.
The next morning, Dertal woke up, got ready, and headed to school. He attended classes and worked in the lab. Afterward, he returned home, tired. That evening, he ordered books on biology and dissection. As he placed the order, his phone rang. He answered.
Caller: "Dertal? It’s Mom."
Dertal: "Yeah, what’s up?"
Mom: "Your dad’s coughing up blood—a lot."
Dertal: "What?! Hold on, what?"
Mom: "He went to the doctor. It’s lung cancer, final stage."
Dertal froze, muttering, "Final stage…"
Mom: "Dertal, you there?"
Dertal: "What do you mean, final stage? How did this happen?"
Mom: "We thought it was just a normal cough, but now he’s coughing blood."
Dertal: "Have you asked the doctor how long he has?"
Mom: "About a year, maybe 10 or 11 months."
Dertal paused, then asked, "How much is treatment?"
Mom: "Surgery, medicine, everything—it’s a lot. Cheaper hospitals aren’t safe, and good ones are expensive. I found a decent place with better pricing. Total cost, including surgery and drugs, is 150,000 to 200,000 pann. For your dad, Mr. Miller Kael, it’s 180,000 pann."
Dertal collapsed to his knees. "180,000 pann? Where am I supposed to get that?"
Mom: "Your dad’s coughing a lot. He doesn’t look well. I don’t know if he can keep working."
Dertal: "Alright, Mom, let him rest. I can’t tell them I earned 35,000 pann working for the mob. It’d break their hearts."
Checking his account, Dertal saw 19,500 pann left after school and living expenses.
Dertal: "Okay, I’ll send you 10,000 pann for now, for medicine or something to slow the cancer. When I get 180,000, I’ll help pay for Dad’s treatment."
Mom: "Where’d you get 10,000 pann?"
Dertal: "Savings and borrowing. Just take it. I’ll figure it out. I’ll find a way to earn the money."
Mom: "Alright, try hard. I’ll look for work too. Don’t do anything reckless for money, okay?"
Dertal: "Yeah, don’t worry. I’ll earn it, maybe borrow, but I’ll pay it back."
Hanging up, Dertal sat at his desk, anxious and sad. He thought, "Do I go back to that job or find another way? But what other way is there? 180,000 in 10 or 11 months, and who knows if the cancer will get better or worse?"
Feeling defeated, Dertal slumped over his desk. "My only option is to go back to Michael and work more. Other jobs aren’t enough. I’ve tried, but it’s never enough. Still, I’m scared. I wonder if Jin’s still doing it."
Dertal stepped outside, descending the stairs of his rented place. The streets were still busy. Walking along, he spotted a sign: "Bakery?"
He entered, hoping to find a job, but saw a familiar face eating a pastry.
Dertal: "Oh, you’re Ellen Ink, right?"
Ellen: "Hey! You’re the guy with Kyoto and Jin, right? Dertal?"
Dertal: "Yeah."
Dertal ordered a pancake like Ellen’s.
Dertal: "Why are you here so late?"
Ellen: "It’s only 9 p.m."
Dertal: "Still, it’s not that safe for a woman alone."
Ellen: "Don’t worry, I’m not ordinary."
Dertal: "You come here often? They stay open this late?"
Ellen: "Yeah, it’s a family bakery. They close around 9:25 or when they sell out."
Dertal looked at his pancake, visibly sad. Ellen finished hers and noticed.
Ellen: "Hey, why so down?"
Dertal: "Huh? Nothing. Why do they close so late?"
Ellen: "Family-run, so they stay open late or until the pastries are gone."
Dertal took a bite. "It’s good."
Ellen: "Told you. It’s my favorite place, so the pastries have to be good."
Dertal: "You eat late often?"
Ellen: "Not really, just sometimes."
Dertal sighed. "My dad has terminal lung cancer."
Ellen froze mid-bite, then said, "Final stage? That’s tough. You don’t have money for treatment, do you?"
Dertal: "Yeah, I’m trying to find work to cover it."
Ellen: "Work for Michael."
Dertal: "I was thinking about it."
Ellen: "Kidding. You saved me, right? That job’s dangerous, but you could use your strengths to earn money—business, maybe ‘illegal stuff,’" she whispered. "Your dad can slow the cancer with a healthier lifestyle, buying you time to earn the money."
Dertal stayed quiet. Ellen waved her hand in front of his dazed face.
Ellen: "You listening?"
Dertal: "Oh, yeah."
Ellen: "Find a job. If not, go back to Michael. The lighter jobs still pay decently. Bye, see you later."
Dertal ate alone, paid, and walked home, thinking, "What job can I find? I’m scared to go back to Michael." At home, he got ready for bed and slept.
The next morning, at Jin’s school, Jin usually wrote in his journal but today felt uninspired. He typed listlessly, consumed by guilt for leading Kyoto to his death. A darker side of him stirred, urging revenge. Typing faster, he made a mistake, sighed heavily, and deleted the line. His mouse misclicked, opening multiple tabs, frustrating him further. He slammed the desk, drawing stares. Calming down, he continued, but thoughts of vengeance grew. "Should I meet Michael? He’s mafia, with money and enemies like Daniel. If I kill Daniel, I’d get money and revenge. Joining Michael’s gang would get me weapons."
Jin snapped out of it and walked to Kyoto’s house. The silence was heavy. Entering Kyoto’s room, he saw comics and trinkets. A photo caught his eye: Kyoto’s first camera picture, with a smiling Kyoto and a bruised, unsmiling Jin. Jin felt empty.
Kyoto’s phone rang. Jin answered, hearing a familiar voice.
Caller: "Kyoto? It’s Dertal. Can you set up a meeting with Michael? I’m scared to go alone."
Jin: "Kyoto’s not here."
Dertal: "Who’s this? You sound familiar."
Jin: "Jin. Kyoto’s dead."
Dertal: "What? How?"
Jin: "Daniel killed him."
Dertal: "…I’m so sorry. Kyoto was a good friend, right? My condolences."
Jin: "Yeah."
Dertal: "Alright, I’ll go."
Jin: "Wait. You want to meet Michael?"
Dertal: "Yeah, I was thinking about it, but now…"
Jin: "Come with me."
Dertal: "Huh?"
Jin: "Meet him with me."
Dertal: "Is it safe? Kyoto died after going with you."
Jin: "It’ll be fine. Kyoto told me he was the lowest in Michael’s gang, so Michael probably doesn’t care much about him."
Dertal: "I’ve thought this through. I hope it’s okay."
Jin: "Me too. Meet at the park where the three of us hung out, 7:30 p.m."
Dertal: "Got it."
Jin hung up, took the photo of him and Kyoto, and grabbed Kyoto’s phone to contact Dertal later and inform Kyoto’s parents of his death. He cleaned out Kyoto’s beer, cigarettes, and liquor, then wrote a letter about who Kyoto was to him and his condolences. Leaving the letter in the mailbox, Jin went home.
That evening, Dertal waited at the park under a golden streetlight, kicking pebbles. A taxi pulled up.
Jin: "Here, get in."
Dertal joined Jin in the back seat. They rode in silence through quiet streets.
Dertal: "You nervous?"
Jin, staring out the window: "I don’t know. I’ve thought it through. It’ll be fine."
Jin’s face remained grim. The taxi stopped near Michael’s place.
Jin: "How much?"
Driver: "5 pann."
Jin: "I’ll pay."
Dertal: "Let me."
Jin: "No, I got it."
Jin paid, and they walked to Michael’s house. No lights were on. Jin knocked. "Michael, you home?"
No response.
Dertal: "Now what? Go back or wait? This place feels sketchy."
Jin: "Wait."
They sat by the door.
Dertal: "Is this okay?"
Jin: "Stop worrying. Go home if you don’t want to stay."
Dertal sat quietly. At 9 p.m., a black car pulled into Michael’s driveway. A tall, imposing Michael stepped out.
Michael: "What are you two doing here?"
Dertal, standing: "We need to talk."
Michael: "About what?"
Jin, standing: "Kyoto’s dead."
Michael, slightly surprised: "Oh, shame. No big deal, though." He patted Jin’s shoulder. "He was the lowest in my gang—weak, addicted, and kinda dumb. Only good for bringing in a few new clients."
Jin bristled at Michael’s disrespect but wasn’t surprised.
Michael: "What else? That’s it?"
Dertal: "Let us join your gang."
Michael: "Huh? You saved Ellen and found that location, right? Not bad. You sure? Why join?"
Jin: "For money. And I want to kill Daniel."
Michael, leaning close to Jin: "Good. Do well, then. I know you’re tech-savvy, which I need. You’re bold—I like that." He patted Jin’s shoulder. "But don’t get killed by higher-ups once you’re in."
Jin stayed silent. Michael turned to Dertal. "What can you do?"
Dertal: "I know chemistry. I can make chemicals."
Michael: "Nice. Can you make liquor and meth?"
Dertal: "I can make liquor. Meth, I can do, but it’s not perfect yet. I’ll get better."
Michael: "Good. One makes liquor and meth, the other digs up info. Perfect."
Jin: "I want another job."
Michael: "What?"
Jin: "Mercenary. I need weapons."
Michael: "You sure? You could die anytime."
Jin nodded: "I’m in."
Michael: "Alright, you’re both in. Betray me, and you’re done. Meet me tomorrow at Lesley Underground’s basement. From my house, go straight, turn right at the third intersection, go straight, turn left at the curve, cross the bridge, and you’ll see a house with ‘Lesley’ on it. Go around back to the basement."
Dertal typed the directions into his phone.
Dertal: "What about payment?"
Michael stepped toward Dertal, making him step back. "We’ll talk tomorrow. No more questions. Now get out."
Jin and Dertal left. Jin’s face was tense. Dertal called a taxi at their drop-off spot.
Dertal: "Let’s share. I’ll pay."
Jin nodded silently. They waited, then rode together. The taxi dropped Jin off in an alley, likely his home, Dertal thought. Dertal went home, paid, and slept.
The next morning, a day off, Dertal called Kyoto’s number. Jin answered. "Let’s go to the spot now."
Dertal agreed and went to the park. It was a beautiful day, and he hoped things would be okay.
Dertal: "No car?"
Jin: "I walked."
Dertal: "I’ll call one."
Jin pulled out a small bag of cookies.
Dertal: "Eaten yet?"
Jin: "No."
Dertal: "Wanna grab food? I haven’t eaten either."
Jin: "I’ll eat later. Want some?" He offered a cookie.
They waited at the park. Jin was still somber, Dertal increasingly nervous.
Dertal: "Think they’ll do anything to us when we get there?"
Jin: "No. We saved Michael and did his job. He trusts us."
Dertal felt slightly reassured. The taxi arrived, and they rode in daylight, the scenery brighter than the previous night’s streetlights. Following Michael’s directions, they reached the Lesley house and went around back.
Dertal: "There’s the basement. Looks dark."
Jin descended without hesitation into the darkness, then looked up at Dertal.
Jin: "Coming?"
Dertal stepped down cautiously, fear creeping in—this was his first direct encounter with a gang. Jin stood in the darkest part of the basement, while Dertal lingered where a sliver of outside light touched his feet. Both stood on the same staircase.
Dertal sighed and slowly followed Jin down into the basement.
End of Chapter 2