The Southside

26th day of the Eighth month, year 666 - Realm of Light: Lucis; Maplewood.

It was a rather cold morning in Maplewood as the sun was still rising. Beams of light were getting into Julia's room enlightening it completely. The senior highschooler was still yet curled under her warm blanket. She didn't feel like it was possible for her to even lift a finger.

 Maybe it's not a bad idea to skip today, she thought to herself.

But as she was trying to accept that thought, her phone rang! Could this be her boyfriend trying to wake her up with a sweet morning affirmation?

Julia with one eye still closed, looked at the screen, but she didn't find Kym's face on it as usual. She saw an UNKNOWN number calling.

"Hello..." she hesitantly answered.

"...Well hello there, Julia..." 

It was Death Gun, speaking with a deep monstrous voice. "...Hope you're already up..." he said. "It looks like the three days window has been expired. Have you found the glitch?.." 

Julia took a moment before replying to him with a mere "No, I haven't." 

"Well, that's really disappointing.." Death Gun said. "But also very exciting! My bullets were getting very cold lately..."

"You don't have to do that! Just give me more time, and I promise I'll do" Julia replied in fear.

"Uh-ah, a deal is a deal, Miss. Homecoming Queen... So, it's better for you to choose for me a good target tonight, or do you want me to choose?!" he laughed.

"..No no, please...!" Julia cried as her voice attracted her father.

"What's wrong, baby?!" Mr. Park asked.

Julia hung up instantly the moment her dad came hurriedly to her door. 

"...Uh it's nothing, just problems with tonight's dance... that's all."

"Are you sure?!" Mr. Park became concerned. "Because it didn't sound like you were talking about something of that sort.."

"No, that was Cristina! She got mad at me for not agreeing to her plans. So don't worry.." she replied with a smile.

Mr. Park got no choice but to back down. He exhaled slowly before saying "You teenagers, school life isn't the end of the world! You gotta learn how to be calm and collected." 

"Yeah, I get it," Julia refined her manners. "But girls are like that sometimes. It's complicated.."

"Yeah, well.." Julia's father scratched the back of his head.

"I suppose mom would've got this..." she muttered.

"..I'm sorry, sweetheart.." he whispered to her as he gazed far and below, eyeing her mother who was laying catatonic on the couch.

Julia's mother was an addict. She threw her life away while chasing the pleasure that Anthem provided. Throughout the years, it gradually drained her dry of everything she had ever held dear. Poor Julia just remembered how on one time, she found her mother collapsed, nearly lost her life from overdosing. Was it only just one time though?! If it weren't for Anthem dealers and corruption, none of what happened would have ever had.

It's for this reason above all others that made Julia wanted to proactively change Maplewood, and make it a better place. That's why she gets up every morning and pull it off, and gives hope to those around her. Julia wanted to live for her mom's sake.

She then wiped her face and took a deep breath. "It's okay.." Julia mumbled. "Everything is gonna be fine!" 

"Come on, you're gonna be late for school." Mr. Park encouraged his daughter and walked out of the room.

Minutes later, Julia was already walking to school. The weather was very windy, and the clouds above were heavy and depressing. As she was absent-minded, her phone rang again.

Julia sighed before answering, "..Yeah.."

"That was so bold of you!" Death Gun said. "Hanging up on me like that..."

"Sorry, I had to" she started to explain.

"Of course, you wouldn't wanted your beloved daddy to see you weep.." he replied sarcastically.

"What now?!" Julia was fed up.

"It's time to choose, Julia!" Death Gun answered. "Pick someone who deserves to die.." 

Julia's brain stopped working. There was no way that she would choose to kill anybody.

"......"

"If you won't, then I'll choose! But you might not like my picks.." Death Gun added with an evil laughter.

While she was completely cornered by the masked killer. A couple of guys passed by. They were wearing shirts with a red circle on the front, and red bandanas tied around their foreheads.

"C'mon y'all!" One of them yelled. "I heard the others are chasing after the Candy-Man!"

"Isn't that the chief Anthem dealer in town?!" another one said.

"Aye let's move!" someone else yelled.

Julia heard what they said loud and clear. That Candy-Man was the source of all the anguish she was going through.

"...So, what is gonna be?.." Death Gun asked.

Julia felt a sudden wave of numbness like her body got desensitized for few moments.

"...I think there might be one person who deserves to die..." she answered with a dead tone.

Meanwhile, in the middle of the woods, Jaden and Eugene were sitting inside their ship. Jaden checked his friend's injuries.

"It looks like it's healing." Eugene removed the bandage from his palms.

"You're lucky that Lacrima doesn't have any microorganisms." Jaden sighed. "All those glass shards that were in your hands. A wound infection or even tetanus would've occured."

"Stop exaggerating!" Eugene laughed. "If you'd tell that to an ordinary patient, you'd terrify them for sure, Mado!" 

"Screw you.." Jaden shot back, and looked through the window.

"It's cloudy today.." he mumbled.

"Today is the Homecoming dance.." Eugene said.

"Yeah, it's been a week since the last time we went to that school." Jaden replied.

It's been a week since Miss. Crumble's murder, Jaden thought. It's been also a week since Kym's Red Circle have been running around intimidating the Southerns in the name of protection. Death Gun haven't showed up since, either.

"We haven't seen Julia and the others since then." Eugene let out a sigh. "Hope she's"

"She's gonna be fine.." Jaden replied. "Whereas WE got a gigantic problem.." 

Jaden knocked on the wall indicating their wrecked ship. He opened the gate, and both him and Eugene headed outside.

"We have to find a way to get it working again.." Jaden gazed upwards. 

"I guess you're right.." Eugene sighed, and then looked around.

"Huh?!" 

"What's up?.." Jaden asked.

Eugene glimpsed bunch of people running in the woods. "I think they're people chasing someone out there!" he pointed towards the raised dust.

As he looked towards it, Jaden noticed a smaller kid being chased.

"Are those the Red Circle?!" he exclaimed.

"We better see for ourselves! Come on!" Eugene ran towards them.

Once they met with the Red Circle guys, Eugene saw the little kid running away.

"What's going on here?!" he asked.

"That kid is delivering Anthem!" one of the Red Circle guys shouted.

"Don't tell me you're helping them!" another one exclaimed.

"Not really, we saw a little kid running and we thought" Eugene tried to explain.

"We'll try catching him for ya." Jaden grabbed Eugene's shoulder. "Come, let's go!" 

Jaden and Eugene ran as fast as they could. At one point, they were close to grab the little boy, but due to his small size, he was able to pave his way better between the trees.

Seeing he was getting further away from them, Jaden came up with a trick. He grabbed a small rock, and then tossed it to their right. The small kid, unbeknownst to him that it was just a rock, steered his course to the left. Jaden had already changed his direction prior to the fast child. And near a fallen trunk, the two boys caught him at last.

~Grip!

"Gotcha!" Jaden yelled as he rolled with him on the ground.

"Ahhhh! Please don't hurt me! Let me go!" the kid protested.

"Were you really delivering Anthem?!" Eugene asked the horrified boy. 

"I have no choice! Candy-Man said he'd give me money, and my mom is so sick.." he cried.

"Candy-Man?" Eugene asked.

"Must be his benefactor.." Jaden assumed. "Does this Candy-Man told you to sell these Anthem to other kids?" 

"No," the kid sobbed. "The Sato Vatos they told me to return those to the Candy-Man.."

"Oh.." Eugene seemed unsure. "What are we supposed to do now?"

 It's obvious that this kid is only in it for the cash, Jaden thought. Turning him in wouldn't be wise..

"Okay, we'll come with you!" Jaden smiled at the scared kid.

"But what about those guys?!" Eugene was concerned.

"They won't cause him any trouble if we tagged along with him, right?" Jaden replied. "All right, take us to the Candy-Man."

"Follow me!" the little boy walked front as the two boys followed him.

I've got a bad feeling about this, Eugene thought.

Once they reached the meeting point, the little kid stopped and looked around. Jaden noticed a black automobile parked on the left side of the road. He also spotted few people hiding behind the bushes.

They're all wearing leather, he thought. Don't wanna be discriminating, but whoever this Candy-Man is, he's definitely a Southern.

Jaden and Eugene stepped forward with the small delivery boy in front of them. At the same time, two covered faced guys came out of the car, and walked steadily towards them. They were all carrying weapons. Jaden thought better than stirring any trouble. 

After reaching a reasonable distance, the little kid took out the sack that was hidden behind his shirt. It was a transparent plastic sack containing blue discoid shaped Anthem.

"This is the first time I see Anthem this close.." Eugene whispered.

One of the two men stretched his hands and took that sack and replace it with another one containing pink Anthem. 

That's weird!, Jaden noticed the label on the new sack. It's read 'MAIL-MAN' Instead of Candy-Man. 

Both Jaden and Eugene witnessed as the transaction continued.

"Good job there, Bob." one of the covered faced guys said as he was about to pay the kid.

Bob's face brightened up as he was about to hold on of the money.

"Wait!" another person came out of the car. "Who are these two?!" 

This new person wasn't a big fan of Jaden and Eugene crashing the transaction. However, to their surprise, this person was awfully familiar.

"Aksel!" Eugene exclaimed.

"The guy from lacrosse!" Jaden also exclaimed.

"Why are you two here?!" he seemed nervous. "Did Chico ordered you to?"

"We accompanied Bob to protect him from the Red Circle guys that were chasing him.." Eugene said.

"None of them followed you here, did they?" he squared Jaden in the eye.

"Nope, we took care of 'em." Jaden replied.

After taking a deep breath, Aksel motioned to the other guy to hand little Bob his payment. "Be a good boy now!" 

"Yes, sir!" Bob replied.

"And you two," Aksel added. "I'll see you in practice."

Moments later, the car drove off, and Bob went on his way. Jaden and Eugene were standing there on their own. 

"'Guess that's that.." Jaden sighed.

"I can't believe I just witnessed a drugs smuggling operation!" Eugene cried.

"Yeah, that was surprising!" he replied

"So, what now?" Eugene asked.

"Hmmm.." Jaden took a moment to think.

How could that douchebag, Aksel, be the Candy-Man?! He sincerely seemed the boss around the others! But the last thing he said: "..see you in practice.."

"I guess we gotta go to school for now.." he decided.

Maybe he wanted us to be there for a reason..

Later that day on campus, due to the last incident that ended with Miss. Crumble's death, it appeared that some of the students were under Anthem influence. The school board decided to run a rapid screening test for the students to ensure the campus's Anthem-free. Everyone was informed to check in the school infirmary before they're allowed to go to their classes. But this day of all days was different. It was the day of the Homecoming dance, and all the students were on their toes.

At around 10 am, Kym had an appointment with the principal. 

"You wanted to see me, Principal Cory?" Kym entered the office accompanied by his friend and right hand man, Blake Hart.

"Yeah, please sit down." Principal Cory welcomed them.

When the two boys sat down, Principal Cory took a deep breath. Kym was able to tell that whatever he is going ot say would be tough. 

"Have you two boys undergone the rapid test?" Principal Cory started.

"Oh? Yeah, we have." Blake replied.

"How are you doing lately, Kym?" he asked.

"I'm alright." Kym answered positively.

"Well, puffing your chest, and acting as though nothing is wrong at this stage of grief is called denial." Principal Cory uttered.

"No, no way, sir! I'm not in denial!" Kym replied.

"He's been doing great so far." Blake reassured him.

"With that, I understand that you formed this violent group of young people for reasons other than vengeance?" Principal Cory asked.

"Death Gun murdered my father, sir.." Kym said. "It's true that I may have some personal vendetta, but this murderer is loaming around us! He killed Miss. Crumble, and maybe he was so close to end the Mayor's life! We can't just stand by and wait for our turn!" Kym explained.

"Security is left for the police, and the government. Your Red Circle are just highschool students!" Mr. Cory looked concerned. "This is not your job."

"Or maybe it is, sir." Kym replied.

"We're very capable athletes, Principal Cory." Blake added. "We'll ensure the safety of the entire Northside, and uncover whoever this masked murderer is and bring them to justice." 

"I'm highly aware that you got permitted by the Sheriff to make such endeavor, but saying that you will protect the Northside alone! That will further worsen the segregation among students here." Principal Cory got off his seat. "You'll not be allowed to show or perform anything 'Red Circle' related on campus grounds, is that understood?"

Both Kym and Blake got up to leave.

Kym took a deep breath before agreeing to the principal's orders. After all, this is his territory, and he makes the rules.

"Excuse us, Principal. Cory.." Blake said as the two of them left the office.

Julia on the other hand was also tensed, but for totally different reasons. She was flipping the desk at the school's newspaper office when someone with a janitor uniform approached her.

"Is there a problem?" the janitor who came mopping the floor asked, but Julia didn't acknowledge his presence.

"Hey!" he stood. "Can I help ya with something?" 

"Oh?!" Julia finally came back to her senses. "Mr. Spensen, I'm sorry. I didn't see you there!" 

"You just looked to me like you lost something." he said.

"Yeah, actually there was a pile of papers on my desk, and I can't seem to find them.." she admitted.

"I came cleaning here last night, I don't remember seeing any papers around." Mr. Spensen shrugged. 

"It can't be that I lost them like that.." Julia covered her face out of stress.

"Didn't you save the photos on your phone or computer at least?" he said.

"... I didn't I'll try looking elsewhere.." she turned to leave the room, but then stopped. "I didn't say there were photos on them...!" 

Julia suspected that the janitor could be the one who took her important documents. But when she wanted to corner him, her phone rang. It was apparently Death Gun.

No, not now, she desperately thought.

"Well you're a photographer, aren't ya?" Mr. Spensen replied.

Julia felt like she was barking off the wrong tree, and decided to leave the office.

The moment she started walking down the hallway, her phone stopped ringing, but somebody grabbed her hand from behind. When she instantly turned to look, it was Kym.

"Oh, babe! Why're you so tensed?!" Kym asked.

"I'm not tensed just busy.." she replied frantically.

"Busy with what?" Kym seemed worried. "Tonight is our night, Homecoming!"

Julia heard her boyfriend ramble a bit more about how he got everything prepared for the night.

"And I'll be the king and you'll be my queen." Kym held her hands gently in his.

Julia half-heartedly, took a glance at Kym's bright smile, and her heart skipped a beat. But just at that moment, her phone rang again.

~Ring! Ring!

"Kym I.... I don't know what to say" she stuttered.

~Ring! Ring!

"Aren't you gonna answer that?" he asked about her ringing phone.

"See, I'm really busy. I can't even promise that I'd be in the dance tonight!" she blurted out.

"What?! But what about all the preparation for our corniation?!" Kym's dreams were shattering before his eyes.

"I'm sorry, but I just don't know!" she replied.

"Don't know what?! That you don't call me these days like we used to?!" Kym started to argue. "That you no longer wanna spend even a fraction of your day with me lately! Hell, you don't even look me in the eye no more!" 

Julia's face was getting red out of frustration while both Death Gun and Kym were pulling her sideways.

"What?! You don't love me anymore?!" he muttered.

"Kym, please you don't understand.." she tried to say.

"Then make me understand!" Kym shot back.

Julia reached her breaking point. She seriously wanted to let it all out in the open. But as she was to open her mouth, she noticed a small portal floating behind Kym, and only a hand holding a gun was lightly pointed at his head. That scene made Julia shade tears that silently covered her freckled cheeks.

"I'm sorry, Kym.." she smiled at him. "But I gotta take this call." 

Julia turned around in an instant, and walked away with tears kept flowing on her face. While almost running in the halls, she could still hear him desperately calling her name.

At the same time before classes start, Petra had finished her screening test. She still had some time to spare; so she went looking for Carmen as both of them decided on going to the dance together. Petra kept searching for Carmen, but couldn't find her anywhere. Then, she headed for the bathroom to check her makeup.

Once she was re-doing her lipstick, Petra heard a faint sob. It was coming from one of the stalls. Although it was very low, but Petra was able to recognize it.

"Carmen?!" she said.

"...Yeah.." she answered back.

Petra went ahead and opened the stall that Carmen was in.

"Oh" she was shocked. "What in the hell, are you crying?!" 

Carmen was curled up on the closed down toilet, crying her lungs out. Perplexed Petra noticed strangely placed powder on Carmen's nails. She swabbed some with her fingers and sniffed it.

"Ugh, Anthem!" she got disgusted.

"Please, leave me alone.." Carmen protested.

"Why are you taking this crap?!" Petra asked.

"I had to," she replied. "Chico was spotted smuggling on cameras.." 

"That fuC" she stuttered as she found Chico in standing in the bathroom.

"So, there you are!" he said with a smug.

"The hell you're doing here?!" Petra yelled.

"Calat!" Chico silenced his sister. "I hope the test went smoothly." 

Carmen rose up her head to look at him. Her face was full of tears.

"No, not like this!" Chico stroked her face gently. "You should be happy, baby." 

"..I am Its just, the dose was large this time. Maybe my body couldn't handle it.." Carmen wiped her face.

"Yes, but it was a good brand this time!" Chico replied.

"What the fuck are you doing to her?!" Petra got mad.

"It's for the greater good!" he answered blissfully. "No one will ever suspect my operation as long as it stay this way.."

Chico then told Petra how he planed to use his lackeys as a decoy to prevent getting caught. 

"What you and your drugs are doing to our friends and our clan, is unforgivable!" Petra refused her brother's Anthem smuggling. "The Sato Vatos are supposed to be the protectors of the Southerns, but your addiction had brought shame to our family!" 

"Ha ha ha ha..!" Chico laughed out loud. "The Sato Vatos have always been traders! That's how they have all this influence! And this Anthem is what make me have my own influence."

"Hey baby," Carmen spoke. "What about my reward this time?" 

"Oh yeah, the dress you wanted. It's goin' be set for tonight." Chico said. "And you and me on the dance floor tonight. Calent!" 

"Actually, she will be going with me, Hermano.." Petra interjected.

"Well, is it true, baby?!" Chico asked in a low voice.

"I I might've promised Petra to have a girls night with her, so..." Carmen hesitated.

"Are you rejecting me?!" hearing her response, Chico was about to lose his temper, but Petra held his hand. 

"Don't forget you're in the girls bathroom." she said. "If you cause any noise, you'd be in trouble.."

Chico licked his lips before saying "Fine, go with my sister. That's close enough for me, ha ha!" 

"Mucho gracias.." Carmen replied in relief.

"And so you know," Chico told Petra before leaving the girls bathroom. "My test results are clean.." 

Jaden and Eugene had already arrived to campus. Despite all the decoration and promotion for the dance that night. They both headed for the lacrosse field. Once they reached it, the field was full of people. There were team members who made the team, few students watching them train and cheering, and the cheerleaders who were doing acrobatic jumps near the corner. Eugene even noticed Coach. Bryce yelling nearby.

"Oh, hey there!" Eugene was waving to him.

"Uh bad idea!" Jaden hindered him.

Seconds later, Aksel noticed them as he just sat on the bench.

"Well, here you are!.." he was panting.

"Can't believe you got picked!" Jaden teased him.

"Why is that?!" Aksel shouted. "I got picked for my hard work!"

"Uh, no Jaden's just kidding, relax." Eugene calmed Aksel down.

"..So what is it?.." Jaden sighed.

"But not here, though.." Aksel lowered his voice and gestured to them to follow him.

He led them towards the small river behind the field.

"That's a place with no cameras!" Aksel said in relief.

"Yeah, I've been here before!" Eugene. 

"So, why did you wanna see us in practice?" Jaden leaped straight to the point. "You pretty well know that we didn't make the team."

"Humph!" Aksel smirked. "You two made quite the impression lately, you know that?" 

"And what's that gotta do with you?" Jaden asked.

"You hijacked not one, but TWO Anthem deals so far?" Aksel replied.

"If it's the Anthem, we're not actually that interested." Eugene said.

"It depends actually!" Jaden added.

"Oh, really?" Aksel laughed. 

"You're working for this Candy-Man, aren't you?" Jaden explained. "In case you're afraid that we might get in the way"

"I want you to get in the way?" Aksel dropped a unexpected response.

Jaden and Eugene were speechless for a second.

"You want us to WHAT exactly?" Eugene was confused.

"I want your help to arrest the Candy-Man.." Aksel muttered.

From the looks of it, this guy seems determined, Jaden thought. Or rather helpless..

"Why do you want him arrested? Is him being in jail gonna benefit you?" Jaden asked.

"If he was in the authorities' hands, he might survive.." Aksel answered.

"Survive?!" Eugene exclaimed. "Is there someone after him?"

"Death Gun.." Jaden looked Aksel straight in eye.

Aksel tried to look away as Jaden continued. "You think if he was locked up, he'd have a better chance at not being reached by Death Gun."

"Yeah, but Death Gun can use mana, and will be reaching him even in a cell!" Eugene said.

"If he was arrested," Aksel explained. "He'd go for trial, and his charges already exceeds this planetoid's setting, so the town would refer his case to the Capital." 

"The Axiom!" Eugene finally understood.

This kid apparently have thought this through, Jaden thought. No matter how strong and tricky Death Gun is, he clearly wouldn't be a match for the Axiom government. But the question is now

"Why?" Jaden asked Aksel. "Why someone like you would know all of this about his employer? Or rather, why are so sure that he is specifically on Death Gun's kill-list?" 

Eugene seemed to get what his friend had been implying. "Aksel, what is the Candy-Man to you?" he asked.

Aksel looked both boys straight in the eye, and said "He is my father."

"Is that so?" Jaden said. "But that leaves the fact of him being a target uncertain."

"If you're gonna help me out, I'll explain everything.." Aksel replied.

Jaden looked back at Eugene for a second, and then the two of them agreed to aid Aksel.

"But you better fill us in on all the details first." Eugene said.

"Okay, come to my house after school," he said. "I'll make sure to tell you everything I know."

By around 3pm, classes were over for the day. Most of the students hurried home to get ready for the big night. Walking her way home, Julia was on the phone. 

"The fact that you're asking me to find him means that you can't!" she said. "I'm a highschool newspaper photographer!"

At that moment, she felt somebody approaching her from behind. She hung up and turned to face them.

"Hey, Julia!" 

"Uh, Eugene!" 

"'Some' time no see.." Eugene said.

"Hahaha, you came up with that just right now?" she said happily.

"Well, you could say that." Eugene replied. "How are you doing these couple of days?"

"Wow!" she exclaimed. "That was rather straightforward, you know?" 

"Eh, well 'cause last time, you were.." Eugene flustered a little.

"How's your friend?" she asked. "You guys are going to the dance tonight, aren't you?" 

"Yeah, well I don't know about that actually..." he said. "What about you?" 

"Don't know, as well...." she sighed.

"Oh..." Eugene then got to the point. "Well, tonight, we'll need your help."

"Huh?"

Eugene told her that later that night, he and Jaden will need her to call the Sheriff Department to be prepared because they might be able to capture the main Anthem importer in Maplewood, the Candy-Man.

"No promises, but I'll do my best. Is that okay?" she said.

"Sure! Thank you." Eugene replied, and the two departed as Eugene went to catch up with Jaden.

The two boys were on their way to Aksel's address which was on the South side of Maplewood.

"Have you talked to Julia?" Jaden asked.

"Yes, she's on board more or less.." Eugene replied.

While walking through the forest, Eugene asked Jaden about his reasons for helping Aksel.

"Well, that was weird, really!" Eugene added. "You didn't seem like you were interested in helping anybody! What changed?" 

"Death Gun." Jaden answered. "He can use mana despite the restrictions the system imposing.."

After crossing couple of miles on foot, both Jaden and Eugene ended up facing a large sign.

"..THIS IS MAPLEWOOD'S SOUTH SIDE.." Eugene read it out loud.

Jaden continued ahead. "C'mon! We're almost there." 

The Southside was nothing like it's Northern counterpart. The houses were in a very bad shape. There were very small number of 2 or 3 stories buildings. As the two boys were walking, they noticed how poorly managed the streets were, and how fragile and creaking the walls were. There were rarely a clean front yard. Jaden and Eugene could feel the despair and hopelessness that reeked over the entire dark side of the town. Even Jaden compared it with Pacifica the bad area in Bae City.

After several meters, the duo stood in front what it seemed to them as a one floor wide building that looked like a bar from old cowboy movies.

"This is it...?" Eugene muttered in confusion.

"I guess so.." Jaden replied.

The two then decided to step inside.

The moment they were already in, a guy flew right above their heads. They had to duck to avoid the impact. When Jaden steadied his gaze, he was able to grasp this new environment around him.

It's was a divvy dim bar with loud rock music. The customers and the staff too didn't look very friendly.

"Everyone here is wearing leather.." Jaden mumbled.

"They truely look like thieves.." Eugene whispered back.

A female stripper that was dancing by the corner had caught Eugene's eye for few seconds.

"Whaaaa!" he quickly shut his eyes. "I can't live normally anymore!" 

"Stay cool, Majd!" Jaden whispered and grabbed him further away from that scenery.

As they were walking around looking really wary, Jaden accidently bumped onto a large guy near the pool table.

~Thump! ~Clink!

"Oh shit!" the large guy reacted to the drink spilling over his shirt. "Who is this ass?!" 

He turned towards Jaden and Eugene who were both stammered.

"Oh, ho ho! Lookie here boys!" the large guy in leather shouted. "We got some North bastards!" 

"Huh?!" Both Jaden and Eugene reacted to a group of leather wearing men closing on them.

"HEY! WE DIDN'T COME HERE FOR TROUBLE!" Jaden shouted.

"Too bad, you got your asses into one!" the large guy laughed out loud.

"Uhh Mado!" Eugene pointed to one guy with a machine gun.

"..This is bad!.." he muttered.

"EVERYBODY STOP!" someone shouted.

When both Jaden and Eugene looked at him, it was Aksel.

"Aksel!" Jaden said in relief.

"Can you tell your friends to stand down?" Eugene asked.

"Yo, little Dolph," the large guy said. "'You know these pussies?"

"Ya lookin' lively, Ricky!" Aksel replied. "Oh, of course not!" 

"What?!" Both Jaden and Eugene exclaimed.

You're the one who brought us here, you jerk!, Jaden thought.

"You told us to come here!" Eugene said.

"But I didn't tell ya to pick a fight!" Aksel shot back.

"So, you know them!' Rick laughed.

"Shut the fuck up, Ricky!" Aksel got angry. "They just work for my father!" 

"Uhh, Lord Cox, if they truely work for him, then we" one the leather wearing lackeys spoke. He looked highly concerned.

Did they just addressed him as 'lord'?, Jaden wanted to burst out in laughter.

"Fine, I can let this one slide.." Rick gestured for his men to back off.

"Come with me, then.." Aksel led both boys into a door at the other end of the bar.

After stepping through, the two boys noticed that there were stairs that led them downwards. It was even dimmer than the bar itself. 

When they started walking on a more straight path, Eugene asked "You're dad is seriously a cautious man! Does he remain hiding here most of the time?"

"Not exactly.." Aksel muttered. "This is from before he invest in Anthem.."

"...Invest, huh...?"

More like smuggling, Jaden thought to himself.

Eugene asked Aksel more questions about the nature of his father's work as they were walking. But Jaden wasn't listening at all. In fact his mind focused on an odd, yet repeating phenomenon.

Once they walked by a turn that led to another pathway, Jaden saw a black haired girl the same one he glimpsed when first landing in Corwinter. Was he imagining it again?!

The mysterious girl was leaning against the wall at the corner of the turn. Jaden gazed at her as she stepped out and slowly walked towards the path Aksel and Eugene weren't. Jaden stood still and watched her white light dress wavered as her feet moved steadily forward, and her hair was almost swinging left and right as she walked into the darker way.

"Ehh, Jaden?!" Eugene's voice drew his attention back to him for a second. "What's wrong with you?!"

"Huh...?" Jaden tried looking back at the other direction, but the mysterious black haired girl had already disappeared.

Where did she go....?, he thought in absolute ambiguous sorrow.

"The office is this way!" Aksel pointed as he was getting impatient. "That way leads to my Pop's garage.." 

Jaden sighed deeply and then followed them onward as they continued.