“Exactly. Poor thing.”
I should’ve changed the subject because I was going to end up tearing him to shreds.
“I don’t understand why it pisses you off so much that I’m here. Look around, there are plenty of women.”
I motioned in the dark, pointing at a random pair of them. Some were wearing such short, clingy dresses that they left little to the imagination. I definitely stood out with my sloppiness.
“I knew you wouldn’t stop.”
“Sorry, stop what?”
“Poking around.”
“No, and you know what? I won’t stop poking around until I find out why William does everything you tell him to. Including crazy shit like this!”
James side-eyed me. “Oh, because you think I—” He burst out laughing, then put the vape pen away. “You don’t understand shit.” He bent down to grab a piece of paper on the ground and throw it into the trash, which was overflowing with cans.
“What the hell are you talking about?”
A shadow approached me before he could answer.
It was the guy with the reddish beard and the revolting demeanor, whom I mistook for a drug dealer.
“Hunter.”
“Austin, now’s not the time.” James brushed him off.
“In fact, I’m here to talk with the lady,” he said, putting his arm around me. “How old are you?” he slurred, clearly drunk.
“Younger than your girlfriend was when I fucked her in your bed. Beat it, Austin.”
The guy chuckled unnervingly and walked away, winking at me. James pulled my hoodie sleeve, filling me with fear.
“Look, given that you attract the worst maniacs, stay close to me.” I felt a deep sense of relief.
“But on one condition,” he added.
“What?”
“That you shut your fucking mouth.”
His presumption made my blood boil.
“I hate you,” I snarled.
“That’s for the best.”
Just as I thought I’d seen everything, a lanky guy with a long black coat and a raven-haired ponytail came up to us. He looked like he’d just walked out of a science fiction movie.
“Hunter, your turn.”
James didn’t say anything, but he followed him into the bluish dark. I started to get scared as I saw him walk away. “Where are you going? Don’t leave me here!” I begrudgingly ran behind him.
The other guy looked at me confused, as my action piqued his interest.
“You bringing her?” he asked.
James stopped walking and turned around to look at me.
