43 Food (1/2)
Two heavy steps came down the stairs. An unkempt man held a candle, illuminating the murky space.
”…got fifty thousand.”
”The bonus is that big this time?”
”Apparently the buyer is some big name, and he specifically asked for the girl. She’s so pretty. Cuozi keeps drooling. So sad we can’t touch her, and that she’s gonna get taken away tomorrow morning…”
”Hariti came personally this time. I heard there was a big loss. Even one of the creatures got killed.”
”Shh! Don’t say those things. What if someone hears?”
”What are you scared of? Other than those creatures, the only things left is the food. Who’s even here to eavesdrop?”
”Did you forget what happened to the last guy who talked? Don’t tell me you want to fill in that blank space.”
The other man shivered and did not reply.
Ye Qingxuan listened wordlessly. He sighed in relief. ”She’s still here; she hasn’t been taken away yet… She’s still alive. That’s good,” he thought.
Closing his eyes, he listened quietly as the footsteps approached.
--
”It’s such bad luck to have to feed those creatures.” The dwarf holding the wind lantern cursed.
”Whose fault is it? You’re the one that picked the raffle. I was dragged into this by you.” His companion kicked him. ”The guy who fed the creatures last time couldn’t eat for days. It’s so disgusting!”
”Hey, don’t be angry.” The dwarf let out a devilish laugh. He produced a small aluminum foil parcel from his pocket. It was the size of his palm, but it looked heavy.
His companion’s eyes brightened. ”Opiates? Where did you get it?”
”Those new Indians brought it as an offering. It’s good stuff called Krishna. Apparently it has some extra ingredients to give it more of a kick.” The dwarf cackled, ”They brought so much. This little packet can last us a year.”
Like an addict going through withdrawal, the companion looked terrified. He swallowed heavily, ”Give me some.”
”No sh*t. Why else would I take it out?” The dwarf carefully opened the parcel. Looking at the snow white powder, his hand trembled. ”Let’s get a high first to brace ourselves. When the creatures come out to eat, we’ll pretend we didn’t see anything.”
”How about we feed the mutt first?” The dwarf’s companion, Scarface, looked at the youth hanging behind the lattice, his eyes full of regret. ”What a pity. He’s so pretty, he’d have sold for good money.”
”He’s almost dead. What’s the use of saying all that? Wait…” The dwarf glanced at the deep well. When his gaze swept upward to the youth, his eyes brightened. ”This kid hasn’t been searched yet.”
Hanging by the chains, the youth was silent and unmoving like death. At his chest was a wallet, the hole revealing green paper--the color of money!
It was the payment from the buyer after the delivery. The thick stack of money orders released from the Church was worth at least forty or fifty thousand pounds!
”Where did this kid get so much money?” The dwarf swallowed, unable to move his eyes away.
”All of those are money orders?” Scarface blanched too. ”Have I gone crazy?”
”What are you waiting for?” The dwarf kicked Scarface. ”When the creatures come later, even his clothes will be eaten. Go get the money, and we’ll talk about how to divide it later.”
Scarface broke free from his trance, and rushed to get the keys from the wall and open the heavy steel lattice. Picking up the steel hook from the side, he tiptoed around the well, aiming for the chains.
”Wait!” the dwarf suddenly took the hook. ”You’re so clumsy. What if it falls? I’ll do it!”
Scarface glared at him. The dwarf just did not trust him with the money. But the hook was already taken, so he could only curse under his breath and step back, letting the dwarf work on it.
”Be careful,” Scarface muttered coldly. ”Don’t fall in and become food yourself.”
The dwarf cackled. His hook caught onto the chain, and dragged the hanging youth over. He reached into the kid’s chest. ”We’re rich. Look at all this money…”
Before he could finish, a hand latched onto his wrist. Seeing Scarface still outside the lattice, he froze.
Whose hand was this?
In that moment, he saw the supposedly dead youth raise his head. Reflected in those black eyes was his shocked expression. The blackness was like a swirling vortex. In the swirling vortex was pure darkness.
Before the dwarf could react, he was yanked into the lattice with a sudden force. The youth grabbed the hook and, using the momentum, jumped over the lattice.
With a yelp, Scarface spun around. But all he could see was the youth flying toward him with the zooming hook.
Boom!
The hook slammed onto Scarface’s head, causing everything to go black. He collapsed on the ground. In the sudden pain, he felt the chain wrap around his neck and tighten.
The gate only started closing slowly. It slammed shut with a push from the youth.