“I will be coming back here soon to get rid of the evidence before they start to stink.” I stashed the coroners’ bodies behind the concealing shrubs where no one would be able to find them if they weren’t looking.

When I killed that annoying guy, I found a Blood Cube in his chest that I used to restore my Health; my chewed-off finger had fully grown back. Now I was feeling like a million Crowns, however, I was poor as a pig. I needed to find somewhere safe where I could rest my head for a while and figure out the next step in my revenge.

The structure of the city wasn’t like how I remembered it that night when I was betrayed. I reckon some months had passed by since then, therefore, my old apartment must have also been taken over by someone else by now.

I couldn’t link up with my old contacts because I had no idea who was on Sharp Stepper’s payroll and who exactly had a hand to play in my betrayal. For certain, Rodent was a key player but that trifling fool couldn’t pull off such a master betrayal all by himself. No, someone else who knew about my day-to-day operation and where I stashed my private documents was in league with Sharp Stepper. As soon as I find out who they were, their head would be rolling underneath a bus.

“The only person I can think of sharing my problems with right now is her… Yes, if she is still alive then she will be more than willing to help me out.”

Author’s POV:

“Shake that ass! Show me what you’re working with! Shake that ass! Oh Yeah!”

Crystal Nightclub was booming with active bodies who were gyrating their slippery hips to entertain paying customers. The background music was so loud that people found it hard to communicate effectively. They had to be reading each other’s body language most of the time to comprehend what was being said.

At the back of the nightclub where the exotic dancers’ locker room was, a seductive Asian chick had just finished her shift and was getting ready to leave. While she was getting dressed, a group of talkative ladies came in with most of their privates exposed and paper bills counting in their hands.

“Oh my God, that cute guy couldn’t take his eyes off me. Did you see the way he was looking when I took off my bra?”

“Nah, I was too busy twerking my ass off in front of some rich geezers. I’m so jealous of you, Candy. You always get the booth with the hot guys.”

“What can I say, my body is that blessed.”

The other lady spanked Candy’s ass and added, “You’re really thick too. How much did you pay for that ass?”

“Girl what are you talking about. This butt is all-natural. Every one of my assets was crafted by God.”

“I find that hard to believe. A week ago you weren’t attracting that many viewers.”

“Well, that is because somebody hasn’t been putting in as much effort as they usually do.” Candy and the other ladies sat around the counter while staring at the Asian chick implicitly through the mirror.

“Why are you so silent, Himeko? We are talking about you, you know.”

“Oh really, I had no idea,” Himeko answered sarcastically.

The ladies didn’t like her attitude. “Stop acting so high and mighty. You’re a stripper just like us and at the rate you’ve been performing recently, it is just a matter of time before Madam Plastic sacks you out of here.”

“I don’t mind. I have enough money saved up to find work elsewhere.” Himeko didn’t feel that threatened by these women’s insults.

“Do you think that you will be able to make as much money selling your body elsewhere as you do here?”

“Who said I would be entering the same line of work?” Himeko put on her coat and said before walking to the exit, “I can do other things besides dancing to please a bunch of men.”

“Bitch please, all you will ever be good for is sucking dicks and gargling semen. Don’t act as if you’re better than any of us.”

“I don’t need to act, I know I am. And for the record, sucking dicks and gargling semen is your speciality, Candy, not mine.” Himeko closed the door on her way out, leaving a bitter taste in the ladies' mouths who were titivating themselves inside.

“What crawled up her ass and died?”

“Don’t let her bother you, Candy. She’ll come back tomorrow night. If she thinks that she can just quit, she’s making a sad mistake. Madam Plastic will sort her out properly.”

“I sure hope so because that tramp has been behaving too arrogantly recently.”

***

“Those bitches got on my nerves.” Himeko came out of Crystal Nightclub’s rear exit into the parking lot where her car was parked. She had an annoyed expression on her face as she got in the vehicle and drove away.

“I need a nice warm bath to cool my head.”

After being on the road for almost an hour, Himeko pulled over her vehicle in an apartment parking lot where eerie darkness usually pervades. She lived in an extravagant flat on the 13th floor where the view of Clown city was quite something.

On her way to the elevator, Himeko had a foreboding sensation tugging at her mind. She looked around to see if anyone was spying on her. In her line of work, she had to be careful not to attract a certain type of attention that could potentially ruin her relationship with Madam Plastic.

Stepping into the elevator, Himeko was about to press the button to get it moving when an elderly woman suddenly came from around the corner saying, “Hold the lift. I’m on my way.”

“Mrs Hanson.” Himeko recognized her next-door neighbour coming towards her with heavy grocery bags. “Let me help you with those.” Himeko acted kindly by offering her assistance to the old woman.

“Thank you so much, young lady. God bless your kindness.” Mrs Hanson settled in the elevator, after which, Himeko pressed the button to the 13th floor.

While the elevator was going up, both women engaged each other in menial conversation about their day’s activity among other things. The old lady wasn’t aware of what Himeko did for a living and she didn’t pry.

When the elevator came to a stop, they both got out and walked down the corridor until they arrived where they needed to be.

Taking her belongings from Himeko, Mrs Hanson told her, “Thanks again for assisting me with the bags.”

“It wasn’t’ a bother at all. I was happy to help.” Saying goodnight to the old lady, Himeko watched her get inside safely before she moved to her apartment door to unlock it.

“Huh!” As she was about to stick the key in the slot, she discovered that the door was already open. “That’s weird. Did I forget to lock it on my way out?”

Turning the doorknob slowly, Himeko entered her apartment with careful steps. Inside was pitch-black. The only light in the room was coming from the outside. Reaching for the light switch, she spotted a pair of glistening eyes further in the room and shouted,

“Who’s there?” She quickly turned on the lights while retreating to the door but she unexpectedly bumped into a rigid body that almost knocked her over.

Himeko turned around in a manner of alertness while digging through her purse for something specific. She pulled out a petite Berretta handgun and aimed it at the intruder's head. “Stay away from me or I’ll shoot!”

Before she could properly position her finger on the trigger, a robust hand reached out and grabbed her wrist and subsequently forced her up against the wall with her breasts being crushed. Because of her position, she couldn’t see who was assaulting her. She was struggling to free herself but her strength was no match for this husky intruder. The only thing she could do was find out what this person wanted.

“What do you want from me? Did Madam Plastic send you to tidy me up because of what happened at the club earlier? Please, I didn’t mean what I said. Tell her that I’m sorry and I will be coming back to work for her!”

“I’m not here for that?” The husky voice caused a flux in Himeko’s chest.

“Then what are you here for? Are you a burglar? I have some money in my purse, you can have it all.” Himeko tried to give the intruder whatever he wanted without resistance, but everything she offered was rejected.

“I’m not here for your money. However, I will be needing to borrow some later.” After saying this, the intruder released his tight grip on Himeko and turned her around so she could get a better look at his face. “Don’t you recognize me?”

“Huh, do we know each other?” Himeko couldn’t recognize who it was she was looking at.

“Probably this will help.” The intruder squeezed his long beard together then showed Himeko the side of his neck that had a razor tattoo.

“That mark?” Himeko recognized the tattoo but wasn’t sure that she was thinking of the right guy. Looking confused, she assumed, “Smoke Pac, is that you?”

“It is me.”

Receiving this confirmation made Himeko lower her guard and put away her gun. “I couldn’t recognize you because of the Jesus beard. I thought you were dead. Where the heck have you been for the past 7 months?”

“7 months.” Smoke Pac understood something. “So that’s how long I’ve been buried, no wonder everything looks so different.”

Himeko became curious. “What are you mumbling about, Smoke Pac? Did you say you were buried somewhere? What the heck happened to you that made you look so dishevelled? Not only do you look like shit but you also smell like it.”

“The scent from the sewers must still be on me. Do you mind if I use your shower to clean up real quick? I promise to tell you everything that happened later.”

“Sure, you’re going to need an extra pair of hands to wash you up properly.” Himeko also needed to take a shower so she joined Smoke Pac in the bathroom. He was already undressed by the time she entered.

“I’ll also undress.” Himeko was excited to be reunited with her old-time crush. She was no longer feeling down by what the strippers said to her back at the club.

Smoke Pac watched her getting out of her clothes. Just as she was about to pull down her last piece of undergarment, he stopped her, “Go no further.”

Himeko’s fingers were already between the straps of her panty when she heard Smoke Pac, thus she asked him, “I’m already naked. Why mustn’t I go any further?”

Smoke Pac approached her calmly with his manliness permeating the room and affirmed, “Your panty is mine to take off.”

“Huh!”