73. New Rules (Patreon)

Half-conscious, Rowan’s head lulled on the wall behind him, eyes tracking in Jeff’s general direction. Ikara sat in the water, head bowed, her tangled red-tipped ponytails almost dipping into the puddle. Kaidu tried to kill Jeff with his eyes alone, upright and immobilized behind the man.

“That Binding Mark? I say the word, and you’ll be in more daggum pain than you’ve felt in your short, pitiful lives. I hold it long enough, you’ll pass out. And that’s where things get interestin’.”

Jeff strode across the street, careless of the knee-high water. “You kids’re gonna go out there and earn some points to make up for the zero you’ve got now, and you’re gonna come back and hand ‘em over to Uncle Jeff. If’n’s I’m feelin’ charitable, or you done collected more than a hundred points, I might leave ya with enough to make it through the night. If ya don’t hand ‘em over, that’s where the Binding Mark comes in. If ya try’n run, that’s what the Tracking Mark’s for. Got it?”

He gazed around the trio, waiting for something. Proud, Kaidu refused to acknowledge him. Rowan stared blankly, fighting to stay conscious. At last, Ikara nodded, just an inch.

Satisfied, Jeff nodded. “Some motivation for y’all—you collect enough points that I’ve got a thousand, me’n the crew’ll poof on out of here. The marks’ll fade within the week, not that I’d be able to control ‘em from outside the Tower. Ya might not have the best chance of makin’ it at that point, but you’ll have a better chance than ya will with Uncle Jeff hooverin’ up yer points.”

Kaidu spat.

Slowly, Jeff turned back to face the finger he still kept trained on Kaidu. “You got a problem, son?”

“Lowlife scum,” Kaidu bit.

Jeff chuckled, not the least insulted. “And when I make it outta this Tower and you’re stuck here on the second floor, think where that leaves you.”

“Wait, that kid… I recognize him,” Marlene said. She moved closer, tilting her head. “Isn’t that N. Kaidu? The Hairdresser, the famous one.”

“Famous? You’re telling me we’re in the presence of celebrity?” Jeff asked, eyes wide with mock-amazement.

Kaidu lifted a lip, disgusted.

“Not only that. Rumor says he’s Satoru Mizue’s kid. Think of the money, if we brought him out with us,” Marlene said, eyes glimmering.

“You wanna fuck with the number-one Swordsman in the whole damn world? I love you, Marlene, but sometimes I wonder if your head’s screwed on right,” Jeff sighed, shaking his head.

“He wouldn’t pay a penny for me, anyways,” Kaidu snarled.

Jeff ignored him, speaking only to Marlene. “No, listen. We keep this small. We make it to the third floor, get our proper crew back together, and we’ll be rolling in it anyways. That’s the goal, Marlene. Keep the goal in your sights.”

“Still think it’s worth a try,” Marlene muttered.

“Now, is everyone clear on the rules? And you, boy, if I let you go, will you be bright enough not to try’n pull a fast one?” He glanced at Kaidu.

Kaidu glared back, silent.

“Looks like a ‘no’ to me, boss,” Amy opined.

“Stop the burning! It burns,” Jacob cried, rubbing his arms.

“Quit yer whining, boy.” Jeff backed away from Kaidu. “Alright, son, I’m going to let you go. If you so much as make a false move, Amy here is going to give you the washing machine treatment, understand?”

Kaidu continued to stare, motionless.

“Alright. Amy?”

She nodded.

“Here goes.” Jeff dropped his hand.

Kaidu lunged. Instantly, a wave of water rose up before him. Before it could smash down on him, Kaidu dove through it. He burst out the other side, water spraying all around him, razor aimed at Jeff’s throat.

Marlene vanished and reappeared behind him. Her hand closed around his jacket and pulled him short.

Kaidu shed the jacket. Too slow. Jeff’s hand popped up again, finger trained on Kaidu. Frozen mid-attack, one leg up, arm outstretched, Kaidu slammed into the water.

Marlene delivered a short blow to the back of his neck. Kaidu’s eyes shut, and Jeff lowered his finger, allowing Kaidu to fall limp into the water, ponytail billowing out across the water’s surface.

Rowan sat up, reaching for Kaidu. He’s going to drown!The world shuddered violently. Pain slammed into his forehead, through to the back of his head. He fell back down, eyes squeezed shut against the spinning.

“Kaidu!” Ikara crawled to Kaidu and drew him up into her arms. She glared fiercely at Jeff, but her glare came off cute, not murderous, like Kaidu’s.

Jeff snorted. “Good luck, kids. Fetch me those points. Remember, the faster Uncle Jeff hits one-kay, the faster you get out of this shit deal, alright?”

He tipped his head. The others gathered around, Jacob still rubbing at his arms, and they vanished around the corner, deeper into the city.