Leanna-Chapter 246: [EMERY] 1.2

"Your job won’t be a tour guide," John started, "I specifically requested for locals because you know all the alleyways and secret roads as well as every twist and turn in this city."

He then focused his eyes on Boboy and Caloy as he continued, "You two will show me that. Those hidden routes, roads, and alleyways as well as shortcuts."

His dark blue eyes then locked on Jackson and me. "While you two will show me the way around your province. Specifically, an area that is secluded and not easily found. I can’t get this information on a tourist guide, after all. It had to be someone who was born and knew the ins and outs of the place."

"If you don’t mind me asking, why do you need to know these things exactly?" I asked, and I swore his eyes twitched like the corner of his mouth, but only for a moment.

The sense of danger intensified when he grinned. "I supposed it wouldn’t hurt to tell you since you’ll be a part of this operation that I already told Jackson here."

I glanced at my friend, Jackson, who was drinking a whole bottle of beer. "Operation?"

Jackson wiped off the beer from his lips with the back of his palm before he threw me a lazy grin with hazy eyes.

At that moment, I didn’t know this man. The man I was friends with for more than ten years.

Now that I had a closer inspection of him, his eyes were sunken with patches of purples. He got thinner as I could trace the outline of his skull. His skin was much paler than usual. His long hair was messy like his beard. The only healthy about him was his bulging stomach. If you could call it healthy.

He looks like a pregnant zombie!

I must not have noticed the changes since I saw him every day before the time he went missing for six months. This was actually the first time I saw him again after he went missing and now he was with a foreign man.

I didn’t know what happened to him during his absence, but I would have to find it out later since John continued to explain.

"The operation is simple. You four won’t be doing much as my guys, and I will be doing more of the work. All you have to do is show and guide us around."

My frowned deepen while my friends drunk without a care about this so-called ’operation.’

"What is this operation?" I questioned.

John stared at me for a moment before he answered, "It’s a simple operation of kidnapping."

Pft! Cough! Cough!

I didn’t know who spilled the beer. I didn’t care to find out as my brain froze.

"W-what do you mean k-k-kidnapping? N-n-no one told me about this."

To my amazement, it was Caloy who first broke the brutal silence. It was a breather that no one beside us was here at the moment.

"Jackson, what is this all about?!" I barked at my friend the soonest I regained my thoughts. I couldn’t believe we were in for some serious shit here, and the guy who led us to it was my best friend.

Jackson grinned, raising his hands to calm us down. "All of you relax. It’s not a big deal. Really."

"Tell me how is kidnapping, a serious offense, isn’t a big deal?!" I snapped.

"Lance, really?" Jackson’s face warped in annoyance, and we locked in a glaring contest. "We already did crimes before."

"Those were petty crimes, Jackson! This, however, is a whole fucking level!" I said to the point of screaming as my heart rate increased while John remained unfazed, amusement in his eyes as he watched us bicker with each other.

I hate this guy.

"T-that’s right. We did some stealing and snatching, but nothing as dangerous as to actually kidnap someone," Caloy whispered as if afraid that someone would hear.

"Jackson, we might be dirt poor, but we’re not so desperate as to result to kidnapping. You know if we’re caught, it’ll not just be months or a year in jail, right? It can be a life sentence!"

Boboy protested, and I was relieved that my friends’ brains were not yet expired.

Jackson took an intake of air. "All of you hear me out." He breathes. "Look, I know the first time is actually frightening, but trust me on this. Remember, I was away for six months?"

Jackson stared at us with a serious face as we nodded.

"Well, I was working for him," Jackson said, pointing at John, who remained quiet as he watched us in boredom, a smirked on his face.

"And look at me? I’m still here, aren’t I? These guys are pros in what they do. And that’s not even the best part. Look at this." Jackson ransacked his backpack and pulled out an original G-shock watch, I pod, a laptop, and some other gadgets that only in our wildest dreams could have.

"The pay is so good, and you’ll only have to do . . . what? Show them around, and that’s it!" Jackson snapped his fingers, "you’ll get instant cash. You don’t even have to be a part of the kidnapping process."

". . ."

". . ."

". . ."

I was beginning to feel worried when Boboy and Caloy’s eyes shone in greed as they eyed the things on the table. I knew they were lost in the sweet promised of richest the moment they didn’t argue. I knew I had been too if I was raised in the poorest of the poor. But my family could provide for us, at least, could provide our needs.

But now that my parents were dead, no one could provide for me except for my sister. Though we’re not rich, but with my sister’s salary, if I would ask, I could easily get those things. Thus, I was not blinded, but John somehow read my expression.

"I know this is a dangerous job. But like what Jackson said, you won’t do any dirty work. All you have to do is guide and show us the way and a place to stay."

John leaned on the dirty plastic chair and crossed his legs. "Tell you what . . . since you are all Jackson’s friends, I’ll raise your rewards to ten thousand dollars each. What ya’ say?"

The got Caloy and Boboy’s approval within a split second. And frankly, me too. Half a million in our currency could get anyone salivating.

"W-well, if you put it that way . . . Then, I’m in." Boboy was the first one to agree while Caloy followed, "I’m in too."

Everyone’s gazes shot on me.

I didn’t know why they needed me exactly. Though I knew they needed both Caloy and Boboy for the city since the city was big. But having Jackson and me led the province, I think that Jackson was enough for the job since the province was small.

Unless . . .

Fucking shit! Don’t tell me . . . !

They’re going to use our inhabited shabby shack on the outskirts of town? I did once mention that we have a hut somewhere in the province, somewhere isolated. It was a property my father bought since he loves a place covered with greeneries, away from the hustle and bustle. He purchased it at a low price and had plans to develop it. But since he died, the place was long gone forgotten.

The shack was out-of-the-way and out of the map. You needed a guide to actually reached the place, or you’d get lost. Not because of the many forks ahead, that’s not the most problematic. The problem was, the area was so undeveloped that the routes weren’t cemented nor a dirt path. It was just endless weeds and trees, and if that wasn’t a problem enough, there was no electricity and water. The only source of water was a well. And I think there were creatures both living and dead roaming the place day or night. I didn’t even know why my father bought that place in the first place.

I sighed through my mouth.

Now that I had a general outline of their plan, I wanted to back out and go back to my stinkin’ job . . . But, half a million blinded a discontented man.

"Jackson, you’re going to use my family’s place in the outskirt of town, aren’t you? The one I said about." I looked at Jackson, waiting for his reply.

Jackson just grinned, and I wanted nothing but punch his disgusting teeth out. "Lance, as I remember it. You said that place is no longer inhabited for years ever since your parents died."

"You know that place has my family’s name on it. You’re putting me at risk here," I said through the space of my gnashing teeth.

Jackson sighed and rolled his eyes that only made my anger intensified. I couldn’t believe my best friend was willing to get me into harm’s way for some cash. I was having a hard time accepting that he would actually use and dragged me into this. My best friend, who was with me through thick and thin. Who was like a brother to me, more than Lawrence could ever be.