Renegades: Battlegrounds.-Chapter 38: No Way Out

Ren spun around and four motorcycles roared into the alley from the far end, their headlights slicing through the darkness like searchlights.They skidded to a stop in a line, blocking the exit completely.

Kotekai Biker Gang.

Even in the darkness, their skull emblems gleamed on their leather jackets, chains clinking at their sides. They had baseball bats strapped to their bikes like weapons holstered for war.

The riders killed their engines all at once, and the sudden stillness was somehow worse than the noise before.

They dismounted slowly, deliberately, savoring the tension they created.

Ren turned back toward the hooded figure only to see three more motorcycles rumbling in behind him, closing off the other side of the alley.

Seven bikers plus the hooded figure making eight total.

"Eight on one. No exits and no witnesses. "

"This is bad... very bad. "

The sounds of boots echoed as the group approached from the far end. The sound bouncing off the alley walls, oppressive, suffocating. At the front was a tall man with a shaved head and too many piercings to count. Ren recognized him immediately.

The leader from Hanami Park. The one whose jaw Ren had shattered yesterday.

Even in the dim light, the bruises Ren had left was very obvious. He pulled off his helmet slowly, tucking it under his arm, and grinned a crooked smile.

"Thought you could embarrass us and just walk away?" he growled, his voice echoing through the narrow alley.

"We don’t forget, kid and we definitely do not forgive."

Ren’s fists tightened. "So you followed me. " He said, keeping his voice steady. "All day. "

"Smart boy. " The leader stopped ten feet away. "Waited for the right moment, away from crowds, away from your school, away from anyone who might help you. " He gestured around them with a sweep of his hand. "Nice and private. No families to interrupt this time and no strangers to call the police on us. "

His grin widened. "Just you.. and us."

The other bikers spread out, forming a semicircle around Ren.

Behind him, the hooded figure pulled down her hood and Ren saw a young woman in her early twenties, wearing a Kotekai jacket and sporting a mocking smile.

"Surprised? " She asked.

"Eight people. "

"Eight on one. "

"Can’t fight them all... can’t run.... can’t call for help.. they’d tackle me before I even dialed. "

Ren assessed them like Kaito trained him to. "Nine opponents. Older. Bigger. Armed—chains, bats, knives. And he was already injured from yesterday. "

Ren had almost no chance but it wasn’t completely zero and he refused to show fear.

"So what? You beat me up and feel better about yourselves?" He said.

The leader barked a harsh laugh. "Something like that would be nice for a start. "

He slid a baseball bat from his belt and tapped it against his palm.

"Thwack. Thwack. Thwack. " Each strike echoed like a countdown.

"Here’s how this goes. " He said. "We teach you some respect maybe break a few bones but definitely make sure you remember what happens when you mess with Kotekai. "

He stepped forward.

But then one of the other bikers, a young blond who was had been restless suddenly spoke up.

"Boss. The girl just left the café. "

Ren froze at that statement.

"Girl? What girl? "

The leader’s grin stretched into something predatory. "Perfect timing. "

He turned back toward Ren, a cruel delight fully evident in his expression.

"See, we did our homework, kid. Found out who you saved in the park. "

He tapped the bat harder against his palm.

"Pretty university student. Aoi Kanzaki. Second-year at Tokyo Metro. Nursing program."

Ren’s chest constricted painfully.

"Works at Kissaten Sakura. " The leader continued.

"Right down this street, actually very convenient if I must say. "

He pointed back toward Sakura Avenue.

"Lives with her little sister in an apartment two blocks from here. Family owns the café and have been there for three generations. "

He leaned in towards Ren. "We know everything about her. "

"Leave her alone. " Ren said, voice colder than he intended for it to be.

"Too late for that. " The leader gestured toward three bikers lingering near their bikes. "My boys are already heading there. They are gonna pay her a nice little visit... remind her what happens when she lets random kids fight her battles. "

The three bikers mounted up and revved their engines loudly.

"Don’t! " Ren jumped forward, but two bikers grabbed his arms, pinning him back in place.

"Oh no no no. Where are you going now? " The leader laughed.

"You’re stuck here with us.." the leader whispered in his face. "Can’t help. Can’t call anyone. Can’t do shit. "

The motorcycles roared past Ren, tearing down the street toward Sakura Avenue.

Toward the café.

Toward Aoi.

Ren struggled, but the bikers holding him just laughed.

"How many did you send? " He demanded through his tightened teeth.

"Three. " The leader said casually. "More than enough for one scared girl. "

He tapped Ren’s chest with the bat.

"Don’t worry.. we won’t hurt her too bad... just scare her abit.. maybe rough her up a little. "

He shrugged. "But it depends how cooperative she is. "

Ren felt anger surge through him like wildfire. "If you dare touch her.. "

"You will what? " The leader mocked, sweeping his bat in a circle at the six armed bikers still surrounding them. "You’re trapped here, kid. You are outnumbered, outmatched and your cute little girlfriend’s all alone.. and my boys are very... persuasive. "

He stepped back, twirling the bat lazily.

"So what’ll it be? Take your beating quietly and maybe I’ll tell them to go easy on her...? lr fight back, make it worse for yourself, and let them have some real fun? "

Ren looked at the six bikers moving slowly, tightening the circle around him.

At the woman blocking the rear exit and at the leader with the raised bat.

"Six here.. three headed towards to Aoi. " He calculated. "I can’t beat six but I can’t let them hurt her. "

He remembered Aoi’s gentle hands bandaging his knuckles. Her soft smile. Her kind words.

"You remind me of Kaito."

He remembered the terror in her eyes at the park.

And now because of him she was in danger again.

"This is my fault. " Ren thought. "I saved her, and now they’re targeting her to get back at me. "

The leader stepped forward, tapping the bat impatiently.

"Clock’s ticking, kid. My boys are probably at the café by now. "

"I can’t fight six. " Ren thought. "I can’t reach her in time even if I escape. Two blocks away by the time I break through, they’ll already... "

The leader lifted the bat fully now, patience evaporating.

"Last chance. " He said. "Make your choice."

Ren slowly pulled his hands from his pockets, raised them and took a fighting stance.

"I’m not going down quietly. " He said, voice low but firm.

The leader’s grin vanished. "Wrong choice. "

He snapped the bat forward.

"Get him."

Six bikers rushed in at once and Ren braced himself for impact.

"I have to try. " He thought. "Even if I lose. Even if they break every bone in my body. I have to try. For Aoi. "

The first biker reached him....