“Maddy…”

“Why are you doing this?” Maddy asked before I could say anything else.

I bit my tongue, keeping my silence.

“Why are you doing this?” She repeated when I didn’t answer.

I’ve thought about this all night and came up with the conclusion that it’s best for Maddy to keep her distance from me. I didn’t want to relive the anxiety and terror that I experienced last night when I realized that Casey might not be safe. I didn’t want to feel that way again over another person.

At this point, the less people I have around me, the better.

They probably don’t know about Maddy yet and I need to keep it that way.

“Classes are starting again, go back to school.” I said simply.

I didn’t want the two of us to be seen out in the open like this. This feeling made me vulnerable, as if someone is watching us from somewhere.

“Don’t avoid my questions, Bry. Explain right now, what are you doing searching for the leader of a Mafia gang?” Maddy demanded.

I kept my expression emotionless as I looked straight ahead instead of her angry eyes.

“It’s none of your business.” I replied as cold as I can.

Her shocked expression delivered a cut to me. I wanted to hug her and confide in her,

I wanted to tell her how scared I was right then and there.

I balled my hands into fists and held myself back as I kept up my façade.

I have to keep her safe.

Maddy shook her head and I noted how she didn’t pick at what I said despite the hurt look in her eyes.

“Do you realize what you’ve just done? This is the Mafia we’re talking about here, Bry. Are you in your right mind right now?” She asked, looking at me for any signs of confirmation that I’ve lost my sensibility.

“I know what I’m doing, Mad. This has nothing to do with you so just stay out of it.” I snapped at her, not wanting her to pry anymore.

I instantly regretted my sharp tone when Maddy closed her eyes and reopened them, showing how glassy they’ve gotten.

“I really hope you know what you’re doing.” She said before turning around and running into the building.

I watched her back disappear behind the school doors and leaned on the car beside me, letting it bear my weight as I dropped my façade.

I don’t know what I’m doing.

I’m grasping at straws and they keep on slipping through my fingers.

I buried my face in my hands and tried to recollect what’s left of me before straightening up and walking back into the school to get to class.

I need to get through the rest of the day to avoid raising any suspicions towards Casey.

I can only hope that Maddy won’t run to Casey and tip her off.

I opened the text that Jax had sent me, hiding my phone beneath my desk as the teacher continued her lecture.

Tonight at 9.

I tried to convince myself that I was doing the right thing. The heavy weight that have settled over my chest made it hard for me to breathe and I felt suffocated.

Slipping my phone back into my pocket, I kept my head lowered and closed my eyes, trying to clear my thoughts and focus on what the teacher was saying.

Although my attempts were in vain, I managed to get through the rest of the class and was the first to bolt out of the door. I was in dire need of some fresh air.

I walked to my car to wait for Casey to get out of class, avoiding the sea of students that poured out of their classes and into the halls.

“Hey.”

I raised and turned my head to see Casey walking over, waving one of her hands as the other held onto a few files.

“No training today?” She asked, opening the car door.

I walked over to the other side of the car and opened the driver’s door.

“No, Coach called in sick today.” I replied simply.

When I settled behind the wheel, buckling my seatbelt, Casey looked at me funny.

“你怎么了? (What’s wrong with you?)” She asked me.

“Huh?” I turned towards her. I saw her worried expression at my distracted look and forced a smile. “Nothing.”

I averted my eyes towards the road ahead of us, turning on the car’s engine. I could feel Casey’s eyes linger on me but I decided that avoiding eye contact would be best for now. The cons of growing up together is that you gain the ability to read each other like an open book.

One look at me and she knows that something is off.

“I’m heading out later tonight with some friends. Are you going to be okay on your own?” I asked her.

“How old do you think I am? I’m not 3, I’ll be fine.” She scoffed, adjusting the AC.

I chuckled lightly, “You’re always going to be a little kid to me, you brat.”

She rolled her eyes at me and started fiddling with the car’s radio station.

An old song came on the radio and Casey started singing like a madman, slapping me lightly to join in the mini carpool karaoke.

A small smile grew on my lips as I started singing along with her. The weight was still there, acting as a heavy anchor that’s threatening to drag my heart down to the pit of my stomach. But for now, the suffocating feeling eased as I put on a show for Casey to see.

It’s just like what they say, fake it ‘til you make it.

Once we got to the house, Casey went to her bedroom and I went to mine to shower and change into some fresh clothes.

I dressed down; a plain dark hoodie and jeans.

An hour before 9, I told Casey that I was leaving and headed out the door, taking my bike instead of the car.

I memorized the route to the address that Jax sent and was there 15 minutes before our designated meet up time. The address was on the other side of town.

I parked the bike nearby, along with a few other bikes that were parked by the street and walked the short distance to the address Jax sent.

Since there was still 15 minutes left before it was 9, I waited by the door for Jax to show up. It was a painstakingly long 15 minutes. The trepidation and anxiety coursing through me caused my conscience to scream at me to turn around and flee, leave the scene.

I took out my phone to check out the time. When the clock on my phone screen struck 9, I was about to turn around and ring the doorbell or knock but the sound of the door swinging open came first before a hand grabbed my arm and another hand covered my mouth, yanking me backwards.

I barely had time to process what was happening, not to mention yell out for help.

Everything was a flurry of hands grabbing me and pulling me somewhere as the sound of my protests gets muffled by the hand that was covering my mouth.

The space inside the building was too dark for me to see anything since my eyes weren’t given enough time to adjust to the lack of light yet.

The next thing I know, I was forced to take a seat on a hard and cold chair in the middle of a mouldy room.

Hands were holding me down as ropes winded around my body and tied me to the chair.

I wrestled against their hold on me, trying to break free.

“Stop fighting!” Jax voice suddenly reached my ears. It sounded like he was somewhere beside or behind me.

“What are you trying me down for?” I grunted out as I ceased my struggle.

“It’s safety protocols. We can’t have you try to do anything stupid.”

I huffed out as I stopped fighting completely.

“Boss is coming,” One of the men said as Jax finished tying me up.

A silhouette appeared by the door and I squinted through the darkness to look at the person more clearly.

It was definitely a man’s figure.

“Pardon the rough welcome. We’ve had unpleasant experiences with people we regarded as guests and had to resort to this method after learning from our past experiences.” His voice was deep but smooth, businessman-like.

After a while, my eyes started adjusting to the dark better and I can finally make out a few of the man’s features, just enough to pinpoint that he was probably in his early or mid 40s.

“Let me start with the introductions. I’m Quentin Yelton, I lead this circus show.” I can make out his smile through his voice.

I grimaced, straining against the rope that’s tying me down. The rope was biting into my skin and I couldn’t help but glare briefly at Jax. I was 90% sure that he did this on purpose.

“Bryant Johnson,” I introduced myself simply in a clipped tone.

“Pleasure, Mr. Johnson.” Quentin grinned.

I flashed him a grim smile, still clenching my teeth through the increased agitation I was feeling the longer that I was tied down to the chair.

“Jax told me that you wanted to meet?” Quentin asked.

A second of fleeting hesitation passed by me before I nodded.

“I want to ask for help.” I told him.

“Go on,” He urged, walking leisurely towards me and stopping before the chair that I was sitting whilst still putting a respectable space between us.

“I got tangled up with some loan sharks and I need to shake them off my tail.” I said, giving the simple version of my story.

Quentin tsked at me, shaking his head. “You should know better than to borrow money from those cunning little rats.”

“I didn’t borrow money from them.”

Quentin raised his eyebrows in question, “Then?”

“My friend’s father borrowed money from them and I caught them beating my friend up to get their money back so I jumped in and got my friend out.”

Quentin snorted unattractively, “Well that’s even more stupid than taking money from them.”

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.

“Well, you beat them to get your friend out once, why not just keep on doing that?” Quentin asked.

“They know where I live. I have a little sister I need to protect but I can’t possibly be by her side 24/7. I just need your help to scare them away, at least enough to keep my sister safe.” I told them, my tone softening to show them that I’m sincerely asking for help.

Quentin stayed quiet for a while and I could hear my heartbeat in my ears as I waited for his decision.

“You do realize that the Mafia never gives anything without expecting something in return?” Quentin queried.

I didn’t know that the weight on my chest could get any heavier until I felt it.

I nodded slowly. The Mafia had their notorious reputation for a reason.

“Good. Providing you and your dear little sister with protection from those rats is not a problem so I guess we have a deal?” Quentin asked, offering his hand for me to shake.

I had to suppress my urge to snort and bring his attention to my tied down state.

Quentin chuckled, “Right, I forgot about that.”

“Boys, I think this one is tame enough for us to untie him.” Quentin clapped his hand and gestured for his men to get rid of the ropes restricting me.

Quentin’s men untied me and I stood up from the stiff chair, rubbing my red and marred skin.

Quentin offered his hand once again to me with a grin. “Welcome to the circus circle, Mr. Johnson.”

I looked at the devil’s hand for a split second before forcing myself to take it.

And that was how I sold my soul to the devil.