After reaching his apartment without any interruptions he took a shower, ate the leftover food from the morning, and as the sun hid itself and darkness covered the whole island, he changed into his all-black outfit.
Then he left his apartment and caught a taxi.
About 20 minutes later the taxi stopped. He paid the driver in cash and strolled down the streets, until he saw the left turn ahead. He switched back to normal pace and turned left.
"I didn't think that girl would be useful, verta.. was it? I'm sure I've heard that name before but am not sure when or where ?"
"The numbers on baldy's place, it was very easy to decode when I've got the right key words. I just adjusted numerical order with the help of verta , deducing right numbers and positioning them, after that just turning numbers into letters. Simple Nihilistic cipher codes."
"But not every normal individual in the city knows about this, that's what clicking me, don't you think too? Something happening in the city, I don't know if it's high -table or someone else… I just need to know who would go this far to hide some simple MESSAGE. That's why I'm here… Drayden streets, or should I say.... Verta ?"
Paul usually didn't go out much, only just for work, but after looking at the map, he could recall the right alleys and turns. He had some basic knowledge of the area and its people, and currently, he was thinking about how to get what he wanted.
The alley he turned into was dark but wide enough for at least three people to walk side by side. In just a few steps he reached the end, turning left and walking a few more meters before turning right.
After about six or seven steps he noticed faint yellow lights, and the distant sounds of people. He walked toward the destination he had in mind, when he first exited from his apartment.
He gradually slowed his pace; to his right was another dark alley that likely connected to the main street. He glanced with the corner of eyes slightly and continued walking forward, slightly to the left.
As he walked by, a few people were sitting there in tattered clothes, on cardboard sheets, surrounding the fire, warming themselves while chatting about their lives to pass the time. They glanced at him but didn't pay much attention; a random teen showing up likely wasn't a big deal to them. With one look, Paul could see there were about seventeen.... eighteen people in sight, including himself, but it was too dark ahead to tell, if anyone was sleeping up ahead.
The people here are all tramps or homeless individuals, simply looking for a place to spend the night. As soon as the sun rises, they leave and either collect trash or sit on the streets to make some money. There are a total of three groups gathered around the fire.
Paul walked towards the right side of one group, consisting of four men who seem to be in their early to mid-20s. They're sitting next to the pillar supporting the overpass above. Occasionally, the sounds of cars, buses, or heavy vehicles can be heard, but it's not too loud.
They are burning tires to keep the fire up.
Paul approached them and undid his hood trying to appear as friendly as possible, they were sitting on small boulders or bricks. He looked to his left and right, and found the half brick placing it beside one of the men, and sitting down not speaking anything, like he was already one of them.
They have already noticed him but didn't mind anything, some random teen coming here wasn't something new to them, and they also know the reason for what they come here for.
"Yo!! I almost got pinched by that bitch cope."
"For real, if it wasn't for those dumb assholes, we'd be bustin' our asses behind bars."
"Hey?!! John.!! who the hell you yappin' with, gettin' all amped up?"
"Ahh.. me? you mofos ain't gonna believe it, juss look."
"Bh.. Ha.ha ha this is snake's alt.. Ha ha haaa."
He was just listening to their baseless chatter without speaking anything until the man sitting to his left tapped his shoulder slightly, looking at his direction he said in a little hard and mocking tone, trying to pressure Paul, "Haven't seen ya 'round here, kid, whataya need?"
The other three went silent too, stopping their chatter and looking with the corner of their eyes, but Paul didn't even flinch, even a slightest and replied casually, "Lookin' for some stuff, heard I'd find it here."
Guy nodded real slight, still starin' down at Paul, kept his tone steady and asked, "Which one, 30, 50, or 100?"
Paul replied calm-like, "I ain't here for green, I'm askin' for white."
After listening to what Paul said, all four of the guys eyes lit up with greed and lust. Paul could clearly see that, the man said his tone changing from mockery to curiosity and greed, "Haha, but ya got the cash, right?"
"Of course," Paul shot back, obviously-like, why'd he be here without cash on him?
Guy asked now a bit softer - "How much ya lookin' for exactly?"
Paul stood up slowly and replied, "Are you taking the interview out of me or what? I'll tell you everything on the way, of course there's one line for you too. "
Guy slowly stood up to stretch his hands slightly and thought, "This kid sure knows his stuff well, but just one…" before replying, "We'll talk lines and shit about later."
And looked at his miserable group, "Looks I've to go my niggas, see ya gays on different light."
And walked away with Paul.
As they both walked out from under the overpass, the guy asked. He was probably around 25, medium size black hair with mix of light brown, black eyes, small beard growing around his face, his mustache visible, white skin, his face have little rough marks and one thing to notice that, right in his forehead above his left eyebrow, there's a X Design black tattoo binded with chain. He is wearing a dark blue colored t-shirt with some animated design on it underneath black leather jacket and blue colored Jeans his both hands in his jacket's pocket.
"So.. Where you came from?.. of course if you wanna keep your privacy that's okay for me, anyways I'm Roxy."
Paul thought that it's better to give some info about himself because he has to come here more like this again, and had to interact with them, he kept it short and replied - "Gumla, a week ago, my place is in Brighton, someone from my school told about this place. And I'm Paul."
"School ?" Roxy wondered.
"Saint Anthonys." Paul said quickly.
"Saint Anthony, saint Anthony ohh.. I remember, prolly that kid told ya abt this place." Roxy said while rubbing his head with his right hand fingers.
"Yeah ,probably..." Paul replied back faintly, he have no idea which guy Roxy is talking about.
"If ya got yerself in any trouble just lemme know, alright?" Roxy said, puffin' her chest slightly , tryin' to flex some empty confidence.
Paul gave a small nod, and after six or seven minutes of walking, turning left and right, they were close to their destination. On the way, Paul attempted to turn on the flash of his phone since it was really dark; one could barely see the walls beside them. However, Roxy told him to turn it off. Without questioning him, Paul complied and switched off the flash. Roxy then said to him—
" If ya have trouble walking then, u can walk behind me. "
Paul did what Roxy said, following him closely, walking just behind him. Eventually, Roxy turned right and disappeared from view. Paul picked up his pace, turned in the same direction, and saw Roxy a few steps ahead. He caught up to him at a normal pace, Roxy glanced back and suggested, "Wait here for a sec; I'll call the keeper."
Paul nodded knowingly as Roxy turned and went to call the keeper .
With nothing else to do, Paul scanned the area around . He noticed two connected houses or something like that , both featuring a single small window and a locked wooden door.
Shifting his gaze to the left, he saw only a wall and a streetlight pole, with wires running overhead. The road in front of him was wider than the alleys he'd just walked through, wide enough for two motorcycles to fit side by side, while the way ahead likely led to the main streets, he thought as he recalled the map.
Paul's gaze was once again locked on Roxy as he approached the house. Roxy was knocking softly on the window, carefully glancing left, right, and occasionally back at Paul. He could barely hear the tapping and wondered if it might be some sort of secret signal, but he quickly brushed that idea aside.
"Nah, I'm just overthinking this ?"