THE RAT
Riku stepped out of the warehouse room, loosening the tension in his neck. The faint metallic smell of blood clung to his coat, though he'd already shrugged it off onto one of his men. Lighting a cigarette, he inhaled deeply, staring at the flicker of the flame before letting it die.
He muttered, half to himself, half to the shadows, "Business is business… but damn, Hope's smile is better than this filth."
He leaned against the cold metal wall, closing his eyes for just a moment. Then, suddenly, he frowned. Shit. I left my lighter inside.
Turning back, he pushed open the heavy door. The dim light inside flickered, and his sharp eyes immediately caught it—the rival, still tied to the chair, was gasping and thrashing, while one of his men leaned close, pressing a blade against his throat.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Riku's voice cut through the room like a blade.
The man flinched, freezing in place, sweat running down his temple. "B-Boss, I was just—"
"Just what? Trying to shut him up?" Riku stepped closer, his boots echoing heavily on the concrete. The rest of the crew stiffened, hands on their weapons, waiting for an order.
Riku raised a hand, stopping them. His smirk was cold, cruel. "Don't. This one's mine."
The man dropped the knife and stumbled back. "Y-You got it wrong, Boss! I swear, I—"
But Riku brushed his hair back, rolling his sleeves up slowly, deliberately. "No… I don't get things wrong. You're the rat. Always were. And now…" His knuckles cracked. "…I get to take my stress out on you."
The traitor tried to bolt, but Riku's fist shot forward like a hammer, crashing into his stomach. The man crumpled with a choked groan. Before he could breathe, Riku grabbed his collar, yanking him up, then slammed his head into the steel wall with a sickening clang. Blood smeared instantly.
"Stand up." Riku's tone was mocking. "Come on, don't make this boring."
The man, shaking, tried to swing a desperate punch, but Riku caught his wrist mid-air, twisting it until bones cracked. The scream that followed was music to the crew's ears.
Riku's boot smashed into the man's ribs, sending him sprawling across the floor. He stalked forward, calm, like a predator toying with prey. Then, without warning, he stomped down on the traitor's chest, pinning him like an insect.
"Pathetic," Riku sneered. "I don't need help with garbage like you."
The man coughed blood, trying to crawl away. Riku crouched beside him, grabbing his hair and forcing his face up.
"You thought you could betray us?" His voice dropped, dangerous and sharp. "You thought you could silence someone under my watch?"
The traitor whimpered, his lips trembling. "P-please… I—"
Riku cut him off by slamming his fist into his face again, splitting his lip. "No. You talk when I tell you to." He dragged the man back to the chair, tying him in place with the same ropes the rival had been bound with, the irony cruel and deliberate.
Riku leaned close, his eyes like knives. "Now… you're going to tell me everything. Every name. Every deal. Every filthy word you've whispered to the enemy."
The man's bloodied face twisted in terror as Riku reached for a nearby steel pipe, tapping it against his palm. The sound echoed like a death sentence.
"Because if you don't…" Riku smirked, eyes narrowing. "…you'll find out exactly how creative I can get."
The room fell silent, the crew watching as their boss prepared to start a new interrogation—this time, not with a rival, but with a traitor.
CHAPTER END🫠