Chapter 20: The real cost of a month's debt is more than just blood, it's everything else, too.
Eli let out a tired slow sigh, the kind a man might make before flipping a coin. He glanced at the the scattered radio parts, the limp form of Kenny, and the two sobbing figures on the floor. He lifted his phone again to check the time. 2:46. He had maybe fifteen minutes left to make his rendezvous. That's all he had.
He didn't have the time to stand around watching a family drown in their own pathetic tears. He crouched down next to Zhu Ting.
"Alright," he muttered, the word flat and devoid of interest. He gave a clipped gesture toward the grandfather and granddaughter pair collapsed on the floor. "That's enough of the waterworks. Wrap it up, both of you. We don't have all day to watch the show."
Zhu Ting's head snapped up, her face streaked tears and snot. Her lips trembled as she tried to form a sentence, "Please… I… I'll…" but Eli grabbed a fistful of her hair before she could speak, yanking her head back to expose her throat which made her yelp.
"Yeah, yeah, we've heard it already. We know the script. What's your choice, princess? Because that's the only thing that's going to save your old man's skin, and his now so listen close," he paused to glance at the Old man.
"The Blood Pit isn't a death sentence. But you can choose to also entertain someone else," Eli said, releasing her hair with a flick of his wrist. Zhu Ting's breath hitched as his fingers trailed down to the collar of her blouse. "One night with the right buyer could clear this debt easy. Or gamble on the Pit for 500Noxs—win, and walk away clean with extra. Lose..." He shrugged. "Well, at least your grandpa gets paid."
He glanced pointedly at Kenny's still, bloody form by the counter. "You better hurry. Your man-slave is gonna die from trauma and shock if we leave him here too long."
The cold, hard reality of that threat hit her like a physical blow. Her eyes widened, snapping from Eli to the unconscious Kenny, then back to the frail man weeping beside her. She hugged her grandfather tighter, her body shaking as she was yanked back from hysteria.
Eli, annoyed by the hesitation rose up and kicked Zhu Ting's ribs with his boot. The girl cried out, curling in on herself but the sound was drowned by her grandfather's as he weakly shifted his frail body to shield his granddaughter, whimpering apologies and pleading for mercy on the cold tile. Eli ignored the man and grabbed her wrist, twisting until the bones creaked, his voice a bored snarl, "Tick-tock, princess. Decide now or I'll let Yuri pick for you. We got no time to waste!"
Zhu Ting's sniffled and forced herself to speak. "What is… what is the Blood Pit about?"
Yuri's mouth curved into a slow, ugly smile; he loved the technical details of the trade. "The Blood Pit?" he said, leaning in. "It's a fight ring for girls. It's the opposite of the Death Pit, which is for boys. But instead of fists, we use knives, mostly. Barehanded is allowed, sure, but knives are the main event." He paused, his eyes glittering with dark enthusiasm. "The winner isn't decided by who knocks out who, though. It's decided by who draws the most blood. Hence the name, you know. Good, clean fun."
Zhu Ting's whole body shuddered, a chill creeping up her spine. A deep, profound terror gripped her heart, raising goosebumps on her skin.
Zigi butted in, trying for a friendly, persuasive tone that only made him sound more repulsive. "Bad choice, right? Then you could just sell yourself. I know some rich Pinocchio types who pay top Noxs for fresh meat." His grin widened as he gestured vaguely toward her legs. "You got nice legs, princess. Bet they'd pay extra for those."
"If I… if I do that, will you leave my grandfather alone?" She managed to asked.
Yuri shook his head, his smile vanishing into hard practicality. "No. That would only pay for this month's fee. Of course, we'd take our 350 Noxs and leave the rest for you. You aren't worth only 350, right? You're definitely worth more, probably thousands."
She tried to force a small, desperate smile. "Then…"
Yuri chuckled, leaning closer. "Then? Are you already planning on selling yourself again next month? That's thoughtful, smart girl—but no. That's not how this works." He tapped her cheek with the barrel of his gun. "A one-time deal is off the table. You're in now. Either you keep paying monthly by spreading those legs, find an additional job or you enter the Pit and gamble for a clean slate. Choose."
Zhu Ting flinched, her shoulders shaking violently under her grandfather's weak grip. Eli sighed, tired of the drama. He turned and headed for the door. "She made her choice already, let's go."
Mr. Chen's body began to shake uncontrollably, and he shook his head weakly, begging his granddaughter, "Ting, no. Please, my child, don't go! You bastards!!! Don't you dare!! Don't you have any moral—!"
Zhu Ting silenced him with a single, trembling finger pressed to his lips. Her face was pale, but her voice didn't waver this time. "Grandpa... don't worry, I'll be fine. I promise I'll return soon," she said as she stood, dusting off her skirt.
Eli stopped near the counter, turning back with a cruel, thin smile. "She's already going, old man. Unless you can pay the $350 right now. And know this, morality is a thing meant for the weak, those who can't take the world for what it truly is."
Zigi smirked, reaching out to grab her arm, but she pulled away sharply, her eyes filled with pride and disgust. His expression darkened instantly.
Eli raised a hand, stopping Zigi before he could escalate the situation. "Don't worry. She's not going anywhere unless she wants her grandpa's corpse to greet her when she returns."
Eli turned to Yuri. "Drag the hero into a chair or something and leave him there. Don't want a corpse on our hands, either. "
Yuri shrugged, casually dragging Kenny by the collar into a nearby chair, propping him up. The boy's head lolled forward, and he let out a faint, ragged groan.
Eli gave one last, cold glance at the old man before exiting. "Don't have any bad ideas old man. It's all on you."
With that, they walked out. Zhu Ting walked stiffly between Yuri and Zigi like a condemned woman, heading toward the rusted taxi parked outside.
Eli stopped beside the vehicle. He handed the money and the folded slip of paper to Yuri.
"Handle the rest. You know the other two spots," Eli instructed. "Make sure you get the remaining $350 Noxs using this girl, and drop me at my junction. And don't just sit here idle after. Use the taxi for some actual fares. You're losing money just driving us around."
Zigi blinked, confused. "Why? We're not done with the rounds."
Eli rolled his eyes. "Because I have a goddamn porn video to act in with my neighbor later, alright? And I can't be late." He checked the time again. "Now move your asses. I'm already pushing it."
Yuri nodded, a creepy smile stretching his lips as he shoved Zhu Ting into the backseat of the taxi, flinching when Zigi climbed in after her. The engine coughed to life, spewing exhaust into the air as Eli leaned against the passenger window as they peeled away from the curb.
—————
Vanessa emerged from her bedroom, a tight bundle of expensive, revealing clothes from her old collections clutched in her hands. There was a look of focused, devious challenge in her eyes.
She and Akari had spent the last hour not chatting, but fencing after the girls explosive threatening stunt. Akari hadn't been shy; she'd laid out the whole story of her assault on the train, how Eli hadn't helped her but had used the chance to steal, and then coerced her into silence. The sheer, casual arrogance of the bastard who had tried to play superior, even trying to trick her into opening her legs for him while acting like she was the one who needed it.
She even came clean on her plan on how to ruin him by playing the timid, pushover victim who would give in into anything until Eli was comfortable, maybe even hooked, around her finger, and then she would snap him like a dry twig. But the strange thing was the end note. After all that venom, she decided he was worth keeping. After all, someone who had seen her in her most vulnerable, most disgusting state, and had not been disgusted but instead took her home, tried to exploit and fuck her, was rare.
She chuckled, shaking her had and continued by saying he was still better than someone who would fake concern just to get in her pants, then abandon her when things got tough. He was brutally honest, and that was a rarity she could exploit—turn his own indifference against him by making him reliant on her presence, then twist the knife when he least expected it.
Vanessa had been shocked by the confession, sure, but mostly just deeply intrigued by the plan. She'd joked about it, saying she desperately wanted to see how that would play out. She hadn't felt this entertained in months, not since her family disowned her into this poor pathetic life in this rotting apartment block.
Akari had just looked at her weirdly but Vanessa dismissed it, walking to her bedroom which led to the current scene.
Akari squinted at the clothes in Vanessa's hand and frowned. "What's that for?" she asked.
Vanessa's devious smile widened, pulling the clothes closer to her chest. "Oh, I'm gonna wear this for Eli today, of course. The last time we met was kinda rushed so I didn't have time to make myself look good. But today… I might as well give him a performance that'll burn into his skull." She held up a sheer bodysuit that left nothing to the imagination, its lace barely covering strategic areas.
"You know, men always crack when you push the right buttons." She tilted her head, her tone suddenly playful with implied malice. "Oh. Did it trigger a memory, dear?"
Akari frowned at the intentional jab, but then her head tilted in confusion, followed by a sudden, sickening realization. Her face scrunched up in disgust. "So I was right," she hissed. "You and Eli have something going on between you."
Vanessa shook her head, her smile turning coyly playing. "Not yet. Not something going on. But we were fucking, yes. And oh, don't misunderstand that, honey. Me and your so-called toyboy? We aren't lovers, or friends, or anything remotely sweet. If you really know him you will know the boy only sees me as a fuck toy, and I see him as a way out."
"Were purely fucking for money. He's going to film me, and I'm going to let him. But who knows," she paused, "there could be more."
Akari's frown deepened. "So you're going to fuck Eli later?"
Vanessa's eyes twinkled as she waved the clothes. "Wasn't that what I said already?"
Akari stared at her blankly for a long moment before bursting into cold, humorless laughter. She pulled out a phone, her gaze chilling as she tapped the screen. A voice audio clip began to play: Vanessa's own voice, clearly admitting to sleeping with Eli, who was still a minor in their world's view.
Vanessa froze, the clothes dropping slightly in her grip.
Akari's face darkened with venomous satisfaction. "You're right. Who knows, there could be more. Maybe some jail time don't you think?"
Vanessa's playful demeanor vanished instantly, her expression tightening into a look of surgical regret. She sighed. "It's sad, but we're actually a good fit to be best of buddies." She also pulled out her phone from her back pocket and tapped a button—a recording of Akari's entire revenge plan played back in crisp clarity. "Whoops," Vanessa murmured. "Looks like we're both idiots."