NOVPUB
Chapter 2: New life
The old basketballurt loomed ahead, chain-link fences casting latticed shadows in the evening light. Alex's heart hammered in his chest as he approached Kevin and two other men, each wearing hoodies and red bandanas tied around their hands - the mark of the Phoenix gang.
'What am I getting myself into?' Alex thought, his palms sweating as he drew closer.
"You're finally here," Kevin said, a hint of anticipation in his voice.
"Who're these guys, Kevin?" Alex asked, trying to keep the tremor out of his voice.
"Hush," Kevin cut him off sharply. "Now that you're joining us, I'm rpion to you."
Alex felt his world tilt slightly. This wasn't the Kevin he knew - the guy who'd joke around and get on his nerves every chance he got. This was someone else entirely, someone dangerous.
"Meet Ma," Kevin gestured to one of the men. "He'll be your new handler. And the other guy in black is Jas, a close friend in the business."
"Nice to meet you both," Alex said, extending his hand in greeting.
The two men looked at his outstretched hand, then at each other, before bursting into laughter that echoed across the emptyurt.
"AYOO! Are you sure this guy will be able to handle the job?" Ma wheezed between laughs.
"Yeah! I don't think he'll last long in this business," Jas agreed, wiping tears from his eyes.
"Yeah, I trust him," Kevin said, his voice suddenly deadly serious. The laughter died instantly.
"Alright, if you say so, boss," they both muttered.
"Weme, man," they said in unison, finally accepting Alex with a dap.
Ma reached into his jacket and pulled out a sleek black phone, passing it to Alex.
"Your lifeline," he said, his earlier amusement replaced by professionalldness.
When you get a message, it'll be from a different number each time. You'll know it's me because I'll always sign as Shadow– Wraith.
A thin smile crossed his face. "Dramatic, I know, but it keeps theps guessing. Never save the numbers, never reply to old ones. Got it?"
Alex turned the phone over in his hands, its weight somehow heavier than it should be.
'This is really happening,' he thought.
His grip tightened. There was no turning back now.
"One more thing," Ma added.
"Every message will have a verificationde at the start. If it doesn't begin with Phoenix–rises, don't trust it. Could beps,uld be rivals. Either way, you ignore it."
"Alright,now that you've familiar with your handler, We can all have a goodnight" Said Kevin..
"Get ready to work your ass off" Kevin said with his normal jovial and annoying Kevin way
"Alright, now that you're familiar with your handler, we can all have a good night," Kevin said, clapping his hands together.
Then, with his usual jovial—and annoyingly Kevin—way, he grinned. "Get ready to work your ass off."
Ofurse, he made it sound almost fun. Almost.
'Alex sighed. 'This is going to be hell, isn't it?' he thought,
Without another word, he turned and went straight home
---
Just another normal day of working in the store, Alex stillntemplating whether he should take the gig and just quit.
'It pays more than I make here, and Iris really needs this,' he thought, his mind still torn.
'This is the only opportunity I'll get to change my mind because if I go through with this, there's noming back.'
But deep down, he knew the decision had already been made.
'No, I made up my mind the moment I went to theurt.'
As his shift for the day ended, Alex took a deep breath and approached Mr. Carson, who wasunting the cash in the register.
"I need to talk to you," Alex said.
Mr. Carson glanced up. "What's on your mind?"
Alex hesitated for a moment, then said firmly, "I'm quitting."
Mr. Carson blinked, clearly caught off guard. "Wait... what? You're serious?"
"Yeah," Alex nodded. "I got another opportunity. It pays more, and I need to take it."
Mr. Carson sighed, rubbing his forehead. "Well, damn... Didn't see thisming." He looked at Alex for a moment.
"Are you sure about this?" Mr. Carson asked,ncern etched deep in his weathered face. 𝓷ℴ𝓿𝓹𝓾𝒷.𝓬𝓸𝓂
"Whatever you're doing... I hope it isn't illegal." Concerned suspicion clouded Mr. Carson face as he studied Alex, hoping—praying—that he'd open up. That he'd admit to whatever it was before it was too late.
If heuld just get through to him now, maybe—just maybe—heuld stop him while he still had the chance.
Snds stretched, heavy with unspoken truths.
"Alex... just tell me," he urged, his voice quieter now, almost pleading. "Before it gets worse."
Alex's chest tightened with guilt. 'If you only knew, Mr. Carson.' Alex thoughts were eating him up. The old man had been good to him, flexible with his schedule when Iris needed him, always asking how she was doing.
"I'm sure," Alex managed, though the words tasted bitter. "I have to do this."
"Too bad," Mr. Carson sighed. "I'll miss you. Just... stay safe, okay?"
Alex'snscience was already getting the best of him. Heuld not only see how much Mr. Carson cared—heuld feel it.
"Why does this make it harder?"
"Bye, Mr. Carson," Alex said quickly.
He turned and left the store before heuld unsciously spill the truth.
Alex was barely halfway home when his new phone buzzed in his pocket. His heart skipped a beat as he checked the message:
"Phoenix-rises
Meet me at the old basketballurt now. First run.
-Shadow Wraith"
'This is happening faster than I expected,' Alex thought, his palms already growing sweaty. He turned around, retracing his steps to theurt.
Ma was alone this time, a shadow among shadows beneath the aging flood lights. He held a small paper bag in his hands.
"First rule," Ma said without preamble, "you don't look inside. Ever." He gestured to the bag. "Snd rule, you don't ask questions about what's inside. Got it?"
Alex nodded, trying to keep his voice steady. "Got it."
"Good. Now, this is an easy one. Perfect for beginners." Ma's voice took on an almost teacher-like tone. "There's anvenience store on 7th and Pine - Pete's Market. Behind it is a blue dumpster. Guy in a red cap will be waiting. He'll say 'Nice weather we're having.' You say 'Could use some rain.' Nothing else. No small talk, no lingering."
'Memorize it all. Don't mess this up.' Alex repeated the details in his head.
"How much?" Alex asked, immediately wondering if thatunted as asking about thentents.
Ma smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Two hundred. Cash on delivery. Not bad for fifteen minutes of work, right?"
Alex thought of Iris's medical bills. 'Two hundred wouldver her pain meds for the week.'
"Time limit?" Alex asked, trying to sound professional.
"Thirty minutes," Ma replied, checking his watch. "If you're not there by 9:30, don't bother showing up. And Alex?" His voice hardened. "Don't make me regret trusting rpion's judgment about you."
Alex took the bag, surprised by how light it was. 'Don't think about what's inside. Don't think about what you're bming.'
"One last thing," Ma called as Alex turned to leave. "Take different routes there and back. If you feel like someone's following you, they probably are. Trust your instincts."
Alex nodded one final time before disappearing into the night, the paper bag clutched tightly in his hand. His first delivery. His first step down a road he knew heuldn't turn back from.
'For Iris,' he reminded himself. 'Everything is for Iris.'
