Mangé knew what he was doing, his face was brightened by a wyry smile as he walked through the streets with Stel.
There was a little hint of mischievousness in his light blue eyes. His eyes had depth in them, mirroring his very soul, he was a man filled with life and ambition.
But the scariest men were the ones with great ambitions, for they could do anything to achieve their goals, and Stel knew of this fact, because a few hours ago... He became one of those men.
Stel kept stealing little glances at Mangé, reading his facial expressions, his frequent smirks and the overall vibes he was giving off as they walked.
He could tell, Mangé was strangely excited.
He tried to hide it, his actions and words didn't in any way display his excitedness, but Stel could feel it in his guts, Mangé was planning something, he knew exactly how the blonde fool acted when he was up to no good, it was his mischievousness and curiosity that had almost put them both in danger ten years ago.
Loom~
As he arrived at a certain spot with Mangé, it felt like the heat from the hot sun suddenly disappeared.
"Are you sure this is the place?" Stel asked him, his voice heavy, mixed with fragments of anxiety, his guts didn't like the place one bit.
Stel had followed Mangé like a blind dog, he was led away from the market, they headed to a region not too far from the market, it was Bayl street, a notorious street that everyone avoided, a place that was notorious for being the main habitation of the Cyclo gang, it was their territory, they were one of the four main gangs that controlled the entire Backlands.
Mangé chuckled.
"Of course it is, it's a place I put a lot of money into." He inhaled deeply and smiled a bright, enthusiastic smile on his face as he closed his eyes, probably remembering when he first completed the place.
Stel looked at him with a dry expression, wondering when Mangé got the money to pour into anything.
The Mangé I know is...
His thought was interrupted when Mangé declared.
"This is the Orte Pub. My place, come on in." Mangé had finally opened hand gestured at Stel to follow him.
Yeah, I thought he was gonna stand there forever. But more importantly- what the hell is that?
Stel stared blankly, his eyes widened and his body froze in shock, he barely managed to stop his jaw from slacking.
His head was raised upwards, enabling him to get a good view on the sight that graced him and the source of the shadow that loomed over him.
It was something out of the ordinary, a sight that Stel had never seen in this life, it was shocking, a testament to the developed technology on earth, but- it was something that shouldn't exist in the backlands.
Did he say we're going in there? But how? Stel thought to himself, he had gathered his composure and stood straight.
Mangé kept smiling, holding back his laughter, bathing in the amusement he found in Stel's bewilderment.
Stel ignored him, he kept thinking:
What if it's a trap? Should I still go in? That floating building? But I know Mangé, he'd never do that.. Or will he? That guy is unpredictable, I know our meeting definitely isn't just a coincidence. He wondered how he had found him, he made sure to live like a Shadow, quiet and undisturbed.
He pondered quietly on this fact as he looked up to see the floating building once more.
The building was made with pure metal, one that Stel had never seen or heard of in his entire life, the exterior composition of the building was designed with brightly colored lights and foreign materials, something that was so rare in the backlands that it was almost non-existent, it was alien to him.
That's his pub? He walked slowly towards Mangé. His eyes were focused on Mangé.
Mangé shrugged, shaking his head slowly from left to right.
This was fun. Mangé thought to himself, he finally wiped the smile off his face.
But wait- The smile slowly curved back on his lips again as he remembered something, the last surprise he had prepared for Stella.
The building was hovering above them, just a few inches above Stel's head, the distance between his head and the building was like the height from his head to his toe.
How the hell does this crazy contraption even work? What is this level of technology that's making a whole building float?... I think I'll just stop thinking about it, let me just get this stupid meeting over with. He put a hold to his curiosity, reminding himself that he came only to chat and drink with an old friend.
"How do we get in?" Stel asked as Mangé, his voice was no longer carried the anxious tone it carried before, he resolved himself, ready to face whatever surprise Mangé had in store for him.
Mangé grinned mischievously, he raised his head up slightly, locking his eyes with Stel's who was just two steps away from him, no words were said in that brief moment.
Stel was few inches taller than Mangé, a fact that always pissed Mangé off.
Stel raised his brows reflexively, he finally noticed the two vertical lined scar on Mangé's right eye that he didn't seem to detect earlier, he wondered what stupid trouble Mangé had put himself into to get that scar, it was like the scar one would get after being scratched by the claws of a beast, slashes showing obvious sign of a claw mark.
And indeed Stel was right, it was indeed from a beast.
Stel turned his thoughts away from Mangé's scar, judging that it wasn't his concern anyway.
This is the part that I always like, when theyget surprised. Mangé thought to himself, the grin that illuminated his face still present, he shifted his gaze from Stel, to his own waist, glancing at his belt.
What's he doing this time? Stel asked himself as he watched Mangé move his hands to his belt.
"Get ready to be more surprised, Red Nightmare." The grin on Mangé's face widened.
Stel was flabbergasted, hearing the title that he hadn't been called by anybody for over a decade, a title that died the moment he decided to live as a shadow.
Ah, Red Nightmare- Wait a minute, now isn't the time to think about that, what is he-
"I don't have time for this Man-"
Shwaa~
A blinding white light descended on the both of them.
They were both bathed by the warm glow of the white bright light that graced them.
The light seemed to have come from above, Stel raised his head up to confirm it.
Indeed! The light came from the floating building!
A circular opening was seen beneath he building from whence the light came, it was an opening that could fit the entrance of at most three average sized people.
Stel was briefly baffled but he didn't outwardly express his awe, he looked at Mangé's face inquisitively, hoping for some kind of explanation, but Mangé closed his eyes with his arm folded, seemingly waiting for something to happen.
Stel then looked up at the opening that continued to rain down rays of light on them.
The answer to the question that was constantly on Stel's mind 'how do we enter the building?' was answered few seconds after he looked up.
Stel noticed his leg slowly leaving the ground.
"...!" His facial expression said it all. He held his words back as he glanced at Mangé who was comported, showing no signs of panic as they both slowly ascended.
He guessed it was a normal thing for him.
But this technology really is amazing, to enter a building like this... Stel was impressed, the excited smile on his face couldn't be held back as the feeling of defying gravity washed over him.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" Mangé asked Stel as they slowly ascended.
Mangé was annoyed, veins bulged on his forehead, he was mad at the fact that Stel didn't react the way other people reacted when they experienced entering his bar for the first time.
Instead of the shock he imagined on Stel's face, Stel was smiling. It pissed him off a little.
Stel turned to look at Mangé who was annoyingly growling at him.
He scoffed.
What's this fool saying?
Did he just laugh and ignore me? Mangé asked himself.
This bast- No. Mangé shook his head, scattering the thoughts he almost conceived.
"We're here." Mangé declares.
They finally arrived inside the building, slowly making their way towards a door.
"Finally. Now, let's see this pub that you're so excited about." Stel followed behind Mangé, they walked through the door that led to a narrow hallway that seemed like the entrance to the pub.
"Yes, finally." Mangé said non-chalantly.
They finally reached the bar.
What the hell? This place-
The atmosphere of the room was dark, the silence in the room was very loud.
As Soon as Mangé stepped into the room all the noise, laughter, quarrels and arguments seized. No single man dared to utter a word.
The dark blue light coming from the bulbs in the room was low, giving the room a dark feeling.
It was just like a typical pub. With chairs, tables and the bar.
On all the chairs present in the pub, men were sat down, their eyes all focused on the two figures that slowly walked into the room.
The air in the room was different.
...!
Stel was disturbed by the air, he looked around and noticed that It wasn't just because of the smoke or the alcohol, it was something different.
What kind of pub is this? They're smoking inside the room and the room is dark, I can't see clearly, and this feeling... Where the hell did this bastard Mangé bring me?
Stel halted his movement, he paused where he stood, his guts warning and blaring at him, sending him signs to get out of the building.
He Ignored the warnings his gut gave him, he slid his hands into the pocket of his jacket and raised his head to look at the back of Mangé who was two steps ahead of him.
But then...
Goosebumps appeared all over his hands and legs, he could no longer ignore the signs his body was giving him.
"Mangé. The air here?" He asked Mangé, his tone was wary, his voice was low, barely audible.
Mangé halted his motion.
"Ahh~" He exclaimed with a playful tone.
"You noticed?" He turned his neck slightly to look back at Stel.
Stel's eyes widened. What does he mean? Could it be?
Stel was already on high alert, he turned his attention from Mangé as he slowly shifted his neck from left to right anxiously, in a bid to scan the room.
Shit, I'm fucked. He thought to himself as he glanced around.
All the men in the bar who were drinking were dangerous, they emitted strange invisible energies that tingled Stel's skin, their wary and bloodshot eyes were all focused Stel.
"Is that him?" He heard one man ask another.
"I think it is..."
"The Redish Nightmare."