Chapter 12

"It's that warehouse, right?"

It's already six o'clock. The sun had already set and the moon is already starting to peek. They were casually standing on the roadside, looking like normal civilians.

Aoi had his eyes fixed on the warehouse across him. The professor had sent them the exact location of the person they were supposed to look after. It was an old run-down warehouse a few kilometers away from the university. As far as he can remember, that warehouse is owned by a previous private company that sells goods around the area.

'Why is a professor in a place like that? What is Mr. Gibo doing?', he thought.

Unbeknownst to them, inside that very warehouse that they are looking at, their class rep is fighting for his life.

"Can you feel it? The fire is so hot! It's so hot it feels so good!" Mr. Gibo's laughter echoed throughout the room.

The fire had started to crawl on the floor, slowly approaching him. In a situation like this, many people would start panicking and crying for help, but for Chess, waking up in an unfamiliar dark room is scarier than being toasted alive.

He remained clam as he tried to wriggle his hands behind. Time seemed to run slower than usual.

Earlier, when he was mistaken as shivering from fear, Mr. Gibo didn't notice that he'd been trying to stretch the rope in his hands. He had squirmed repeatedly, twisting and turning his wrists back and forth to release some tension, causing the knot to loosen a bit.

Even if it was just a tiny bit, it was enough for Chess. Currently, while Mr. Gibo is awaiting his death, Chess had already started to pull his right hand from the rope. His other wrist, the left one, had already started to bruise but to be able to completely free himself, he had to free one of his hands first.

He chose his dominant hand, the right one. Because even if he ends up bruising his left wrist to the point that it becomes incapable, as long as his right hand is okay, he would be able to escape.

While he was busy removing the rope, the laughter of Mr. Gibo had suddenly turned into cries of pain.

Chess lifted his lids and glanced at the professor who was already being eaten by the flames. He was just so close, just a few seconds more and he would be the next one burning.

"Come! Come with me!" Mr. Gibo, even when being burned alive, is still so wicked.

He stepped on his foot and had settled his bloodshot eyes on Chess. Then he slowly spread his burning arms wide open, prepared to give Chess a big, warm hug.

But who would accept a hug like that?

To avoid the impending death, Chess, even with his tied feet, kicked hard on the floor causing the chair he's sitting at to fall. The chair was made of timber, so when he fell on the ground, the chair couldn't take the impact and had broken down to pieces.

That made his escape even easier.

With one last pull, his right hand had finally been freed from the knot. His left hand came next, numb from the bruise it got.

"Aaaaargh! Where are you?! Come! Come with me!" Mr. Gibo had been burnt to the point where he can no longer see.

Chess didn't waste any second and hurriedly stood on his feet. He hopped with all his might towards the corner of the room, before bending his back to pick one of the shattered glass up. He's also covered with gas, so he's got not much time left before the fire envelopes him.

The room was closed, the windows had been covered by wood planks it's impossible to escape in this short amount of time.

Chess sat on the floor and used the shattered glass he picked to remove the knot on his feet. It took him at least 3 seconds. The fire had finally reached him, burning the tip of his shoes. He immediately reacted and removed his shoes before removing his top and pants next, tossing it to the fire, leaving him with only his boxers on.

It was hard to believe that a frail looking man like him had a perfectly toned body. His body is not muscular, but it wasn't thin either. It was just enough to be called fit.

After removing his clothes, he then removed the tape sealing his lips and approached the sealed window. He gathered up all of his remaining strength and tried pushed the wood plank aside, but it was useless. The wood doesn't even budge a bit.

"Do you think someone is inside?"

"Well, I guess? Isn't Mr. Gibo located here?"

"Is that so? Then do we have to save him?"

Who is it?

Someone's talking outside…

Chess's ears perked up, but he didn't just mindlessly shout for help. He was still cautious even at a time like this.

He held his breath and placed his ears on the wood plank covering the window. He eavesdropped on the conversation of the two people outside, weighing if they are trustworthy or not. The voices were muffled, so he didn't realize that it was Aoi and Kane.

"Do we really have to save that geezer?" Aoi had asked the nth time.

Kane heaved a heavy sigh before putting his cigarette out. He then stretched his hand and had snatched the thing that Aoi was holding. He then stepped closer on to the sealed window, preparing to use the thing in his hand.

"We just have to take a look… we don't have to save him."

After saying that, he raised his arm holding the axe and had bashed on to the wood planks. Chess, who was on the other side, was almost hit by the sharp edge of the axe. It was all thanks to his luck that he was still alive.

"If we only have to take a look, then can I go first? I still have to find Ches---" Aoi had left his words hanging when he saw a glimpse of a familiar person on the other side of the window.

Kane was busy on wrecking the planks, so he didn't have the chance to notice the presence of Chess who was just standing right across him. He continued to bash his axe, oblivious of Chess's stare.

"Hm? What is it? You suddenly turned quiet---"

"Chess!"

Hm? Chess who? Kane had asked in his head. He also stopped his actions just to turn around and glance at Aoi when his eyes spotted the person across him. His lips slowly parted as he lowered the axe in his hands.

"Class rep?" he mumbled while looking at Chess.

What is he doing here?

Before he could even ask, Chess had already climbed on to the now open window. He climbed so flawlessly that no one commented on his almost naked look. He also landed swiftly on the ground before lifting his eyes to look at Aoi and Kane. Then he flashed his famous innocent smile.

"You guys are here." He stated.

Kane had furrowed his brows upon hearing what he said.

In normal circumstances, shouldn't he be crying? He just experienced a near-death situation, so how can he display such an innocent smile like nothing happened? Besides… where's his clothes?

But before anything else, they had to get away from the burning warehouse first. Chess had already started walking away when Aoi and Kane followed. They watched him from behind, examining his state. He looks ripped.

"What were you doing inside?" Aoi was the first to approach him.

Chess's smile turned into a problematic one as he tilted his head to look at Aoi. He then raised his right hand and scratched the back of his head.

"Well… I think I was kidnapped."

He wasn't even sure?!

Kane's head had started to hurt. Is this person really dumb, or is he just acting it? But whenever he looks at those eyes, all he could see is emptiness. He can't tell what he's thinking, he can't even tell if he's lying. Who really is this kid?

"Then, are you the only person inside? Have you seen a person named Gibo?" Aoi continued on with the questioning.

He is, after all, sent here to watch after that professor Gibo. Finding Chess here is just like a bonus, it was unexpected. He was just thinking on where to find him earlier, and now he's here.

Aoi watched Chess's expression. His problematic smile had turned into an awkward one. He also noticed how Chess moved his right hand to caress his left wrist. It looks like he had really been kidnapped and was obviously tied securely. But, by who?

"Actually… It was him who kidnapped me."

"What?" Kane and Aoi asked in chorus.

Chess just caressed his wrist and said nothing more.

They were supposed to watch after that professor to prevent him from doing anything, but now… it looks like they were already late.

"Where is he, then?" Kane asked.

Chess lifted his forefinger and pointed towards the burning warehouse, silently telling them that he's already dead.

The three of them fell into a minute of silence before Kane spoke up.

"Use this first… We can't have you walking around the street looking like that."

Kane removed his black trench coat and offered it to Chess. Our class rep gladly accepted and had worn it while walking. He closed all the buttons, completely hiding his naked body inside. Kane was taller and bigger than him, so his trench coat looked like a dress.

Chess lost his cap and glasses when he was kidnapped.

Now that all of his face is exposed, people can't help but to turn and look at him, not minding the dirt on his face. Locks of his silky black hair had fallen on his forehead, completely hiding his eyes.

Everyone thought he was pretty… even Kane agreed on that.

But as pretty as he is, Kane can't deny the fact that this kid... is a dangerous one.