The 41st Floor (1)

Meanwhile, after several floors and several close encounter with death, Jayce finally reached the last floor. The 41st floor.

He came here after beating the hell out of the thugs he met for each floor.

It was rumored that the main group who funded this Failed Mega City had an obsession with the number 41st, that is why this building is the first thing on the list of their project. Unfortunately the planned Mega City failed to continue.

Now, Jayce is stepping at the very floor which should've been the grandest of them all. But only an empty floor and the starless sky greeted him.

'This should be the place, but not any shadow of people getting tortured can be whiffed here?'

Jayce murmured.

Now he doubts that some prankster probably did the call and he is just overthinking it. He decides to survey the area first before leaving. And to his surprise, when he reached the left most corner around the same floor...

There, some thugs swiftly made their appearance. Yet surprisingly, their countenance is rather elegant and they greeted Jayce with a bow.

"Our esteemed guest, Sir Jayce the Tiger. We are pleased to have you today. Could you please wait here so we could inform his magnificence about your presence. We have been waiting for you."

The two thugs were now branded in a different light in the eyes of Jayce who is familiar with aristocratic greetings. He even pinched his cheeks to verify if he is just hallucinating or not.

"Did I come to a wrong place?"

Jayce politely asked.

Although their clothes were the same with the thugs he met and pummeled, their mannerism, their way of speaking...

To describe it in one word would be refined to say. In which after Jayce's query did the two thugs oh so graciously replied with good conduct and another bow.

"You are right, Sir Jayce."

That made Jayce feel weird and at the same time, quite intrigue who this magnificence they were talking about. He had a hunch that it must be from a royalty of some sort, judging how these two thugs acted.

So, Jayce patiently waited.

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.

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...

At the room where Fiel Bancroft was once tied up, bruised and beaten, he reappeared seated at a red couch with golden laces. The previously damaged clothes were now replaced with a new set of fine black suit and in front of him is the leader of the hooligans smiling from ear to ear.

"Very well done! Scorpion."

The Devil is happy as he exclaimed. He handed Fiel his phone along with his other bank card and wallet when suddenly, one of the devil's goons interrupted them.

"Reporting to his magnificence! The guest that you were waiting is now outside looking for Sir Fiel."

"Just when we are done. Perfect! Did you hear that Scorpion?"

The devil revealed a slight gleam in his eyes as he stared back at Fiel. But contrary to the ear to ear smile, Fiel seemed disgruntled and had a very complicated look in his face, his frown had several curves tracing his wrinkled forehead.

"Just remember this, you damned Devil! You made me do this."

Fiel loudly shouted in anger and in his quaky voice ran a deep resentment that stemmed from a past which Fiel vaguely recalled upon shouting.

Yet the Devil is unperturbed as he slowly raise the glass, drinks a mouthful of red wine.

Under the roofless room with a starless sky and a moon so bright, his shadow's figure grew larger as if to grasp the entire room in darkness.

"Shh Shhh Scor-piiiyooon... Its okay, alright?"

The Devil's voice were too soft as if to cradle a new born baby, but the mockery and sarcasm hinted at his 'Shh' hinted an insult to Fiel.

Fiel felt enraged, he held his fist tightly.

"You can have as many excuses you want. I'll allow it. But, don't you think it is rude to make the guest waiting?"

Like adding salt to the wound, the devil went as far to further humiliate him with another play of words.

Fiel could only helplessly sigh and didn't made a sound after listening to the devil's smooth words.

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.

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...

As for Jayce...

he spent a couple of minutes standing dumb, waiting outside the room. Occasionally, he would stare back at the thugs who are guarding the entrance with a menacing look.

After getting bored out of his wits, he rummaged his pockets to find a cigarette. He had forgotten that after the slugfest he made and running to ascend each floor, he hasn't took a rest yet.

And what would be the best way to relax other than taking a puff of smoke? Jayce took one from his pocket and immediately lights it up with his lighter. Instantly, the smoke assaulted his nostrils and his breathing calms down.

Memories of brutal violence flashed back as the cigarette in his hand slowly died down. Jayce could not really enjoy this moment of peace and silence without getting bothered by his guilt.

Luckily for Jayce, it did not took him long before his boredom were alleviated because he heard the doors entrance screeching as it opens. Followed by a thud, he sees a thug coming out from the door.

"Sir Jayce, his magnificence is ready to welcome you. Come on in."

The tone used were so polite that Jayce mistook it one more time, it felt like a door boy from a luxurious hotel suddenly informed him to get inside.

Jayce scratched his head multiple times while also tossing his cigarette away. It is the only light that sparked the empty floor. As if an omen of light being extinguished by the dark.

Beneath that starless sky, under the bright moon, Jayce's steps were light. There is a lot of things clapping inside his mind as his hand grips the door knob, quite worried and hesitant of what he might see beyond the door's entrance.