The Kalosa
The car ride to Phil's house was subdued, the weight of what had happened pressing down on Arion and Rodrigo. Phil, seated in the back, leaned against the window, his pale face and weary eyes reflecting the toll of his captivity.
Rodrigo glanced at Arion as he drove. "What's with the long face? We're heroes, man."
Arion didn't answer. He stared ahead, his thoughts miles away.
When they pulled up to Phil's house, it wasn't the kind of place Rodrigo had expected. The home was neat but modest, a reflection of a family that worked hard for everything they had. The porch light illuminated the worried faces of Phil's parents, standing at the door as if afraid to believe their son was truly home.
As soon as Phil stepped out of the car, his mother rushed to him, wrapping him in a tight hug. "Phil!" she sobbed.
Phil hugged her back weakly. "I'm okay, Mom."
His father, still in his deputy uniform, approached Rodrigo and Arion. "You found him," he said, his voice gruff with emotion. "Thank you. You don't know what this means to us."
Rodrigo handed over the briefcase. "We made sure he got back safe. This is what we agreed on."
The deputy took the briefcase, glancing at his wife, who was still clutching Phil. "We don't care about the money," he said quietly. "We're just glad to have our boy back."
Rodrigo shrugged. "A deal's a deal."
Phil's mother approached them, tears streaming down her face. "Thank you," she said, her voice trembling.
Arion nodded, guilt simmering beneath his composed expression. Rodrigo, however, kept a polite but distant smile, clearly eager to leave.
As they turned to go, Phil called after them. "Thanks," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Arion turned back, meeting the boy's tired eyes. "Take care of yourself, kid."
---
The metallic scent of Auroralis lingered in the air as Arion leaned against the car, his arms crossed, watching Rodrigo count the cash. Phil had been safely handed off to his parents moments ago, their tearful gratitude quickly overshadowed by the fat stack of bills now in Rodrigo's hands.
"Twenty grand," Rodrigo said with a grin, waving the money before tucking it into a leather bag. "Not bad for a day's work."
Arion didn't respond. His thoughts wandered, heavy with doubt. This job had been easier than he expected, but it wasn't the clean break he had hoped for.
"You know, you could at least try to enjoy this," Rodrigo said, slamming the trunk shut.
Arion shot him a glare. "Enjoy what? Handing over a kid we found in a goddamn tunnel?"
"Hey," Rodrigo shrugged, "a job's a job. And you weren't complaining when the cash came in."
Before Arion could retort, a sleek black SUV pulled into the lot, its tinted windows reflecting the neon lights of the surrounding streets. Two men stepped out, their movements precise and deliberate. One was lean and wiry, his sharp features framed by slicked-back hair. The other was larger, with broad shoulders and a permanent scowl etched across his face.
"Victor," Rodrigo muttered under his breath.
Victor, the wiry one, approached first, a smirk playing on his lips. "Rodrigo. Nice work tonight."
The larger man, Frank, stepped forward, his gaze settling on Arion. There was something piercing in his eyes, something that seemed to look straight through him.
"I've heard a lot about you Arion," Frank said, his voice low and commanding.
Arion straightened. "Good things, I hope."
Frank chuckled. "Depends on how you look at it. You've made quite the name for yourself in a short time. But from what I hear, you're always the one people write off—the black sheep, right?"
Arion bristled, but Frank raised a hand. "Don't take it the wrong way. I get it. My brother used to be the golden child too. Perfect grades, perfect life. Me? I was just... the other one. I see a lot of myself in you."
Rodrigo stepped in, sensing Arion's discomfort. "What do you want, Frank?"
Frank smiled. "An opportunity. For both of you."
Victor gestured to the SUV. "Why don't we talk somewhere quieter?"
---
The ride to the Kalosa hideout was tense. Rodrigo sat forward, eager to hear what Frank had to say, while Arion leaned back, watching the city blur past the window. They eventually pulled up to a nondescript building in the industrial district, its facade giving nothing away.
Inside, the space was a stark contrast—dim lighting, polished floors, and the hum of quiet conversations. Men and women moved with purpose, their expressions cold and calculated.
"This," Frank said, spreading his arms, "is where the real work happens."
Victor led them to a private room, where a long table awaited. Frank took a seat at the head, gesturing for Arion and Rodrigo to sit.
"You've got talent," Frank began, his eyes on Arion. "And I don't just mean running a gang. You think ahead, make moves that others wouldn't dare. That's rare."
Rodrigo chuckled. "You're not wrong there."
Frank continued, ignoring Rodrigo. "We could use someone like you in our organization. The Kalosa isn't just a gang—it's a system. We create opportunities, control the chaos. Drugs, weapons, manpower—we're the gears that keep this city turning."
"And what does that mean for us?" Arion asked, his voice steady.
Frank leaned forward. "It means power. Influence. Resources you've only dreamed of. But it also means loyalty. You'd have to leave the small-time games behind. No half-measures."
Rodrigo was already nodding. "I'm in."
Arion's jaw tightened. He didn't trust Frank, but there was a part of him that couldn't ignore the temptation.
"Take some time to think about it," Frank said, standing. "But don't take too long. Opportunities like this don't wait forever."
---
Back at Rodrigo's place, Arion paced the living room while Rodrigo counted the cash again. The apartment was small and cluttered, a mix of fast food wrappers and old magazines covering every surface.
"You should do it," Rodrigo said without looking up.
Arion frowned. "What?"
"Join Frank," Rodrigo said, leaning back on the couch. "You heard him—this is our chance to move up. No more scraping by."
"And what about the crew? You think they'll just roll over for Frank's rules?"
Rodrigo shrugged. "The ones who matter will follow. The rest? Who cares?"
Arion stopped pacing. "You're really okay with selling out like that?"
Rodrigo laughed. "Selling out? Man, this is buying in. You think we're gonna run these streets forever? Frank's offering us a future."
Arion sat down, his head in his hands. He couldn't shake the feeling that stepping into Frank's world would be crossing a line he couldn't come back from.
---
The next day, at Auroralis High, the cafeteria buzzed with activity. Logan, Ethan, Jake, and Rebekah sat together, the tension between them palpable.
"I'm telling you," Logan said, his voice low but urgent. "It was Maria."
Rebekah frowned. "What are you talking about?"
"Who else could have told Damian about Phil?" Logan snapped. "She's the only one who knew!"
"That doesn't make sense," Jake argued. "Why would she do that?"
"Maybe because she's dating him?" Logan shot back.
Rebekah sighed. "You're jumping to conclusions. Maria's not that kind of person."
"Really?" Logan said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "She's new, she doesn't know us, and she's already cozying up to Damian. You do the math."
Rebekah opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, Maria approached the table. She hesitated, sensing the tension. "Am I interrupting?"
"No," Rebekah said quickly, shooting Logan a warning look.
But Logan wasn't about to let it go. "Actually, yeah, you are."
Maria frowned. "What's your problem?"
"My problem," Logan said, standing up, "is that you've been feeding Damian information about us."
Maria's face paled. "What? I haven't—"
"Don't lie," Logan snapped. "He knew exactly where Phil was. How else would he know?"
Maria looked to Rebekah for support, but Rebekah's silence spoke volumes.
"I didn't tell him anything," Maria insisted, her voice trembling.
"Save it," Logan said, grabbing his tray and walking away.
Ethan sighed. "He's just... stressed."
Maria nodded, but the doubt lingered in her eyes.
---
Back at Rodrigo's hideout, the dimly lit basement was alive with chatter. Members of Rodrigo's crew were sprawled across couches, drinking and laughing. At the center of it all was Jace, Rodrigo's second-in-command, who was in the middle of recounting a story about a botched deal that had somehow ended in their favor.
"... and then the guy just trips over his own feet, drops the cash, and bolts!" Jace finished, his laughter echoing off the walls.
The group erupted in laughter, but Arion stayed silent, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.
"You look like you've seen a ghost," Jace said, noticing his expression.
"Just thinking," Arion replied.
"Thinking doesn't pay the bills," Jace quipped, earning a few chuckles from the crew.
"Neither does getting killed," Arion shot back, his tone sharper than he intended.
Jace raised his hands in mock surrender. "Fair point."
Rodrigo entered the room, suitcase in hand. "All right, listen up!" he called, immediately commanding the crew's attention.
He tossed the suitcase onto the table, flipping it open to reveal the stacks of cash. "This is what happens when you get things done. Twenty grand, right here. And that's just the beginning."
Cheers erupted from the crew, but Arion remained unmoved.
"You don't look too happy," Jace said, sidling up to him.
"Just thinking about what this is going to cost us," Arion muttered.
Jace frowned but didn't press further.
---
10 minutes later, Arion sat alone in the corner, nursing a beer as the crew celebrated.
"What's your problem?" Rodrigo asked, dropping into the seat beside him.
"You really don't care, do you?" Arion said. "About what this could lead to. About what it could cost us."
Rodrigo shrugged. "You're always so serious. Relax for once."
"I can't," Arion said. "Not when I know this is going to blow up in our faces."
Rodrigo clapped him on the shoulder. "Then stop overthinking it."
But Arion wasn't so sure.
---
Meanwhile, across town, Maria sat in her dorm room, scrolling through her phone. She'd managed to avoid Damian all day, but the weight of her earlier conversation with the Group still lingered.
Her mother's absence loomed over her, a constant reminder of how alone she felt in this new city. Lola was supposed to arrive soon, but Maria knew better than to rely on her mother for emotional support.
She sighed, glancing at the stack of textbooks on her desk. Tomorrow was another day, another chance to prove herself. But deep down, Maria couldn't shake the feeling that she was just another pawn in a game she didn't understand.
---
Back at the Kalosa hideout, Frank stood in the observation room, watching as Victor prepared for the night's operation.
"They're good," Victor said, referring to Arion and Rodrigo. "Especially Arion. But he's got too much conscience."
Frank smiled. "Conscience is a luxury he'll learn to live without. Everyone does, eventually."
Victor nodded. "And if he doesn't?"
Frank's expression hardened. "Then he's a liability. And we don't keep liabilities."