Anderson and his friends stood before the Red Lotus Lounge, their eyes fixed on the faded red brick exterior. The weathered brickwork had seen better days and gave the building an aged and rustic appearance.
Deep grooves and crevices gave the structure character and charm as if it had been standing for decades.
Despite the building's rough exterior, modern lighting fixtures and a polished steel entrance gave it a sleek and contemporary feel.
As they approached the front of the building, they noticed a large, glowing red lotus flower symbol surrounded by intricate geometric patterns mounted above the main entrance. It was a striking and unique feature that made the club stand out from the surrounding buildings.
Although they couldn't see it from their current position, Anderson and the others knew that Matthew and his men were inside, with their parents restrained in some other room. Time was of the essence, and they couldn't afford to waste a single moment.
Anderson cautiously led the others toward the Red Lotus Lounge's entrance. They approached the door, their hearts pounding, knowing the danger ahead.
There was no guard in front of the building, and the young man slowly turned the handle and pushed the door open, his eyes scanning the room ahead. The entrance was dark, as the lights had been turned off, though far inside the room, they were brightly lit, some of the curtains drawn to block out the sun.
The walls were painted a deep red, with intricate golden designs etched into them. The lighting was subdued, with small lamps casting a warm glow over the room. Anderson's footsteps echoed across the polished marble floor as he made his way toward the main room.
Behind the bar, shelves lined with bottles of every shape and size stretched up toward the ceiling.
The bar's counter itself was made of polished wood, with a gleaming brass rail running along its edge. Even though the club was closed, the air was still infused with the scent of alcohol and perfume.
Anderson could imagine the sound of music and the murmur of voices filling the space, and he wondered what it would be like to experience the Red Lotus Lounge in full swing and in other circumstances.
But for now, it was just him, his friends, and Matthew's men waiting for the meeting to begin.
As they finally arrived at the main room. Anderson and the others looked at the center of the dance floor ahead as they heard someone talking. They froze in their tracks and listened, their hearts pounding with fear as they saw Matthew and his men standing in the center, their weapons ready, all dressed in black suits.
There were 44 of them in total, and each one of them looked like a hardened criminal.
One man caught Anderson's eye, as he had a distinctive facial scar that ran from his left eye down to his jawline. He stood with his arms crossed, a menacing scowl etched on his face.
Another man had a strange physical quirk; his right arm was noticeably shorter than his left. He kept it tucked behind his back, and Anderson could only imagine the damage he had incurred in the past.
A woman stood off to the side, her piercing blue eyes scanning the group. Her blond hair was pulled back in a tight ponytail, and her muscular build suggested she was not to be underestimated.
But what stood out the most were their weapons. They were all armed to the teeth, with knives, swords, and other deadly instruments at the ready. Anderson and the other students exchanged nervous glances.
The young man and his friends knew they most likely didn't have any chance at surviving as the men and women in front of them were much stronger than them and in higher numbers, but they refused to back down, as their family's fate lay on their hands.
They stood their ground, their eyes locked on Matthew and his men.
The room was silent for a few tense moments, and then Matthew spoke.
"Well, well, well. Look who decided to join us," he said, his voice cold and menacing.
Anderson stepped forward, his voice steady but his heart racing. "We're here to take our parents back," he said firmly.
Matthew laughed cruelly. "You're here to take your parents back? That's rich. You think you can just waltz in here and do what the hell you want?"
Anderson stood firm, refusing to be intimidated. The tension in the room was palpable, and they could feel their nerves starting to fray.
"We did nothing to you," Anderson replied. "So, there is no reason for you not to give our parents back safely," the young man added.
"Hahahaha, seriously? You did nothing?"
"We did nothing, and honestly, we are still trying to understand why this charade has been put up," Anderson said, clearly looking into Matthew's eyes. "What is the reason why you are doing all of this?" he asked Matthew.
"I like your attitude, young man, and judging by your look and the fact you are taking charge. I assume you should be Anderson Worthington, am I right?"
"I am; you should be Nathaniel's father," Anderson replied.
"Yes," the man replied with a grin on his face.
"So, again, what is the meaning of this?" Anderson asked again. It wasn't like he didn't trust Erik, but he wanted to know if what he said was really the truth, and he was trying to stall for time.
"It is really simple; you messed up with the wrong people," Matthew said.
"Messed up?" Anderson replied, "We messed up with no one."
At that moment, Matthew's rage surged. "Don't play dumb with me!" he said.
"Play dumb? You kidnapped our families. Do you really think we have time to mess up with you?" Anderson replied.
"Hahahahahahah!" Matthew started to laugh out loud. "I know it, I know. One of you bastards killed Nathaniel!" the Mambas' leader shouted. "Do you know who you messed with? Are you aware of what you have done?"
"We did nothing; thaids had killed your son due to his own negligence and stupidity!" Anderson replied.
Matthew's face contorted in anger as he listened to Anderson's words. His eyes narrowed, and his lips twisted into a snarl as he slammed his fist onto a table before him.
"I wouldn't be so bold if I were you, Anderson." Matthew's voice boomed through the room, his rage palpable. His face had turned a deep shade of red, and the veins in his neck bulged as he struggled to control his anger.
Anderson could see the fury burning in Matthew's eyes, and he knew that he was in trouble. He tried to remain calm, but Matthew's emotions were overwhelming.
"Or what? You kill us?" Anderson said, openly defying the older man. Matthew's eyes blazed with fury as he stood up from his seat, towering over Anderson.
"Oh, I will certainly do that, but here is the thing, I can do much more than just kill you," he roared.
As the situation became tense, the students' anxiety built up as the minutes ticked by. Anderson checked his watch, wondering how much longer the rescue team would need.
Mikey noticed his restlessness and leaned over to whisper in his ear. "They'll be here soon. Just relax and stay calm."
Anderson took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves. He knew they had to be careful, but he also knew he couldn't let rage control him. This whole situation was crazy; even he, who was usually calm and collected, was enraged.
This man kidnapped his father, planned to kill them all, and still had the gall to think he was right with what he was doing.
But then he thought the best thing to do would be to de-escalate the situation and try calming down the man.
For this reason, he looked Matthew in the eyes and then said: "Listen to me, Matthew," Anderson said, his voice low and steady. "I understand that you're hurt. I understand that you're angry. But I promise you; we had nothing to do with your son's death. Blaming us, killing us or our parents won't bring him back."
Matthew's face contorted in anger as he heard those words, and his jaw clenched so tightly that the muscles stood out in sharp relief. He didn't want anyone's pity. He was the Mambas' leader, after all. He pounded his fist on the table in front of him again, causing the glasses and bottles to rattle.
"I won't be so stupid as to believe your lies!" the man replied. "Nathaniel would have never been so crazy as to leave our mansion without a reason! He had been led there by one of you; I'm certain of this. Listen, Anderson, I don't know if you really know who killed him, but I can promise you this: I will find out after today's event." Matthew replied, his voice rising.
Anderson could feel the weight of Matthew's anger bearing down on him.
"So, you kidnapped our family to have some revenge against some kids? It's really unbelievable of you, the Mambas' leader!" Anderson replied, his voice laced with sarcasm.
"So you are aware?!" the man shouted. "Well, that will give us more time. If you know who I am, then you should know today's outcome isn't going to be good for you."
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