The rapid beating of Erik's heart could be heard in his chest as he ran into the tight alleyway in an effort to hide from Simone. He was worn out, had practically no mana left, and was covered in wounds.
As he moved gingerly along the narrow lane, the sound of his footfall reverberated off the brick walls on either side.
As he turned the corner, however, he was confronted by a group of thugs dressed in the distinctive garb of the Crystal Cross Gang. Erik's eyes widened in alarm as panic spread through his mind.
When he realized who Erik was, a goon with a scarred face twisted into a sneering grin of malice. He nudged his black-haired comrade and nodded in Erik's direction. "Isn't that Erik, the guy the boss wants?"
The black-haired thug's eyes widened with recognition as he studied Erik from afar. "You're right," he confirmed, his voice filled with a mix of surprise and anticipation. "That's him, no doubt about it. The one with the price on his head."
Another one was there, and his tattooed scalp shone brightly beneath the dim neon lights.
He crossed his arms and stood in the middle of the road. He uttered with a drawl, "Well, well," he drawled, a wicked smirk playing on his lips. "It looks like our luck just took a turn for the better. The boss will be pleased when we bring him in."
The scarred thug cracked his knuckles with a sadistic glint in his eyes. "I can't wait to see the fear in his eyes," he boasted, relishing the thought of Erik's impending capture. "He's been giving the boss trouble for far too long."
The thug with black hair kept his eyes fixed on Erik the entire time, and his voice was filled with resolve. Almost immediately, Erik sensed that they recognized him.
"Let's not waste any time," he proclaimed, his eyes increasingly narrowing and intense. "We catch him, we collect the reward, and we have a nice life."
Once they had Erik in their sights, their desire for power and the possibility of a substantial payoff drove them ahead. The hunt was on, and they were determined to fulfill their mission, no matter the cost.
They drew closer, pressuring Erik to slow down and surrounding him with a menacing look in their eyes as they closed the gap between them.
Erik managed to maintain his composure despite realizing he had gotten into a scenario significantly more dire than Simone's. The Crystal Cross gang members went in front of him.
Erik was paying close attention to them. The first thug, a hulking figure with a shaved head and a big scar running across his left cheek, towered over the others and was the most intimidating of the group.
It was evident from his imposing physique and demeanor that he was the one in charge of maintaining order within the group. His muscular neck was covered in a jagged tattoo that snaked along its length, giving the impression that his past was filled with conflict.
The second thug had a slender and wiry build, giving him the appearance of being more agile than he actually was. His eyes were a brilliant shade of green, and they gave off the impression of being intelligent as well as malicious.
In addition to having exceptionally dark black hair. A complex web of tattoos adorned his arms, symbolizing his affiliation with the Crystal Cross Gang. His fast, erratic movements gave the impression that he was a predator about to pounce.
The third thug, who was smaller in size but just as threatening, had his head shaved and elaborate tattoo patterns engraved onto his scalp. He was calmly sizing the situation with a hungry glare as his beady eyes darted around the alley.
Erik's heart was racing as he came to the conclusion that he was cornered with these vicious people, just as the faint light threw frightening shadows on the alley walls.
His dread was exacerbated, and the stakes of his escape were raised as a result of the individual physical qualities of each of the thugs, which served as a continual reminder of the dangerous predicament he found himself in.
The black-haired guy scowled, and his eyes narrowed when he recognized Erik. "Well, well, well, look who we have here," he said. "Look who we have here."
Erik's muscles tensed as he assessed his surroundings, searching for any possible means of escape. "What do you want from me?" he demanded, his voice laced with defiance.
The scarred-faced thug stepped forward, a malicious smirk spreading across his lips. "Oh, we just want a little chat," he taunted, his voice dripping with malice. "What are you doing here all alone so late at night?"
Erik's eyes darted between the three thugs, his mind racing for a way out. "It is not your business. Now, let me pass," he insisted, his voice tinged with rage.
The scalp-tattooed guy gave a low chuckle while his arms crossed over his chest. "This is not the right way to talk to someone older than you, am I right?" he sneered. "Oh! You look awfully familiar," the thug added. "Isn't it?"
"Yeah, yeah," the scarred thug said. "I've seen him before. Isn't he Erik Romano?"
"Yeah! Erik Romano, the awakener!" one of the others replied.
An increased amount of adrenaline coursed through Erik's veins, which caused his jaw to clench. It was obvious that these guys were just messing around with him, but they were also aware of who he was.
He shot back, his tone becoming increasingly agitated as he asked, "If you know who I am, why are you wasting my time this way?" He shot back; his voice tinged with anger. "I am fully aware that your boss, whoever he may be, is looking for me," he said.
The thug with jet-black hair moved closer to the young man, flashing a malicious grin from ear to ear.
"If you know, then just stay put and let us do our job; else, you will feel pain," he snarled. "Besides, it's not like you can get out of here even if you try."
In normal circumstances, Erik would be able to escape, as he analyzed the thugs and found that they were awfully weak compared to Simone's men. However, what they said was true due to his condition, wounds, and lack of energy. He could not escape.
However, Erik kept his hands balled up at his sides, and a flash of resolve could be seen in his eyes. He questioned, "Let's see then," his tone of voice contained an air of defiance.
After hearing the reply, the level of tension in the lane reached its highest point. Erik was getting ready to make his audacious escape while the thugs who were after him were drawing closer, motivated by the desire to get rich.
Erik's motions were propelled by adrenaline and resolve as he threw a flurry of swings in an attempt to free himself as quickly as possible. The goons took direct hits from his attacks, which landed on their arms.
However, tired, with no mana, outnumbered, and outmatched, the thugs quickly regrouped, retaliating with a barrage of forceful blows. They couldn't kill the kid.
The scarred-faced thug blocked Erik's attacks, countering with a swift knee to Erik's midsection, momentarily winding him. Seizing the opportunity, the bald thug with tattoos delivered a powerful punch, sending Erik sprawling to the ground.
Determined to escape, Erik scrambled to his feet, his mind racing for a way out. The young man was, though, forced to stop in his tracks when the thug with the dark hair swept his leg before he could make any kind of move.
The goons surrounded and overpowered him before pinning him to the ground with a hold similar to a vice.
Erik struggled to break free from their grasp. However, his efforts were for naught because the thugs' strength and coordination were simply too much for him to overcome.
The scarred-faced thug sneered, his grip on Erik's arm tightening. "Give it up, boy," he taunted, his voice filled with hostility. "You're no match for us."
The thug with the bald head and the skull tattoo smirked as he took pleasure in Erik's defeat and savored his money prize. "You thought you could outrun the Crystal Cross Gang?" he sneered, his voice laced with sadistic satisfaction. "We always get our targets."
Even though he was exhausted and badly injured, Erik's spirit did not break. "LET ME GO, MOTHER FUCKERS!" he declared, his voice tinged with defiance. "I'LL KILL YOU ALL!"
The thug with the black hair scoffed, his face displaying a look of complete disdain. "Keep dreaming," he jeered, tightening his grasp on Erik's collar. "We own you as of right now."
Even as Erik fought against their grasp, he could not shake the sickening feeling of defeat. After being cornered and encircled, it appeared like he would not be able to make his escape. He thrashed and wriggled, but the Crystal Cross gang members could hold him securely to the ground, rendering his efforts fruitless in the face of their strength.
Panic surged through Erik's body, his mind racing for an escape plan. The gang members laughed, their taunts and jeers echoing off the walls, fueling his fear. He could see the hunger for violence in their eyes; their intentions were clear.
Erik's thoughts were racing as they held him down, and their weight was crushing against him.
One of the thugs joked with the others, "Hahahahaha, what did we tell you?"
Erik took stock of his surroundings while frantically looking for any sign of a possible escape.
The scarred-faced thug smirked triumphantly, his eyes narrowing with sadistic pleasure. "You thought you could escape us, huh?" He taunted, his voice laced with contempt. "Well, look where that got you now."
The bald thug with tattoos sneered, tightening his grip on Erik's arm. "Seems like you're not as tough as you thought," he jeered, relishing in their capture.
"Your little games are over now, and it is time for you to pay, having wasted our time!" The expression of frustration on Erik's face was clearly visible as he searched his mind for an escape route.
At precisely that time, Simone made his way down the alley and into the building.
"Fuck.." was all he could say.
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