Rise of the Feline Society Chapter 7 - Making a Deal
After about two minutes William arrived at the front gate of his school. Usually, he would be exhausted but ever since the technological cat skin had combined with him, he never felt better. There was a crowd of high schoolers in front of the school like there always was because people wanted to talk to their friends before class. The time was 7:50pm. All William wanted to do was find his best friend Jack, so that's what he did. He immediately entered the crowd of kids looking around for Jack who usually waited for him. After about twenty seconds he and Jack made eye contact. Jack was sitting on the wall which was five feet high and immediately jumped down walking toward William.
"You look like you got into a fight," Jack said noticing the dirt and a small rip on William's new clothes.
William looked at his hoodie that he had on, noticing the dirtiness and began to pat the dirt off.
"Did…you get into a fight William?" Jack asked worrying for his best friend.
William paused before responding, "No."
Jack's eyebrow raised up at William's hesitation.
William was not a good liar and he knew that. He also knew that if he couldn't trust his best friend he could never trust anybody.
"Ok, ok, I did," William admitted as he proceeded to tell his friend everything that had happened in the alleyway.
"So, you saved Penny Gardner from getting beaten up or taken away?" Jack asked confirming what William just said. "That can explain the condition of your clothes."
William nodded his head.
"Didn't you like her or something?" Jack asked a little too loud for William's liking.
"Sh!" William hushed Jack which caused a few people to look. "I don't need rumors at this point and time."
"Ok, sorry." Jack apologized. "We should probably go it's 7:55 now.
"Yeah," William agreed as the pair began to walk.
After he entered the school grounds a notification sound went off in his head which sounded like a single ding.
"Daily Quest Complete," The male robotic voice said. "Help someone out from danger. 5 exp. 45 of 100 exp. This quest will reset at midnight."
Well, that's good William thought. I still got to worry about my energy reserves.
William and Jack continued to talk but it was about minority things like the weather or what club they'll be joining. They finally got to the classroom taking their seats when the school bell rang throughout the halls. Immediately another notification appeared.
"An hour has passed, minus 5 energy," the system said. "From now on the system will not update you and 1 energy will be deducted every 12 minutes equaling 5 energy every hour. Energy reserve: 38 of 100."
Oh, crap William thought. I'm not good at math but by the time it hits lunch I'll only have 18 energy left.
"Ok class," His middle-aged teacher named Mrs. Bell said. "Let's start doing math."
William immediately placed his head on his desk. William knew that in a Tier D city school was useless unless you were a genius. The only way to get out of a tier D city was either being a genius or getting lucky enough to be sponsored for the Animorph serum which pretty much can only be done through a gang or a corporation. He was definitely no genius and scouts for the corporations were rare so going to school for him was a waste of time in his opinion.
He was just about to drift when a sudden heart dropping realization hit him. His head immediately shot up like a rocket.
"O crap," William muttered. "No, no, no, no, no, no."
William had completely forgot about one crucial variable. There was a member of the Shadowfire gang at his school. The only way that he was able to get into the gang was from a recommendation from his upper-class man. He was a Junior and Willaim was a sophomore. He definitely should know about the situation of the Shadowfire since they would practically have put a bounty on his head.
I have to talk to him William thought nervously. Try to convince him not to report him if he hasn't already.
For the next couple hours William stared at the clock waiting for it to hit noon as his teacher Mrs. Bell, began to talk about many things even veering off track to tell a story or two. He also watched as his energy bar was dropping 1 energy every 12 minutes. Eventually his energy hit 18 just as the bell rang for lunch. As soon as the bell rung William practically ran out of the room leaving Jack behind wondering why William was in a rush.
"Well," Jack muttered to himself. "I hope to see you in the cafeteria after your done whatever you're doing.
William was walking at a very fast pace down the school hallways heading to where this Shadowfire gang member liked to hang out during his hour-long lunch period which was the library. His name was Felix Gardner. He was the older brother to Penny Gardner and was the reason why William didn't have the heart to ask Penny out fearing what a member of the Shadowfire gang would do. Based on how Felix acted and how all of his clothes were way nicer than they should be, William suspected that he was high ranking member of the gang. The other option was that he had a rich parent and he just joined the gang for fun.
He entered the library and slowed his pace. The library was surprisingly big for a high school but it stayed open on the weekend to the public. There was a side entrance where a parking lot was and they would just lock the door that he came in from on the weekend. He looked down aisle after aisle until he was at the back of the library and there was Felix. He was sitting at a table just looking out the window at the scenery.
Felix turned his head as soon as William had approached him. He was a handsome man with short jet-black hair that swept to the side. He had a sharp jawline and a smile that can make any girl blush. His body was fit and toned. He was everything William wished he was. He was wearing a blue jean-jacket over a white shirt and a pair of blue jeans along with a pair of black shoes. His clothes displayed a logo that you couldn't find in Emberlyn.
"Well," Felix said shifting his seating position so he faced William. "I suspected you'll come here sooner or later. I didn't know you'll be here this fast though since I've only been sitting for thirty seconds." Felix smiled in a way that made William feel very nervous.
"So…I…I," William was trying to say something but he was so nervous that he was stuttering.
"Yes," Felix said. "Amos is very mad at you Will. I mean you stole from him after all."
"I didn't steal from him," William immediately said trying to defend himself. "There is misunderstanding. I was delivering when I got ambushed and…"
Felix raised a hand stopping William from saying more. "It doesn't really matter right now. Do you really think Amos is just going to let you off with a simple beating if you give him back the briefcase?"
William stood there thinking about what Felix just said but the obvious answer was no. Amos was not the forgiving type of person.
"No," William stated. "He probably won't. He doesn't seem like a forgiving person"
Felix nodded his head satisfied at the answer William gave. "And you're wondering if I have turned you in or not."
William's stomach dropped waiting in agony at what Felix was going to say next.
"No, Will," Felix finally said after a brief moment of pause. "I have not and I will not report you to Amos."
William sighed in his heart. He was relieved that Felix didn't turn him in. A thought did cross his mind though, why didn't Felix just turn him in. Wouldn't it be a risk if the Shadowfire found William and they also found out that Felix had withheld information. After all, he did have orange hair. Luckily for him a lot of gang member had orange hair especially in the Shadowfire where fire was orange. That's when William's heart began to beat faster as there was a barely noticeable sinister smile etched across Felix's face.
"What's in it for me?" Felix asked his smile slowly getting bigger. "Why should I not turn you in."
Panic started to build up in William's body. He didn't know what to do. Should he beg for Felix to not turn him in. Should he promise to be his lap dog and do whatever he says. Or should he just kill him now and dispose of the body. His eyes blinked realizing what he just thought so casually. William's panic started to become very noticeable as he began to breathe really fast.
"BPM: 134. BPM: 137," The system said.
"Calm down," Felix said noticing that William looked like he was about to lose it. "We can come to some sort of arrangement that will benefit us both. Sorry for the creepy smile that I was probably showing."
William started to calm down after hearing that statement from Felix, but he was still on edge.
"What do you want Felix?" William asked after a moment of silence.
"What is your current family situation?"
"What do you mean?" William wondered what Felix was getting at.
"Are you able to pay the bills?" Felix asked. "Based on what I know, you have two little sisters that go to this school. That's not exactly a small family."
William's hands balled up at the thought of Felix mentioning his two little sisters in the current situation.
Felix looked down noticing his balled-up fists but ignored it as William being stressed out.
"So, you need money?" Felix asked. You need another source of income. I can help you with that."
Immediately his hands relaxed at the thought of being able to get money, but he was still cautious. Felix still didn't say what he wanted in exchange for him helping out with his family bills.
"What do you want?" William asked.
"Ah," Felix smiled. "You're catching on. I…well…let's just say that I need members."
"Members?" William asked in confusion.
"Yes," Felix stated. "I am sick and tired of being bossed around by the Shadowfire gang." He paused looking around like he was worried about someone eavesdropping on him. "I want to create my own gang."
William's mouth hung open slightly at the news. William began to think.
Did he just say he wanted to create a gang. He didn't know anything about starting a gang. He didn't know where to begin. At this moment he wished that Felix just wanted him to be his lapdog.
Felix noticing William's expression decided to chime in. "Don't worry, I will manage everything. Just know that when I call…you answer."
William stood there thinking about his new predicament. According to Felix he had two options. Option one was to join Felix's newly formed gang. Option two was that he would be reported to the Shadowfire gang and his family could be endangered. He didn't like either one, but one option was significantly better than the others.
William held out his hand. "I will join your newly formed gang or about to be."
Felix smiled as he stood up. He shook William's hand and he felt that he was touching something else besides Felix's hand.
"Welcome to the gang," Felix said happily as he let go of William's hand.
William looked at what he was holding and realized it was a burner phone.
"Make sure you keep that charged," Felix said. "The first job will be tonight."
William nodded in confirmation at what Felix said.
"Also, I suggest that you join a club today instead of tomorrow before the one that you want is gone. Choose a physical one, it should help you in being agile when you get into a gang fight."
William nodded again and a thought crossed his mind that he had to ask. "How many people are in this newly formed gang of yours?"
He smiled at William's question. "The gang currently has five members including you."
William's expression showed that of disappointment that didn't go unnoticed by Felix. William was hoping that the gang would be bigger.
"Don't worry, William," Felix reassured him. "Everything started out small. Now go get something to eat or something. You still have 40 minutes left."
William paused still doubting everything that happened within the last 24 hours but noticing that his energy reserve was at 17 of 100, he left and went straight toward the cafeteria.
Felix smiled looking at the corner of the library next to him. "You can come out now."
The sound of two books moving could be heard and a girl emerged from behind the aisle. The girl was Penny Gardner, Felix's little sister by one year.
"You sure that was him?" Felix asked looking at his sister.
"I am positive," she said. "He was the one that saved me. His small frame somehow knocking out the two Darklash gang members. One with two hits and the other with just one. He also took a big hit and got back up ten seconds later like it was nothing.
Felix sat back down in his seat thinking about the information that he had gathered so far.
"He might be the one we're looking for," Felix said with a huge smile on his face. "Someone that can represent us in the future."
*****
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