DARK BLOOD 🌑🌑🌑

Ralph stood there, his heart beating frantically as he watched all of them pass him by and out of the room.

"I came in with something?"

"Exactly! You did. And leaving requires that same thing."

Ralph spun around in fright. He exhaled heavy after seeing who it was, "What do you know about it? How much did you hear? How much do you know?"

Rihanna chuckled dryly, "Can you be calm?" She stretched out her right hand and a circle formed around it; black droplets of blood. Ralph understood immediately.

"See? So, don't be surprised."

Ralph sighed again, "To be sincere......."

"....... we're all tired," Rihanna completed, "I am tired. We're all tired, trust me. And right now, I can't bear it anymore. I want to quit."

"Really?"

Rihanna nodded. Together, they walked to the class. Ralph occasionally glanced at her. He didn't trust her fully. He had learnt his lesson the hard way. Still, he wanted to pour out his heart to her; he had carried the weight alone for too long. Now, someone was here, who finally understood what he was going to without pretense, and that was what he needed. Someone who could see from his own view, not just making him see from theirs.

"You know, you don't have to tell me anything yet," Rihanna cut him off from his thoughts, sensing his distress, "Take your time. I also know better than to trust random people."

Ralph smiled, a tired but sincere one, "Thank you so much."

"Nah. You don't have to do that. We'll catch up later. See you then."

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Gascoigne sat on the couch, anger visibly written all over his face.

"You gotta calm down, Boss."

"Calm down?! A whole me!! How dare she?!"

"Shouting's not going to solve anything. We need to calm down and think, plan, strategize."

Gascoigne said nothing. He was furious. Never in his history of underworld wars has he lost. And now, he just lost to a mere Ryan Moore. He wasn't going to let that slide. Never!!

***

Gascoigne, Rumminige, Tasha Meredith, her twin, and Ryn Moore were course mates in college. They were all from middle income families. Gascoigne and Rumminige were very notorious members of Divine Enchantress' Dungeon. Then, the cult was unpopular qmd and they were one of its first initiates. Nobody ever wished to cross their paths because of how merciless they were. Both were from different families, but people often mistook them as brothers. The bond between them was like that of two brothers who were also best friends. The only difference was the fact that Gascoigne didn't talk much, he was quiet and stayed on his own. He didn't deal with people unless they stir up trouble first. Also, he didn't spare anyone who had problems with Rumminige. Rumminige, on the other hand, was very violent. There was no day of college that he didn't shed blood, that's how bad it was.

***

Tasha Meredith was a quiet student. She was dull, too. These traits subjected her to bullying of all kinds. Once, she was rescued by Rumminige, but Rumminige wasn't one who did things free of charge. He was in need of a partner for the Sacred Sacrificial Season, so he entered into an agreement with her and she was initiated as a member of the Divine Enchantress' Dungeon, and the third member of Gascoigne and Rumminige's Underworld Mafia Association.

Her sister, unaware of what happened to her sister, travelled out of the country to continue her nursing profession two years later.

***

Ryn Moore? Gascoigne bore a personal grudge against her since they were little. Their parents were family friends, but he never seemed to like her. He had never spoken to her or whatever, but he hated her.

One rule of the Underworld Mafia Association was that any enemy of the Boss became ever one else's enemy. Tasha and Ryn were not really best of friends, but were friends altogether, but their friendship ceased when Tasha became a friend of the mafia group. They cut ties completely. Tasha didn't explain why she couldn't be friends anymore with Ryn, and that stung.

Ryn vowed to get a revenge on Gascoigne and Rumminige for stealing her only friend in college, but Gascoigne found out about the plan, and he didn't let her go scot free. The pain and trauma still lived rent free in her head, and she decided she was going to make him regret it.

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Mrs Leopardo sat at the dining table with a bitter smile on her face. Rihanna stood, her mouth wide open in shock. Ryan stared at the phone, disbelief still written all over his face.

"Wow! Just, wow!" Their mom chuckled in bitterness. Tears were already cascading down her cheeks. Rihanna couldn't even move from where she stood to console her mother.

Just then, the husband and father of the family walked, unaware that the storm he created had been unleashed. He saw his wife's tear - streaked face and rushed to her side, inquiring what the matter was. The only answer he received was total silence. He proceeded to ask his daughter, but the look on her face discouraged him. He turned to his last resort, Ryan.

"Son, what's going on?"

"Son?" Ryan asked, his tone laced with venom. He looked straight at his father, but his face was devoid of any emotion, "Son?"

"Now, can someone tell me what's going on!" He barked, frustration and confused evident in his voice.

The next that followed was a slap that sent a tooth flying out of his mouth. His neck snapped to the other side. His cheeks were already red and swollen, the fingerprint glued to his face. The whole place began to spin and he found himself on the ground.

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