Chapter 4 Four

"Hey, Andrew! How are you doing!" Another day at work commenced.

"Good, Justin! Get ready to rock and roll today!"

"Wish me luck!" I smirked.

"You are already lucky in getting potential tips." He chuckled and I mesmerized myself in serving the intriguing party.

"Hey, Justin! There is a big task for you, today!" A person from the crowd appeared.

"Oh, Benjamin! Can we talk later at the backside?" I whispered.

"Sure, will be waiting for you!" And I got back to serving others and meeting my potential customers too. As I got the chance, I made my way to Benjamin,

"Hope everything is fine."

"Yes, I just needed your help! There are my friends at the bar tonight so I want you to deliver the packages to my home in the late hours after I reach home, leaving them."

"But ..."

"My boss will kill me otherwise! Please, Justin! Nobody knows I am involved in this all that's why I have to keep a balance, very carefully!"

"Okay! Tell me the address. I will try my utmost." I realized his condition was somewhat similar to mine and thought, I might need someone's help too someday.

As I walked along, my thoughts were consumed by the weight of the packages in my hand, I reached the curb, and a sudden commotion grabbed my attention. A delivery truck had screeched to a halt, its back door wide open. A small crowd had gathered, their voices filled with concern and confusion. Curiosity got the better of me.

Pushing through the gathering crowd, I spotted a forgotten phone lying on the pavement. Without hesitation, I picked it up and looked around, searching for its rightful owner. In the distance, I noticed a frantic figure patting their pockets, clearly in distress. Empathy surged within me, and I called out, "Excuse me! Is this your phone?"

The person turned towards me, relief washing over their face as they recognized their missing device. They hurriedly approached me, gratitude evident in their eyes.

"Thank you so much! I must have dropped it when I was unloading the truck. You have no idea how important that phone is to me," they said breathlessly.

"It's no problem at all. I'm glad I could help. Just make sure to be more careful next time," I replied with a smile.

But as I turned to continue my own journey, I realized something was amiss-the bag of products I had been carrying was nowhere to be found. Panic surged through me as I realized my mistake. I must have inadvertently placed the bag in the back of the very truck I had just helped with the phone.

The realization hit me like a ton of bricks. I had unknowingly entrusted my livelihood to fate, as the truck had vanished into the distance, carrying my bag with it. Dread washed over me,

I understood the gravity of my error, and a knot tightened in my stomach as I pondered the implications of my misplaced trust. The consequences of this innocent mistake were about to unfold.

I continued on my path, swaying unwittingly, my eyes scanned the surroundings for any sign of help. Just then, a bike rider approached me.

"Hey, man! I just dropped my bag in that delivery van. It contains expensive stuff. Would you please chase that truck for me?" I pleaded desperately.

The rider nodded, his eyes filled with concern, and he followed my directions to lend me a helping hand.

As we embarked on the pursuit, the streets grew darker, unfamiliar, and unsettling. Neon signs flickered ominously, casting an eerie glow upon the desolate alleyways. The air became heavy, tainted with the scent of decay and an undercurrent of illicit activities. We eventually reached a big hall, nearly a bridge's distance away from us, where the rider decided it wasn't safe to proceed any further.

"I don't think it's safer to go further!" he advised.

"Okay, then! You can leave, but I have to keep going, even if it costs my life," I replied, my determination unwavering.

"Are you sure, man?" he asked, seeking confirmation.

I responded with a brief nod, acknowledging the risks ahead. The rider left, and I made my way behind the decelerating truck, determined to reclaim what was mine.

As the truck came to a stop, a few men emerged from it and began unloading the cartons. I watched from a distance, realizing the magnitude of the situation. The stuff they were handling seemed valuable, and I could sense their excitement as they whispered amongst themselves.

"The stuff seems pretty expensive!" one of the men mocked while working.

"Yeah! We're gonna get a lion's share soon!" another man exclaimed, his words laced with a devious laugh hidden behind his bitten lips.

"What is this bag?" A man clutched my bag in the air, scrutinizing it thoroughly.

"This is mine!" I called out aloud while progressing closer to the group. My breaths were unbalanced and accompanied by deep sighs.

"Hey, you? The one who returned my phone to me?" A man pointed me out.

"Yeah! ... and lost my bag instead!" I retorted.

"How did you approach us? Were you chasing us?" Another man asked while examining the bag.

"Sorry, but I had to! Actually ..." My sweating face and tightened sighs that were synchronized with the deadly silence of the aura prominently revealed his affright already and vibrated throughout the hallways but as I commenced explaining my side of the story, my voice trembled and consequently captured the attention of other men standing around who interrupted him in between.

"Who are you and what are you doing here?" An authoritative elderly voice, too cold and commanding reverberated throughout my presence leaving my throat choked.

"I, I am Justin. This is my bag and I lost it mistakenly. I didn't mean to intrude. Please, just let me explain. I just came to pick it up." I was stammered and my voice trembled as I spoke. The figure regarded me silently, his eyes scanning me from head to toe as he progressed downstairs with the assistance of his guards and companions.