Guarded

Stacy checked into the hotel and settled in her room.

Walking into the room, she threw her backpack on the bed and plopped down with a satisfied sigh. After traveling on that long journey, she was exhausted.

The young lady sitting on the bed wasn’t just a normal backpacker. The journey she went through, the path she covered, the world she saw – everything she experienced far exceeded the perspicacity of your standard teenage girl.

Seventeen-year-old Stacy was left all alone to fend for herself at a young age. She had seen and experienced the cruelty of the world firsthand. She understood how dangerous and deadly the world could be. In order to survive, one ought to be smart and precise. Being strong would be a bonus.

After taking a breather, she stood up and started walking around the room. From her backpack, she fished out a small tracking device to check for any hidden cameras or threats around the room.

One can never be more careful. ‘Never trust anyone.’ That would be her motto, something she deemed as a valuable lesson learnt from numerous betrayal and traps. With that said, she was a lone ranger navigating through the world by herself since she only had herself to trust. Surviving alone, however, didn’t make her an orphan. Her parents were alive, as far as she’s informed.

Only after making sure that her surroundings were safe that she was finally able to relax. Holding an old photo in her hand, her eyes showing a hint of resoluteness. Although there wasn’t much to remember, fragments of the past still haunt her mind.

Stacy gently gilded her fingers across the surface of the picture in her hand. Her expression was solemn as she looked at her mother’s figure in the picture. The woman she cared about stared back from the picture, her expression glum with unspoken grievances and worries, evidence of age and hardships.

This woman was the only person who tried her best to protect Stacy from the dysfunctional community they called family. That’s the reason why she has a very important place in Stacy’s heart. She knew her mother tried her best to keep her safe but there wasn't much she could do. Women were not exactly respected there and apparently, her father didn’t care enough to give them the time of day.

Events from the day she left was deeply engraved in her mind. The last thing she saw as she was dragged out of the clubhouse was her mother’s face. Never in her life would she forget the agony she saw on her mother’s face no matter how hard she tried.

She then knew that this woman would be the only person in the whole world that deserved her care. She trained hard everyday and waited forever until she’s ready to save her mother from that hellhole.

Her investigations proved that her mother survived all these years. Now, she’s back to the crook she despised the most with only one goal in mind – to rescue her mother and live together happily ever after.

“I’m sorry that it took me so long but I promise to rescue you no matter what it takes, mom,” Stacy whispered.

Putting the picture securely in her backpack, she left for the first place she had in mind. There’s no time to lose. She’s entering the enemy’s territory.

After some walking, she came to the club named Ivory. As she walked towards the bar, she surveyed her surroundings. It had Viper written all over the place.

To the right were a few scattering tables filled with girls wearing too little clothing flirting with the guys. There were three tables to the left. The table closest to the door was taken by a couple making out. ‘Not a threat’, Stacy quietly eliminated them from the list of possible dangers. The middle table was empty and the last table consisted of a group of men playing cards.

That last table was concerning.They could be categorized as ‘not a threat if not provoked’. ‘Hopefully there won't be any issues today,’ Stacy could only wish in her heart.

As if summoned by her thoughts, she caught one of the men turning to look at her from the corner of her eyes. The redhead whistled and catcalls echoed from the table.

She pretended that she didn’t notice them and continued striding towards the bar, hoping that they would leave her alone but a glimpse of the glass wall by the bar told her that the whole table had their attention on her. It left her feeling exposed.

“What can I get for you?” The bartender greeted nonchalantly as Stacy reached the bar.

“A v..” As she was ordering, a rude voice cut her off. “Look at what we have here!” The redhead was at the bar beside her.

Stacy took a deep breath. She had to use all her resolve to not roll her eyes in front of the redhead. “A whiskey, please. Straight,” she ordered.

The bartender proceeded to prepare the drink but the redhead continued probing, “are you sure about that, pretty face?” He slipped onto the barstool beside her, grinning disgustingly.

“Is there a problem?” Stacy asked with a flat tone, just enough for him to hear through the blasting music. She tried her best to not annoy him too much even though he didn’t seem to be returning that favor.

Smirking, he said, “You like your drink strong, don’t you?” Stacy initially thought of ignoring him as she would love to slap the smirk off his face if he wasn’t disgusting enough to prevent every fiber of her from wanting to have any physical connection for even that one second.

However, as repulsed as she was with him, he could serve as a source of information. Stacy decided to entertain him for a while.

“Only on shitty days. Do you come here often?” She tried making small talk. It didn’t escape her that he was wearing the Viper’s jacket.

“What is it that pisses you off so much, sexy? Haven’t had a good one in a while?” He inched closer to her. “I can make you feel good, baby girl.”

Stacy clenched her fist on her lap, digging her nails into her palm to prevent herself from punching his face. ‘It’s you who pisses me off! Go help yourself far away from me,‘ she was screaming in her head.

“Well, are you proposing?” Stacy smirked as she grabbed her drink and took a sip.

“F*ck yeah, I would love to wreck that little pu3sy of yours..” he licked his lips as his eyes roamed her body hungrily.

Stacy rolled her eyes internally and told herself repeatedly to calm down. It wouldn’t be wise to start a scene in Viper’s territory.

“Well, it’s my first time in this club. Anything you can tell me about it?” She tried changing the topic while hoping to get something from him.

“Of course, little girl. You’re so clueless. I can fill you in,” he said and they both knew he wasn’t referring to the information on the club. “There’s so much you can learn,” he continued, lust evident in his eyes.

…

“With the Vipers hot on our tail, we managed to secure yet another deal and mark a new territory. Together, we are stronger than ever. We fight hard, party hard! Toast to this great achievement!”Chad gave his proud speech in front of his men. Raising their drinks, everyone was cheering frantically.

Chad’s the leader of the Reaper gang. The Reaper consisted of men who stood up against injustice. They stood up against evil violence, leaders who were blinded by powers, and those who used and abused others for their own amusement and gain. Those people committed inhumane acts but managed to escape the law. Thus, the Reapers took on themselves to stand up for their own sense of justice.

The gang started with most of them being people who fell victim to injustice. There were those who were framed for crimes they didn't commit and ex-criminals who couldn’t stand up on their own feet after being released due to the bias of society. Among them were also men who escaped from the Viper gang.

The Viper gang would be the force they recognized as an enemy. In their world, they fought violence with violence.

As the street gangs, they have their own territories that they fought each other for. The more territories a gang owned, the more resources and power they possessed. The Reapers have been competing with the Vipers for territories. They marked territories to prevent the Vipers from putting their fangs on every single place. It’s common knowledge that everyone living under them suffers.

Unlike the Vipers, the Reapers protected their territories and everyone under them. All the Vipers did was rule with fear and bleed their territories dry.

The celebration didn’t last long as a member scouting the area ran in with a piece of news that silenced everyone.

“To Ivory,” Chad’s expression was grave as he turned to leave.