Chapter 10: Friendship

Words : 1776 Updated : Mar 27th, 2025

In the southern district of Stonegate, Calvin walked along the cracked concrete road, occasionally hearing the distant barking of dogs. This was the most rundown area of Stonegate, not much different from the countryside. His childhood friend Zayden lived here. Zayden's father was disabled, and his mother worked as a textile worker. Years ago, after his mother lost her job, she and his father set up a small vegetable stall to make ends meet. Calvin's family was a bit better off and helped Zayden during those tough times. Zayden was clever. He was meant for school, but with a younger brother and sister to care for, he had to drop out early to support his family. He worked at an arcade under a gang boss, inevitably getting involved in some sketchy activities. The day Calvin got his college acceptance letter, Zayden was drunk, crying, and urging Calvin to finish school. Before Calvin could even start college, tragedy struck. Zayden, defending Calvin, got his limbs broken, which deeply moved Calvin. Calvin knew he didn't have much time left. He came tonight to see his friend one last time. When the real culprit was revealed tomorrow, Calvin intended to exact his revenge, knowing tonight might be their last meeting. As Calvin made his way to Zayden's house, he noticed a flickering light in the distance as he passed through a vacant lot. Curious, he approached and saw someone sitting on the ground, burning joss paper. To his surprise, it was Zayden. His hand and leg were heavily bandaged. He could not stand, and two crutches lay beside him, suggesting he had used them. Calvin quietly hid behind a stone wall, listening to Zayden mutter, "Calvin, back in school, we were always broke." "You used to say that when you had money, you'd buy a big TV, a car, and a mansion." "Look, I got you a big TV, a car, and a mansion. Soon, I'll burn you some beautiful women too." "I'll burn you plenty of money, so you can spend it as you like down there." "But... why the hell did you die?" At that, Zayden broke down crying. Calvin, hidden behind the wall, felt his eyes well up. Zayden cried for a while, then wiped his tears and burned all the paper. Struggling with his crutches, he declared, "Calvin, I burned enough for both of us this time." "Keep my share safe for me." "Once I'm healed, I'll find out who did this to you and avenge you!" "If I'm lucky enough to survive, I'll give you my share." "But if I can't, you better give me back my share when I join you!" Zayden took a swig from a bottle, pouring half on the ground and gulping the rest. He then sat by the fire, softly singing, "Let's forget right and wrong, remember the past, even in hard times, we found joy..." Calvin, still hidden, quietly sang along to "The Days of Friendship," a song they often sang together. After a long pause, Calvin exhaled deeply. Watching Zayden fall asleep by the fire, Calvin felt a firm resolve. Clenching his fists, he turned and headed back toward the city. After seeing his friend, he felt at peace and ready to handle his affairs. Calvin arrived outside Stonegate Mortuary. Even though it was late, many shops stayed open because life and death occurred anytime. Calvin bought some joss paper and knelt by the roadside to burn it. His parents were already buried, yet Calvin had no idea where their graves were. He didn't dare ask, for fear of exposing his location and thwarting his plans for revenge. Thus, he could only pay his respects in this way. Fortunately, such scenes were typical near the mortuary, where many came to burn paper for their ancestors. Calvin knelt, burning paper and silently weeping. Once the paper was all consumed, he bowed three times. "Dad, Mom, if there's a next life, I promise to repay you tenfold," he vowed. His unfulfilled filial duty was his pain and regret. Having finished, Calvin entered the mortuary. It was bustling with both staff and the families of the deceased. Finding a secluded corner, he lay down and gradually fell asleep. He dared not return to the hotel, unsure if his cover had been blown. Here, he could rest for the night and gather strength for tomorrow's retribution. Many family members kept vigil inside the mortuary, often finding places to rest when exhausted. Calvin's presence went unnoticed, blending in with the weary mourners. At dawn, Calvin donned a hat and found a street vendor for breakfast Passing a butcher's stall, he paused, noticing the sharpness of the boning knife. It was sturdy, capable of cutting through bone without damage. Remembering his broken dagger from the previous night, Calvin knew he needed a new weapon for whatever lay ahead. The boning knife seemed perfect. Feigning interest in the meat, Calvin secretly concealed the knife among the pork and walked away unnoticed. Finding a secluded spot, he extracted the knife and tucked it into his clothing. Feeling more prepared, Calvin ventured into the city, purchasing a copy of the Stonegate Daily. The paper still featured the wanted notice for Ezra, indicating that the authorities hadn't yet discovered Calvin's identity, which provided him with some relief. For now, his movements were unimpeded. Calvin then went to the busiest mall in Stonegate, laying low there for the morning. The crowds gave him cover, making it challenging for anyone to find him. At noon, after a quick meal, he left the mall. It was time to meet Fiona and uncover who had framed him.

Chapter 10: Friendship

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