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Tower of Hell: Caged and Confused, Book 1, Chapter 128
🕑 Added 2023-01-04 09:03:58 +0000 UTCLoud pop music played throughout the restaurant as Samantha greeted Jonas' party of six. She was a bit sweaty, but her glossy skin and heavy breathing only added to her charm. She glanced at Jonas, smiled in surprise, and flicked her blonde locks behind her shoulders.
"Thanks for coming to Pizza Slut, gentlemen. Today's special is three large pizzas with three toppings and three pitchers of beer for sixty Sin Stones. Can I start you off with some drinks?"
"Do three of those specials," said Jonas. "But bring the beers now, please."
"Sure thing, babe," Samantha winked. "Toppings?"
"Pepperoni, bacon, and extra cheese. You guy's care if we keep things simple and make them all the same?" No one complained.
"And what kind of beer for the pitchers?" Asked Samantha.
"Uh," Jonas had only drunk two brands of beers during his time in Hell: Blood Light, which was the most expensive brew, and Swamp Ale, which was the cheapest.
"Just bring a few pitchers of Red Platinum," Pete saw Jonas' hesitation and answered for him.
Samantha nodded, walked away, and added extra spice to her step as she shook her hips, hoping to catch Jonas' eye.
"Thanks for the save," Jonas chuckled. "I have no idea what brands of beer there are."
"Commoners drink stuff like Red Platinum, Killer Lite, or Menace Draught."
"Good to know," said Jonas.
"So, I'm curious," said Johnson. "What training do you think the old man will give you? I'd figure you're one of the strongest Sinners in all of Sun City. What could you possibly still have to learn?"
"I'm nothing compared to the guys taking the Sin Assessment. If what I know is correct, the S.S. Sinner will have the most talented youths in the Overworld. To survive, I need more information about True Sin, Sin Sorcery, and the inner workings of the Inlands. Old Louie is the only True Sinner I know, which means I don't have a choice but to trust he once survived the Sin Assessment and can teach me what I need to know," Jonas knew that he was still ignorant of Sin, but he wasn't sure how far that ignorance reached.
"It's crazy to think that being one of the strongest people in an entire city isn't good enough to pass a damn test," Pete shook his head. "I think the only person here that could have a chance at becoming a True Sinner, other than Jonas, is Ralphy."
"No interest," Ralph dismissed the idea. "I just want to live a normal life, and I'm not giving up the golden opportunities that Phillip offered. I'm okay with being a regular Sinner, living in a nice apartment, working a good job, and having small luxuries," his words made the rest of them nod—everyone but Jonas.
"You got it, Ralph," said Johnson. "Commoner's dream of this opportunity. I'm going to cherish it for as long as I can. I respect you so much, Jonas. Thank you for everything you've done for me."
"I wasn't leaving that gang without you, Erik," Jonas smiled. "You and Simon are my rocks, and I'm not sure how I'll survive without you. I love you, boys," Samantha arrived with their pitchers of beer, interrupting what was otherwise a tender moment.
"Hey, handsome," Samantha put a glass mug in front of Jonas. "What's your name?"
"Jonas," said Jonas, rather dully because he wasn't in a flirty mood. Samantha could see his lack of interest, but it didn't dissuade her. Handsome men riding in limos meant security, and commoner women would humble and humiliate themselves for that lifestyle.
"Well, Jonas, your pizzas will be out soon. If there's anything else I can get for you, and I mean anything," she let her suggestive words roll off her tongue. "Don't hesitate to ask. I'm at your service."
"Thanks, Sam," Jonas smiled politely and gave his attention to pouring beer into his glass mug.
"Not a problem," Samantha gave a flirtatious expression to the rest of the men, but none caught her attention as Jonas did. "Anything else, guys?"
"I'll take your number," Johnson took a shot. "We can go for a ride in our limo."
"Oh," she said while looking interested. "What do you do for work? It must be pretty lucrative to afford to ride around in that thing."
"Our boss lets us take the limo out whenever we want. I'm a VIP security agent. I protect the most valuable members of Hell," as Johnson spoke, Jonas and the rest found it hard not to roll their eyes. The shamelessness was astounding.
"Very nice," judging by the expression of the people at the table, Samantha deduced that Johnson was full of shit, and she lost interest. "I'll be back around, have fun."
"Damn," said Johnson as he watched her walk away. "I thought that'd work. Whatever, let's drink!" The boys burst into laughter and began clinking their glasses together.
"You know what's crazy?" Jonas smacked his lips after taking a long gulp of beer. "This is the first time I've gone out to a restaurant with friends. It's crazy to think I've never had more than one friend at a time, excluding my brother," Jonas humbly sipped his beer and quickly realized he'd said something embarrassing.
"Seriously?" Johnson gave him a skeptical look. "You'd be the most popular guy at my high school. How'd you become such a loner?"
"I lived in my little world," Jonas recalled his previous life and tried to remember his daily routines, but they seemed foggy and distant. "There wasn't anything other than Drake and me. I didn't relate to other kids and hated others without knowing it. With you guys, I feel connected because we've shared in trauma and all the other fucked up stuff we've experienced. I didn't have that with anyone but my brother."
"That's fair," Simon nodded. "I was like you too, and I kept to myself and a small group of friends that shared my thoughts and opinions. I think it's more surprising because of the way you look."
"Looks can be deceiving," said Jonas. "I've known I was good-looking since I was a preteen, and I'll tell you right now that my appearance has caused me more trouble than it’s worth. People see a shiny object, and they have only a few responses: hoard it, sell it, or fight over it. I've had all three done to me, and it's not as incredible as you might think. People give me greedy gazes, and I don't even know how genuine someone is about liking me. Then you have all the jealous people who want to break something nice, and that's usually my face," Jonas shook his head and gave them a self-deprecating look.
"Eh, I'd take all of that to look like you," Johnson was the most brutally honest of their group, and he was so often out-of-pocket; however, Jonas always appreciated his nature and ability to speak his truth without fear of judgment.
"That's fair," Jonas chuckled, and so did the rest of their party.
"So, have you spoken to Old Louie since?" Asked Pete. "Where are you meeting him?"
"Believe it or not," said Jonas. "Black Fly auctions. They're the people who sold me to Phillip Glatorius."
"What the fuck?" Pete shook his head. "Why would you go back there?"
"For revenge!" Bannji banged the table and smiled wildly. "Jonas needs revenge against the people who sold him like cattle. That is part two of training, right?"
"Good observation," Jonas was surprised that Bannji had surmised the reasoning considering they weren't very close.
"Sinners need to be brutal, and they have long memories. Once they gain power, it's not uncommon for them to seek out old grudges and clear the demons in their hearts. I agree with your old master," Bannji curled his lip and gave Jonas a look full of approval. "You will make them pay, right?"
"I don't know," Jonas hadn't thought about what he'd do when he got to Dark Fly Auctions, nor did he know what Old Louie's intentions were. "My master said he wants me to take revenge, and I think that means part two of my training is getting me to kill again."
"Good people don't make great Sinners," Bannji shook his head. "If you want to get to the top, you'll kill dozens, maybe hundreds. In the past, I met a True Sinner. He taught me a little about Sinning and said I should check out Little Wrath City if I wanted to understand more about the world of Sinners. This man told me he had killed so many people he'd lost count, and that's when I knew that True Sinners were of a different breed. Jonas, if you want to take the Sin Assessment, you'll have to be as brutal as that man."
"So I've been told," Jonas didn't feel anxious about killing people, and the lack of anxiety concerned him most. He'd lost part of himself in the Hurts gang, and the brutality he'd experienced had taken its toll. "I don't know. If I don't want to kill someone, I'm not going to."
"What a Crusader thing to say," Johnson smirked. "Jonas, take my advice. Don't kill innocent people. However, if people are wasting their afterlives being pieces of shit by human trafficking, owning slaves, or raping, just fucking kill them. Sending them into reincarnation will stop them from hurting other people and make this world a little bit better. You need to change your mindset to make it any farther as a Sinner. God, the police, the government, the public: no one will punish you for killing scumbags."
"I know, Erik," Jonas sighed in frustration. "I'm going to kill again. I don't like people telling me I need to kill to become a strong Sinner. I'd like to think I can become a True Sinner through my talent and convictions, not because I have to resort to murdering people. That's all I'm trying to say."
"Okay, okay," Simon waved them down. "Enough of that. Jonas will do what Jonas will do. That's how it's always been, and that's how it will always be. No one here knows better than him what it takes to become a True Sinner, and he'll make decisions best for him. I know you'll do great things."
"I agree," said Johnson. "Sorry, Jonas. I wasn't trying to patronize you."
"Pizza," Ralph's low growl broke the awkward conversation, and the six of them watched Samantha and three other servers bring over the first pizzas of their order. Each of the women wore revealing clothing themed with pizza topping, and all of them were quite pretty and sending Jonas glances and suggestive smiles.
"We'll be right back with the rest, gentlemen," the pizzas were massive, cheesy, and generous with the toppings. After Jonas and company ate their first slices, the girls returned with the rest of their food.
"Good pizza," Jonas folded his in half and dipped it in the sauce. "I haven't had fast food in years. I missed it."
"There are a lot of things you start to miss after spending so long in a cage," said Simon. "Phillip hasn't called you, has he?"
"No, sorry. My ringer is on, so we'll all hear it," Jonas knew how anxious his dear friend was and wished he could make things better for him.
The rest of their dinner went by at an enjoyable pace, and they spent another hour digging through all nine pizzas and drinking a few extra rounds of beer. Jonas was sure to try a bunch of different flavors, none stacked up to Blood Light; however, Killer Lite was pretty tasty. Samantha came by a few times to clear the empty trays and bring new drinks, and eventually, she dropped the bill off.
"Three hundred stones," Jonas gave a low whistle. "I'm pretty much broke. Johnson, could you go grab the driver and tell him we're ready?" Erik nodded and left the booth while Jonas turned to Samantha. "Their boss is going to pay for dinner tonight."
"You don't work with them?" Samantha asked. "What do you do?"
"Unemployed," Jonas smiled. "I used to do a bit of modeling, though," and he was pleased to hear his friend's good-natured chuckles.
"Very nice," Samantha's smile faltered after hearing of Jonas' unemployment, but she figured his looks were decent enough to look past it. Sam small-talked with them until Johnson and the security guard came around the corner.
"I'll take the bill, miss," he pulled out his hell phone.
"Give her a good tip," said Jonas, and the security guard nodded as he used his phone to complete the payment against her debit machine. Sam's eyes widened as she saw her tip, smiled brightly, and thanked them all for coming.
"Pizza Slut was fun," said Jonas a few minutes later as he was climbing into the limo. "The food wasn't as good as the stuff we have at Phillip's mansion, but it was still pretty tasty."
"Agreed," said Johnson. "Let's get shit-faced back to the mansion and have one last fun night together," and there were cheers of agreement from the guys in the limo. A few hours later, they sat at the dining room table playing cards, smoking tobacco, taking shots, and chugging beers.
There was heavy laughter, loud voices, and the smell of alcohol permeated the room. Jonas was happy with his last night with his friends, and he wouldn't have had the night go any differently. He watched as Pete and Bannji arm wrestled while Ralph egged them on. Simon was swirling his drink while anxiously awaiting news of Felicia. Johnson had a stack of empty beer cans built like a house on the table, Theo was playing cards against Mr. Ken, and Yuki was in deep conversation with Amberlee about Sunrise Sanctuary. Jonas found that the two women had gotten along surprisingly well.
"An all-female security task force would be a great idea," Yuki furrowed her brow. "I can train some girls at the sanctuary and send them to jobs once they're ready. Are there enough VIP women who want an all-girl security force?"
"Definitely," said Amberlee. "You're giving them great employment and setting them up for when they no longer need you. Presidential Protection Services will work hand in hand with Sunrise Sanctuary, providing resources and training to women, who in turn will work for us if they want," she stuck out a slender hand, and Yuki shook it.
"I'm glad we're on the same page," they stopped chatting because Phillip came around the corner and entered the dining room.
"Simon, I've got good news," and the room went deathly silent while Simon's face turned white, and he stared wide-eyed. "Her employer, John Rasem, called me back and told me that Felicia Rhule is working for him. Simon, he's gone to fetch her, and you two can speak and confirm that it's each other," Phillip walked over with the phone glued to his ear. He stared at Simon while waiting for the person on the other line to return to their phone call.
"It's going to be her," Jonas patted Simon's shoulder and smiled confidently. "I know it is."
"I hope it's her," Simon was sweating, and they could see his breathing was irregular. "I'm praying it is, and I don't ever pray."
"Hello," said Phillip, and everyone's attention turned to him. "Yes, John, I'm here. Could you put Felicia on the line now? I'm going to pass the phone to Simon," and he handed his massive hell phone over to Simon, who accepted it with trembling hands and put it to his ear.
"Felicia?" There was a long pause before a woman's shaky voice replied.
"Simon, is that really you?"
"It's me," Simon's lip trembled, and tears began to fall from his eyes. "It's your Simon," there was a sudden yelp as Felicia dropped the phone because her hands had gone momentarily numb. Simon could hear her in the background, apologizing profusely, and she picked the phone back up and pressed it against her ear.
"Simon? Are you serious?" Felicia inhaled a deep breath from her emotions and was still skeptical. "What color dress did I wear on our first date?"
"Green," said Simon. "You wanted to wear the blue one, but you spilled juice all down the front while waiting for me to pick you up," his words caused Felicia to lose her breath and almost drop the phone again.
"I can't believe it's you. I never thought I'd see you again," Felicia's voice was trembling, and she was seconds away from crying. "How?"
"It's a very long story," Simon smiled, and the tears rolled down his cheeks. "I got captured a while back, but this amazing kid broke me out. He even got me a job and helped me find you," he glanced at Jonas, whose cheeks went red from embarrassment.
"He does sound amazing," Felicia tried to keep her voice steady. "So, where are you?"
"Sun City. At my boss's mansion. Listen, Felicia. I'm coming to pick you up, okay?"
"Sun City?" Felicia was amazed because they were only a few hours apart. "Do you have a car?"
"I do. I have enough to keep us safe and the means to live a comfortable life, and you won't have to work. We can have a home for Annie to return to when she's finished on the fifth floor."
"Simon," Felicia was flabbergasted. "I can't believe it. How is this all possible?"
"I'll show you when I see you," Simon paused to collect himself. "I'm so sorry. I didn't even ask if you wanted to meet me. Do you, Felicia? Do you want to meet with me?"
"Of course I do," Felicia was crying, laughing, and sounding annoyed. "I love you," Simon closed his eyes because he felt he could pass out from how strongly those words had affected him.
"I love you too. I'm leaving now for Burningham City. I'm passing the phone back to Phillip, who'll make the arrangements. I'll see you very soon."
"Okay. I'm giving the phone to Mr. Rasem. I'll talk to you soon," Felicia handed the phone back to her boss, and Simon did the same, both begrudgingly. Phillip and John returned to their conversation, exchanged details, and quickly hung up.
"Congrats, buddy," Jonas hugged Simon, and Johnson hugged them both.
"Can't believe it's her," Simon cried. "Never thought I'd hear her voice again. Holy fuck."
"I hate to interrupt," Phillip cleared his throat. "My team is getting the limo ready and will drive Simon and me to Burningham City in about ten minutes. Are any of you coming?"
"Sure," said Jonas, but Simon held up a hand.
"Would you be offended if I asked you guys to stay here and let me do this alone?" He wiped his tears and gave Jonas an apologetic look. "You guys stay here and keep partying. We'll be back in a few hours. I want to spend some time and talk to Felicia alone."
"Not a problem, Simon," Jonas patted his shoulder and gave him an approving smile. "We'll hold down the fort until you get back. No guarantees we're all awake when you arrive."
"Perfect," Simon exhaled a breath of relief. "I'm ready to go whenever you're ready."
"After you," Phillip gestured to Simon, and the two hurried out of the kitchen and out of sight.
"Good for him," Jonas grabbed two beers and passed one to Johnson. "Tonight isn't just about me anymore. We're celebrating the reunion of two good people. Cheers, to Simon and Felicia," Johnson grabbed the beer, smiled brightly, and chugged his beer.
"Now we just need to get his daughter back, and their family reunion will be complete," Johnson began lining up crystal shot glasses, screwed open a bottle of rum, and poured.
"In due time. If I make it to the fifth floor before Annie turns eighteen, I'll tell her myself how to find them. I promise," Jonas grabbed one of the shot glasses, clinked his against Johnson's, and they threw them back. It burned his throat but warmed his heart and soul.
"Yuki and Theo," Jonas shook his head. "Are the two of you going to sip wine for the entire night? Have a shot," the two of them exchanged glances. They wouldn't identify as party animals, but they understood it was their last night together.
"Fine," said Yuki. "One shot, and then I'm back on my wine."
"I took a near-death ass-whooping from Garth. You don't think I can handle a bit of rum?" Theo looked offended. "That's just rich."
The two grabbed a shot glass, clinked them together, and downed the contents. Yuki was unfazed by the burning liquor down her throat, but Theo's eyes watered, and he had to keep clearing his throat.
"Just rich," Jonas repeated, and they all chuckled.
The night continued, and so did their drinking and celebrating. Ralph, Pete, and Bannji had gone to play billiards in the game room, while Theo had been the first to head off to bed. It was nearing midnight, and Simon had been gone for almost two hours before Jonas finally got a text from Phillip Glatorius.
"It's her. We're grabbing her things and heading back to Sun City. See you soon," Jonas read aloud and showed his phone to Johnson.
"Fucking great," Johnson whooped. "Let's go for a smoke," the two of them headed outside on the terrace, opened up a fresh pack of Diamond Doubles, lit their smokes, and exhaled. The tobacco hit their bloodstreams and gave them head rushes, and they admired the night sky with blurry vision.
"I'm going to miss you, brother," Jonas ashed his cigarette and stared at the pale red moon.
"You scared?" Johnson scratched his trimmed beard and leaned up against the guard railing.
"Of course, I'm scared," said Jonas. "I'm not scared of dying, though. I'm afraid of failing to find Drake. I'm afraid I'm not talented enough to match shot-for-shot with the Hellite geniuses."
"Fuck that," Johnson said rather loudly. "Fuck that. You're a fucking champion. Undefeated, killed a fucking Maldread, and talented as any of those punks. Jonas, you've got it backward. It's them who should be worried about you."
"Jesus. I'm not that great," Jonas nearly coughed on his cigarette. "You don't get it. Some of these kids have been training since they were toddlers, with True Sinners guiding them at every step. They come from influential families who protect and provide for them, all while letting them get away with whatever shitty choices they make. Johnson, don't you see? These people were born and raised to be great and to be the next generation to run the world," Jonas shook his head and looked into his friend's eyes. Johnson looked drunk, unfazed, and smiling.
"They may be great, but you'll be a legend. Go through with the old man's training, and give it all your effort. Simon and I didn't carry your ass through the Hurts gang for nothing, did we? No, we didn't. When you get to the Dark Fly Auctions, or whatever, you kill the people who deserve to die, spare those who deserve to live and set free everyone they have in cages. Do you understand me, little brother?" Johnson gently poked Jonas' chest.
"I do," Jonas felt himself go quiet because it was the first time anyone had called him little brother since Drake. "You think of me as a little brother?"
"Best brother I ever had. Also, the only brother I've ever had," Johnson chuckled and tossed his cigarette into the ashtray. "Now, stop worrying so goddamn much, and let's try and sober up before Simon gets back with his woman. I don't want to give off a shitty first impression," Jonas shook his head, smiled, and followed behind his drunk friend. The two headed to the game room and met with Pete, Bannji, and Ralph.
"No more drinking til Simon gets back," Jonas took Ralph's glass and drained the contents. "We want to make a good first impression," he laughed and swayed. "Maybe, I can use Sin to clear up the alcohol," Jonas concentrated on his Sin Scars and felt connected with his Pride, then he watched them hum and glow brightly. 'Heal me. Remove the alcohol from my body,' Jonas closed his eyes, exhaled a deep breath, and when he opened his eyes, his vision began to clear, his head was less dizzy, and he felt sober.
"Don't tell me that worked," Pete's one good eye bulged.
"It worked," Jonas' tone sounded normal, his reddish face had cleared, and his eyes were no longer bloodshot.
"Well. You might fail the Sin Assessment, but at least you'll never have to worry about a hangover," Pete shook his head and went back to his game of pool. "Fuckin' Mr. Do-It-All," he grumbled.
"I'd like to think clearing my bloodstream of alcohol poisoning isn't enough to pass the Sin Assessment," Jonas grabbed a pool stick and began chalking the tip. "Ralph, you and me at that table, just like old times," Ralph grunted, grabbed his pool stick, and followed Jonas.
"I still owe you for kneeing my skull in."
"Well, since I won the last round, you rack them," Jonas chuckled and pushed the balls toward Ralph, who shook his head and began wracking them into the triangle.
"Are you nervous about tomorrow?"
"Not at all," Jonas shrugged as he readied his cue to break. With one swift crack, he sent the white ball flying across the table, where it crashed with a satisfying sound. The balls went shooting in all directions, and a couple found themselves in the pockets and out of sight. "Stripes. Yellow nine, top-right pocket," Jonas struck the white ball, which hit the striped yellow nine-ball, and went into the pocket he called.
"Nice shot," said Ralph, but after watching Jonas score a few more balls, he realized the young man played him like a fiddle. "Where'd you learn to shoot pool, fucker?"
"My brother taught me," before they knew it, all the striped balls were off the table. "Eight ball, side pocket," Jonas pointed to the pocket with his pool stick, struck the white ball, and watched it sink. "Good game."
"What game?" Ralph shook his head. "I didn't even get a turn. I'm breaking this time."
"I'm only going to ask one more time. Are you sure you don't want to come with me? Like it or not, you've got the talent to be a True Sinner," Jonas felt it would be cool to have company during his adventure to find the S.S. Sinner.
"Not happening, buddy. I appreciate the offer, but my dream is to settle down and buy a farm," Ralph stared at his Sin Scars. "These hands were made for chores, not killing people."
"Are you serious?" Jonas watched as Ralph sunk the white ball and his turn was over.
"Shit. Of course, I'm being serious. I come from a long line of farmers, believe it or not."
"Do they even have farms in Hell? I thought everything was fucking modern and industrial or whatever," Jonas knew that technology in Hell was far more advanced than anything on Earth.
"No idea," Ralph shrugged. "Nothing stopping me from getting a plot of land, planting some crops, and raising some livestock, right? Guess that means farms still exist."
"Fair point," Jonas took his turn. "I wonder if I could use Sin to play pool?"
"Don't even think about it," Ralph pointed a sausage-like finger at Jonas, who smiled while his Sin Scars began to glow. Jonas focused his Pride and thought about making the best shot he'd ever made. He picked four of his balls stacked at the edge of the table, called a pocket for each, then struck the white ball.
"No fucking way," Ralph watched as each of them went shooting off, almost randomly, but bounced in a way that sent them directly on course for their called pocket. However, the solid purple four-ball missed its mark by a tiny margin, while the other three sank and disappeared from view. "That's too bad," Ralph chuckled while a bead of sweat formed on his forehead.
"Almost," Jonas furrowed his brow in thought. He wondered if he lacked concentration, didn't desire it enough, or perhaps he couldn't influence so many moving parts.
"Eight ball, corner pocket," Ralph took his shot and won the round. "Don't get so cocky with Sin Sorcery. Try and do too much, and you'll end up losing."
"I don't mind losing," Jonas shrugged. "I'll keep coming back for another round until I get it right. Remember?"
"Yeah, I do," Ralph smirked. "Best two out of three? I won't underestimate you this time."
'You're a good man, Ralph. I'm glad I met you."
"I'm glad I met you too. I got my head kicked in, lost all my friends, helped kill my former boss, then escaped slavery by the skin of my teeth. Because of you, I'm not dead or still a lackey for a lesser man. So, thanks," Ralph stuck out his fist, and Jonas pounded it.
