Youri turned around and saw that Six had finished selling his package as well. His stomach tightened. He was certain now—the substance he had seen was none other than Galley, the drug Liam had warned them about. The memory hit him hard: the three boys back at the abandoned building, their hollow stares, their trembling hands. It looked exactly the same. The substance glowed faintly purple under the market lights, almost alive.
As Youri started walking toward Six, a familiar figure appeared from across the street. Barnaby stepped into view, one hand tucked casually into his pocket. He raised his free hand and waved at the boys as if nothing was wrong. By the time Youri reached Six, Barnaby had already crossed the road and stood before them.
The man began clapping slowly, a wide grin spreading across his face."Well done," Barnaby said. "See? I told you it wouldn't take more than thirty minutes." He chuckled softly. "Now let's go somewhere nice and have some fun."
Youri and Six exchanged uncertain looks."Don't worry," Barnaby added quickly. "It's on me."
They hesitated for a moment, but eventually followed him. As they walked through the winding paths of the Clocked Market, Barnaby glanced back at them."You boys got the money from the sales?"
Both Youri and Six nodded."That's great," Barnaby replied smoothly. "Hand it over."
The two boys gave him all the money they had earned. Barnaby's eyes lit up the moment the bills touched his hands. He counted through the stack carefully, the smile never leaving his face. After a moment, he separated a portion and handed it back to them.
"Here's your cut," he said casually, passing over the amount he had promised.
Youri and Six stared at the money in their hands. It was more than they could earn in an entire month at the warehouse. Still, something twisted uncomfortably in Youri's chest. As they continued walking, he slowed his steps slightly, then looked up at Barnaby.
"Hey, Barnaby," Youri asked carefully. "What exactly was it that we sold?"
Barnaby paused for a fraction of a second—just long enough for Youri to notice."Just Terrian spices," he replied, waving the question away.
Youri lowered his head as he walked. "Ah," he murmured quietly.
Almost immediately, Barnaby changed the subject."I'm taking you boys to a very special place," he said, his voice brightening again.
They made their way back toward the Night District. Soon, they stood in front of a gentleman's club, the massive pink neon sign outside casting its glow across their faces. The sign read Saliente.
The moment they stepped inside, pounding music hit them like a physical force. Youri and Six froze for a second—they had never been anywhere like this before. The club was enormous, its vast space barely illuminated by dim neon lights that painted the darkness in shifting colors. Everything felt heavy, loud, overwhelming.
At the center of the club stood a massive platform shaped like a sword. From its surface rose three towering poles, stretching all the way up to the ceiling. Three women danced around them, moving fluidly, climbing and spinning with practiced grace. They wore delicate lingerie that left little to the imagination, drawing the attention of every man in the room.
Surrounding the platform were tall wooden tables with no chairs. Men stood around them, drinks in hand, eyes glued either to their glasses or to the dancers above. Deeper into the club was the VIP section—plush red circular couches arranged neatly around low tables, the lighting softer, more intimate.
Youri stood there silently, the music vibrating through his chest, the glow of neon reflecting in his eyes, while a single thought echoed in his mind:
Something about this was very, very wrong.
Barnaby led them through the crowd with ease, as if the place already belonged to him. Men parted instinctively, some nodding in recognition, others averting their eyes. He guided Youri and Six toward one of the VIP couches at the back. A waiter appeared almost instantly, setting bottles and glasses on the low table without asking a single question.
"Sit, relax," Barnaby said, dropping into the red cushions. "You earned this."
Youri hesitated before sitting. Six remained standing for a moment longer, scanning the room, his posture tense. The music throbbed through the floor, vibrating up Youri's legs, into his chest. Everything felt too loud, too bright, too fast. The dancers spun and climbed, their shadows stretching across the walls like distorted silhouettes.
Barnaby poured drinks, sliding one toward Youri. "Go on. It's light."
Youri pushed the glass back slightly. "I'm fine."
Barnaby chuckled. "Smart kid." He took a long sip himself, eyes drifting back to the stage. "You two did good work today. Not many your age could pull that off."
Youri swallowed. "You said spices."
Barnaby's smile didn't fade, but something behind his eyes hardened. "I said not to worry about it."
Silence settled between them, heavy despite the music. Six shifted closer to Youri, a low rumble leaving his throat. Barnaby glanced at him, amused.
"Relax," he said calmly. "No one's in danger here. What's done is done."
Before Youri could respond, a commotion rippled through the club. Voices rose near the entrance. The music faltered, then stopped entirely. Heads turned. A group of armored figures pushed inside—Terrian insignia gleaming under the neon lights.
Barnaby leaned back, unfazed. "Well," he muttered, "that was faster than I expected."
Youri's heart slammed against his ribs. He looked from the soldiers to Barnaby, realization crashing down on him all at once.
"You knew," Youri said quietly. "You knew they'd come."
Barnaby finally looked at him, truly looked. "Listen carefully, kid. When things go bad, you move fast and you don't look back."
One of the Terrian officers raised his voice. "This establishment is under inspection. No one leaves."
Barnaby stood, straightening his jacket. "Time to go."
Before Youri could ask how, Barnaby grabbed the table and kicked it forward, sending bottles shattering across the floor. Shouts erupted. In the chaos, Barnaby seized Youri's arm and nodded sharply at Six.
"Run."
Six reacted instantly, pulling Youri with him as they plunged into the panicking crowd. People screamed, guards shouted, and the music roared back to life in a distorted frenzy. The boys shoved past bodies, slipping on spilled drinks, hearts pounding.
They burst through a side door into the alley, lungs burning. Neon light spilled out behind them as alarms began to wail.
They didn't stop running until the sounds faded into the night.
When they finally slowed, Youri bent over, gasping for air. Six stood beside him, fists clenched, eyes blazing.
"That money," Youri said between breaths, staring at his shaking hands. "It's blood money."
The distant city hummed around them, indifferent and alive.
Somewhere behind them, Sirens echoed.