"…Let me get this straight," I snapped. "You and your four buddies chased me across half the city, blocked every exit, cornered me in a damn construction site… all because you wanted me to join you?"
Zero or Max, whatever he called himself, didn't flinch.
"Exactly. But the construction site? That was your choice. We didn't want anyone to see us. Our plan was to approach you at your part-time job. But once you bolted… well, you didn't leave us much of a choice. And here we are."
Not only did they nearly scare me to death, but they also know where I work. That meant they were resourceful. And judging by their build and stamina, all of them looked young… between sixteen, and maybe nineteen. Definitely not your average street gang.
"What if I refuse?" I asked, testing the waters.
Zero grinned .
"Nothing dramatic. We'll walk away, no hard feelings." He paused, then leaned in, his tone shifting. "But you should think carefully, Zack. Our organization doesn't recruit random people. You're special. We want you."
Special? My stomach twisted. Is this about what happened last nine days? With Jay? I ended up in the hospital for a week. That doesn't make me special…it makes me reckless. I'm just an average Joe.
Still, the question burned in my mind.
'Why me? What's their goal? And what's their name?'
"What is your group's goal?" I pressed.
Zero hesitated, almost as if he'd expected it.
"We'll tell you after you join. You understand that, right?"
His answer only deepened my unease. 'If they really let people walk away, maybe they're harmless. Or maybe that's just what they want me to believe. What if those who refused were silenced? Either way, joining feels like the safest option. Refusing… carries its own risks.'
"Zack," Zero interrupted my spiraling thoughts, "we don't have all day."
I exhaled slowly.
"…Alright. I'll join you guys." I extended my hand.
'I'll dig deeper. If they mean harm, I'll find a way out.'
Max's smile widened as he clasped it firmly.
"Good. It's nice finally having you, Zack. From now on, your codename is Nine," Zero said.
'…What's with their codenames? I have to ask about that later.'
We turned toward the stairs, but a thought struck me.
"…Wait. If you wanted to approach me, why didn't you just message me or something?"
Zero glanced back.
"I'd like to explain everything… but not here. Since we're in a construction site, it wouldn't be appropriate to reveal too much. Still, I'll say this: because of government control over phones and other devices, we prefer not to expose our identities."
'Government control? What on earth are they really up to? This group can't be some kind of cult… or worse, a criminal organization… right?'
We descended the stairs, facing the four other members. As soon as we reached the bottom, one of them…One, I guessed, grabbed Zero's wrist and pulled him into another room.
"I'll be back. Don't worry," Zero said casually, waving his hand as he disappeared.
Now I was alone with three figures, each in a hoodie…grey, black, and white. Rain pattered against the half-built walls, muffling the voices of Zero and One arguing somewhere nearby. I strained to catch their words, but the storm swallowed them whole.
"…Hey."
The one in the white hoodie crouched low, cigarette glowing between his fingers. His voice cut through the silence, his hoodie's hat covering his face.
My backpack hung heavy on my shoulder. I clenched the strap, nerves prickling. I didn't know why, but with Zero around I'd felt… calm. Without him, the air felt sharper, heavier.
"…Yes?" I said, trying to steady myself.
He stood, flicked the cigarette away, and stepped closer.
'…Don't tell me he'll fight me? Is this their way of asserting authority?'
I glanced around. No escape. And even if there was, I was too exhausted.
Then he extended a hand.
"My name is Finn. Codename Three."
Not knowing what else to do, I accepted his handshake.
He turned toward the others, pointing at the one in the grey hoodie…arms folded, sleeves rolled up, scars visible.
"And the one over there leaning against the wall is—"
"Matthew. Codename Seven," Matthew interrupted flatly.
Finn sighed, then gestured to the last figure, sitting near the window, staring out at the rain.
"…And the one sitting there is Melton, aka—"
"Two," Melton cut him off, without even looking at us.
Finn spun back to face them, frustration flashing across his face.
"Seriously, guys? You both just disrespected me in front of a newbie?"
'…Maybe they aren't that bad.'
"…Uh, I'm Zack," I offered, trying to join the conversation.
Finn grinned, slinging an arm over my shoulder.
"Of course, we know who you are. Why else would we chase you? Relax, man. Be natural."
His blonde hair and blue eyes gave him the look of a drama-series pretty boy…as he lowered his hoodie's hat.
"…Why so quiet? Don't tell me you're gay or something," Finn chuckled.
I smirked.
"As if. Didn't know you already had someone swinging the other way in the group."
Finn laughed.
"Oh, I like you already, Don't worry…no homo. I've got a girlfriend."
I chuckled a little. Maybe being around them wasn't so bad. And… wasn't I longing for something like this?
'…No, Zack. Concentrate. You don't know what they're really up to yet. Don't drop your guard.'
"Zack, if I were you, I wouldn't be hanging around with this guy… everywhere he goes, he brings trouble." Matthew's voice cut in, arms still crossed.
Finn lifted his hand off my shoulder and turned to Matthew.
"C'mon Mat, is it because of last night's eight-strike loss on that football videogame?" Finn smirked.
Matthew scoffed.
"…Well, part of it is that. And why? Because the controller you gave me was broken. Ahem. The point is, Finn is a smoker…and not just any smoker. He smokes everything, like a freakpoly-tobacco user. And since you're not a smoker, Zack, it'll only be a bad game for you… speaking from experience." He laughed at his own joke.
"…Mat, I just gave you one cigarette, and you emptied my two packs," Finn shot back.
Matthew's jaw tightened, but he didn't reply. Finn was right.
And me? I tried…to hold back my laughter.
…After calming down a little, I looked at Melton; he was still looking outside, but I noticed him stealing glances at us.
Finn noticed me looking at him.
"Don't worry, Melton is the quiet type of guy, he wouldn't be bothered by everyone as he likes to look at nature and draw things…" Finn explained, shaking his head casually.
Then I noticed some text or…logo? They were little characters on with red text and his black hoodie's one shoulder.
'…BOYZ?' What's that?
As I turned, I realized Finn's white hoodie carried the same mark, bold against the fabric. Even Matthew's grey hoodie bore it too, the letters sharp and deliberate.
'They all wear it. A symbol'
"…hey Finn, what BOYZ means?"
Finn crossed his arms and grinned again…
"That? That's our group's logo…BOYZ." He replied proudly.
BOYZ, never heard of them…I guess they are really secretive…but why tho?
"Is that a word or a shortcut…if so, what does it refer to…?"
This time Matthew come, and grinned.
"BOYZ stands for our organization's name: Brothers Of Your Zone…" Matthew stated.
"…Memory fades, brotherhood stays…that's our motto," Melton added this time, joining us.
'…Who comes up with these bullshits?'