11 PM came too fast.
Or maybe it didn't. Maybe Vex just lost track of time sitting on his bed staring at nothing.
Either way. Time to go.
He pulled on his hoodie. Black one. Hood up. Face still looked like shit but at least the hood helped hide it.
Bruise was worse now. Purple spreading. Lip still swollen. Whatever.
Grabbed both phones. Burner in left pocket. Regular in right. Kept them separate. Less confusing that way.
Mom's door was closed. Light off. She came home around 10. Ate something. Went straight to bed. Didn't even check on him.
Good. Easier that way.
Lira's door closed too. Light on though. Probably studying. Or on her phone. Pretending to study.
Vex walked to the front door. Quiet. Opened it slow. No creaks.
Hallway. Stairs. Down.
Outside. Cold night. Not freezing but cold enough.
Started walking.
Fifth and Morrow. Same corner as always. Fifteen minute walk from his place.
Streets weren't empty. Never were. Ashward didn't sleep. Just changed shifts.
Day people went home. Night people came out.
Vex passed a group hanging outside a corner store. Four guys. Smoking. Talking loud. Laughing about something.
One of them looked at Vex. Made eye contact.
Vex looked away. Kept walking.
Don't engage. Don't stop. Don't exist.
That was the rule in Ashward at night.
Kept his hands in his pockets. Head down but aware. Always aware.
Heard footsteps behind him. Someone walking the same direction.
Don't look back. Just walk.
Footsteps got closer.
Vex's heart started going faster. Hand went to his phone. Regular one. Just in case.
In case what? He'd call the cops? Yeah right. By the time they showed up he'd be dead or robbed or both.
Footsteps passed him. Guy in a suit. Business type. Walking fast. Late for something probably.
Vex breathed out. Didn't realize he was holding his breath.
Relax. You're paranoid.
But paranoid kept you alive in Ashward.
Fifth and Morrow. Got there at 10:57.
Three minutes early. Good.
Stood under the streetlight. Same one as always. Flickering less today. Or maybe he just got used to it.
Waited.
Checked his burner. No new messages. Just the one from earlier telling him to be here.
Regular phone had two texts. Both Kairo.
"feeling better?"
"let me know if u need anything"
Vex didn't reply. What would he say? Yeah I'm great, just waiting to pick up illegal packages for a gang. You?
Van pulled up. 11 PM exactly.
Black van. Same one from last time maybe. Hard to tell. All vans looked the same in the dark.
Passenger window rolled down.
Different guy this time. Never seen him before. Young. Maybe early twenties. Buzzcut. Scar on his chin.
"Vex?"
"Yeah."
He handed over a package. Smaller than last time. Size of a shoebox but not as heavy.
"Delivery address is on top. You got two hours. Don't fuck it up."
"Got it."
Window rolled up. Van drove off.
Vex looked at the package. Brown paper. Tape. Address written in marker.
"Crimson Street. Building 23. Apt 2C. Midhaven."
Midhaven again. Great.
At least it wasn't the same building as last time. Different street. Different area.
Small blessings or whatever.
Vex started walking. Train station was six blocks away.
His phone buzzed. Regular one.
Senna.
Calling him. At 11 PM.
He stared at the screen. Let it ring.
Voicemail.
She called again.
Fuck.
He answered.
"What?"
"Where are you?" Her voice was sharp. Again. Always sharp lately when she talked to him.
"Out."
"It's 11 PM."
"I know what time it is."
"Vex—"
"What do you want, Senna?"
Silence. He could hear her breathing. Controlled. She was pissed.
"I want to know why you're lying to everyone."
"I'm not—"
"Yes you are. Kairo thinks you're in trouble. I think you're in trouble. Your mom thinks something's wrong. Lira asked me if you were mad at her."
Guilt hit him. Lira. Shit.
"I'm not mad at anyone."
"Then what's going on?"
"Nothing."
"You got jumped last night. You have a black eye. You're out at 11 PM on a Saturday. That's not nothing."
"I'm just walking."
"Where?"
"Around."
"That's not an answer."
"It's the only one you're getting."
More silence. Longer this time.
"Fine," she said. Voice different now. Colder. "When you decide to stop lying and actually talk to someone, let me know. Until then, don't bother calling me."
She hung up.
Vex stood there. Phone in his hand. Package in the other.
Great. Now Senna was pissed at him too.
Add it to the list.
He put his phone away. Kept walking.
Train station. Got there at 11:14.
Bought a ticket. Got on the train. Found a seat in the corner.
Not as crowded as last time. Just a few people. Couple making out in the back. Old guy sleeping. Woman reading a book.
Normal people. Normal lives.
Vex looked at the package in his lap.
What was in it this time? Drugs? Money? Weapon parts?
Didn't matter. Wasn't his business.
Just deliver. Get paid. Go home.
Simple.
Except nothing was simple anymore.
Train ride took twenty minutes. Felt longer.
Midhaven Station. Got off.
Different vibe than Ashward. Cleaner. Brighter. Safer.
Made him feel more out of place.
Crimson Street. Found it on a map on his phone. Ten minute walk from the station.
Started walking. Nice neighborhood. Trees. Clean sidewalks. Cars that actually worked.
Different world.
Building 23. Nice building. Not as fancy as the last one but still nice. No doorman this time though.
Front entrance had a code panel. Locked.
Shit.
How was he supposed to get in?
Vex walked around. Looking for a side entrance. Service door. Anything.
Nothing.
Tried the front door again. Looked at the panel. Numbers. Code required.
He didn't have a code.
Pulled out his burner. No instructions about this.
Great.
Stood there. Thinking.
Someone came out. Woman. Thirties. Jogging clothes. Earbuds in.
Door was closing behind her.
Vex grabbed it. "Thanks."
She looked at him. Suspicious. "You live here?"
"Yeah. Visiting a friend. 2C."
"Mm." Didn't believe him. But didn't stop him either.
She jogged off.
Vex went inside.
Hallway. Elevator to the right. Stairs to the left.
Took the stairs. Elevators had cameras usually.
Second floor. Door at the top. Opened it.
Hallway. Nice carpet. Good lighting. Apartment doors.
2A. 2B. 2C.
There.
Walked to it. Knocked three times.
Waited.
Footsteps inside. Door opened.
Guy standing there. Older. Maybe late thirties. Dressed casual. Jeans. T-shirt.
He looked at Vex. Then at the package.
"That for me?" he asked.
"If you're in 2C, yeah."
"I'm in 2C."
He took the package. Felt the weight. Nodded.
"Thanks."
Started to close the door.
"Wait," Vex said.
Guy stopped. "What?"
"Don't I need... confirmation or something?"
"Confirmation?"
"Like proof I delivered it."
The guy looked at him like he was stupid.
"Kid. You delivered it. I got it. That's the confirmation. Now get lost."
Door closed.
Vex stood there.
That was it? That easy?
No problems. No cops. No wrong person. Just. Normal delivery.
Okay.
He turned. Walked back to the stairs. Down. Out of the building.
Street. Cold air.
Checked his phone. 11:52 PM.
Fifty-two minutes. Well under the two hour limit.
Started walking back to the station.
His burner buzzed.
Message: "Good job. Payment credited. Check balance."
Another message: "Balance: $76,800"
Wait.
He'd delivered. Should be $500 off. 76,800.
That meant. 77,300 minus 500.
Yeah. $76,800.
Seventy-six thousand, eight hundred dollars left.
Still impossible. But. Progress. Kind of.
Vex put the phone away.
Train ride back. Quiet. Tired.
Got to Ashward at 12:30 AM.
Walked home. Streets quieter now. Ashward did sleep eventually. Just late.
His building. Up the stairs. Third floor.
Unlocked the door. Went inside.
Dark. Quiet. Everyone asleep.
His room. Closed the door. Sat on the bed.
Another delivery done. No problems. Clean run.
Maybe. Maybe it would be okay. If he just kept his head down. Did the work. Didn't fuck up.
Maybe he could get through this.
Seventy-six thousand, eight hundred left.
One hundred and fifty-four more jobs at $500 each.
Or three hundred and eight at $250.
Or some mix.
Either way. A lot. But doable. Eventually.
He lay down. Stared at the ceiling.
Water stain. Still there. Always there.
Phone buzzed. Regular one.
Text from Kairo: "goodnight man. hope ur ok"
Vex stared at it.
Typed: "night. im ok"
Another lie.
But what else could he say?
Put the phone down. Closed his eyes.
Tomorrow was Sunday. No work. No college. Just. Existing.
Maybe he'd sleep in. Maybe he'd actually rest.
Probably not.
But maybe.
Sleep came slow. Like always.
But it came.
And for a few hours, Vex didn't have to think about debts or deliveries or lies.
For a few hours, he could just. Not exist.
That was enough.
For now.