Suddenly, Zee knocked at the window, peering inside with a bright smile. Nox snapped his head toward the sound, his ears twitching instinctively.
At the window, Zee grinned, her usual mischievous spark lighting up her face.
She knocked again, this time louder, leaning closer to the glass. "Hey, Nox! You alive in there?" she called out, her voice muffled by the pane.
Nox opened the window, the chill of the outside air mixing with the warmth of his room.
Before he could even greet her, Zee's eyes flicked to the mask on his desk, her grin widening. "I see you've already met each other, haven't you?" she said, stepping one foot onto the metal sheet connecting their apartments.
Nebular's voice chimed in, smooth and sarcastic as she glowed yellow. "Your coding was very accurate about him, stubborn, impulsive, and mildly amusing."
Nox rolled his eyes, his voice dry. "Oh, great, the two of you are teaming up now."
Zee crossed her arms, her expression shifting. "Okay, Nox, you owe me for this project. I want to know why you needed me to sabotage that bus. And now this mask? What does all of this mean?"
Nox sighed, running a paw through his hair as he stepped back to let Zee climb inside. "Okay, Zee, I get it, you've got questions. But it's... complicated."
Zee jumped in and leaned against the edge of his desk, unimpressed. "'Complicated' doesn't cut it, Nox. You owe me an explanation? What are you up to, and I mean really up to?"
Nebular's lights flickered green, as if amused. "Oh, this should be good. Go on, Nox, explain yourself."
Nox shot a glare at the mask. "Not helping, Neb."
His tone softened as he turned back to Zee. "It's not like I'm trying to drag you into something dangerous, Zee. I just… needed a hand with something, that's all."
Zee narrowed her eyes. "A hand with something? Nox, what have you gotten yourself into?"
Nox hesitated, his ears flicking. "It wasn't me... and it's... ugh. Someone wanted something from me."
Zee tilted her head, skeptical. "Someone wanted something from you? That's vague, even for you."
Nox sighed and ran a hand through his fur. "Okay, hear me out first... Do you know the Bloodhounds?"
Zee gasped in disbelief. "The Bloodhounds?" Her voice dropped, her eyes widening. "Nox, tell me you're not mixed up with them."
Nox's tail flicked uncomfortably. "It's complicated, okay? Very."
Zee pinched the bridge of her nose, exhaling sharply. "Nox, when you say 'complicated,' it usually means 'a complete mess.'" Her eyes burned with a mix of concern and frustration. "You know the Bloodhounds kill people, right? I wouldn't even think about catching a deal with them. I knew you were no fan of rules, but this?!"
Nox's ears flattened slightly, his gaze dropping. "I didn't have a choice, Zee. It's not like I—"
Zee cut him off, her voice sharp. "So how did you end up serving as the killers' pup?"
Nox winced. "Okay, first of all, ouch. And second of all, it wasn't my decision... it all started when I was eleven."
Zee's eyes softened slightly, but her voice remained firm. "Alright, then start from the beginning. What happened when you were eleven, Nox?"
For a second, silence filled the room, then Nox began to speak.
"I remember how heavy the air felt that night.
It wasn't like the usual tension that was common in our apartment, it was worse.
Everything seemed darker, and my heart pounded harder than ever before.
I was standing near the doorway when my father, Jorik, came stumbling in.
He was covered in bruises, blood dripping from a cut near his temple.
I'd seen him return injured before, but never like this.
My mother rushed over to him, trying to steady him as he slumped onto our old couch.
Her hands trembled while she checked his wounds.
I could hear how fast her heart was beating, like she was just as terrified as I was.
But behind that terror, there was something else: a deep sense of dread.
I could feel it in the pit of my stomach.
I crept closer, unable to pull my eyes away from my father's labored breaths.
The sight of him in this state made me feel both small and angry.
I wanted to help, but I didn't know how.
He looked up at me, his face pale, and I could see an overwhelming mix of pain and regret in his eyes.
'Nox,' he rasped, trying to find his voice. 'I need to tell you something.'
I nodded, swallowing hard, feeling way older than my eleven years.
My father had always been the strong one, the one who shielded me from the worst parts of our world.
But tonight, he looked broken.
'It's about the debt,' he said, barely managing to keep his voice steady. 'They said… if I keep going like this, the interest is going to double.
They want more than I can give.
They told me… if I had someone younger, someone strong, they'd give me more time.
I didn't want to ask this of you, but...'
He paused, taking a shaky breath.
For a moment, I thought he was going to break down completely.
But he held it together, just enough to say what he needed to say.
'Nox, I think you have to do something.
I never wanted you to get involved in this life.
But it's getting worse.
I… I don't know how much longer I can protect you.'
My stomach twisted in knots.
I'd always known, on some level, that there were debts and deals in my father's life, whispers of dangerous men and dirty money.
But it had always felt like a distant reality.
Now, it was right in front of me, threatening to swallow me whole.
There wasn't any escape left.
The next day, I found myself standing in front of the Houndshut.
Just the name alone had always made me uneasy.
I'd heard the stories, rumors about brutal figures from the underground world who gathered there.
Giant lions, tigers, rhinos, creatures capable of crushing a person in a heartbeat.
It was a place no kid belonged, but there I was, staring up at those massive gates, my father beside me.
Neither of us spoke much.
I knew he felt guilty, like he was handing me over to the wolves.
But we both understood there was no other choice.
The Bloodhounds wanted me specifically, and if I backed out, my whole family would pay for it.
So I stood there, trying to stop my hands from shaking, praying I wouldn't freeze at the worst possible moment.
The gate guards were huge.
Each one looked at me like I was a joke, a tiny fox who had no business being there.
Their leader was a tiger, covered in scars, who sneered when he saw me. 'Is this the best your kin can offer?' he growled, his voice rumbling in a way that made my blood run cold. 'A young silent fox? Hardly impressive.'
My heart hammered in my chest, but in that moment, something inside me shifted.
I'd watched enough hustlers and street magicians to know how to misdirect and impress.
If these guys were going to judge me, I had to show them I wasn't just a scared kid.
So I did one of the tricks I'd practiced over and over in secret, something small, but effective
I made a coin seem to appear out of thin air, then disappear just as fast.
A simple sleight of hand, but I did it with enough flair and speed that even those thugs missed the tell.
Then, using the distraction, I quickly stepped aside in a way that looked like I'd vanished.
I'd spent months perfecting that little move.
They all froze, caught off guard.
I saw the tiger's eyes narrow in curiosity.
That hint of surprise was enough to make him take me seriously. Well, well... he murmured, letting out a low, rumbling chuckle. Maybe we can make a few quick bucks off this little fella.
You're in. My heart kept pounding, but at least now I knew I'd managed to earn a shred of respect, or at least interest.
I might've just saved myself from immediate rejection.
For the first time, I realized I could use my tricks, my quick moves, to survive this place.
I glanced at my father.
He looked relieved, but I could see the regret in his eyes. I'll be waiting for you down here every month, he said quietly. Don't let me down. I nodded, trying to put on a brave face, even though I felt like my whole world was collapsing.
The gates of the Chokepoint creaked open, and as I stepped inside, I felt a chill run down my spine.
I knew I was walking into something far bigger and darker than I'd ever imagined.
But if this was the only way to save my family, I had no choice.
And so, I took my first steps into the underworld that day, steps that would change my life forever.
I might have been just a boy, but I was about to learn I could be something else if I had to be.
Every move from here on out would decide who I'd become.
As those gates shut behind me, everything I once knew felt distant.
There was no turning back.