Thursday Morning October 19th, 2025. South-Central Empire City, Illinois. GoldDome/LuckBricks Gang Territory.

  Ceecee woke up in a dark room. In any other circumstance two years ago, panic would’ve filled her instantly. But she could smell Jamar all over the place.

  She could smell his unique brand of bay leaves simmering in stews and miasma of skunkish weed flowing in the air like tranquillizing spirits.

  Her eyes opened— or, one eye opened. The other was swollen shut and pulsing hot.

  A deep breath took her involuntarily and she was quickly told a story of the terrible shape her ribs were in.

  She exhaled slowly, scared to awaken that sharp pain again.

  Mentally she prepped herself a few seconds longer before rolling over and pushing herself into a sitting up position. Even that was difficult, causing her to break out into a sweat as she sat catching her breath.

  She looked around in the dark. As a Day-Hunter, she didn’t have exceptional night vision. Much better than humans, but not as good as the other breeds.

  Even so, she could see Andre sleeping on the floor in the same close he went outside in. She could smell the blood on them. She could smell him— a little more clearly than before.

  He stretched as he slept, reaching out with a clawed spotted hand. The sight of it brought all the memories rushing back.

  Tysean and the others. The fight in the alley.

  Andre sat up, “Ceecee?”

  “Yea…..”

  Andre got up and turned the light on near the door. After that he knocked on the wall but Jamar was already opening the door and stepping down.

  “Rise and shine, bwoys and gyal-dem….”

  Andre stood near the bathroom, leaning on the wooden wall as Jamar stepped in wearing a green thermal and black baggy pants with the same circular glasses.

  “How ya’ feel, Ceecee?” Jamar asked.

  Ceecee looked down at herself. Her midsection was wrapped, bruises covered her arms and she could feel how tender the skin along her jaw was.

  “I’m good.” She replied.

  “So…. Your ex got out of juvy early and is now a Cat. First thing he does is try to set up a….. harem?” Andre asked.

  Ceecee shook her head, “…..we used to date back in highschool. Like two years. He was older…. and a piece of shit. But I was young and dumb. I let a lot slide that I shouldn’t have. He’s always been a monster. But that back there…..”

  “Was not normal for a Stray?”

  “At all.” Ceecee agreed.

  “Da’ bwoy ain’t no Feral. Mi know dat!” Jamar said with a stomp of his cane and nod to Andre.

  Andre didn’t feel worthy of the praise or in the mood for much celebration. So he kept on task, “How was he so strong? He transformed into a monster towards the end there.”

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  Jamar turned his head to him, “Big, on all four ah’ dem’ paws— barely human appearin’?”

  Andre nodded, “Yea.”

  “Bomboclaaaat….. that ain’t normal fi no damn Stray. Yah’ know what else ain’t normal?”

  “What?”

  “Mi go watch de’ news dis mornin’. Mi ah see a big bloodclat massacre in ah gym up round dem’ rich folk-dem. Six dead. Suspected drug abuse.”

  “Damn….” Andre said quietly.

  An awkward silence somehow spread as Jamar looked from him to Ceecee.

  “Ahhhh…” Jamar smacked his lips, “A-Andre don’t get the city like we do, gyal.”

  “What?” Andre asked.

  Ceecee looked to Jamar, “You think whatever this drug is might be connected to Tysean?”

  Jamar shrugged, “Mi Nuh’ see how a Stray so young coulda’ drop some hurt pon’ yah like dis. You were supposed’ ta beat da breaks off dat bwoy, ya know?”

  “Was there any film? I know gyms have cameras everywhere but the bathroom.” Andre asked.

  “No film. That’s how ya’ know, bwoy.” Jamar said.

  “Cats in this city are an open secret to the locals.” Ceecee said.

  Andre believed that based on the street art.

  “Anytime there’s a crime or big event and no recording available, that’s how you know it was between Cats.”

  “Tariq has that much control…..” Andre marveled.

  “He in everything. Business, entertainment, law, whatever criminal element you can think of. He’s brought it all together by making Cats lead and report to him.” Ceecee said.

  A knot twisted tighter in Andre’s stomach.

  “How can you beat that?” Andre thought. But he must’ve said it out loud because Jamar grinned.

  “You beat it by bein’ firm, bwoy. Yuh stay small buh’ strong. Realllll strong, move quick an’ be decisive. Da Riq’ man a stretch imself’ too thin. He cyan’ be everywhere. He can have his eyes and ear from the Cat-dem, but we ah’ use that to our advantage wit’ a sprinkle of misinformation, ya’ know.” Jamar said.

  “W— that’s all good info, but you’re talking like I’m about to take down a shapeshifter steroid drug ring.” Andre said.

  Jamar didn’t move.

  Ceecee looked at Jamar like he was crazy.

  Andre turned to Ceecee, “So he doesn’t give everyone crazy tasks all casual like this?”

  Ceecee shook her head, “That’ll turn the city up alot, don’t you think?” She asked Jamar.

  Jamar laughed, “Oh yah’. But de’ kitty-bwoy can take it.”

  Andre clenched his jaw, “I don’t want to take anything. I just want to get my mom out of here. I’m not a King, i’m not a damn superhero— I barely even know how to talk to people…”

  Jamar moved quick, lunging forward a step to press his cane into Andre’s chest. Just enough to move him.

  Andre bared his teeth, “The hell are y—”

  “Cora Adamos.” Jamar said.

  Andre turned his head at him, “I never told you her name…”

  “Mi nuh’ need your word'. I knew dat gyal fore’ yuh be born.” Jamar stamped his cane, “Same for ya’ fada.”

  Andre stood up straighter, “WHa— you know my parents? Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”

  “Yuh were havin’ ah rough day, bwoy. Mi figure you can wait….. but we cyan’ wait foreva. Da Riq’ man don’ know where ya’ are— prolly assumin’ yuh cowerin’ somewhere. Dis da perfect time to make a big move.”

  Ceecee nodded, “Plus, your ass is grass if this drug starts to circulate. You took down Tysean, but what if an experienced and matured Cat gets hold of this stuff? What if a whole group gets some? What if the chemists make new strains?”

  “It ah’ be harder to save ya mada’ if everyone become like Tysean. We move now or we might not eva’.” Jamar said.

  Andre felt like he was jammed into a corner and the wall behind him was covered in spikes. No option was a good option, but only one option got him back to his mother sooner.

  “Ok. How are we going to do this?” Andre asked.

  ***

  For the next hour, they ate jerk chicken so spicy that Andre’s eyes watered as much as his nose while they brainstormed.

  Ceecee was a Slasher. Slashers were female Leon-Breeds of the GoldDome gang that primarily worked in combat. They didn’t move drugs or transport guns. They broke up scuffles in groups, provided numbers in raids and gang wars and took down outsiders. They also functioned as bodyguards. It was that last job that gave Ceecee that knowledge of where the drugs were likely being processed.

  Unknowingly, she’d told Andre the day before when introducing him to the southside of Empire City.

  The first instance of traceable drug use was on the north side. Possibly a misplaced dose or stolen by an addict. They were common up north. Aside from that hiccup, the drug was likely being test driven down south. Which would explain why a kit like Tysean fresh out of juvie would have it in his system.

  They had the building. An all too upscale complex near southcentral empire city. Right next to Afro-Town.

  But before getting there, they had to find what they were looking for.

  Once again, Ceecee was their guide.

  She knew where Tysean would be staying at.

  And that’s where they were heading.