15 15.Menacing Moments

"Who is it?"Mark shuddered.

"I am sorry to startle you.I am the landlady."The landlady said,patting on Mark's shoulder.

Mark was relieved.He was not alone anymore.His heavy breathing now was slowing down,along with his pulse rate.He was calming down and his cheeks were gaining color.

"Is everything all right?"She questioned.

"Yes yes yes. Everything is fine"Mark assured,unlocking the door and entering the house.He sat down on the bed,and grabbed a bottle of water.He opened the cap and gulped the entire bottle.The landlady could sense Mark's tension.

"You sure that there is no problem?Because if there is something,you can tell me about it."She advised.

"Well,when I was coming back, four people were chasing me,and followed me till I reached the building.One of them had gone to the first floor and was constantly staring at me.I was very scared.On top of that,I was alone."Mark replied.

"I shall report it to the police as soon as possible."

"Thank you so much."

"Mark..we are home!"Akio and Wang Xiu had come back from college. Akio saw the landlady.

"What brings you here?"He questioned her.

"Your friend was very scared.I came here to comfort him."She replied.

"Oh."Akio mused.

"I shall leave now.Please take care of him."She then left.

"What happened?"Akio asked.

"I was being followed."Mark replied,with a normal voice.

"You were being..what?"Akio asked to confirm.

"FOLLOWED."Mark repeated.

"What was their appearance like?"Wang Xiu interrogated.

"They all looked like factory workers."He noted.

"There is only one factory near the school.The metal foundry."She pondered.

"Can we inform it to the police?"Mark asked.

"We can't do that unless we have possible suspects."Wang Xiu clarified.

Mark took out his phone and searched up public places near his school.There were only two places:The bus stop and the gambling house near it.However,the gambling house was illegal and nothing more could be found about it.

"We can go and check that place only in the daytime.There is a high possibility that we might get arrested if we go now."Akio observed.

"Yeah..you are right."Wang Xiu affirmed.

They decided to spend the night and as soon as day breaks,they would go to the gambling house.However,there was a problem.Wang Xiu was a girl and that place is definitely not safe for girls. Akio brought out that point.

"I can dress up as a boy."Wang Xiu rebuked.

"In that case,it is completely your responsibility."Akio stated,thereby nullifying any responsibility on his side.

The three of them spent a restless night.The day was not peaceful either.They did what they were supposed to do and set out.They reached the gambling house but it was shut.

"Oh..no..What are we supposed to do now?"Akio criticized.

At that time,some one came out from the rear entrance.It was a tall man of a good build.

"What are you kids doing here?"He croaked in a gritty voice.

"There is no kid over here.We are all adults."Wang Xiu raged.

"OK then..show your ID's "He grumbled.

"Here you go."Wang Xiu said,producing three ID's.

The man checked each of them."You can go in."He commanded.

The trio entered the place.It was not what they expected.They thought it would be similar to an underground cheap gambling center but boy,this place was bathing in millions.People sitting on every roulette,betting with fortunes.Besides that there was a bar that was serving High-class Alcoholic beverages.Each centimeter square was adorned with magnificent chandeliers .It was totally out of league was a bunch of factory workers.Which means there was something fishy about the workers.But what was it?