The air hung heavy with the scent of stale cigarettes and cheap cologne as Zach and Ethan entered the dimly lit back room of the "Lucky Dragon" bar. The room was sparsely furnished, a single flickering neon sign casting long shadows on the worn leather booths.
Kong sat at a table in the corner, a mountain of cash piled before him. He was a large man, his face a roadmap of past battles, his eyes glinting with a mixture of amusement and disdain. He gestured to the empty seats across from him.
"So, you're the ones who need my help," Kong said, his voice a gravelly whisper. "Tell me, what's this 'project' you're so desperate for?"
Zach swallowed hard, his throat suddenly dry. He glanced at Ethan, who gave him a reassuring nod.
"It's...it's not really a project," Zach began, his voice barely a whisper. "It's more of a...a personal matter."
"Spit it out, kid," Kong said, his patience wearing thin. "I don't have all day."
"I...I hit a guy," Zach said, his voice trembling slightly. "I was driving, and it was dark, and I didn't see him. I just...I just hit him."
Kong's eyes narrowed, his gaze piercing. "Hit him? And you want to find him? Why?"
"Because...because I need to know he's okay," Zach said, his voice cracking. "I need to know if I hurt him badly. I need to...to make things right."
Kong chuckled, a dry, humorless sound. "Making things right, huh? That's a funny way to put it. You know, most people who hit someone and run just disappear. Why are you so different?"
Zach hesitated, his mind racing. He knew he couldn't tell Kong the whole story, not yet. He couldn't reveal the truth about the accident, about the strange feeling of being watched, about the whispers that followed him.
"I just...I just feel responsible," Zach said, his voice barely audible. "I need to know he's okay."
Kong leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on Zach. "So, you want me to find this guy for you. You want me to use my resources, my connections, my…'eyes' to help you find him."
Zach nodded slowly, his heart pounding in his chest. He knew he was asking a lot, but he had no other choice.
"And what do you offer in return?" Kong asked, his voice a low growl. "What makes you think I'd help you? I don't work for free, kid."
Zach's stomach lurched. He knew this was coming. He had to find a way to convince Kong to help him, to convince him that it was worth his time, his resources, his…'connections'.
"I...I don't have much to offer," Zach said, his voice barely a whisper. "But I'm willing to do anything. Anything to find him."
Kong's eyes narrowed, his gaze piercing. "Anything? You really think that's enough? I've seen 'anything' before, kid. It's usually just a bunch of empty promises."
Zach felt a surge of desperation. He had to find a way to convince Kong, to make him see that he was serious, that he was willing to do whatever it took. He had to find a way to make him understand that this was more than just a simple favor, that it was a matter of his conscience, his soul.
"I...I'm not like other people," Zach said, his voice gaining a little more strength. "I'm not just looking for a way to escape my guilt. I need to find this guy. I need to know he's okay. I need to make things right. And I'm willing to do whatever it takes."
Kong leaned forward, his gaze intense. "Whatever it takes, huh? You're a curious one, kid. You're not like the others. You're desperate, but you're also…determined. I like that. It makes things interesting."
He paused, his eyes flickering to the mountain of cash before him. "Alright, kid. I'll help you. But it's going to cost you. And I want something in return."
Zach's heart skipped a beat. He knew this was coming. He knew that Kong wouldn't help him for free. But he was willing to pay the price. He had to find this man, and Kong was his only hope.
"What do you want?" Zach asked, his voice barely a whisper.
Kong smiled, a cold, calculating smile. "I want you to do me a favor. A small favor. Something I can't do myself."
"What kind of favor?" Zach asked, his voice laced with apprehension. He didn't like the sound of this.
Kong leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on Zach. "Let's just say it's a job that requires a certain...discretion. Something that wouldn't look good on my resume."
Ethan, who had been quiet throughout the conversation, leaned forward. "What's the job, Kong? What do you need us to do?"
Kong's eyes flickered to Ethan, a flicker of something almost like respect in their depths. "You're a smart one, kid. I like that. But this isn't your concern. This is between me and Zach."
Ethan nodded, his eyes narrowed. He knew better than to push Kong. He glanced at Zach, his expression a mix of concern and curiosity.
"What is it, Zach?" Ethan asked, his voice a low whisper. "What's he asking you to do?"
Zach hesitated, his mind racing. He knew he couldn't tell Ethan everything, not yet. But he had to give him some idea of what he was getting into.
"It's...it's nothing too bad," Zach said, his voice barely audible. "Just a little...dirty work. Nothing illegal, but definitely…not something I'd want my mother to know about."
Ethan's eyes narrowed further. He knew Zach wouldn't lie to him, but he couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. He glanced back at Kong, who was watching them both with a predatory gleam in his eyes.
"Alright," Ethan said, his voice firming up. "We'll do it. But if it's anything dangerous, anything that puts Zach at risk, we're out of here."
Kong chuckled, a low, rumbling sound. "Don't worry, kid. I wouldn't ask Zach to do anything he couldn't handle. Besides, I need him alive. He's got a job to do for me. A very important job."
Zach felt a shiver run down his spine. He didn't like the way Kong was looking at him, the way he was talking about him. It was as if he was already planning, already plotting.
"Alright," Zach said, his voice barely a whisper. "I'll do it. Just tell me what you need me to do."
Kong smiled, a cold, calculating smile. "Good. I knew you were the right man for the job. Now, let's talk about this 'favor' you need from me."
Zach knew that this was just the beginning. He knew that he was stepping into a world he didn't understand, a world where the lines between right and wrong were blurred, where the price of a favor could be high. But he was determined to find the man he had hit, and Kong was his only hope. He had to trust his gut, trust his instincts, and hope that he wouldn't regret this decision.
The hunt was on, and the stakes were higher than ever.