Chapter 2
CHAPTER 2
K ing fished his phone out of his pocket as he walked the hallways and scrolled through his messages. A few were from Butch—mostly crude memes, as usual. One in particular made King chuckle, a faint smile tugging at his lips. Butch had always had a talent for finding the most ridiculous shit to send him.
King’s thoughts drifted as he glanced up before looking back at his phone. He, Butch, and Kent had started with the Warriors together, forming a tight unit at first. But everything changed after his falling out with Kent. Their confrontation over how Kent was treating Raven had been private but definitive. From that moment, King charted his own path in the VC, refusing to align himself with anyone. His focus was simple, do the job and leave the drama shit behind.
Things had gone downhill between them during their Warrior initiation. Paired with Kent and Butch, King failed right alongside them when their collective mission fell apart. That shitshow marked the end of any friendship they may have had. Kent had apologized since, and while he seemed like a changed man, trust didn’t come easily to King. Kent had a long road ahead to prove himself.
Back then, King had heard from Butch about Kent’s underhanded plan to sabotage Raven. That was the only reason King decided to go through with the initiation, being on a team with Kent. He wanted to ensure nothing happened to her. In the end, it wasn’t King who saved the day. It was Daniel. The kid had knocked out all three of them and tied them up, defusing the disaster in one swift move that impressed the hell out of King.
Later, King had sought Raven out, apologizing for his part and explaining what he’d tried to do. To his surprise, Daniel had already spoken to her, making it clear that King hadn’t been involved in the plan and had actually worked to stop it. That gesture hadn’t gone unnoticed. King’s respect for Daniel had tripled that day, and from then on, he saw the kid in a completely different light.
“King!” Jake’s voice rang out from behind, snapping him out of his thoughts.
Stopping mid-step, King turned, his sharp gaze locking on Jake as he caught up. “What’s up?”
King felt closer to Jake than most of the other Warriors, except for Butch. The two of them had spent countless hours together, training and grinding through the long work nights while Jake taught King more about the darker, demonic forces that clawed at the edges of their world. Jake had been the one to pull back the curtain, revealing just how deep the rot went.
Jake’s face was filled with concern. His usual calm edged with something heavier. “Have you heard from Joey?”
King’s brow furrowed as he pulled out his phone. His thumb hovered over the screen. Joey wasn’t just some random kid to him. He was a friend, which was something King didn’t take for granted. Joey was one of Jessie’s dance students who was all heart and no quit. The teenager had a knack for sending him hilarious reels and checking in to say, Hey, you still alive? It was a friendship King never expected but deeply valued.
“The last I talked to him was two days ago,” King said slowly, his eyes darkening as he scanned his messages. His frown deepened. “We texted. Nothing since then. Why?”
Jake cursed under his breath. “He hasn’t shown up at the dance studio, which is unlike him, especially with the big dance recital they are getting ready to do. Jessie said he lives on his phone when not dancing. She can’t get hold of him or his dad. Some kids who attend school with him said he hasn’t been there either. She’s worried. Real worried.”
King’s grip on his phone tightened. Joey didn’t just disappear. He was too responsible, too sharp. If something had happened, it wasn’t by accident.
“I’m heading to the dance studio,” Jake added. “Going to talk to some of the kids he’s closest with, see if anyone knows where he might be. I know you’re close with the kid.”
King didn’t hesitate. “Let’s go.” King texted a message to Sloan before putting his phone away.
He was already moving, the urgency in his step palpable as he headed for his bike. His mind raced with possibilities, none of them good. A cold certainty settled in his chest as he kicked up the stand and started the engine. In the world they live in today, anything could happen. When a responsible person like Joey went dark even at his age, it meant something wasn’t right.
Following Jake out of the parking lot, King thought of the last time he had seen Joey. He had stopped in at the dance studio about two weeks ago. Joey seemed fine then but said he was busy with rehearsals and final exams at school. King had noticed that Joey wasn’t texting him as much and sometimes took him hours to text King back, but he figured it was his busy schedule, and the kid was a teenager with better shit to do than send memes all day. Maybe he had been wrong, and something had been going on.
Jessie was very protective over her students, especially Joey, so if she was worried, then something was up.
It was Saturday, so traffic was light, allowing them to reach the dance studio in no time. Once they parked, King and Jake stepped inside, the familiar rhythm of music filling the air. Students moved in sync across the floor, their focus intense as Jessie observed with a sharp but encouraging eye, offering critiques with subtle gestures and firm but positive words.
King leaned casually against the wall, his eyes scanning the room. Something felt off. He frowned. Joey wasn’t there. He was always there, front and center, full of energy and determination. A nagging sense of concern crept into King’s chest as he continued to watch the dancers glide across the floor.
When Jessie saw them, she exchanged a few quiet words with one of the older students, who nodded and took over, directing the class. Wiping her hands on a towel draped over her shoulder, she made her way toward them, her usual confident stride laced with worry.
“I’m sorry,” Jessie said as she approached Jake. “I know how busy you guys are, but I’m worried. Joey isn’t answering his phone or texts, and neither is Lee.”
“None of the kids have heard from him?” Jake asked, nodding toward where the students were now taking a break.
“No,” Jessie said, her voice tight with worry, “and he hasn’t been at school either.” She glanced at King, her hands twisting nervously.
“And he’s never just vanished before?” King asked, though he already knew the answer. He still felt the need to hear it out loud. “I mean, he is a teenager.”
Jessie shook her head firmly. “No. Not even when things were bad with his dad, this place was his escape. When things got rough, he didn’t hide; he came here.” Her eyes flicked to Jake, her worry deepening with every word. “He’s missed two of his final exams, and this recital we’re preparing for is a huge opportunity for him to get noticed by one of the top schools for the arts. Joey wouldn’t just disappear without telling someone. And he definitely wouldn’t miss rehearsals unless something was seriously wrong. I’m afraid something bad has happened.”
“Who’s Joey closest with here?” King asked, his gaze sweeping over the students. They had stopped dancing and were now stealing glances at him and Jake, whispering among themselves.
“Kristen,” Jessie answered without hesitation. She turned toward the group, lifting a hand to gesture the girl over. “Kristen, can you come here a minute?”
Kristen approached, her curious eyes shifting from Jessie to King. “Hi.” She gave him a shy smile, her hands nervously fidgeting at her sides. “You’re King, right? Joey talked about you all the time. I’ve seen you at some of our recitals.”
King smiled back, a warm, genuine curve to his lips, trying to put her at ease. “That’s me.”
He remembered Kristen from past events. She was a strong dancer with sharp footwork and a graceful presence. Anytime his work allowed, he supported Jessie and her students. King wasn’t one to sit quietly, either. Every performance got a standing ovation from him, complete with loud whoops and whistles that earned him amused looks from parents and smirks from Jake. He didn’t care. To him, dancers weren’t just artists — they were like fighters. Fighters in poetry. That thought made him chuckle to himself.
“We are trying to find Joey,” King said gently but directly. “We need your help to figure out where he might have gone or who he’s been spending time with outside of class.”
Kristen’s smile faded, replaced with a flicker of worry. “He hasn’t answered my texts, and that’s... weird. He always replies,” She swallowed, her eyes darting to Jessie for reassurance before settling back on King. “The last time I talked to him, he was acting... different.”
King leaned forward slightly, his expression soft but intent. “Different, how?”
Kristen hesitated, chewing her bottom lip as if weighing how much to say. Her eyes darted between King and Jake before landing on Jessie, who gave her a slight nod of encouragement. “Joey told me a lot about the issues he and his dad had,” she said slowly. “They weren’t easy to talk about, but he always trusted me. Lately, though, he said things were... better. Or at least, that’s what he wanted to believe. He kept saying his dad was really trying. But a couple of weeks ago, I noticed something was bothering him again.”
King and Jake remained silent, letting her tell them what she knew at her own pace.
She took a deep breath, her fingers twisting nervously in the hem of her shirt. “The last time I talked to him, he admitted he was scared. He said he thought his dad was involved in something, something dangerous. He didn’t know exactly what, but it felt wrong. Like... like there were people watching him.”
The words landed like a punch to the gut, cold and heavy with implication. King clenched his jaw, a muscle twitching as his mind raced. The knot in his stomach tightened. He exchanged a grim glance with Jake, who looked equally troubled, then turned his attention back to Kristen.
“Was someone watching Joey or his dad?” Jake asked, trying to keep the anger out of his voice. If Lee put Joey in danger because of something stupid he did, King would kick his ass.
Kristen shifted uncomfortably, her fingers twisting together. “I don’t really know. He didn’t say, and I didn’t ask.” She gave a slight shrug. “I just figured he meant himself. Like, he felt like he was being watched.”
King’s eyes narrowed. “Did he mention anything specific about what his dad was involved in? Any details about who these people might be?”
Kristen shook her head, her expression clouded with worry. “No, he wouldn’t tell me much more just that something felt off. He said his dad was staying out all night, losing jobs left and right. A few weeks ago, their electricity got shut off. Joey said it was back on the next day, but when he asked about it, his dad just told him not to worry, that it was taken care of.”
Jake muttered a curse, dragging a hand through his hair, frustration evident in every movement. King remained silent for a moment, the tension coiling in his chest. His expression darkened, the resolve in his eyes growing colder, sharper.
“Kristen,” King said, his tone gentler now, though no less serious, “if you remember anything else, no matter how small you need to tell us. Anything strange. Anyone new hanging around Joey or his dad that you remember from conversations you’ve had with Joey.”
She nodded quickly, her gaze steady on his. “I’ll think. If I come up with anything, I’ll tell Jessie so she can call you.” She hesitated, her voice dropping to a near-whisper. “Do you think something bad has happened to him?”
Jessie offered a calm, reassuring smile before King could speak. “I’m sure he’s fine, Kristen. Joey’s smart and resourceful.”
King appreciated Jessie’s response because he wasn’t sure it was fine and didn’t want to worry the girl. The pieces Kristen had just given them painted a far more troubling picture.
A new thought struck him. He held up a hand to stop Kristen as she turned to leave. “One more thing. Have you been to his house recently?”
Kristen bit her lip, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “I was giving him rides to school and here for practice,” she said quietly. “But about a week ago, he told me to stay away from his house. He said he didn’t want me getting involved and that he’d find his own way.”
The weight of her words settled heavily between them, thickening the air with dread. Jake’s jaw tightened, and King’s heart sank a little deeper. Whatever Joey was caught up in, it was far worse than they had feared.
King watched as Kristen returned to the other students, her shoulders slumped. One of the girls put her arm around her and hugged her.
“It’s not good, is it?” Jessie’s voice broke, a sob trembling in her words as she fought to keep her composure in front of the kids.
Jake wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into an embrace. He glanced at King over her head, his eyes hard with determination. “We’ll find him,” he said softly but firmly. “I’m calling Blaze. I don’t want you going anywhere alone until we know more. I’m going to head to Joey’s house. Do not leave here without Blaze, and make sure the kids have parents picking them up or if they drove to leave in pairs.”
Jessie nodded against his chest before stepping back. She cast a worried glance at the students, their eyes filled with curiosity and concern, then looked back at Jake and King. “Please, tell me the moment you learn anything. Don’t keep me in the dark.”
“We won’t,” King assured her, though his mind was racing. Questions churned as he scanned the studio again. His eyes swept over the students, the posters on the walls, and the doors leading to other rooms, looking for anything that might point to where Joey had gone or why he hadn’t reached out.
It was true that Joey was intelligent and resourceful. He had built solid connections with him, Jake, and others. Joey knew they’d move heaven and earth for him, so why hadn’t he sounded the alarm? Talk to at least one of them.
He voiced the question aloud. “Why didn’t he let one of us know he was in trouble?”
Jessie’s answer came quickly, the pain in her eyes cutting deeper than her words. “Because he loves his dad. No matter what Lee’s flaws are, Joey is loyal. If Lee was doing something he shouldn’t, Joey wouldn’t have wanted to risk getting him in trouble. He would try to handle it on his own.”
Jake frowned. “What makes you so sure Lee was involved in something shady?”
Jessie sighed, crossing her arms tightly across her chest as though bracing herself. “Just a feeling. Joey told me a lot about their life after his mom left. Lee spiraled and started drinking, doing drugs, and gambling. He owed people money. But then he started his business, and somehow, he managed to pay off all his debts. Joey said things were better, not perfect, but better. Lee was still drinking, but not like before.”
King nodded slowly, understanding Joey’s fierce loyalty despite his father’s shortcomings. It made sense. The kid had a heart too big for his own good. Even if Lee had been a mess, he was still his dad. That was Joey in a nutshell. He was fiercely protective, loyal to a fault, and always willing to carry more than he should.
“Sometimes love makes you blind,” King murmured, more to himself than anyone else.
Jake’s jaw clenched as his mind worked through the pieces. “Something made Joey think Lee was in trouble . ” He shook his head. “We need to find out what that something is.”
King’s eyes darkened as he pulled out his phone. “I’ll get Butch digging to see if he can find anything out. We’ll figure out who he’s tangled up with.”
“Please be careful,” Jessie called out after them.
“This isn’t good.” Jake voiced as soon as they were out of earshot of Jessie.
“No, it’s not.” King agreed with a curse. He swore if anyone hurt this kid, there would be hell to pay.