(Mark POV)
Half an hour before the twins began packing for their journey, Mark had already gathered a handful of Rugrats to settle the matter of their unpaid debt.
They didn't waste time.
The moment the group was assembled, they pushed out of the cave and into the open, where the sky had turned a dull, heavy gray. Rain had already begun to fall—steady, cold, and soaking through cloth within minutes. Mud clung to their boots with every step, each footfall leaving deep, messy impressions behind. The ground gave slightly under their weight, releasing the damp, earthy scent of soil and worms into the air.
Mark didn't mind.
If anything, the weather suited his mood.
He pulled his hood lower and kept moving, a faint grin tugging at his lips. A day like this kept most people indoors—fewer eyes, fewer interruptions.
Perfect.
They passed the trading square, now quieter than before, with merchants scrambling to cover their goods and customers hurrying off through the rain. From there, the group turned into the narrower paths of the slums, where the roads thinned, and the buildings leaned closer together, their walls patched and worn.
Mark led them without hesitation.
He knew exactly where they were going.
The thought of the encounter ahead sat comfortably in his mind—simple, straightforward. Collect what was owed. No complications. And if things got rough… well,....
A flicker of satisfaction crossed his face.
Before long, the house came into view.
Worn down, crooked, and barely holding together—it looked like it might collapse under the weight of the rain alone. Mark recognized it instantly. He'd been here enough times to remember every crack in its walls, every loose board near the entrance.
Three weeks overdue.
And now they were trying to leave.
That alone was enough to sour his mood.
As they drew closer, Mark raised a hand slightly, a signal for the others to slow
The rain tapped steadily against the roof, but through the thin walls—and the small gaps along the exterior—he could hear movement inside. Voices. Faint, but clear enough.
They were still there.
Good.
Mark stepped back slightly from the door, positioning himself just off to the side. The others spread out without being told, forming a loose line near the entrance.
He wasn't going to knock.
A slow grin spread across his face as he listened to the quiet sounds from within.
Better to let them walk right into it.