Chapter 43: Paying homage to the haters
The next day evening after the whole drama with Gwen and Rebecca, Kaine stood in his apartment with a notepad, methodically writing down names. Marcus watched from the couch, his pale eyes tracking the pen’s movement across the page.
"You know what the problem with being broke for six months is?" Kaine said, not looking up from his writing. "You discover exactly how many people in your life are complete assholes."
He’d been thinking about the system’s warning all day—how Chad would seek revenge on his behalf, acting on his subconscious desires. The thought had led him to a disturbing realization: he had animosity with a lot of people. More than he’d admitted to himself.
"Let’s see," he muttered, reviewing his list. "We’ve got Derek from the electronics store who ’couldn’t help’ me when my phone died and I needed to make an emergency call. Sandra from the unemployment office who treated me like I was scamming the system. That prick Tony from O’Malley’s Pub who cut me off when I was three drinks in—on a Tuesday, mind you. And let’s not forget Mrs Dilalo from the corner store who followed me around like I was going to steal something just because I was counting change."
Marcus tilted his head, the gesture somehow conveying curiosity.
"I know what you’re thinking," Kaine said. "This is petty shit. But when you’re down and out, every small cruelty feels like a knife in the back. People show you who they really are when you’ve got nothing they want."
He folded the list and tucked it into his jacket pocket. "Come on. Let’s go check on my haters. Make sure they’re all still breathing before I meet up with Gwen."
They left through the fire escape, moving silently across the rooftops. The city spread out below them, millions of lights representing millions of people going about their mundane lives. Most of them probably decent enough, but Kaine had learned to focus on the exceptions.
Their first stop was Derek’s apartment building across town. The electronics store clerk lived in a nice complex with a doorman and everything—the kind of place that made Kaine wonder how someone who sold phone cases could afford better housing than a former Shadow Guard operative.
Through the third-floor window, they could see Derek in his living room, sprawled on an expensive-looking couch with a woman who definitely wasn’t his wife. The woman from his Facebook photos was brunette and petite. This one was blonde and built like she’d stepped out of a magazine.
"Well, well," Kaine said quietly. "Looks like Derek’s got more problems than just being a dick to customers."