This was it, this was why he felt the urge to come over—because of his friend.
They had cornered him to the darker part of the college. It was a big miracle that he was able to see them.
Ryan clenched his fists. How dare these hoodlums? Who did they think they were, attacking Hunter? As he walked towards the thugs, they almost jumped in fright when they saw him, but immediately composed themselves. "Who are you?" someone Ryan perceived was the leader of the gang asked.
"And what do you think you are doing cornering a free college student? Let go of him now!"
To be sure of the voice he heard, Hunter squinted at the figure. It was truly Ryan. He was here, in flesh and blood.
His case was hopeless now, very hopeless. Ryan would know everything about him and he would help the guys facilitate their plans. He hated Ryan, and he was sure Ryan hated him too.
The leader of the thugs fumed at Ryan. "And who do ya think ya are invading our business?"
Hunter quickly spoke up before Ryan could cause him more damage. "Don't mind him. He's a fool. Forget him and let's settle this between ourselves."
Ryan sensed the trouble in those words, and was immediately taken aback. He wondered how Hunter got entangled with this terribly looking gang.
Hunter kept pleading with the thugs not minding Ryan's presence. Ryan was an enemy, and Hunter had learnt not to look up to an enemy for help in time of need.
His friends had thought that he hated Ryan because of Bradley's illness, but he had resented Ryan because of the secret between him and Mandy. Of course, Mandy kept her promise and didn't tell anyone, not even Hunter, but Hunter had overheard their conversation.
That day, he had stormed up to Mandy and confronted her about the situation. Mandy ended up begging and crying, asking him not to tell anyone. He had agreed, but he said something that scared her that day.
"Alright, Mandy, I will not show him how much I hate him for doing this to you. But anytime I get the opportunity to do so, I won't hesitate!"
His hatred for Ryan had lingered, broiling secretly undercover.
Finally, today was Ryan's payback day.
"Please, let him go. Whatever the matter is, I think I can help out."
Who said that? Was it Ryan? Hunter could swear that it wasn't Ryan that spoke even though the voice was similar.
The thugs darted their gaze away from Hunter to Ryan. It was a good opportunity to escape. Hunter thought of the possibility but logic told him that he couldn't run faster than these armed thugs.
"And who do ya think ya are in the first place?"
"He is a fool!" Hunter said quickly.
"He's my friend, and I want to help out with anything that it is that made you come after him," Ryan stated.
Voices in Hunter's head screamed, "No! no! no! Don't say anything to him."
The leader gave a wicked grin. "Boys, he thinks he can help out."
His colleagues laughed with him.
"Hey! dude, your man is stuck with us, there ain't no way out for him from this." He used a foul word.
"I'm sure I could help somehow. Just let him go!" It was more like a plea.
"That's if ya gonna pay us the sum of ten thousand dollars. If not, we ain't gonna let him go, and we ain't got nothin' to tell ya either."
Ryan's mouth dropped open. How did Hunter and these thugs get involved with ten thousand dollars? "But– but how– how do you mean?"
Another gang member laughed. "Look at him. He's stammering. Well mister, that's what your so-called friend owes us, and we're here to deal with him since he's unable to pay up."
Ryan shook his head immediately. "No! Don't touch him please. I, I have the money, and I promise to pay you!"
"So, where is the money?"
"Come with me to my dorm room so I can get my credit card."
The gang leader glared at Ryan. "And have the cops on our heels? Do ya think ya wise? I am beginnin to run out of patience with ya intrudin into this matter."
Hunter sat down on the floor still dazed at what was unfolding before him. Why was Ryan trying to bargain on his behalf? Obviously to find a more dangerous ground to get even.
Ryan prayed in his heart, "Lord, what do I do? How can I settle these people so they can let go of Hunter." Ryan finished that prayer, and he got the answer he was looking for.
Smiling, he quickly reached out for it. It was his neck chain. No wonder that afternoon his heart had poked him to put on that neck chain.
"Thank you, Jesus!" He was willing to let go of anything to get Hunter out of the hands of these terrible people.
Ryan took off his neck chain and thrust it to the leader of the gang.
"Take this. It is real gold, worth twenty-five thousand dollars. It was a present given to me by my dad for my twentieth birthday."
The thug moved forward, and grabbed the chain, licking his lips. "And how am I sure that this is the original gold?"
"You can go check it out yourself with a gold dealer. If it's not real gold, you can come after me instead of my friend, Hunter."
The thug moved away to a corner and placed a call to his master. "Are you a fool? You better grab that necklace and bring it back here to me, idiot!"
"Yes, Master!" he replied, disconnected the call and quickly went back to Ryan. "Alright, I guess I'll take the necklace."
"Not yet, what do you have of my friend?" Ryan moved towards Hunter. "Did they collect any of your possessions?"
"Yes," Hunter said. "My, my phone!"
Ryan patted him gently. "Don't worry. All will be well now." He turned towards the hoodlums. "Get me his phone."
"Why should we do that? It's not here with us in the first place and we can't return it anymore. He gave it to the master himself, so forget it."
"His phone has a tracker, and I'm sure you would easily be found out by the cops if you continued keeping his phone with you. I think it will be better if you give me his phone and be cleared off the hook."
The thug leader was alarmed but stifled it. "It's not with us here. We can go back and bring it to him."
Ryan wasn't going to be easily fooled. "No, tell your master, or whoever it is, to send someone down here with the phone or bring it here himself."
The thugs tried to argue with him but Ryan stood his ground, so they placed the call, and someone quickly delivered the phone.
"Here, you can have your phone," the thug said, handing him Hunter's phone.
Ryan looked at it very well to be sure and when he was certain it was Hunter's phone. He walked towards Hunter. "Here, you are free now. Let's go. I have your phone with me."