Crystalbringer

Tonight, I'm on patrol with Clare. During the student council meeting earlier, she'd dropped a line that still rattles around in my head: "Ren is too much of a bamboozler. He needs to be woken up. Tonight, he's coming with me to that neighbourhood."

That neighborhood? What was she talking about? And what the hell did she mean by "He needs to be woken up"?

When she pulls up outside my house and swings the car door open, the answers start to become painfully clear.

My jaw hits the floor. Clare has always had a knack for dressing provocatively, but tonight… Tonight, she's gone all in.

She steps out of the car, and I'm hit with the full spectacle: shiny black boots climbing all the way to her knees, fishnet stockings that leave very little to the imagination, and a dress so short it's basically a long shirt. I'm not even exaggerating—her thong is right there. I can see it!

And then there's the makeup. Burgundy lipstick accentuating her full lips, black eyeliner framing her sharp, predatory eyes.

This… this doesn't even look like the Clare I know.

I'm stunned into silence as she leans casually against the car, giving me a once-over.

«What are you waiting for, Ren? Get in» she says, her voice as smooth as velvet, but with an edge that tells me I'm in for way more than I bargained for tonight. «What's wrong, little Ren? Haven't you ever seen a beautiful girl before?» Clare teases, crossing her legs with a deliberate slowness that makes my throat dry. «Come on, get in the car. Look, I promise I won't eat you» she adds with a sly grin, patting the seat next to hers.

I'm dying to ask her why on earth she dressed like... well, like that, but I'm terrified of sounding offensive. And let's be real—I can't stop staring. The neckline of her dress plunges just enough to reveal a white lace bra, and her skirt is so short that even her matching thong peeks out. It's impossible to look away; everything about her is practically screaming look at me!

«You're awfully quiet tonight, little Ren. Is everything okay?» Clare asks after nearly ten minutes of awkward silence during the drive.

«Y-yeah, I'm fine...» I mutter, trying not to sound as flustered as I feel. «I'm just thinking about something»

The truth is, there's more than Clare's thighs dominating my thoughts right now. What happened in the gym with Isabelle keeps replaying in my head like a broken record. Her naked body, her haunting words... they've been burnt into my mind ever since that morning. Have I really become stronger?

«And here I thought you were too busy having naughty thoughts about me. Honestly, little Ren, you really do need to wake up!» Clare says, her tone mockingly pitying, as if I'm some hopeless lost cause. She flashes a smirk before adding «Alright, try to guess where we're heading tonight»

«How should I know?!»

«Oh, come on! Use that imagination of yours a little!» she insists.

But when I don't respond—mostly because my brain is still stuck on the way her thigh grazed mine as she shifted gears—she decides to drop the bombshell herself. «We're heading to the red-light district tonight!» she declares, as though announcing we're off to a carnival instead of one of the sketchiest places in the city.

Wait. The red-light district? That chaotic, dangerous neighbourhood at the farthest edge of town? The one crawling with prostitutes, criminals, and who-knows-what-else, so notorious even the cops avoid it? That red-light district?!

A chill runs down my spine as dread pools in my stomach. Oh, I definitely have a bad feeling about this.

Despite Clare's usual reckless driving—seriously, I'm amazed this car hasn't taken flight yet—it still takes us almost an hour to reach the infamous red-light district. Just as we're about to hit the main street, she suddenly pulls over and parks in front of a shabby-looking garage.

«Ren, be a gentleman and open it," she says, tossing me a set of keys like I'm her personal assistant.

I catch them mid-air and frown. «Why the hell do you own a garage near the red-light district?»

She smirks, as if the answer is obvious. «I can't leave this little gem parked out here. It'd be gone in ten minutes flat. That's why I bought this garage. Pretty smart, huh?»

She's not wrong. A car like hers wouldn't just get stolen—it'd be stripped down faster than I could blink. But… buying an entire garage just to park her car every now and then when she happens to patrol this cesspool of a neighborhood? Clare really must be swimming in money.

«Ren, as you'll soon see with your own eyes, this is a terribly dangerous neighborhood. If you want to make it out in one piece, you absolutely must follow my directions. Do you understand?» Clare's voice is calm but firm.

I manage a nervous nod, swallowing hard.

This is my first time seeing this part of the city—and honestly, I wish it weren't. The anxiety pressing down on me is suffocating, worse than what I felt in that creepy abandoned factory.

Lining the main street, there are more prostitutes than streetlights, their scantily clad figures illuminated under the dim glow of flickering lamps. Just as many shady men strike up conversations that make my stomach churn.

And the side streets? They're an entirely different level of horror. The narrow alleys are filled with depravity: men and women tangled together in public, awkwardly attempting to hide behind massive garbage bins. Others slump against walls or lie sprawled on the ground, their bodies convulsing or emitting eerie gasps, likely drunk or high on something potent.

I cling a little closer to Clare, my unease growing with every step.

«Ren, put your hand on my ass» Clare commands, her tone far too serious for the words she's just said.

«W-why would I do that?!» My face instantly flushes as I stammer.

«Didn't I just tell you to follow my directions if you want to get out of here in one piece? Take a good look, little Ren. Men only come to this place for one thing, and you know what I'm talking about. It would definitely be suspicious if a guy like you out and about with a hottie like me didn't extend his hands even a little, don't you think?»

«Y-yeah... I guess that makes sense…» Damn it, Clare's right, but this is so embarrassing! What kind of situation have I gotten myself into?

With no real choice, I obey. My hand hovers awkwardly in midair for a moment before I finally place it on her backside. And oh. My. God.

It's the first time in my life I've touched a girl's butt, and I'm instantly overwhelmed by how... amazing it feels. It's so round, firm, yet somehow soft at the same time.This is insane. She must work out, no doubt about it. Honestly, knowing Clare, she probably has her own private gym at home with personal trainers on call.

«Doesn't it bother you that I'm touching you?» I ask, my voice shaky, caught between embarrassment and a hint of disbelief.

«Why would it bother me?» Clare tilts her head, genuinely puzzled.

«Well... it's just...» I stammer, trying to find the right words. «These are... things a girl should let her boyfriend do. You and I, we're not a couple, so I don't understand why it doesn't bother you»

Her lips curl into a slow, teasing smile. «You're such a traditionalist, Ren. So cute» She steps just a little closer, her presence almost suffocating. «You're sweet, you're fun to be around, and, honestly, you're a really good guy. So, tell me, what's so wrong with letting you touch me? Besides...» She pauses. «...it's the first time a younger guy has touched me like this. And, honestly, it turns me on»

Her words hit me like a lightning strike. She's turned on with me?! My brain struggles to process it, but my body... my body has already surrendered to the wave of confidence flooding through me.

Her admission emboldens me, igniting something I've never felt before. My fingers slide lower until they cup the soft, firm curve of her buttocks. I squeeze—tentatively at first—feeling the heat of her skin even through the thin fabric.

She doesn't pull away.

The tension is electric, and I can't stop myself. My grip loosens for a fraction of a second before tightening again, this time more boldly.

Heaven. That's the only word for it. This feeling, this moment—it's pure, unfiltered bliss.

Man, it's like this street's a parade of half-naked women, but somehow, every eye here is on me. I can feel the murmurs, the whispers—they must be jealous, right? Definitely. Clare's got this beauty that blows everyone else out of the water. I mean, seriously, she's on a whole different level.

And the more I feel those envious stares, the more I just... push it. My hand slides up her thigh. I can feel my pulse hammering, but I don't stop. First just my fingertips, teasing the edge, then, with a burst of reckless confidence, my whole hand slips under her skirt. Oh—and it feels so damn good. The skin, the warmth, the smoothness. It's like everything around me fades out, and all I can think about is her and that squeeze. My heart's practically going to explode.

I've never done anything like this before. Normally, I'd be all awkward, totally mess it up with anyone else, but Clare? She makes this feel like nothing. It's natural. It's like this is what we're supposed to do. She's blushing, her lips caught between her teeth, and I can't help but smile. She's perfect.

In a final act of shamelessness, my fingers finally creep under the white lace of her thong, overcoming the last barrier that separates me from... from... heavens, it's so unreal I'm embarrassed to even think about it! My brave fingertips run into... water? God, it's all wet down here! So, is this the famous moisture that girls release when they're aroused? Then Clare is seriously horny; it wasn't just my impression! And me too... I feel my beast pushing from under my trousers, and the bulge is evident.

The bulge that does not go unnoticed by Clare's lustful eyes. «Looks like I finally managed to wake you up...» she murmurs, as her gaze doesn't leave my erection. Her breathing is laboured, and her moans are definitely loud, but that goes unnoticed amidst the veritable hellhole of sex we are walking through. «Me too... I'm horny too, too horny... I can't stand it any longer... Ren, come with me!» Clare grabs me by the hand and pulls me forcefully inside one of the narrow, dark alleys perpendicular to the main street, and we too seclude ourselves behind one of the big garbage bins, as they all do.

It doesn't take a fortuneteller to work out what Clare's intentions are, and yet... should I be embarrassed? Agitated? Scared? None of that, and even I am amazed. Maybe after that morning in the gym with Isabelle, I must have become more uninhibited? After all, even though we did not have sex, our bodies were naked and entwined in the shower; I touched her, and she touched me. Surely that must have influenced it somehow. That time I was not in control of my movements, but my mind was clear, and that is certainly a wealth of experience.

After Clare and I hid behind the big bin, she immediately slipped off her white thong, letting it slide down to her ankle and slipping it off one of her legs.

And now... what am I supposed to do? My confused expression is evident, and Clare, with an amused smile, rests her hand on my head, pushing it down... lower and lower, until my face is face to face with her vagina—completely devoid of any hair, unlike Isabelle's.

A more than eloquent gesture.

Driven solely by natural instinct and without the slightest idea of what movements to make, I sink my face between her thighs, my tongue swirling madly over Clare's intimate areas like a dog licking a bowl of water.

«Slower, Ren... slower...» Clare instructs me, as her hands, resting on the back of my neck, direct my head. Finally, having found the right position, she pushes my head towards her own pussy, almost as if she wants to push it in.

I can't believe this is happening. Seriously, am I really doing this? My nose and cheeks are totally drenched—probably from, uh, saliva. What the hell? I can't even tell if I'm doing it right. Is Clare... satisfied? In all the movies I've seen—uh, the adult ones—women are always screaming like it's a circus, but Clare? She's just making these soft little moans. I want to ask if I'm doing okay, but how bad would that look? Crap, I shouldn't have gotten into this with her! She's like the expert of this stuff, and I'm just... a clueless amateur! My reputation is totally ruined! There's no way she'll ever look at me the same way again after tonight.

Elaine was right. Women want a real man, not some kid like me... Wait. What's going on? Is someone tugging my hair?

Suddenly, I find myself flat on my back on the floor. What the...?! A big guy, really tall and broad, is standing next to Clare and me. He's wearing these rough, worn-out clothes—not like someone from the Black Jackets. Must be one of those jerks who think they can take Clare from me. Yeah, he probably followed us here.

Then, he speaks, confirming everything in my head.

«A sexy woman like you deserves a real man, not some baby!» he slurs, clearly drunk. «Let me show you how it's done!»

Panic hits me like a freight train, but I'm up on my feet in an instant. I shove the guy back, standing between him and Clare.

«I'll slit your stomach, you brat!» the man yells, whipping out a huge kitchen knife, the kind used to chop chickens.
Clare doesn't miss a beat. «Ren, move over. I'll take care of this» she says, her voice cold and serious. «We are well hidden; using the power of my crystal here poses no risks. No one has to interrupt me while I'm having fun!» she snaps, her anger thickening with every word.

The man charges, blade gleaming as he lunges at me. I feel Clare's energy spike behind me—she's about to fry him with one of her fiery spells. But not today. Oh no, today it's my turn.

I don't wait. I dive forward, not even trying to defend myself. The blade sinks into my stomach. Cold steel digs in, sending a chill through my gut. Behind me, Clare screams: «Ren, you idiot! What the hell are you doing?!»

For a split second, the man freezes. He's shocked. Probably thinking I just tried to off myself. But... everything went exactly as I imagined!

The knife's still lodged in my belly, but I'm not done. My hand shoots out, wrapping around his wrist with a grip so tight I swear I hear his bones crack. With my other hand, I yank the knife from my stomach, the blade sliding out with a sickening squelch. It clatters to the ground, blood pouring after it like a river.

Clare's right beside me, her face a mess of worry, eyes wide with disbelief. When she looks at my belly, where the knife just tore through, her expression shifts from panic to pure awe.

«Ren... how did you do that?» She breathes, her voice a mix of wonder and confusion. There's no mark. Not a single scar where the blade should've left its mark. «It hasn't even been a month since that night at the factory... how the hell did you get this strong so fast?»

The man, meanwhile, is freaking out for a totally different reason. «I just stabbed you in the stomach, and then—what the hell?! How the hell did you squeeze my wrist like that?! Who the hell are you?!»

His panic's too loud. It's starting to annoy me. Without hesitation, I move, faster than he can react, the darkness of the alley and my speed making him no match. One punch to the temple. That's all it takes. He's done.

Did I... just kill a man? My eyes lock on my fist, still dripping with blood. My hands won't stop shaking. Damn it, I really killed him.

«Let's get the hell out of here» Clare snaps, urgency in her voice. A globe of flames bursts to life around her fist.

«W-Wait, what are you doing?!» I stammer, totally lost on why she's summoning fire.

«Because of your little display of strength, now your blood's all over the place. One fire, and it'll be enough. You know, this time of year, the homeless light little fires to keep warm at night. Sometimes, they get out of control, turning into full-blown incidents. No one will bat an eye if one pops up tonight» she says, grinning like she's in on some inside joke. «This stays our secret, Ren. Everything that went down tonight, it's our little secret»