"A Debt to Repay"

The dimly lit alleyway seemed to grow darker as Judd walked down it, the sound of his footsteps echoing off the walls. He had been to this part of town before, but it never failed to send a shiver down his spine. He was on his way to meet Victor, a black market weapons dealer who owed him a favor. It had been a while back, but Judd had saved Victor's skin during a run-in with a rival gang, and Victor had promised to repay him in any way he could. As Judd entered the building, Victor looked up from behind the counter, a sly grin spreading across his face. "Judd, my friend, it's been too long," Victor said, his voice dripping with insincerity. "The favor," Judd said, getting straight to the point. Victor chuckled and nodded. "Of course, of course. I haven't forgotten. You can claim any item from my shop, no questions asked, no limits on the price." Judd nodded, and Victor gestured for him to follow. As they walked through the crowded room, Judd's eyes scanned the various goods on display. There were guns, knives, and even a few explosives. Victor presented him with a few options, but Judd's attention was divided. He was taking in the layout of the room, his eyes searching for any potential threats. That's when he saw it - a dog kennel in the corner of the room. It seemed out of place among the other merchandise, and Judd's curiosity was piqued. "What's with the kennel?" he asked Victor. Victor's expression turned serious, and he seemed to hesitate before answering. "Oh, that. I had someone sold to me a couple of days ago. It's not uncommon for us to sell humans, you know that." But there was something about the kennel that didn't sit right with Judd. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but he felt a strange sense of unease. "Show me," he said, his voice firm. Victor raised an eyebrow, surprised by Judd's interest. He walked over to the kennel and unlocked the door. As he pulled it open, Judd's eyes widened in horror. Sitting in front of him, looking up with glazed eyes and a gagged mouth, was a familiar face - his 15-year-old little brother, Jay's, 14-year-old friend. Judd felt a wave of queasiness wash over him as he stared at the boy. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. What was Jay's friend doing here? And how had he ended up in this kennel? Judd's mind was racing with questions, but he couldn't find his voice. He just stood there, frozen in shock, as Victor watched him with a mixture of curiosity and amusement.