Chapter 1
On a sunny Sunday in the coastal town of Fish Hoek, sunlight streamed through the open balcony window of a small apartment above the local coffee shop. Outside, people strolled along the pavement, the faint hum of weekend chatter drifting upward. Inside, nineteen-year-old Adam lay fast asleep in his bed, oblivious to the world. On the white wall opposite his bed hung a massive flat-screen TV.
An intercom ringtone shattered the morning quiet. It chimed four times, sharp and persistent.
"Who the hell might that be... ugh, leave me alone," Adam muttered, pulling a pillow over his face.
He lay still for a few moments before finally surrendering to the noise. Groaning, he swung his legs out of bed, rubbed his eyes, and stretched his arms wide. He shuffled straight to the intercom on the wall.
"Hello? Who is this?" Adam yawned into the speaker.
"Bro! What the hell, man? You really gonna do your boy like that?" came Jimm’s voice, crackling through the speaker alongside his half-suppressed laughter.
"Oh. Hey, Jimm. Didn't know it was you," Adam said, leaning against the wall.
"Open up, bro! We got some good news!" Jimm said.
"Who the fuck is 'we'?" Adam asked, running a hand through his messy morning hair.
"Come on, Adam, open up, buddy!" another voice called out.
It was Derrick. He stood in the lobby downstairs wearing a black leather jacket over a plain white T-shirt, baggy pants, and dark painted nails.
"Oh, great. You brought the whole crew," Adam chuckled, pressing the button to buzz them in.
