"In all seriousness if you perform this operation. I will be in your debt. So very well I will help you in what way I can." Laplace stated. "Again, I'd like that in writing, not about this deal, merely that you owe me a favor, we will draft that document up upon completing this task." I said crossing my arms, I didn't want to take any chances, and if there were a possibility that I could take that favor into another's wish, if there would be another wish, then I'd take it readily, I may want to stop someone from fulfilling their wish or use it to aid in making my own a reality.
Jaharra eyed the cuffs, annoyed. Then with a sudden ching! the metal snapped, cut clean apart by the twin blades of both men at either side. The tattooed dragon on her arm began to glow, and one could have sworn its jaws snapped. The twins, likewise, seemed even more menacing rather than their usual happy-jolly look. "No touchy-" "Never touch Jaharra Nightblade." they stepped in front of her, forcing the young woman back, but she didn't seem offended. Just calm. "Nothing touches her, not even the cold steel of our own blades. And as for those..." they nodded towards the broken cuffs, speaking in time. "Our blades can cut most metals -and that wasn't even true steel. Moon-blades are made from a very rare kind of stone indeed -even sharper than obsidian. Our act is only the best, with the most dangerous blades we can find. And nothing has ever touched her."
Avalyn scowled in confusion. Why was the girl being so difficult?! She had given her compliments! Sure they were strangers, but that could easily change. She could be a role model to Nadia, an older female friend. They were the only girls in the mix and could help each other...maybe even relate somehow. As much as she wanted one, she had never had a girl BFF. She'd never gone shopping, shared secrets and advice, or given makeovers with another girl. Just the thought made Avalyn's smile return. But by the sound of Nadia's questioning, she was at risk of losing a potential friend. Looking into Nadia's eyes, Avalyn sighed. "I know we're strangers, but for some reason our paths have crossed. I like to think it was for a good reason," she said softly. "I understand you don't want to be a part of this, but..." Avalyn fell to her knees at Nadia's feet, gripping onto her wrist. "PLEEEASE! YOU HAVE TO! Just do this for me...and I'll do something for you! Anything! Please!"
The words carried valuable meaning for Nadia… Yet she didn’t care about Avalyn’s feelings at all. Looking into Nadia's eyes, Avalyn sighed. "I know we're strangers, but for some reason our paths have crossed. I like to think it was for a good reason," she said softly. "I understand you don't want to be a part of this, but..." Avalyn fell to her knees at Nadia's feet, gripping onto her wrist. "PLEEEASE! YOU HAVE TO! Just do this for me...and I'll do something for you! Anything! Please!" …. Anything huh?.... that’s quite a risky offer…. It makes sense though… you are technically a slave of that man…….. You probably did that before…. Not a very smart one…… Nadia closed her eyes for an instant, considering the offer. Her viewpoint wasn’t influenced by feelings, more likely by the value of advantages and disadvantages. So…. Does this contract really offer me a worthy value?.... I would risk myself greatly with this theft attempt. So is this person worth the price?.. Equivalence huh?, the value of a stranger in comparison with my own value….. “….You say anything right miss?.....” mumbled the girl keeping her straight face that completely obfuscated her true thoughts. A smile formed on her face. “I…it’s ok then… I’ll help you with this……. But I can’t risk myself like this… if things go too dangerous I…I’ll stay away… are you ok with this miss?” asked Nadia to Avalyn. It was a curious scene, Avalyn was taller than Nadia yet she was crouched gripping onto her wrist… as thus Nadia was looking down on Avalyn, her eyes still maintaining her fake charm. … Yeah… a designer may be able to help me with that issue……. Anyway I could always throw her life if I need to save myself… I doubt that mister prick over there cares about her anyway. THERE EXIST NO SINGLE PERSON ON THIS WORLD THAT WOULD CONSIDER HER TO HAVE ANY KIND OF VALUE, THAT’S HOW WORTHLESS HER LIFE IS… Of course nothing of this was reflected on her face.... not even a bit....
A smile formed on her face. “I…it’s ok then… I’ll help you with this……. But I can’t risk myself like this… if things go too dangerous I…I’ll stay away… are you ok with this miss?” asked Nadia to Avalyn. "Am I ok with it?" Avalyn repeated and a beaming smile spread across her face. Quickly, she stood up from the floor and tackled Nadia in a big hug. "YES! Of course! I completely and entirely understand! And I'll keep an eye out for you, don't worry." she said, not letting go of Nadia. "Oh, thank you. This is going to be wonderful!" Avalyn squealed with delight. After all these years...she had a second friend, at least in her mind. And that was something to celebrate!
"Indeed such a injustice can not be tolerated, and I'm afraid will not be incarcerated any time soon" Palms added standing beside Auther. "Now run along you illiterate Ignoramus, we have duties to attend to."
Arthur "That arrest didn't seem too successful..." Arthur noted as the cuffs on the woman's hands fell to the ground. "Resisting arrest is a crime, is it not? Then consider us criminals." Then he darted forward, reaching behind his back and grabbing The Warrior's Countenance, then fluidly donned it and tied the ribbons. His sword grew in size, as did his presence. The next thing that the loudmouth police chief knew, Arthur was behind him, blade at his throat.
Ookaay, recap, crazy cop person wants Jaharra and her... masters arrested. I'm standing here like an idiot because the only weapon I have is my camera, and this guy has his sword at this police guys throat. "I really need a new weapon," I muttered. "Or a new job." I led Sully up to the group. "What in the name of the great wolf is going on here?"
Morton let a confident smile play on his lips as cold steel danced around his Adam's apple. "Come on man, why you got to be like that?" He asked. "Your all quite the interesting little group of criminals. Just what I need." He spoke aloud. "You can try and kill me if you like. But listen here Phantom. All I need to do is speak to defeat you but I didn't come for a fight. I simply came to arrest you all." Morton looked thoughtful. "Besides none of you are curious in seeing what option 2 is after I take you all to the station. It involves some work and information I think you'd all be interested in."
Arthur "Information is something that I appreciate, incarceration on the other hand is not," Arthur said cooly. "Now either explain your intentions, and quickly, or your head will be rolling faster than you can cry for backup." Arthur was in no mood for games, the world was at stake, and he felt like he was the only one, exeptperhaps palms that understood that.
"Wonderful we seem to have everything in order now." Laplace said as motioned for Floss to show everyone to the door. The bodyguard complied of course. Fritz who was far to wrapped up in himself to notice Avalyn's pleas to Nadia gritted his teeth and looked at the door. "Since we have a deal I expect you all here early tomorrow. We'll go over the details of our little operation and you." Laplace said pointing at Joe. "I'll have the papers for our contract written up as well." With that Floss led the group out of the office and back down to the bank lobby. Floss let a farewell grunt to the crew and walked away. Fritz whistled in an annoyance as Floss left. This entire 'operation' was such bullshit. When he wised for what he wanted he expected to get it! Not get caught up in some criminal activity as much as he enjoyed criminal activity. "Well this sucks." Fritz said looking at his companions. He'd need to make a phone call for this one. ............................................... "Now either explain your intentions, and quickly, or your head will be rolling faster than you can cry for backup." "Woaz! You're one violent little fucker aren't you? Its what like you're displaying that gets people put away you know? I'd love nothing more then to put you in a cell so you can jerk off some fucking meth head." Morton slurred out. "But my intentions as ya say shall be exerplaiiiiiiiiined!" He butchered the words on purpose. "So you can either come with me or kill me but hey if you slit me fudging head off here, then expect plenty of trouble. Do you really need the entire police for searching for the people that killed their captain? Besides I'm only taking you down the station after that I'm a talk some spit and shitz with you all."
Arthur He regarded the vulgar little man for a moment. Something told him that going with him would perhaps get him closer to the one who was behind all this, but still... it was against his nature to volutarily go anywhere he didn't want to... "Preacher, what do you think?" he asked Plams finally. He had a partner now, might as well make use of his insights.
Palms gave Arthure a look that was positively unwell then proceeded to turn around and hurl his lunch. "exerplaiiiiiiiiined?" He said pausing his death throws and refected on the word, then instantly bent over and hurled again. After he had recovered form his episode of shock Palms stood up straight as if nothing happened. and stated. "We have nothing to hide save our sanity, if we ditch this man and his abusive dialogue we maybe hounded by more like him. I say we go to the station, endure our darkest hour, and then when they have nothing against us leave, and not even spit in their presences as we do so."
Arthur thought for a moment. "Very well," he said after a pause, then released his sword from Morton's neck. "We will go peacefully, but no handcuffs..." He didn't like this, but perhaps there was something to be gained.
I looked at him. "You want power then you have to be willing to work hard for it, it doesn't merely get handed to you effortlessly, some are lucky and don't have to work as hard, but they still have to work in order to gain their power, whether it's studying their whole childhoods in order to take over a business, or by merely watching and learning what their predecessors do. You have nothing, so you're going to have to work your ass off, simple as that. Now if you don't mind, I'd rather not continue having my mind be rotted by your stupidity." I said, without waiting for a reply, I turned and walked away. "...His stupidity...? You're going to steal priceless artwork just to fulfill his wish... even if it might be beneficial for your own wish... you don't know what will happen if you die... or what would happen if only one of our wishes are fulfilled... if he succeeds then he won't help me with mine, he'd sabotage it in a second..." I thought, I then looked down a street and took a deep breath. "...Is it still there...?" I wondered, I turned down the street and walked up to a burnt out building. "...They still haven't touched it in ten whole years... on that night... when the truth truly was sealed away for good..." I thought looking at the burnt out building, I clutched my left arm, thinking of that night... Ten Years Ago. A crowd of people were gathered around a burning building, a young boy got out of a car that had stopped just outside of the building. "N-NO!" He shouted, without thinking he ran into the building, a woman called out for him to stop along with a boy around his age. "...I can't just leave it here...! It's the only thing that I have...! The only thing I have from them! I can't leave it! I just can't!" The boy thought, smoke was choking him, the flames lapping at him, wanting to devour him whole! The boy ran upstairs, the stairs collapsing behind him as he just barely made it to the top, he ran through the hall and into his room, the room covered in flames, he fought to get to his bed, to retrieve the item he had forgotten. A hand made stuffed cat toy, his mother and father had made it for his 7th birthday... he had thrown such a fit over not getting what he had really wanted... he had even shouted at his parents that he hated them and stormed out... his last words to them... he regretted them ever since... he knew that they didn't have much money... but he had gotten his hopes over getting a gaming system, his friends had all gotten one and he had been jealous because they kept bragging about it... he had been so stupid... his parents put so much effort into making it... taking money and time that they could have been using to make sure that they had a roof over their heads and a warm meal every day... He acted so ungrateful, foolish, and stupid...! He finally reached the bed and saw that the cat toy was mostly fine, he ran up to the bed and attempted to grab it, but the floorboards under him creaked and broke, just as his hand brushed up against the toy, he fell to the lower floor and into his parent's bedroom, he landed on the floor with a dull thump, he cried out in pain as a burning plank fell on top of him, burning through his clothing and burning part of his arm and his stomach, he tried to push it off but it was too heavy... that's when he saw it... from under a broken floorboard that had broken from the impact... a box... a small box that had been hidden under the floorboard... "W-What... is that...?" The boy wondered, he tried to reach out for the box, but it was out of his reach... things were getting dark... it was hard to breathe... the board on top of him was heavy and it was burning him... "H-Help...!" He called out weakly... then unconsciousness took him... Hours later he had woken up in a hospital, he had inhaled a lot of smoke, he also had severe burns on his lower abdomen and left arm, broken bones, and several cuts, a fireman had gotten into the house and saved him before the flames had gotten to him. The first question he had asked was about the box that he had seen, but unfortunately no box had been found in the house... He had even confirmed it himself days later... when the woman had learned that he was alright, she scolded him for hours, he had told her why he did what he did, unfortunately the fire had gotten the toy in the end, he had risked his life for nothing, the box was gone, the toy was gone, he couldn't salvage a thing! Present I looked at my arm and rolled the sleeve back and looked at the burn. "...All of it was for nothing... well... except... I know who burnt my house down... it was the same person that killed them... that box... it must've had something inside of it... the killer must've found out about it and took it, knowing that something was in it that could incriminate them... or at least would lead to him in the end... I was certain, that box was made out of metal... it couldn't have been cardboard, even if it had melted or something, there would have still been evidence of it... they just brushed me off... 'imagination of a child', they said..." I mumbled anger building inside of me. "Because of their incompetence... no... because they didn't do anything the murderer got away! They just said that mom killed dad and then took her own life... they wouldn't do something like that, they wouldn't! They didn't even investigate, they didn't even perform an autopsy, they didn't even question anyone!" I thought angrily, I couldn't even do it now if I wanted to, my parents had been cremated... it had truly been the perfect crime... the police didn't do a thing... my mother looks like a murderer... no facts of the murder remain... it was truly unsolvable, anyone who I questioned about the day of my parent's murder and the the night of the fire told me nothing important, everything was vague, I couldn't just get a straight answer at them, likewise with the chief and the head detectives on the cases, whoever had done it, had gotten away with it without fear of a possible retaliation.
After a quick goodbye and wave to Nadia, Avalyn skipped over to Fritz. A huge grin appeared on her face, one that looked like the best thing in the world had happened to her. Which was true in her case. "Fritz!" Avalyn said, bouncing on her toes. She could hardly contain her excitement. "Guess what, guess what, guess what?! Ahhh, I'm just so happy!" Without a second thought, she hugged him too. Fritz was taken off the guard by the hug but not exactly surprised by Avalyn. It would not of been the first time she'd given a hug to him for a reason he could not determine. "Avalyn this better be fucking good." He replied a bit of annoyance in his voice. "Because if there is one thing I'm not its in a good mood!" He couldn't lie he rather enjoyed her embrace but more pressing matters were eating at him. Why was the Nocturne cursing him? That fool Joe had said something about! Fritz did not work. He gave the orders and others would answer. "It's better than good! It's wonderfully fantastic, marvelously spectacular, and amazingly exciting!" she replied after finally pulling away. Her grin widened as she clasped her hands together. "I made a new friend!" "A friend?" Fritz asked his eyes going surprised. He hadn't recalled Avalyn getting a friend. He frowned as a pang of jealousy ran through him as soon as she had told him. "Who's this friend?" He asked his eyes narrowing. "That girl...Nadia!" Avalyn said happily. "She thought about not joining us, but then I talked to her and convinced her. Now we're going to be the best of friends! Isn't that great?" Fritz's hand reached out and grasped Avalyn's hand. "We're best of friends." He replied to her his voice hard though he forced a smile which would send chills up any normal person's spine. Avalyn nodded as she stared at his smile. "Of course we are. But you plus Nadia, makes two friends! Two friends! Which makes me a friend to two people...it's just so exciting!" "Nadia?" Fritz asked his face twisting in disgust. "That's who you're talking about? We barely know her besides my business partner doesn't exactly like her either. I was thinking we should kill the bitch after the heist." "No! You can't do that!" Avalyn said, wrenching her hand free from his. Her smile faded into a frown. "She's a harmless young girl." "Nobody is harmless Avalyn and she's barely younger then us!" He frowned. She'd never pulled away from him like that before he couldn't help but feel a bit betrayed which made a burning fury to inflict punishment. "Why are you being so goddamn stubborn!" Suddenly Fritz's right hand stretched out and clamped around Avalyn's throat. His face was turning bright red as he stared into her eyes. The pressure he applied was not enough to close off her wind pipe though enough so he could easily keep her in place. Avalyn put her hand back on top of his, averting her gaze. All of her happiness that had blossomed just moments before, wilted away. "I...I...I'm sorry." she gasped out. Fritz's face softened as he stared at Avalyn's horrified look. "Dammit." He muttered before releasing her. Fritz wanted nothing more then to put Avalyn in her place but after a brief moment of actual reasoning he felt it simply wasn't worth it. Besides they'd both been put through enough today. "Come on we are going back to the hotel." Avalyn took a few deep breaths and folded her arms across her chest. She didn't think she had done anything too terribly wrong, so why had he done that? Thoughts played in her mind, but without a word she followed behind Fritz, biting her tongue. The hotel had been just as they left it. In complete shambles from Fritz's rampage. Various broken pieces of table and appliance debris. "Home sweet home." Fritz muttered as he walked over to the Queen sized bed and plopped down on it with a loud crash. "We gotta a busy day tomorrow Ava." He said raising his fist up in a punching motion at the wall. "Fucking prick Laplace." Avalyn nodded and took off her coat, draping it over a chair, one of the only furniture pieces still intact. While scanning the clutter, she couldn't help but think the room reflected how she felt. With a sigh, Avalyn walked over to the bed and accidentally kicked a loose billiard ball with the tip of her shoe. Slowly, she bent down to pick it up. She rolled the smooth blue ceramic in her palm, revealing the number two. Again, that number. Her and Fritz, that made two. It had always been two, not three, nor four. Just the two of them. Guilt gnawed at her heart as she took a step closer to Fritz, slightly hovering over the bed. "Hey, um...sorry again." "Sit." Fritz simply muttered pointing at the spot on the bed beside himself. Avalyn did as she was told and sat next to him, still staring at the ball in her hand. "You're sleeping with me tonight there's only one bed anyway." He said as he scooted next to her not paying attention what she was staring at. "Ok," Avalyn said as she raised her head to look Fritz in the eye. "And, I believe this belongs to you now." With a gentle smile, she held out the billiard ball to him. Fritz glanced at the ball for a moment and smiled at her. "Just the two of us." That night as Avalyn settled under the covers, her eyelids grew heavy. In the silence, she listened to Fritz’s breathing and soon her thoughts returned to their days spent together. From recent years to the early ones of misfortune and friendship…. ~~~~~~ A pile of fabric lay at her feet as she worked on a garment. One stitch after the next, putting love into each one. That’s all she did everyday…that’s all she wanted to do everyday, in the orphanage. Make something beautiful for someone else to wear and enjoy. “Whatcha got there, runt?” Avalyn glanced up to find another girl hovering over her, one of the older girls, and bigger too. “Hi Riana, I’m making a shirt!” She smiled, holding it up for her to see. It was nearly complete; a sickly green, cinched at the waist, and covered with colorful buttons. “Don’t you just absolutely love it?” Riana’s dark eyes lit up. “Oh yes! But ya know what would make it even better?” Avalyn cocked her head to the side. “W…what would that be?” In one slick motion, Riana swiped the shirt from Avalyn’s grasp. Sauntering over to a worktable, she picked up a pair of scissors. “They always say less is more,” she said and snipped off one of the sleeves. Avalyn stood with a gasp. “Can you please…not do that…” “But I’m only trying to help!” Riana said as the scissors dug into the other sleeve. “Ya really should accept my advice.” Again she opened the scissors wide and started to tear through the button stitching. “Stop!” Avalyn shouted, tears gathering in her eyes. She reached out her hand. “That’s mine!” Riana laughed and raised it higher than she could reach. “Not anymore!” Avalyn’s small chest heaved with sobs as her eyes darted around the art room. A crowd had gathered, watching her every move. “Give it back!” she yelled again. Riana lowered to her height, her face inches away. “Ya gonna make me?” "Shut up." A voice broke through the crowd from behind Riana. Suddenly a boy pushed through them all. He was young closer to Avalyn's age than Riana's. The only thing really remarkable about him was his fashionable sunglasses that seemed to gleam at every grunt he made. The scowl on his face was one more of boredom then anger. Though his head shifted back and forth from Riana to the crying Avalyn. "You're both too fucking loud." In the brief silence that followed, Avalyn hugged her arms close and studied the boy through her tears. "And, who do ya think you are?" Riana said, shifting her attention towards him. BAM! The young boy's fist slammed into Riana's nose. A loud cracking noise erupted from the girl's face as she fell on her backside. "Fritz." He replied the scowl never leaving his face. Avalyn shrieked. All she wanted was her shirt back...not to cause a fight! But as she watched the bully struggle to get up with her bloody nose, she did think she kinda deserved it. The destroyed shirt had fallen to the ground and Avalyn snatched it up, before turning to the boy called Fritz. Her hero. "Uh, thanks." She smiled as she stared at him. "Hey, I like your sunglasses. They're like something a model would wear down the runway! You know, I'm going to design for the runway someday. All the people in the whole entire world will wear fashion by Avalyn Fang! Yes, the entire world! It's going to be spectacular!" she said, barely pausing to catch a breath. The boy snorted at her and then inclined his head. "I'm guessing you're Avalyn Fang?" He asked curiously but caught himself before he finished. "And yes I know my sunglasses are awesome." She nodded. "Yes, that's me! The name that will be on boxes, tags, and bags! It will be as awesome as your sunglasses!" Avalyn laughed, taking a step closer to him. "So, Fritz...do you like fashion too?" "Fashion?" Fritz asked a smile spreading across his face. "It is what it is. Anything can look good as long as I'm in it. Don't you think?" He asked spinning around so she could take all of him in. "Of course! I'm sure you'd look great!" Avalyn replied, giving a smile of approval. Then a thought occurred to her and she dropped her eyes to the floor. "Um, I know that we just met and all...but..." She took a deep breath, prepared to ask the question. The question she hadn't been able to ask in quite awhile. "Would you like to, maybe...be friends?" "Sure!" He replied gripping her hand tightly. "You can help me. I'm going to the top you know?" He said as he pulled her along. Avalyn beamed...finally, a new friend! And, the same old friend she'd have years later... Tossing and turning in restless sleep, many days with Fritz replayed in her dreams. Good and bad.
Colorful and gray night Night on Anheldrim, night of marvels, delights, pleasure, fantasies and dreams for its inhabitants. The sky was black yet not dark, it shone with multiple stars, those that lied far on the sky, and those lights created out of pure art. There were no light posts or bulbs on this city, it wasn’t needed, the expressions of art were enough to light it completely creating a mixture of colors in the sky, similar to fireworks yet not falling, giving their light to the people, giving a hand for them to fulfill their dreams. Silence didn’t exist, yet no one complained. At the contrary, the music that covered the air was a relaxing one, a gentle tone calm enough to allow a fair rest to the tired ones yet with an inner strength enough to motivate the hard workers of the night…. It also was the perfect serenate for a couple of lovers in the night. Dances… people danced all night in the squares and streets. A marvelous flow of movement greeting any passerby, dancers covered by a smile, no one getting tired, they had a fair time to rest, yet they were impulsed by passion, as thus many didn’t want to stop. Every night different streets were closed and reserved only for people to dance. The marvelous structures imposed even more during night on the reflection of light, offering a wonderful view, offering fantasies to their watchers. While some of the gothic buildings held firmly into the ground, others were floating, rising over earth, defying gravity; a sight that only could exist in dreams in our world was a truth in Anheldrim. The essence of cooking also invaded the air, entering in each nose giving unique and different fragrance each night to its inhabitants, always a wonderful one. Bars of candy and chocolate floated around giants stores dedicated to the preparation of these marvelous mixes, giant cauldrons of colorful soups awaited in the entrances, pieces of vegetables and meat hung from the ceiling… Yeah money was needed if one wanted to enjoy such magical delight. However these free ones were a present to anyone… because artists wanted overall for people to appreciate the wonders their work offered. On several bench artists with open blocks were viciously drawing any fantasy, others lied painted them in a canvas, there were those who sculpted wonders, Goldsmiths creating magic.…. Even virtuous every night creating a new kind of art. Yes that was Anheldrim, a city that only could be dreamed of, a city that could be only fantasized, yet it existed here. But it wasn’t real…. Very few knew it…… The real Anheldrim was a static land of people entranced by a non-stopping melody maniphested in the form of a scarlet gap in the sky…. And the only few that were conscious were not there yet on this mimic, a pseudo reality created to give a chance to a single man, one of the many in this tale…. -------------------------------------------------------------------- A man walked on the night marveled at the hypocrisy of this town that even when being no more than a mimic it still conserved the dirty aspects of the real one. Several people were killed due to the selfish battle of two unknown guys and just look at them, dancing, painting, singing, as if nothing had happened… Though Elean even wishing for an angry mob to show in front of him due to his act… Always covered on his black clothes that matched his black hair and deep black eyes, this time with a jacket to cover himself from the not so strong cold of the night. His eyes wandered around looking at the spectacle of every night, always marveling him, yet this night was the exception; perhaps because he knew that all this wasn’t really happening… perhaps because he knew that due to his selfish desire these things may never happen again. Yet the man took a decision and was ready to live with the weight of his actions or die if that was what the world demanded. Then someone stopped the path of the man, a figure showed in front of the man… Elean showed a smile and said… “Heh…. So there was someone looking for me this night… are you here to punish me for what happened earlier…. Or is something different?...” asked the man. “Let’s just say that you’re a troublesome one pal…” replied the figure… Then a gunfire tried to echo through the night only to be immediately killed by the fantasy spectacle of the night… A man named Angelo dressed in a brown suit wandered on different streets yet on the same night. It stood from him a sling that joined his right arm with his right shoulder, he was shot there not so long ago, and also survived the explosion of a bomb not so long ago… a man made of iron who looked clueless for a single girl. At the contrary, the woman dressed in red called Maria looked for a different person. Also wandering on different streets she looked for Elean Valent… a man of many mysteries who unknown to her was being challenged by destiny once again on a different street… Perhaps close or perhaps far… who knows?... the music and chattering covered the only clue…. A young girl dressed on a blue dress, a girl of dark thoughts unknown to many, known to few. Whoever she were it was hard to define… Holding a case firmly the girl hid herself from the view of others, choosing a spot she knew very well… She wasn’t wandering the streets… she wouldn’t risk herself too. There won't be darkness, she will have the lights of the sky to cover it.... There won't be hunger, she will have the hanging food and floating candy of the stores.... Cold is not so strong this night, she will be able to withstand it. Only issue would be the lack of sleep, yet it was a necessary measure. The last one, the painter named Vasco who hadn’t showed this day also refused to show himself this night, was he hiding?, was he wandering?.... who knows? Whereabouts unknown. One of these shed more than one tear that night... A happy night for many, a sad night for others… perhaps rain would had fit this night better…
Blonde Con 8 years ago Fritz's stomach growled with hunger pains that made him wince. Avalyn sat quietly beside him in their rusted pick up truck with binoculars in her hand scanning the night time streets as Fritz had instructed. His sunglasses were off as he began loading bullets into his revolver. The two had been driving around this area for a good a hour now. Fritz's annoyance was clear on his face but they needed to eat. "See any marks?" He asked spinning the cylinder of the weapon. It had been a solid month since they ran away from the orphanage. Two years of being there had finally been enough for him! And of course he'd taken his dear friend along in his conquest to become famous. “Yes!” Avalyn replied, lifting a finger and pointing down the street. “There’s a man there on a bench. He doesn’t appear to be moving…” She lowered her binoculars and turned to Fritz. “Should we get a closer look?” "A man?" Fritz asked as he took the binoculars gently from her hands and looked himself. And indeed on a bench just outside a park sat he wasn't an old man but certainly older then either of them. His blonde hair glowed in the night but the thing Fritz took note of most was the business he suit the man wore. Score!!! A grin spread across the then arrogant boy's face. "Yeah he looks he might be carrying some of the good stuff." With that Fritz exited the car while slipping on his sunglasses and nodded for Avalyn to follow him. She did as she was told and jumped down to the concrete, frazzled hair blowing in the cool breeze. Catching up to Fritz, Avalyn fell in step beside him. "Let's hope he does," she said, her eyes fixed on the man in the distance. Fritz was in front of the man before Avalyn could blink. The man on the bench looked up to see him but before he could manage a word Fritz's gun leveled at his head. Fritz's grin didn't fade as he pressed the cold steel in the man's forehead. Soon he'd have a ni-WAIT! As Fritz studied the man more carefully. His business suit was torn and tattered in places certainly. He was far from a professor but Fritz could deduce this much. This man wasn't rich. Fritz heard Avalyn gagging in the back round and sniffed around for a moment. The smell of nicotine hung in the air and the main source of it radiated from the this blonde guy, causing Fritz's nose to twitch in disgust the ground was covered with smoked butts. The blonde man's head sunk slightly lower as the gun was still trained on him. This brought Fritz back into the real world. Shit. Despite some of his hopes of a four course meal being killed this man still had to have something right? "Alright just stay nice and calm. I want your money not your life got that?" Fritz said calmly. The blonde man's face seemed a mask of confusion. "You two are like twelve." He pointed out "Sixteen." Fritz replied. "Avalyn check his pockets. Stepping up to the man, Avalyn waved her hand in front of her face to clear the awful stench. Still, she managed to send a smile his way as she reached inside his pocket. First, her delicate fingers wrapped around something box-shaped. Slowly she pulled it out to reveal the stinky source, cigarettes. With a grimace, she threw down the pack and tried the other pocket. Out came a Pez, a ball of paper, and... Avalyn's eyes lit up at the glorious sight of green. "Wonderful!" she exclaimed, looking to Fritz as she held up a small wad of bills. "Good." Fritz muttered a little disgruntled but far more pleased to have had something then nothing. "You hang on to it." He said to her. The blonde man moved without Fritz's permission he started to bend over to reach for his smokes which caught Fritz off guard and then the handle of Fritz's gun slammed into his lips. "Ouch!" The blonde shouted as blood dripped from his lips though he didn't seem much to care as if this process was nothing new. "That's not fucking cool kid." Fritz was breathing heavily. His face red. He'd said not to move and when he said something it was FINAL! "Don't move unless I give the order. You got that?" The young Fritz said a smug teenage grin plastered on his face. "I'm sorry glasses what did you say? I don't speak dickenese." The blonde replied. "Ooof!" He coughed out as Fritz's boot slammed into his stomach. "Do you think this is a game? We are serious people!" Fritz nodded his head towards Avalyn. "Check some of his other pockets see if he has any keys or an I.D. This uppity attitude of his we deserve everything he's got don't you think?" "Of course!" Avalyn said in agreement. Reaching into his other pockets, she searched thoroughly, but ended up with a big fat zero. Her forehead creased in confusion. "Hm, that's odd...he doesn't have anything else on him, Fritz." "Yeah because you two are so serious!" The blonde scoffed out. "Some dumb loud mouth and Lady Gaga!" He started laughing but Fritz thumbing the top of the gun made the man silent. But his eyes brows did raise in suspicion. No I.D? Lady who? "Hey clown woman." The blonde said his cold blue eyes narrowing at Avalyn. "How do you sleep at night robbing defenseless people?" A pained expression appeared on Avalyn's face as she stared back at the man. "I...well, I...just have to deal with it." she said softly. "And I think you're mistaken, I'm not a clown." "You sure you ain't a clown because that excuse was so shitty it might as well of been a joke." The blonde pointed out and bloody smile formed on his face. Fritz growled. "Avalyn don't listen to this jerk. He's just mad because he doesn't have a great friend like me." "Hey either shoot me, leave or we can.......make this interesting perhaps?" Fritz cocked his head. "Interesting?" "Yeah interesting lets play a game of high stakes. You ever heard of Russian Roulette?" He asked Fritz nodded. "Of course I have." Though he never had any interest in playing. Not that he'd lose he never loses. He just wasn't comfortable with having people blowing out their brains........in front of Avalyn anyway. The Blonde smiled. "So what do you say?" He asked throwing the challenge in front of Fritz Avalyn bit her lip. She didn't know the exact details of the game, but she'd always heard Russians were nasty people. And 'high stakes' didn't sound good to her ears either. "Uh, Fritz...I got the money already, remember?" she said, taking a step back. Fritz nodded at Avalyn. "Yeah you're ri-" The blonde cut in. "What are you glasses chicken?" Time seemed to stop dead as Fritz turned back around to face his former victim now enemy. He said it! He did not tolerate that word! "Nobody calls me chicken." The venom in Fritz's voice was clear. "Chill Mcfly so game on?" "Game on." Fritz said fixing his glasses The blonde started to speak again. "Alright we will decide who empties the other 5 bullets and spins the cylinder by coin toss. Sound good?" Fritz nodded. He couldn't wait to see this man's head goo coat the crown. "Gaga." The blonde said smiling at Avalyn. "You flip the coin." He said as he tossed her silver piece of change. Avalyn caught the coin between her sweaty palms. While taking a deep breath, she turned her gaze from her friend to the man. Everything about this game seemed wrong...but she trusted Fritz knew what he was doing. "Ok, heads or tails?" she asked, rubbing the cold metal against her thumb. "Heads!" Fritz blurted before the blonde had a chance. With a flick of her wrist, Avalyn flipped the coin, a shiny speck soaring on the dark horizon. Again she caught it and put the coin on top of her hand, concealing the outcome with the other. "Let's see what it is..." she muttered and slowly uncovered it. Avalyn swallowed hard as the truth stared back at her; mocking her. Her face paled as she raised her head. "It's tails." Fritz glared daggers into Avalyn but before he was able to say anything the blonde once again stepped in hand out. "Son of a bitch." Fritz muttered a curse and handed the gun over. The blonde man happily took it off Fritz's hands and then as opposed to taking out the other bullets as he was supposed to. he simply rolled his eyes at the pair and aimed the revolver at Avalyn. Fritz's moth dropped open. "You know I have met some stupid mother fuckers out there but you two namely you glasses take the cake and don't try any of that fruity art shit you people can do. If I see any of that I'm killing one of you." Was that a bluff? The man had certain comedic flare to him. Fritz wanted nothing more then to snarl and rush this man but he couldn't risk Avalyn. This couldn't be happening, not to him! No! No! Avalyn had picked this guy! Frizt's moth began to foam. It was her fucking fault he was in this mess!!! Stupid bitch! All these thoughts of rage were new to him but he accepted them. "Hey! Cujo!" The blonde said staring at the foam coming from Fritz. "Now here is what you two are gonna do." .................................. Fritz and Avalyn stood side by side stripped down to their underwear.....well in Avalyn's case bra and panties. The blonde man pulled gave them a cheerful grin from the inside of their truck a lit cigarette hanging out of his mouth. "Boy it was really nice of you to give me back all my things and even your truck for compensation for that bloody lip you gave me. Though I'm afraid I can't return a favor. Your clothes will be about mile that way waiting for you both about two miles up this road. Fritz's who's head hung in shame. "I don't lose." "Funny." The man replied. "I always lose. Guess there is a first time for everything. Word of advice. Kittens shouldn't tread in a lion's path." The blonde looked thoughtful. "Man that was a real cool line to say. Welp see you folks later I have a date with a nasty girl and her company in another God forsaken land." With that Fritz and Avalyn watched as their truck sped away. A shiver went up Avalyn's spine as cool air brushed against her bare skin. She couldn't look at Fritz. No, not yet...not after what had happened. Instead, her eyes dropped to her closed fist, where the coin still lay in her grasp. Opening her hand wide, she smoothed the piece of silver between her fingers and turned it on one side. Tails. Avalyn frowned as she turned it over again. Tails. At the sudden realization, a sickening feeling settled in the pit of her stomach. "Oh no..." She groaned. "What is it!? Fritz yelled as he stormed up to her. All he saw when he looked at her was the fool that had made him suffer as he did this day. Why!? Why!? ........Just so starving, now he was cold to! Most of all though he'd lost! Fritz's knuckles cracked as he waited for a response from Avalyn. "T...the coin..." she stuttered, holding it up for him to see. "It....it...was a double sided set up." "Gah!" Fritz's fist lashed out slammed into Avalyn's cheek sending her on to the ground. A rush of power and adrenaline surged through him from head to toe as he released his pent up rage on to her. He let out a primal scream his wide through his glasses. "Idiot!" He snapped and began pacing around her his breathes rapid. Avalyn's vision blurred with tears as she touched her reddened cheek. She blinked rapidly, struggling to process the initial shock. "I...I..." she gasped out, hyperventilation kicking in. "I...I'm sorry, Fritz! I truly am!" Fritz stared down at Avalyn her sobs pulling him out of his anger and now he was left to deal with horror he'd created. "Oh....no.....Avalyn I'm sorry!" He shouted as he knelt down beside her and brought her into a warm embrace, well as warm as one could be in that weather. "Th...that guy! It was his fault! He made me look like an idiot and....and....and I'm really hungry....I'm so sorry!" Fritz's tone was in a nervous wreck. "It won't happen again." ................................ The sun shining through the windows pulled Fritz out of his dream or was it a nightmare from his past? The day he'd first ever put his hands on her. He turned his head to look at the sleeping girl by his side and for a moment guilt began to choke up within him. But no tears fell he'd been denied that ever since he saw his parents corpses. "It won't happen again." He muttered looking down at his hands. Suddenly though his guilt was replaced with anger. That was also the first day someone had ever beaten him! That blonde piece of shit! If he ever met that man again he'd show him who the real lion was! He didn't lose! "Avalyn wake up!"
7:35 AM, Valentine Investigation Agency. “Guess what Huey…” asked a fat man on casual clothes with black glasses. His receptor, a brown haired man dressed with a yellow shirt and black pants sitting on a chair in front of a desk filled with papers and an old PC was sipping a cup of coffee then he said “Another one bites the dust?...” with a tone not deep enough yet fairly deep. The fat man laughed… “That was a good one, but no. More likely Another one bites the water” “Following the River?” asked the man named Huey this making the fat guy to laugh again. “Yeah we found a corpse floating down the river that crosses a few squares behind the concert hall… A lucky guy this one” said the fat man. Huey let a sigh escape… “That river will end being famous as a cemetery someday in the future if things goes like this… how was the winner murdered?” “Oh right… The body was found floating down the river, three wounds caused by a firearm, bullets impacted his back, autopsy determinate that the bullets were the cause of death, left lung, heart and right kidney compromised. It was presumably a Desert Eagle, this guy knew what was doing…” stated the fat man. Huey took another sip. “So whoever shot this poor guy did it from behind… Who was the victim?” said keeping the cup of coffee on his hand. “A talented young, one of those that performs in Eisendin’s philharmonic. The name’s Elean Valent, I suppo………….” Yet the fat guy couldn’t end his phrase. As soon as the name was mentioned the cup fell from the hand of Huey, his face showed astonishment on its more pure expression. “Elean Valent you say?... you positive?...” asked inmediatly the man, the fat guy quickly affirmed. Huey violently raised from his chair and said. “Tell the guys to re-investigate the crime scene and overall the corpse” ordered the man. “Huh?... what’s this? Long time you didn’t see that worried” asked the fat guy at which the man replied. “Is nothing… just a hunch… gonna go out of a while…” said Huey before leaving the agency. Huey Jagger was a man on its thirties who occupied a high rank in the detective agency yet also worked on the nights as a singer of a band that performed in bar and clubs. A detective who is also a singer is something pretty usual in Anheldrim. However this man was different than his co-workers. No one would understand the concern this man had in front of the name “Elean Valent” yet it wasn’t worth to explain such concern to his co-workers. Because they weren’t part of those who withstood the Scarlet Nocturne that day… and they weren’t part of those who were now immersed on a game of destiny. The man lit a cigarette and tasted it. His face reflected concern and worry.
The cell doors opened loudly waking Palms, Arthur, Rom and Jaharra. The group had spent the night in a small cell once they had arrived at the station and had only been giving stale bread and water to sustain them since last night. Morton had claimed he'd be right back and here he was eight hours later. "Whackey Whackey! Eggs and smackey!!!" The Chief shouted at them. Two other officers armed with rifles were by his side and seemed to be ready to shoot if any made a wrong move. "I'm gon to jess you fellas ain't want no more bread?" Morton asked in a mocking tone his strange accent. "I imagine nat but a man can neva be to sure when dealing with criminal shats eh? Either way make it quick we are heading to me office." The man was relentless with his onslaught for so early in the morning. They were in the basements of the police station an entire building infested with working men of the law.
My first thought was to glance out the cell's window. Outside, a forlorn wolf started panting and walking around, seeing my face, before he sat back down. I chuckled. I had sent Sully away from me when we first bumped into the reject from Miskatonic U. and he managed to pick my scent up later. "Alright," I whispered. "Who has an escape plan?"
Avalyn tried to scream, but no sound came. She tried to move, but her limbs went numb. All she could do was stare at Fritz's big head on the scaly body of a snake. In and out, his tongue hissed as he slithered nearer. "Avaaaaa.....lynnnnn....." She shut her eyes to rid of the gruesome sight. But no more than a second later, the snake's tail shot out and wrapped around her feet. Avalyn gasped, clawing at the ground as she was dragged through the dirt. She squirmed and kicked, finally rolling onto her backside. Fritz's head lowered to her stricken face, white fangs gleaming in the sunlight. His wide mouth closed in....grinning.... "Avalyn wake up!" The sound of Fritz's shout yanked her back into reality. In a freaked daze, Avalyn fell onto the hard floor, pulling the covers with her. Blinking away sleep, her heartbeat pounded in her skull and she sat up, breathing rapidly. She gazed around the still wrecked hotel room until her eyes fell on Fritz. Avalyn screamed and this time, a lot of sound came out. "Noooooooooooo!" She snatched up the quilt and threw it over her head. "Don't eat me!"
"You..YOU!" Palms was turnign red again. "Thou clay-brained guts, thou knotty-pated fool, thou whoreson obscene greasy tallow-catch! If only you were clean enough to spit upon! banished from hell for your loathsome vissage, you scar satan children with your Odious presence. Hast thou or word, or wit, or impudence, that can yet do thee office? I see not! Release us at once! Thou are a shallow cowardly hind, and you lie." Palms said angrily, and with great elegance.
After looking at the building for a while longer, I turned and walked toward my home in silence. As I got home I walked up to my room, I hadn't eaten all day, but... I don't think that I could eat at all anyway. I lied down on my bed and stared at the ceiling for a while before shutting my eyes and drifting off to sleep. I woke up at the sound of my alarm, I turned it off and got up sighing quietly, I walked over to my wardrobe, I grabbed a pair of black jeans and a black t-shirt, then headed in the bathroom and undressed. I got into the shower and washed myself thoroughly, then got out and walked downstairs. After eating some eggs, toast, and bacon.... well... at least tried to, I walked back upstairs and brushed my teeth. I walked back to my room and grabbed a blank book and a pen, then walked downstairs and grabbed a black coat and walked outside after putting it on along with my shoes. I then set off for the bank.
Arthur When the door swung open, Arthur was already on his feet. "You said this was going to be quick, not a night long stay in a cell!" he exclaimed. He was irritable and felt like he had lost too much time that he could have spent trying to find the people he was after. Not spend the night sitting in a musky jail cell.
