The dusty warehouse was dimly lit, the air thick with dust and stagnant. Corin leaned against a crate as an older man stepped into the deserted space. His eyes were cold and calculating, and Corin couldn't help but wonder what was in the package and why it was so important to the families of the Council.
'Just dont ask questions' Thats what Ezekiel told him earlier while picking up the package.
"Take this to the Rust Trench."
The man's voice was rough and emotionless. He placed the package on a wooden crate and pushed it toward Corin.
"Take the north route. Keep a low profile. And if you have any questions…"
Corin nodded curtly, his eyes locked onto the man.
"...Keep them to yourself."
It was just another job. No names, no "what's it about?", no discussion. Just a package, a target, and a price. But something about this job felt different. Maybe it was the way the man looked at him or the fact that he didn't even ask for Corin's name. He pushed the thought aside and took the package. He would do it, just as he always did.
The package was small, not much bigger than a book.
'Easy to transport'
The man turned away, but after several steps, he glanced back one last time.
"You will receive your payment from Ezekiel himself."
'In person? Not exactly usual.'
Not that it mattered. He knew he could trust Ezekiel. He knew the northern route. The way to the Rust Trench wasn't complicated, though the detours would cost him time. A necessary expense. Things related to the families were never easy.
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Corin stood in the shadow of an old machine hall. He had reached the Rust Trench without trouble some time ago. It was still early. The air was cold and damp, thick with the scent of lubricating oil and dust. The representatives of the Moreno family had yet to arrive.
'To be expected. I have arrived early again.'
After a while, a figure emerged from the darkness, then a second, then a third and even more. They wore blue cloaks adorned with a golden eagle, the Moreno family's symbol.
'Shouldn´t this meeting be as discreet as possible?'
Corin remained expressionless despite his confusion. He stepped out of the shadows.
"I have the documents."
"Good. As agreed, you will find your payment with your intermediary."
"The money isn't the problem. I want certainty that I will remain unbothered after this meeting."
"You have our word. We trust in your reputation for discretion. Now, the documents, then our deal is concluded."
Then, the sound of footsteps. Too many. Too fast.
Corin's heart pounded.
'Shit. This is going to be ugly.'
Pure instinct saved him, he threw himself behind a crate just in time. His eyes darted around the warehouse, searching for an escape. Too late.
The building was suddenly stormed by dozens of armed men. They wore black and red coats emblazoned with the emblem of a bear with a broken chain.
The Moreno representatives, once so confident, now panicked. They searched for an escape, but it was futile. The attackers moved with precision, their coordination effortless. They overwhelmed the Morenos in moments. No struggle. No mercy. The bodies lay motionless, staining the warehouse floor.
Corin felt his stomach tighten.
,,There was another one"
Glances turned toward the crate he hid behind. His pulse roared in his ears. His hand tightened around the knife in his pocket. He braced for the inevitable.
A man stormed toward the crate. One blow, wood splintered into dust.
Corin dodged, almost too perfectly. His knife flashed. He struck, not deep enough.
A fist connected with his ribs, and pain exploded through his body. He was thrown back, crashing against the hall's edge. His knife slipped from his grasp. Blood spilled from his wound and strength seemed to vanish from his limbs.
Panic clawed at him. He fumbled for his knife, but it was gone. His vision blurred. He was wounded, and his chances dwindled.
Then… a screech.
Above them, perched on a broken pipe, sat a black bird. Just one. Watching.
Corin locked eyes with it.
'Why is it looking at me like that?'
The question was absurd. But in that moment, it was all that mattered.
Corin forced himself up and ran. In the corner of his eye, he saw something flying toward him. He twisted, just in time.
The metal pole crashed into the warehouse entrance, rotted wood splintering beneath the impact. The structure groaned and collapsed.
Corin sprinted, footsteps thundering behind him. A backyard. A wall. A fall through a broken window.
The collapsed entrance bought him a moment. His arm throbbed. The package was still in his grasp. At some point, the footsteps faded. He pressed against a wall, breath coming in gasps.
Then, a feeling. No danger, but… a direction.
He looked up at the rooftops.
'Why am i drawn towards there?'
The thought was absurd. But he couldn't shake it.
He glanced at the package in his hand, then at the darkened streets. He had to get away, far away.
But he didn't know where.