by cheetahss » Sun Apr 16, 2023 12:53 pm
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IV. Innocence
xxxxxxxx Invictus had hastily logged off his PC and bitlocked it, tidying himself up. His life could very well be on the line. He took care to walk a distance before taking a taxi to the cafe, swallowing intently as it came into view. His heart pounded in his chest. This was for Poppy. He would get to the bottom of this. She needed a safe city. And he would be the one to bring it to her. This was the wolves den. It had to be. Why else would this establishment, listed on the hitlist, not be attacked?
xxxxxxxx"You okay sir?" came the voice of the taxi driver. "We're here." he stated. Invictus shook himself from his thoughts. "Sorry, yes. Here," he handed the taxi driver his pay, and stepped out onto the sidewalk, just in front of the cafe. The door to the place felt suddenly larger then it had been before, a pit of fear growing in Invcitus' stomach. On a hanging wooden sign scrawled "Cafe Innocence" in a fancier, but legible typeset. Drawing in a deep breath, he pushed open the establishment door, the jingle of a bell above it alerting patrons and staff alike to his presence.
xxxxxxxxInside the cafe there was a bar and mostly booths that ran along the windows. A sign stated to self seat, so it was at the bar he sat. The server behind the bar was a rough, larger male. "What can I get for you?" his gruff voice came. Invictus made eye contact with the larger male.
xxxxxxxx"Um..." Invictus lowered his tone. "An Innocent Meeting, please." The server's ears perked up in understanding. "Please, come around back," the server said, setting down the glass he had been cleaning and gesturing to the kitchen door. Invictus silently followed the server, eyes darting around in fear. In the kitchen itself, the server pulled on a knife block, and a hidden doorway opened, revealing descending stairs. "CEO is expecting you. Pull on the lever on the other side when you're on your way back up," the server said simply, standing aside for Invictus.
xxxxxxxx"Th-thank you..." Invictus said plainly, tail swishing in fear. He stepped past the server, and the hidden door closed behind him. He descended down the stairs, finding an old rundown, nearly empty speakeasy beneath the cafe. The only kalon that looked of importance had her back turned to him. Her ears swiveled towards the sound of his arrival.
xxxxxxxx"So, Invictus, tell me." came a familiar, honeyed tone. The woman turned around, drawing a breath from a cigarette she held between her fingers. "How did you enjoy doing my work for me?" before Invictus stood his beloved Poppy. She was the mastermind behind all this?! How?! Why?! Invictus' breath hitched in his throat.
xxxxxxxx"Your- work... for... you?" Invictus croaked.
xxxxxxxx"I should have figured you'd be smart enough to truly find me. I sent you on a wild goose chase, and at the same time, you weeded out the weaker of the gangs in my syndicate," her sweet voice spoke. A cruel giggle escaped her lips. "You're a talented man, you know," she added. Her tone was thick and rich with honey. If given physical form, it'd be so viscous, and a beautiful golden tone.
xxxxxxxxInvictus' jaw clenched. "I trusted you!" he shouted, nose scrunching in anger.
xxxxxxxx"Oh, sugar. An innocent face is the last you should trust." she said with a sneer. A flick of her arm and she had sicked her dogs on Invictus, who's world quickly went dark.
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Last edited by
cheetahss on Sat Apr 29, 2023 12:16 am, edited 1 time in total.
