A.N. Ezmerelda's name was changed to Charlene on account of her and Emerald sharing similar names and roles by pure coincidence (she was created before Emerald did, but didn't come into a story until after). So when you see Charlene or Char, that's Emerald.
The warehouse sat silent and empty, heaps of snow piling under the broken sunroof. In the weeks since team GREYD busted the gunrunners, the building had sat abandoned. The owner was under investigation for turning a blind eye to the smugglers. Until the Atlas police cleared him of the charges, he was ordered not to lease any more properties. The entrance bolted shut, no one was allowed in or out.
Which made the man inside building a trespasser. He shivered as the icy air blew through a nearby door and ignored his thin grey jacket. Casting furtive glances around the empty interior, he jumped as smoke billowed from underneath a door. It rose in a column, then solidified in to the form of a young woman. On another day, she might have teased him for being startled. Right now however, Charlene Fumee was more concerned with staying warm. Like her compatriot, her sleeveless green hoodie and black jumpsuit did little against the cold.
"Yard's clear Cy," Charlene said through chattering teeth. "We shouldn't have any interruptions."
"Perfect," Syrius, Steele said. Lets hope he arrives with the package soon.
"Can't believe we're out here running delivery ops. This is Oskar's job, not ours."
"Oskar's busy, we're the next best thing," Syrius said. "Besides, you honestly want to be tromping around in the middle of a forest right now?"
"I could've crashed that airship," Charlene continued bitterly. "Wouldn't even need his acting skills. Just play the mute for ten minutes, then snap the guy's neck when he wasn't looking. No one looks twice at smoke near a crash."
"What's done is done. Our leader knows best, that's why we're here and Oskar's out tromping through the forest."
Behind them, the door Charlene had slid under shuddered against the padlocks. The two criminals turned and backed towards the middle, stepping over shattered pipes and a crushed table. A low voice cursed from the other side, then the padlocked chain rattled to the ground and the door swung open. Blinded by setting sun flooding through the doorway, Syrius and Charlene shielded their eyes to make out the figure of the hunched over man. He froze at the sight of two figures, then clenched his fists at recognition.
"You," he growled.
"Us," Charlene replied.
The man took an aggressive step forward, but Syrius raised a hand in warning. Half a dozen turrets rose from the snow bank behind them. Syrius and Charlene stepped aside, and the barrels rotated towards the man. "We know what it took you to get our package, friend," Syrius said, trying to look imposing despite the cold. "You're not just low on Aura, you're all used up. No funny business, just come inside with the package and we'll conduct business."
"After what I just did, they send you two? Where's Oskar?"
"Enjoying a sunset walk through the woods," Syrius said. Now, the door please, you're letting in a draft.
The man unclenched his fists and walked back outside with a defeated gait. He bent down and lifted a black bag from the ground. He carried it reverently inside and kicked the door shut. The sun was cut out, and Greeve Cobel placed the black bodybag on the ground.
"That's it? That's what we came for?" Syrius asked.
"It is," Greeve said. He looked down at the ground, unable to make eye contact with them or the bag.
"Stand aside," Charlene demanded. Greeve did as instructed, and Charlene unzipped the front. Peering inside, she studied the contents intently. She reached in and prodded the inside.
"That him?" Syrius asked.
"If it isn't, our friend here killed an innocent kid that looks a hell of a lot like him," Charlene answered.
"I'm not your friend," Greeve grumbled. "Just take it already."
Charlene zipped the bag shut and stood. "Our leader will be pleased. You won't hear from us again."
"And the drive?" Greeve blurted. "You promised this would be it. That there'd be no more favors or anything. How can I trust you if you still have proof?"
Charlene gave him a sickly sweet smile. "You didn't actually believe there was a drive, did you? That information, how you committed fratricide, it's already out there. We just won't let the rest of the world know it is. Mommy gets her perfect family, and you only have to wear your shame on the inside."
"Don't," Greeve warned. He flexed his fingers, but his bare hands lacked Haunted Toll and the move was much less threatening.
"Cy, what do you think he would have done if his friend hadn't fallen to his death? Would he have taken the shot?"
"You know Char, I think he would've," Syrius said, eager to play along. "Man already has the makings of a cold blooded killer. Besides, he'd only be following orders."
Greeve moved, faster than what should have been possible. He tackled Syrius to the ground and held him by the throat. Syrius squawked and struggled under the iron grip as Greeve applied pressure.
"Drop him Cobel," Charlene ordered. She had her baton drawn; the barbed ends deployed. But she didn't take a step closer, and Greeve saw why. The turrets Syrius controlled had spun up, ready to fire at a moment's notice.
"You already brought us the boy; do you want to die too?" Charlene asked.
There was no answer to that, but Greeve let go of Syrius' throat. The gasped and massaged his esophagus, retching against the ground.
"Next time we meet, I won't let go," Greeve said. He then turned and summoned a portal, leaving without another word.
Syrius stood and frowned. "We should've killed him. He's out for blood now."
"He also has more Aura than he let on," Charlene warned. "Besides, our primary job is to deliver the package to our leader." She dialed a number on her scroll and smiled. "And I think he is going to be happier than he thought he was going to be."
End of Book 2
Began: 2:56 PM, 1-14-16
Ended 4:53 PM, 5-8-19
Wordcount: 100379
Book 2 took longer than I ever thought it would
I began in the second semester of college
I finished one week after graduating
This story saw me through three years, two changes in my major, and many more important events
To Be Human, Book 2 was also my first book to cross 100,000 words
My first sequel
My first main character death
The characters and stories created and expanded on will be concluded in the final book of the trilogy
But until then, thank you for getting this far
I hope you enjoyed reading as much as I enjoy writing
I will see you all again soon
-Wrench
ns 15.158.61.20da2
