The black SUV rolled to a stop outside the plain Office building, rain still drumming on its roof. Cassie's rock tune faded as Pedro killed the engine.
"Hope you two super rookies got some rest on the ride. No time to nap now, you're meeting The Boss!."
Seed's stomach flipped. "The Boss? Already? i just got recruited Today."
Mira snorted, arms crossed. "Great. More old men to lecture me." Her pink eyes flicked to Seed, a half-smirk tugging her lips.
Pedro climbed out and yanked the car door open. "Move it, hair boy. The Boss doesn't wait for no one." Seed shot him a look and muttered under his breath "he's obviously eating right now but okay, I guess". He followed, boots splashing in puddles.
Cassie led the way while Mira trailed with her halo casting faint light on the wet pavement. The receptionist glanced up with that same sharp stare. No words, just a nod toward the elevator.
The four squeezed in, the metal box creaking as the doors slid shut. Seed glanced at the panel with the standard buttons, floors 1 to 5. They were on the ground floor, so up, right? But Cassie reached past him, her finger hovering over a button he hadn't noticed. It wasn't marked with a number but with a weird symbol; a spiral with jagged edges, like a cracked skull. She pressed it then the elevator moved, not up, but down. Seed's gut tightened as the descent sped up with the lights flickering. "Uh, Cassie? How deep is this place?" The numbers on the panel stayed blank, but the drop felt endless, five stories, eight, ten? Like they were sinking into Ashwick's underbelly.
Mira shifted, "Creepy," she muttered, her halo pulsing. Pedro just smirked, leaning against the wall like it was just a normal thing for him.
DING!
The elevator stopped with a dull thud, the doors opening to a long corridor. No windows, no posters, just gray concrete walls on both sides.
A single steel door waited at the far end, no sign, no handle, just a slab of metal. Seed's Perception caught a faint energy from it. Pedro strode forward, his boots echoing in the hallway, and pushed the door open with a grunt. "In you go, rookies." A blinding white light spilled out, stinging Seed's eyes. He squinted, Mira cursing beside him as they stepped through. The light faded, revealing a large office, bare walls, concrete floor, one desk dominating the center. Behind it sat a man, broad as a Muscle builder, his muscle-bound frame stretching a plain gray suit. His beard was full and white, cascading like snow over his chest, and his eyes were sharp and jet black. 'This is the boss?' seed thought to himself as he felt pressured by the man's intimidating aura.
"Hello, rookies," he said. He leaned forward, elbows on the desk, muscles flexing under the suit. "I'm Pleased with your success in your first assignment. Very Impressive indeed"
"Most newbies would've died right there and then" He gestured to the chairs in front. "Sit. Let's talk about what you're really up against"
Seed exchanged a glance with Mira. Her halo flickered as he saw the caution in her pink eyes. They sat as Cassie and Pedro closed the door and stood by it, silent and watching.
"So, let's start with you" The Boss said, staring at Seed with a serious frown on his face.
"How did you get involved with Death?"