Whatever plans I came up with there was one problem– The pimps–I mean the police. I needed a distraction from them so I could sneak in through the door.
And that distraction was Lali.
I looked at the little girl in front of me, "Do you see those guys there?" I asked and waited for her, after she nodded I continued, "I can't go in there when they are standing guard. I want you to go and distract them. Just for a bit– till I come back out."
Her black eyes darted around as she curled her tiny palms into fists at her frock.
"Don't be nervous. Just talk to them, say you can't find your father or mother. Something like that." I said with the kind smile she deserved.
"Can you do that?" I asked.
"...yes.." she muttered faintly.
I stood straight as I took a short glance behind my shoulder. The guards were still there, chatting to each other.
I nodded at Lali as I patted her head and sent her to them. She walked slowly and kept looking back at me as if she was going to confess to her childhood friend.
'Just start it already!'. I was getting impatient because time was running out. I needed the thug when he was less guarded.
"Umm….sir, I …" Lali stammered at the two dumbfounded pimps who were wearing checkered police uniforms.
"Hey kid, where's your mother?" A guard knelt in front of her as he smiled and asked.
Instead of talking Lali started crying. First slowly, then loudly. She held onto the guard as she cried. The other one also got close to the crying child– trying to sooth her.
'They might be bribed but they are still good guys I guess.' My lips curled upward.
Seeing that the guards had left their positions I chose to move behind the cart. I quickly ran into the shade of a stone pillar near the building. In front of me was the horse cart with the crest police. And on the other side of the cart was Lali and two guards.
"Good job, Lali." I muttered under my breath. I slowly pushed open the door and took a peek inside to make sure no one was inside.
I crept inside without making a sound, closing the door behind me. The building was narrow– barely enough space for four people to walk together. With every step, I heard the floor creaking and the smell of old furniture.
I walked to the reception desk ahead of me. Old and dusty. My hands felt cold and damp when I touched the desk. I couldn't find anything except for one book left open, written on it was a single name– Hughman Joglos.
'Who the hell is Hughman Joglos?' I thought to myself as I turned the pages but couldn't find anything else.
Other than the book there was only one candlestick and a half opened wooden shelf on the wall. On the shelf I didn't find anything except for a mouse eating its lunch.
The mouse squealed as I suddenly opened the shelf– giving me a fright as well.
"Stupid rat!" I cursed under my breath.
Other than the rat there wasn't anything else except a dark stain. My eyebrows furrowed as lines appeared on my forehead. I slowly stretched my left arm out and let my fingers touch that stain.
I yanked back my arm the moment my fingers touched it, "Hot?" I asked myself. How can a stain be…hot?
I rubbed my fingers on my coat as I took a few steps back. Suddenly my eyes rolled back as my vision became dark and I saw a woman hanging upside down as blood dripped from all over her.
The moment I saw her bloodied body I forgot to move or even breathe. I stood there watching blood drip from her naked body.
Then slowly she came closer ...or did I go closer? I didn't know when I stood in front of her closed eyes. For some reason I wasn't as nervous as I should be until she suddenly opened her eyes and inside it were two grey flames.
I gasped as I fell back. Then my vision gradually came back. I was still standing in front of the shelf and the frightened rat.
Sweat trickled down my spine as a chill ran along with it. I took a deep breath and rubbed my trembling hands together.
I was about to turn to walk towards the stairs when I heard floor creaking and dust fell onto me. I stopped dead on my track. I didn't even move an inch, fear has grabbed my legs from the floor.
Then I heard footsteps echoing from above the staircase. Somehow I managed to move and hide under the reception desk. My hands trembled slightly as I kept taking in deep breaths.
"....is she anyway?" A deep and stern voice asked as I heard footsteps coming down the stairs one at a time.
"Who cares… As long as she is a she." This time another voice answered.
"HAHAHAHA!". There was a loud chorus of laughter as the footsteps stopped at the end of the staircase.
I knew there were more than three of them. I lifted my head just slightly to look at them. And I saw four muscle men with identical bald heads wearing red shirts– scarlet thew.
I didn't pull back immediately, instead I carefully inspected each of them. Four of them were rough skinned and had some fading scars on their big arms.
'Even their scars are bigger than my arms..' I sighed to myself as I came to understand the advantages of proper food.
"Jugör really gets any woman he wants. From noble women to police women." One bald head said, with an envious look in his eyes.
"Heh! The one upstairs is sure a bi*ch. She resisted a lot." Another one perched.
From their conversation, I only realised one thing– The one I saw wasn't the magician but a police officer. So..does that mean the guards sold her out?
'oh shit! I left Lali with them!' At that moment I knew I had to take that kid away soon. But now to get out I had to either take out these guys or wait till they leave by themselves.
They outnumber me, with one swing they might be able to knock me out. I slowly ducked under the desk quietly– At least I tried to but one of my sleeves got stuck on a burr on the desk. I yanked my arm back a little forcefully, making the desk shake.
I quickly ducked and sat still. My palms curled into a fist as I prepared myself to get beaten to a pulp.
The four bald headed scarlet-thew thugs stopped chattering at the sudden sound of furniture shaking.
"H-hey, you go check it out." One said.
"What! No…you go"
"It must be the ghosts of the women you have killed."
"I haven't killed anyone….it's Jugör. Yeah that bastard!"
"Shut up! Be careful of what you spit about the boss's son!" A deep voice shouted, putting a stop to the other's bickering, "It's just some poor bastard who wishes to die today."
Those words sent a chill down my spine as my hands and breath trembled. I heard footsteps walking closer and closer to me. Holding my breath I waited.
Just then I noticed a small stain on the wall. The same colour I saw on the shelf. My eyes didn't dare to part away from it. Suddenly it moved down towards the floor.
I quickly covered my mouth with my arms as I held back a scream. My heart beat violently against my rib cage in a feeble attempt to escape. The dark stain moved on the floor until it stopped just a few steps ahead of me.
I swallowed whatever came up from my stomach as sweat trickled down my face. In front of me was a moving ' stain' and behind me was a violent thug full of muscles.
The thug's footsteps were closer, though cautious he was he didn't hesitate long to reach me. The moment I thought the thug caught me the stain sped toward me. And before I knew it the stain wasn't on the floor nor the wall nor the shelf – it was on my left hand.
My hands trembled as my eyes widened. My eyes took in the big dark bloodied stain dissolved into my palm.
The scream I tried my best to keep in chains at my throat from the beginning finally broke out.
"AAAARGGGGHH!!"