Chapter 2 | Lost Girl

"Food" proclaims the little girl as she thugs on his vest.

Confused, Shadow frantically looks around his surroundings in search for her parents.

"Umm.... what's your name little girl?" in a soothing voice.

"My parents told me not to talk with strangers"

He stagers and release an expression of enragement on his face.

"Is that so.." he says as he tries to hold his temper.

Releasing a sigh, Shadow attempts to restart a conversation.

"So where are your parents?"

"They are down the street. Follow me" as she drags him by the hand.

He reluctantly agrees and lets the small frail girl bring him to where she's going.

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They walk for a short while and stop on front of a graveyard. Looking around, they slowly enter. Shadow, still vigilant, has his hand resting on his knife holder. Smog covers their sights rendering it impossible to navigate properly. The only thing that keeps him from going astray is the little hand that holds firmly on his fingers.

"So... are your parents grave-keepers?"

"I- I don't really know.." she says with a shameful look

"What do you mea-"

They both stop on front of two tombstones. It had been graffitied and only their first names were barely visible. It was broken in pieces as if someone holded grudges on them. Shadow takes a few steps forward but gets stopped by random beer bottles and shattered glass on the floor. Before he gets the opportunity to inspect further, he gets interrupted by loud growls. He looks behind and takes a look at her embarrassed face. He expresses an annoyed but caring tone:

"Ugh... come kid, let's get you something to eat" he says as he walks towards the exit.

She expresses a very excited expression and quickly follows him. They make it to a local restaurant and both sit down. A waitress makes her way to their table and takes their orders.

"What would you like sir?"

"I'll have a black coffee with a bit of milk.. add 2 teaspoons of sugar, please"

"And you miss?"

Nervous, she was barely able to let out a few words:

"Ummm.... can I have-"

"She'll get a crêpe and chocolate milk" He says abruptly and quickly

"Ok sir, your food will be here shortly!"

They both respectfully stay quiet, creating a weird atmosphere for the both of them. Keeping his mind from boredom, Shadow pulls out a book from his left chest pocket on his coat.

A couple minutes pass by and they finally get their food and beverages. A plate is placed on front of the little girl. It's a wonderful crêpe with strawberries and blueberries as well as a chocolate sauce that rest on top of the dish. Her eyes glow excited but also reluctant to devour it. She slowly grabs hold of it and takes a bite... and another... and another.. until nothing left but the plate remains. Shadow, who was next to her, couldn't help but smile a bit.

"Was it good?" as he passes her a napkin to wipe the stains she left on the sides of her mouth.

"Y-yes" she replies, embarrassed by the mess she made.

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Both kid and adult calmly drink their drinks in silence until a sudden phone call interrupts them.

*ring *ring

Shadow picks up his phone:

"Hello.."

"Hey Shadow we got another job for you"

"Why? I just came to finish one Marbas, Give me a break!" he says in an angered tone

Startled by his sudden outburst, the other client quietly look at him and gossip among themselves. Upon receiving unwanted gazes, Shadow proceed to walk outside.

"Stay right there" he tells the little girl as he stands out of his seat.

Once outside, he continues his call with Marbas.

"Who demanded the request?"

"Can't say" he says in a confidential voice

"Why you're literally a president of hell! Who's so important that you can't even tell me?!" he screams.

"All i can say is... that it's above me"

"Meaning..." he says worriedly

"Yup, it's one of the Demon kings"

"Those f*ckers" he says enraged

He takes a deep breath and asks with a annoyed voice: "Who's the target"

"Some gang called "White lions", robbery, rape, human trafficking, drugs. A normal thug gang. You need to find a briefcase. it has the demon mark on it"

"What does a demon king want so bad that he sent me?"

As he says that, He pulls a glance at the table they were sitting on but to his surprise, the girl was gone. He looks around for she is nowhere to be seen. Marbas who was expecting him to continue talking asks:

"Is everything ok?"

"Yea... no problem, send me the coordinates. The faster the better"

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From the roof top of a small house, Shadow is barely visible. He is fully equipped. Black suit, night vision goggles, two pairs of knives, silent proof shoes, two glocks with each having silencers and plenty of ammunition needed. He observes from a far looking for the right moment to strike.

He spots a white van with graffiti on it. Two man get out of the vehicle and proceed to open the back door. Shadow observes as kids, probably abandoned or poor, get out one by one. However he only ever focused his eyes towards the last kid that got off.

It was a girl with brown hair and red eyes.

-Chapter 2 end-