Meeting At An Odd Hour

Present Day...

Shit!"

Alice cursed. She ran across the dense concrete and began navigating through the streets of Ashvon.

The skies were getting dark and already looked depressed, almost as if they were reluctant to part ways with the sun.

Screams and bantering could be heard from kids and adults alike as they argued while enjoying the games they played.

The wind blew, and carried along with it several dried leaves and twigs. Children attempted to pick some in anticipation of a fun game to play with, but their mothers prevented them and simply ushered these kids to the safety of their homes.

Moments later, doors were shut.

The once lively neighborhood became silent.

Only the whooshing and chills of the wind were heard and felt, as well as the laboured breathing of a certain teenage girl who didn't bother to stop running.

Alice sprinted through the entrance of a field she was approaching, her breaths became shorter as she made a speedy beeline towards a fence at the far end.

Spotting a bench pressed against the wall, her eyes narrowed as she leaped onto it. Maintaining momentum, she pushed off her calves propelling herself upwards to reach the top of the fence.

She then lands on the other side after swinging her weight over the edge with her left arm.

Alice continues off into the distance, her pace gradually reducing to a light jog. Beads of sweat accumulate on her attire, which is a hoodie and sweatpants. After a short while, Alice finally walks, albeit in hurried steps. She keeps panting for breath as she removes the hood covering her face, revealing a pretty brunette with violet hair and black eyes.

"Four minutes past seven. I hope I made it in time." Alice confirms after glancing at her phone's clock.

Placing back her smartphone, she walks down an alleyway located between a barbershop and convenience store. The passage is devoid of any light.

Glow-in-the-dark graffiti adorns the walls of both sides, illuminating the narrowed space and at the same time giving it a creepy vibe. At an inconspicious corner of the alley, there hung a red brick that looked a little out of place.

Sighting this irregular, Alice smirked.

She reached out and pushed the red brick back in place creating a series of vibrations. The walls made deep gravelly sounds as they slid, shook and trembled. Eventually, the rumbling stopped, revealing a paved enterance in front of Alice.

"Come inside." A voice called.

Alice walks in, the camouflaged door shutting close behind her.

"I came like you asked... this better be good."

"You're five minutes late."

"I'll take it as me arriving in time then, since you have the leisure to point out my mistake." Alice countered while her eyes scanned the vicinity, before landing on the cloaked figure standing before her.

"And why are you dressed like Darth Vader?"

The shadowed figure clicked it's tongue before making it's appearance visible to the other party. It's dark leather coat was taken off and thrown aside, revealing a tall beauty clad in a silver jumpsuit. Her long wavy brown hair was held into a professional bun, giving her a strict aura that meant business.

She had a serious expression on her face as she appraised the girl standing before her. She then folded her arms while engaging in a staring contest with the purple haired teenager.

"You really want answers, don't you?"

"Yes."

"Fine. Let's proceed."

The brown haired lady said before clapping her hands twice, instantly lighting up the dim room. The enclosed space wasn't too spacious but it was more than enough for two people to sit and have a chat.

A small fan hung on the ceiling providing cool air for the two young ladies currently walking to a shady corner where a drawer shelf stood.

Opening the top drawer, the brown haired beauty takes out a blue folder and throws it across the room to a round wooden table.

Alice impatiently walks over to the table, eager to take a look at the file. However she stops abruptly, an arm's reach away from it. Taking a good look at it's contents, she reads;

"Mysterious deaths in Void City." Alice scrunched her brows. "Another one?"

"I'm just as surprised as you Alice." The tall beauty chipped in from behind.

"Why don't we sit down and talk? I'm sure you have a load of questions."

"You're not wrong."

Alice admits, pulling a chair and sitting in it. She waits until the brown haired lady is sitted across her before voicing out;

"Why? Didn't your department promise the city that they'd stop these things from happening?"

"We did. But apparently, this is way above us."

"I don't believe you. Karen, are you telling me that you guys can't tell what the problem is?"

Karen, the beautiful lady sitted across the table didn't say anything as she poured herself a drink before filling another mug and passing it to Alice.

"Have a drink, you'll need it."

"Fine." Alice accepted, picking up the mug and taking a big gulp of it's contents, not caring that it spilled over her jaw due to the unceremonial way she drank.

"You better explain this to me, I didn't run all the way here to leave empty handed."

Alice was impatient, two hours ago she had received a call from Karen. Karen claimed she had Intel on a recent murder case and told Alice to meet her at this secluded location if she wanted any leads on her missing brother.

The deal they had was that neither of them were to disclose this meeting to anybody else, particularly the authorities as the matter was very sensitive and at the same time, lacked substantial evidence.

Alice was reluctant at first, but later figured it wouldn't hurt to hear what Karen's so-called findings were. Afterall even she had no clues herself, so Alice's only option was to rely on the person sitted before her.

Karen released a deep breath as she stalled to collect her thoughts.

"Alice I don't think Aaron is missing..."

The purple haired teenager felt her breath hitch at the mention of her brother.

"Then what's his situation?"

Alice whispered, doing her best to keep her voice from shaking.

Sensing her fluctuating emotions, Karen hesitated a bit before answering.

"He might have already died."