Dark Places, Part 3

After reaching as far as the lanes allowed within the 5th District, I stepped out of the cab. It moved back the way it come within a few seconds, giving you just enough time to retrieve any belongings you might have forgotten.

Cabs were designed to automatically seek the nearest station unless the user placed it on standby themselves. Even that would only last a couple of hours at best. Any more than that and the cabs wouldn't have been considered a public means of transportation. Of course, there was also an application that allowed you to call them wherever you wanted (as long as you paid an additional fee).

With all of that being said, I came here for a specific reason. The Black Market.

"I'm not sure where it is, though..."

Or if it even existed in the first place. I shook my head slightly, realizing how stupid my actions had been. I didn't spend any time researching the subject beforehand. I just went with whatever popped into my mind, annoyed by the lack of results I've had up until now.

As for the area in itself, it was completely silent. It wasn't as developed as the central part of the city where the Blake Guild was situated, but I couldn't say it resembled my neighborhood either. It was something in the middle... And I could say a certain aspect of it reminded me of the 4th District.

Not in the sense of a ruined city, but in the impression it had to offer. Despite the weather, there still should've been some people outside, yet there were none. The lights within the buildings were also turned off, making things even darker.

I pulled out my phone, hoping to find some information online, but nothing came up.

I thought about calling Logan, but then I dismissed the idea. If I called him right now, he'd probably sniff something's wrong. Especially considering we just discussed heading to the 4th District. I couldn't call Ava for similar reasons, either.

Then there's Connor and Reyna. They must have access to more information than I could find on my own. The knowledge wasn't distorted by the media. And, once again, couldn't do it.

It was only natural for them to be curious about my sudden interest in the Black Market. I had no intention of lying to either of the siblings.

A pair of steps snapped me out of my trance. I wasn't sure why, maybe because of the uneasy atmosphere spreading around, but I ducked behind the corner of a building as I surveyed my surroundings.

"—can't believe I'm coming back to this place—" remarked a man. By his voice, he seemed to be rather young. Perhaps in his late twenties.

I squinted, trying to see more through the dark, but all I saw was a scar running down his chin, encircled by patches of his beard. Above the mustache, none of his other facial features were discernible. The majority of his face was obscured by a cowl.

But what drew my attention was the sharp weapon in his hand. A tilted scimitar hanging close to his torso, uncovered.

Only mercenaries and Hunters were allowed to carry weapons in public, and even then, they had to be covered. It could be in a scabbard or some cloth, yet this man was defying that.

"We have to sell—" I leaned closer, but couldn't make out the rest.

The other individual that spoke out this time didn't appear to be as dangerous as the one wielding the scimitar. On top of his hunchback, the robed man carried a bag. I could tell the content within it was pretty heavy, but not so much that he had to walk like that. He most likely had kyphosis... not that I had a clue regarding the subject.

My gears started turning.

Perhaps he was a merchant, or something similar, judging by his robe-like attire. As for the other individual... he was probably his escort. A mercenary meant to defend him.

I wasn't interested in what was going on, but it was brutally clear where they were going. I followed in their tracks, being as quiet as possible. Hopefully, they would lead me to the place I was looking for.

From others' perspectives, I may appear to be a stalker. It was embarrassing, but it had to be done in order to learn more about the Black Market.

"—how much do you think we'll get for this stuff?" asked the merchant as he arranged the bag on his back.

"Not a clue," replied the other, sternly. "That's your problem, not mine."

I controlled my breath, trying to make out each of their sentences. I was hoping to find some useful information. Anything that might help.

"B-but what if they come after me..." the merchant's voice cracked as he grabbed his robe with one hand.

The mercenary turned to face him. "Isn't that the reason you hired me?"

"S-still..."

"You paid me to do a job, and I'll do it to the best of my abilities. It may not sound like much, but I'll do everything I can to keep you safe." He went further into the alley as if to reassure him.

"T-thank you. I'm not sure what I would have done without you."

As soon as I realized what was going to happen, a lump of spit went down my throat.

The merchant took a long step as he withdrew a dagger out of his robe and reverted his grasp on the handle. He stabbed it directly into the escort's side, giving him no chance to react. The strike itself wasn't particularly powerful, but it was clear he'd been waiting for this moment for quite some time.

Blood gushed out on his garments as he spun around, unable to grasp what happened as he peered at the robed guy. It only took him a second to figure everything out, his face twitching from agony to wrath as he took a hasty slash with his scimitar. Instead of coming into contact with anything, the blade passed through the air, his target already being outside of the mercenary's reach.

A drop of blood fell from the dagger's edge into the puddle below.

"You lied to me..." he whispered, pressing hard on the injury.

"It's nothing personal," the merchant said, standing as straight as an arrow. "If you were to ask me, it's your fault for taking the job without investigating your client beforehand."

As I watched the whole thing unfold, I breathed in and out, my heart pounding more and more blood through my veins.

I had to do something.