Smoking Rats

Ayukbu

Along the city streets of Ayukbu, lanterns flicker in the dusk. Two figures strolling along in the light fog. One ahead of the other by a few steps

"Are you sure we should be out right now?"

"What. You afraid of them?" They laugh. "They're about as real as your fortune. Now c'mon, we got work to do." After a few steps they pause. They heard no other footsteps but their own. "Remy?" Turning around to find no one but the thickening fog. "Alright Remy, you got me. Lana's gonna be upset if we don't get this job done." The figure takes a step forward with their hand stretched out, feeling through the fog. Distant footsteps can be heard. "That you Remy?"

"Rats..." a cold voice cuts through the fog, like a knife through the heart.

The lone figure takes a step back and scrambles down an alleyway. Knocking over bins and glass along their way to slow their chaser. Taking a quick breather at the other side, their head is quickly slammed into the brick building and thrown to the ground. Trying to crawl away, their right arm is grabbed and pinned behind them. "Who-"

"Where's Mya."

"Who's Mya?" Their arm slowly being pushed up, ready to be dislocated. Slamming their fist onto the concrete, groaning in pain "I don't know anyone named Mya!"

"Where's 'Trigger'." The assailant grabbing the knife from the figure's hip. "You have five to answer."

"Look... I don't know where Trigger-" The knife plunged into their leg. "I-I-I know nothing! Even if I did-"

"How about this" Dislocating the lone figure's arm. They roll them over, stamping on their elbow. Kneeling in and flashes a card in their face. "You give this to Lana, Trigger, whoever." Tucking the card into the breast pocket of the lone figure. "Just make sure it ends up in Trigger's hand, alright." The lone figure nods in pain. "Good. Hope you can swim with a handicap." Taking the knife out of their leg and stabs them in the side of the chest. Standing to their feet, and pulling a small box out of their vest jacket.

"P.. Pha.. an.. ant.. om.." the figure struggling to breathe, having noticed the emblem on the glove.

"Yes. Very good." The Associate kicks the figure off the edge and into the canal. Taking a small narcotic out, lighting it and taking a drag off it. Another figure appears out of the fog from the alleyway, this one much larger. An Ingeninki, with a blindfold. "Took you long enough."

"I serve no purpose here."

Letting out a puff of smoke, The Associate looks across the canal. "You weren't paid for a purpose here." Tapping off some ash. "You are paid to be hired muscle. Nothing more." The Ingeninki groans in displeasure.

"Our service is to kill, not stand around like a protective canine." The ingeninki turns, disappearing into the fog.

"As long as my job gets done, yours is as well." Taking another long drag before flicking the rest into the canal. "DD. You better still be playing the neutral game." The DayDreamers have always nudged events here and there for their own gain. Sometimes it's to save their own skin, other times to line their pockets more. Other factions have started to dislike The DayDreamers because of it. The Phantom Association have been considering hitting them for some time, but would rather not suffer from the lack of imports they buy from them.

The streets lay empty, a low fog rolling along. Refracted sunlight piercing through the cafe window from the early day sun. The Associate sat at the bar by themself. A crystal rocks glass in front of them, a golden liquid lay still in some ice, fingers lightly on the rim with a narcotic between the middle and nameless fingers. The front door sways open and closes. The sound of a lock clicks in place. Footsteps to and past the Associate.

"Heard from a fish that I was being looked for." A smooth voice broke the silence. A card slides across the bar to the base of the glass. "But there's noone here but a ghost." 

"We prefer it that way." Taking a sip. "Especially when dealing with some rats such as yourself, Mya." Side eyeing her. "Or do you prefer Trigger."

Mya, leaning against the bar, takes the narcotic out of the Associate's fingers and lights it up. "You have no sway here. You people claim this territory yours, but it's as much yours as the ocean is. Your little group has nothing here."

"The Mist obscures details that the public doesn't need to know. Everyone pays, even if it's a bit extra. You rats come into the kitchen and take what you assume is now yours. But all you're doing is being an annoyance. We waited for you to slip up and reveal yourselves so that we may come in and snuff out your little lights." Anger struck Mya's face, putting out the narcotic in the Associate's drink.

"We're just rats to you huh? Some little scanvagers with no sense but to live? Let me tell you this, you guys aren't worth anything here. We have the authorities eating out of our hands like poor servants. You think we're scared of the Mist? What makes you think your Mist means anything to anyone when it only hides what cowards you are?"

"When you go looking in the Mist, you should be."

Mya draws a knife, stabbing it down next to the Associate's arm. Leaning in close, "I ain't afraid of you."

"It's not me you should be afraid of. But what the Mist obscures." As the Associate finishes, a claw-like hand grabs Mya by the throat, slamming her through a nearby table. "This'll be the last time we meet Trigger. If your rats are smart, they would leave. But we don't show mercy to thieves." Turning to face her assailant, it was an Ingeninki with a blindfold.

"Who-" Was the only word Mya was able to breathe before screaming in pain as the Ingeninki clawed into her.

"Do silence the rat quickly, I have other matters at hand to tend to." As the Associate asked, the Ingeninki gripping her throat, the sound of the spine crunching till the sound of a crack rang out. "I know we said to have her suffer, but her screams cause too much of a ruckus."

"I take no pleasure in this."

"I'm sure you don't." The Associate drops some jewels on the bar with another card. "But my job is done and so is yours." Standing up and making their way to the door to leave.

"There's movement to the east."

Looking back to the Ingeninki, the Associate only finds an empty cafe with a dead body. "The east? Black Blossoms or Limbo?" only silence responds. "I have no reason to doubt the words of the Silent Footsteps, but that's not much to go on either." They pause for a second before turning back to the door, unlocking it, "I guess this is another matter to look into."