Dust Shop East Vale
Barely anyone was out on the streets that evening besides a few stragglers and booze happy teenagers. The air had become heavy with humidity as the day went on and now the night was sweltering hot, with the ground feeling like molten lava and the air dampened with the smell of sweat. It was getting closer to the end of the summer and the heat wasn't even budging.
Once she opened the door to the family run dust shop, the girl was hit with the cool air conditioning and smell of tobacco. A group of oily looking men where browsing some of the dust deals with their cheap cologne becoming so strong her nose felt like it was on fire. Her face scrunched up as she walked into the shop with the door silently closing behind her with a gust of hut air.
The men where to busy arguing with one another to notice her so she didn't have any trouble brushing past them and balancing her scythe so that it didn't knock any of products over or worse, hit anyone. Her cheeks became red just at the thought of it and she hurried over to a empty aisle.
Dust sat neatly in the shelves with enough space so that they didn't sit each other off with useless friction and looked good enough to catch the customers eye. From what she heard the world's biggest dust suppliers at the moment, the Schnee Dust Company, was trying to get permission to expand into other areas like Vale and Mistral.
At first she had been happy about the news wanting to try and use different and more advanced types of dust to train at Signal however after learning the full story it made her feel pity for the dust shop's owner. Over in Atlas hundreds of dust companies where going out of business with the Schnee Dust Company taking their customers or buying them out. If and when they moved to Vale all of the dust shops would go out of business causing tons of people to lose their jobs and homes.
She didn't want that to happen but she also didn't want to lose the opportunity to buy higher grade dust for her scythe. So after some thinking and talking with her father she was given enough money to buy a good amount of dust that could help the owner take a large sum of money for his product. Besides, she was preparing for combat school scouting and she was pretty risky as training in the heat made it harder for her to grip hee scythe.
Taking a box of what was labeled as ice dust, she turned back around to see the men she had seen earlier where now gone having been replaced by another group of men who looked just as oily and as foul leaving the shop. Shrugging she made her way over to the counter with confusion spreading on her face at the absence of the shop owner. She hadn't heard him leave but she didn't see him around the counter, when she looked out the door no one was standing outside either.
"Hello? Is anyone still hear?" The girl cried out putting her box of dust down on the table. Instinctively her hands reached for her scythe as she continued to look around the shop, her guard coming up after a loud rustling noise was heard near the store's back room. "Mr Owner are you there?"
Slowly she walked over to the back of the store making sure no one was coming in before she even moved. She didn't want to risk hitting some innocent customer with her scythe and earning herself a night in a jail cell with some stinky drunk to keep her company. Sweat made her tee shirt stick onto her back as the room's doors came into view, one of them was cracked open with light peering out of it.
As she moved closer to the room the light became brighter and the air more bitter. The smell was strong but she couldn't tell what it was but whatever it ended up being it was making her stomach flip flop and her mouth dry up. The hairs on her arms stood up while this went on with her palm touching the cold metal that door was made of, pushing it open with a gust of artificial air.
Momentarily the girl was blinded by the sudden bright light enveloping her and caused her eyes to begin to burn. Along with the light came the overpowering smell of dust and something heavy. Something very metallic that made her stomach turn even more sour than before with sweat growing on her palms. Once the light began to settle she felt her chest begin to hammer as she stepped into the room, looking down in sheer shock.
"No..." The girl whimpered her legs wobbling as her hands itched to whip out her scythe. She stumbled backwards trying to wipe the scene from her memory only to hear her boots squish onto something. "What?"
Looking down her eyes widened and she felt her mouth water as vomit felt itself become trapped in her throat. A small puddle of blood pooled around her boot with a large print being left in it after she jumped back away from it in shock. Legs shaking she attempted to turn and run out of the shop only to hear the sound of running feet behind her. Soon shouting followed and she barely had time to dodge the array of bullets flying her way, having turned right when the first dozen where aimed at her.
Her scythe was freed from her back and cut threw the air with menacing aura that contrasted her fear filled eyes. Twirling it in her hands as if it where a string, the girl ducked down and bolted towards her attackers hoping to find a opening and escape. As soon as her feet hit the floor the men from earlier burst in from behind her attackers shocking her into a stupor.
Bullets darted towards her body, causing her swing her scythe once again and push herself into the air to avoid her aura being depleted. Bracing herself she darted into the men aiming her scythe at their bodies with her arms aching from how fast she constantly had to move them and the heavy weapon. Pain flared in her chest as she began to breath heavier and she gritted her teeth when a bullet grazed her side.
Feet skidding across the floor she dodged a chop from a random man's weapon before hitting him in the side of the war with the pole of her scythe, knocking him unconscious. This was followed her moving downward to avoid another array of attacks with her left leg kicking out and knocking one of the men onto his ass.
Quickly, she dug into her pockets and jammed a round of dust into her gun-scythe hoping she had enough on her to fight for a good amount of time. Moving to her side to avoid another array of bullets she aimed her scythe at some of the men, feeling the weapon recoil as she tried to hit them without it killing them and block incoming attacks. Fire dust shot out burning those who came close enough to be hit as she darted around attacks and shot at her enemies. Soon she felt herself shoot out the last bullet.
Aiming at the closest man near her she cut her scythe into the crowded space before spinning it so it hit him straight threw the side, his aura shattering before her eyes and blood spilling forth into the humid air. Splatters of blood spilled onto her face and chest painting her skin in red as she buried the disgust overtaking her and continued on her defense being kicked in the chest and forced forward into another attack.
The girl coughed in pain as she hit the ground with her knees thudding against the now wet wood floor boards. Soon she found herself cornered lifting up her scythe to block anymore attacks. Blinking she felt her skin burn as her body flew past the men cornering her, her semblance activating, with the others behind them pouncing on her.
Acting on pure and utter instinct the girl began to cut threw the men like they where nothing blood spraying into the air like a fountain. Her blade pierced threw there auras after numerous swipes and stabs forcing them to cough up blood and saliva as the light left there eyes. Still it was to many men attacking and she found herself being overpowered again with cuts and bruises covering whatever skin that she had showing.
The girl groaned as she felt her aura shatter and suddenly all her pain hit her full force making it hard to stand. All she could do was try and block incoming attacks with all of the space in area being taken over by her attackers and her scythe took up enough space.
"Lay off the girl." A voice said above all the chaos with the store's front door slamming shot and all of the men came to a stop with panicked looks on their face. "All of you get out here and load up the dust, I'll take care of her."
One of the men turned around allowing the girl to see another one who looked more professional and laid back then the others. A cigar sat in between his lips with smoke bollowing from his mouth when he took it out. Her eyes narrowed as they parted and he walk over to her with the men looking fearful. The grip on her scythe tightened as she prepared to get up and fight her way out to safety.
"But boss she found the body." A man said his voice shaky as the other looked down at her with interest causing her to scowl in disgust. "Shouldn't we get rid of her before she gets to the authorities?"
A scoff left the smoker's lips as he let the cigar hit the ground and stepped on it to snuff out the rest of it. He took out a small silver cane and spun it around in the air with his fingers, amusement in his eyes as he pointed the cane at his men with his authority demanding attention. The men shivered as if they where one and quickly made there way out of the back room leaving the two all alone.
The girl quickly got off of the ground and lifted her scythe from over her shoulder to in front of her body pointing at the man's chest. Her arms where shaky from the bruises covering them and the exhaustion that had taken over her body after losing her aura remaining to hinder her. If they where to engage in battle she knew he'd most likely beat her down and possibly kill her like the old man.
Raising a eyebrow the man gestured for her to lower her weapon and leaned over towards her by balancing on his cane's handle. From under his hat she could see ginger hair that only magnified his bright green eyes. They stared at one another with the girl trembling while he only smirked at her efforts to stay conscious.
"Calm down little red you're not going to die today." He said watching as she was forced to lower her scythe from her growing weakened body.
Little Red growled at him with her silver eyes glaring with disbelief. "And how do I know your men won't try and shoot me again?" She lifted one hand and gestured to her black, blue and yellow body. "They've already beat me, why not finish the job?"
"Hey now Little Red you don't need to get your panties in a bunch. My men didn't know that they would encounter the daughter of a famed huntress at their newest raid so they reacted like they would for any normal girl. I wouldn't want your daddy to lose another girl and have him on my back now would I?" The ginger said watching her face crumble as he spoke.
Reluctantly she allowed the gun-scythe to collapse back into it's normal appearance and strapped it back onto her back, wincing in pain as she was forced to move her muscles. During this whole exchange the men that had been attacking her previously moved the now stolen dust out of the building and into their weapons. Silver glimmered as she glared at their backs balling her hands into fists at her sides.
It felt wrong to let them take the dead man's lively hood and treat his body like dirt. The entire situation was sickening if not barbaric and the blood that began to dry on her body didn't help sway her opinion. She wouldn't to fight back, she wanted to slam crescent rose (her scythe/sniper rifle) in the gangster's face and call the police. But her phone had been left at home and her aura was done meaning they would take her down with ease.
Her fingers twitched and she had to keep herself from using her semblance to run away. Little Red wanted to run off but they knew who she was and who her family was. That made the situation even worth than it already was.
"You better run along now Little Red." She startled as the man moved so she could leave the back room and get away. "I won't be able to hold my men off for any longer."
Was he for real? His words sounded to real to be true but she knew if she hesitated she'd be on the ground with a bullet in her forehead. Sharing one last look with the ginger, she gulped feeling herself become nauseas all over again and let her semblance take control bolting away along with the wind.