Thank you for taking the time to read my creation and please no spamming or stupid remark/comments. Any problems IM or email I'll be happy to help solve the issue. Italics like always, mean thoughts or dream depending on the situation.
Chapter one - Welcome to Strafe
The city that never sleeps, keeping it's nightmares at bay, alluding the darkness in a constant battle for sanity and control
"Run away, run from this place."- The fire burned brightly as the house came crashing down, scattering debris and dust everywhere. Among the fiery remains stood a lone child no older than eight, blood drenched her body violently shaking. She was gripped roughly by the wrist, and pulled down to the ground as a dying female pulled her close, "Did you hear what I said?! Bury it and forget! Find Eva she'll protect you. Warn them of the danger. They must escape!" The child nodded as the woman released her, dropping unto the ground sideways on the charred, blood stained earth. Meanwhile the child looked back as she ran off, watching as the fire spread, consuming the woman and everyone else who had been killed in the attack.
Violette Goldstein sat up from her bed as she wiped the light beads of sweat from her brow. Frowning she climbed out of bed dragging herself into the bathroom. She flipped the bathroom switch, shielding her eyes from the bright light. "Vi, you're awake? Don't tell me you've been having nightmares again," the teenager sighed as she filled a glass with water and drank slow, steady gulps. "Stupid dreams," she muttered while looking into her reflection, I'm getting circles under my eyes again. She thought as she yawned and rubbed her eyes. Walking into their small living room Violette sat down in a corner of their old burgundy sofa as her mother worked away in a corner, her back to the girl. "So what was it this time?" her mother asked, as she squinted her eyes, trying to adjust her monocle. Violette sighed as she leaned on the old piece of furniture "The usual, fire, dying blonde, and those damn screeches. I thought the psychiatrist said that they were going to stop once I started taking the medication?"
Her mother didn't respond, only the sound of a torch was heard as the older woman welded what she held in her hands, "Mom did you hear me?"
"Yeah I did. Look I wish I could answer every question you throw at me, but I have to finish working on the pistol, a customer is picking it up tomorrow." Violette let out a disappointed sigh, "Of course. I'm going outside. Gonna walk around clear my head. Be back in a bit."Grabbing a black coat she slipped into it, stepping outside, "Don't stay out for too long," her mother called out from behind, Violette simply walked out not replying.
On the other side of town in the district area, a fight broke out inside a bar. "Get the hell out! You troublemakers! Enzo one more and you're banished from my place. You hear me!?" Onlookers watched as a chubby man in a khaki jacket and dark colored pants was thrown out of the bar, behind him several others followed all falling face first into the wet concrete. "Aw, c'mon banished isn't that a little extreme!" Enzo Ferino yelled back at the owner who crossed his arms as he leaned on the doorway. The Italian cursed under his breath as he walked away, straightening his hat. "Dammit, can't believe it I didn't even get a chance to take a piss," he muttered as he walked through the hardly lit streets, wondering where was his newest recruit.
So, what's your name kid?
Tony. Tony Redgrave. I'm looking to get in on the mercenary business. So, you think I got what it takes?
Kid, I'm confident in your skills, just trust me, and you're gonna be the biggest thing that ever hit this little town.
Enzo shook his head as he kept walking remembering how he met his newest recruit. "Damn . . . Did I do right by hiring a kid?" the question lingered in his mind when he heard footsteps, loud, pacing footsteps which were quickly heading in his direction. Reaching into his inner coat pocket he readied his gun, waiting for his attacker "Enzo, that you? Geez. I've been looking for you everywhere. You were supposed to meet me an hour ago, what the hell?" Turning around, Enzo's eyes instantly fell on the white hair which seemed to glow, until he realized it was the light reflecting off of the silver locks.
"Shit, you had me scared kid. I thought Bobby's bouncers were on my ass again!"
The boy in red smirked as he walked toward his employer, "Paranoid much?" he mocked at the sweaty man. "What me? No. No! Heh, if Bobby were stupid enough to send his men after me I would shoot them all, made them wish they'd of never come after me!"
Tony Redgrave smirked as they walked out of the alley, "Sure, I'm sure they would be terrified of you. So, when am I going to start?"
Enzo, laughed nervously earning a dry look from the boy. "What?" Tony answered, the fat Italian rubbing his head with a nervous look on his face, as Tony smirk became a glare. "Well the thing is . . . kid you're starting with a partner. The guy is well known around town plus he can introduce you to his gunsmith, she's the best in town. His name is Grue" Tony stormed off in front of Enzo, heading toward the nearby motel he was residing in. "Aw, don't get like that he's a professional! Grue knows what he's doing he could even teach you a thing or two!" Tony stopped briskly turning around "I don't need some old geezer telling how to do my job. What I need is for you to hurry up and get a gig!" Enzo followed behind him and said "Uh, well it's not that easy nobody knows your name yet! You might've been big in the last town, but don't forget this is different Strafe is Mecca for all the aspiring! If don't you play by the rules of this town, then Tony I hate to break it to you but, you're not gonna make it in this business!"
Tony rolled his eyes as he stepped aside, waiting for Enzo to catch to up. "Today fat man, I'm sleepy, I wanna get a little shut eye before I meet the geezer!" Enzo remained silent and obediently followed Tony to his motel room. "So, what's the geezer like? A real prick? A pushover?" they entered the one bed room, Enzo watching his every step and with good reason. The room was littered with pizza boxes and soda cans. "I see you've gotten acquainted with the towns' pizza joint." He pointed out while pushing some boxes off of a wooden chair. Taking a deep breath he almost wished he hadn't: the room reeked of old beer, urine and another unknown smell. "Did someone die here?" he yelled out Tony shrugged as he picked the television remote clicking the small screen on. "How should I know? I'm hardly here to begin with! 'Sides, this was the cheapest motel in the entire town!" Enzo snatched the remote from Tony's hand, trying to find his favorite channel, GIRLZ.
"Does this place have a satellite?" He asked as he went form channel to channel, Tony only watched in amusement as his employer began to look annoyed. "Have you looked at the dump were in?! Why are you asking me if this place has satellite?!" Enzo gave a disappointed sigh as he turned the television off. "So where was I?" he turned his attention to the teen who polishing the large blade that he had been carrying on his back, Enzo couldn't help but stare. " I forgot you carried around that thing!" Tony was quiet while his hand worked over the chrome surface of the blade. "Why do you carry that thing around Tony? What are you trying to prove? " Enzo shook his head as he said " Why not do as the rest of us and carry a gun. It's much more compact and discreet than that oversized knife."
"I can't part with it, I don't know why, but I just can't. What? Haven't you ever had an item that you can't stay away from for some reason unknown to you?" Tony answered as he stood up, leaning the sword on his left shoulder. "So, you're telling me you carry the damn thing because you have some sort of connection to it, is that it?! What kind of person goes around saying crap like that?!" Tony chuckled finding his commissioner's exaggerated tone humorous Enzo gave the boy a blank stare, "You need to get your act straight otherwise, no one in town will take you seriously and you'll never get a job," Tony shook his head "Quit lecturing me, I know what I need to do, it's just that it involves a very big weapon." Enzo suppressed a sigh, knowing that there was no arguing with the teen, he had set his mind on carrying around that sword.
He didn't think there was anything wrong with it, hell he knew at least six other mercenaries who used the sword as a prime weapon, but the thing was they were experienced men, Tony, no matter how gifted he seemed, it just didn't feel to Enzo that the boy was ready for his weapon.
Violette paced around her apartment complex, standing on her floor's balcony watching the people below her as they conducted their nightly lives. She had moved to this city so many years ago and yet she was still surprised by the fact that so many people led nightly lives. It wont be long, before I'm one of them the thought eased her tension, as she hugged herself cursing at the fact that she should of gotten a thicker coat to protect her against the cold night breeze.