Powder ran with purpose. She dashed through the bustling streets of the Lanes, occasionally bumping into people, leaving behind her a wake of cursing and pocket checking shoppers. But Powder was no pickpocket despite appearances, and nobody gave chase upon discovering to their pleasant surprise that for once, an innocuous bump in the Undercity was just that.
It didn't take long for Powder to reach the first of their many old hang outs that her sister could be at. But the deserted alleyway held no trace of Vi, yet Powder called out just to be sure. "Vi!" she shouted, her voice echoing down the dark alley with no response. Undeterred, she headed straight for the next possibility.
"Vi!" she shouted again with the same result and moved on.
"Vi?" The next was spot also empty. Concern edged into her voice.
"Vi..." The rest had proved equally fruitless. Exhausted and hoarse, Powder couldn't muster up the energy to shout again and merely spoke the name again to herself sadly.
She could only think of one more place Vi could be, the furthest yet most plausible location and though she didn't want to get her hopes up again, Powder couldn't help but do so the more she thought about it; after all, where else could Vi be than at their old house?
Powder hesitated before the door of the shack, held her breath in the hopes of hearing some noise of life on the other side. Finally, she turned the knob and pushed the door open. She stood for a moment at the entrance, collecting herself and recalling every place she had checked, hoping she had missed one she could still go to. She wasn't giving up, just taking a short break she told herself as she walked in and shut the door behind her. Too tired to cry and legs sore from running all over the Undercity, she slumped down and curled up, slipping into an uneasy sleep.
She was awakened by the door opening once more. All grogginess instantly gone, she turned eagerly to the door and a shout died in her throat upon seeing that rather than Vi, it was a group of older kids. They stepped forward as she backed away until her back was to the wall. Her breathing quickened as she tried to stifle the panic. She recognized some of the same delinquents from the fight over the penthouse loot, and braced herself, expecting the worst.
Marcus' mind was racing. He knew exactly why Silco wanted to meet, but not how much the scumbag knew about his involvement in the debacle at the docks. He couldn't help but feel like he'd walked into the lion's den as he opened the doors of the Last Drop tavern.
The clientele had become even seedier somehow since last he came, no doubt influenced by the change in ownership, and he climbed the stairs to Silco's office while doing his best to appear unfazed by the stares of the gang below and Sevika trailing behind him. Sheriff Grayson's fate still fresh in his mind, the anger he felt was tempered by fear of the monstrosity Silco had used to tear her apart. And though threats of violence wouldn't have worked, the insinuations of blackmail from Sevika had given enough of an idea what could happen if he didn't follow her here.
It was too late to back out now. Having already made one deal with the devil, Marcus could only ask Grayson and the other dead enforcers' spirits for forgiveness as he stepped into Silco's office.
"What do you want?" he said tersely, talking to the back of Silco's chair as the villain slowly turned to face him.
"I wanted to congratulate you, Sheriff Marcus." Silco nodded at the silver badge pinned to Marcus' uniform.
"Interim sheriff," corrected Marcus coldly. "Just until Sheriff Grayson's murder is resolved. And you can drop the pleasantries, or did you drag me here just to mock me?"
Silco slid a piece of paper across the desk to Marcus. "Take a look at this."
Marcus' heart sank as he picked up the drawing, but he kept a stoic face and feigned ignorance. "So what? Am I supposed to know who this is?" He dropped the rough drawing of a pink haired girl back on the desk.
"Don't tell me you haven't heard about the terrible explosion at the docks the other day?" Silco frowned. "A big commotion like that and the sheriff isn't interested at all in apprehending the perpetrator?" he tapped the drawing ominously.
"Maybe you didn't hear me," said Marcus loudly. "But I've got other things on my plate, like the murder of a sheriff."
Silco leaned back in his chair. "All will be taken care of in due time. I get the feeling, call it a hunch, that if this delinquent is brought to justice, you'll be one step closer to catching your beloved sheriff's murderer."
Marcus knew enough about Silco to understand that there was at least some honor among these thieves, and that for this man to offer to trade in a henchman something must've already happened to the sap. Even still, to have a body to offer the council would help clear the suspicion on himself - the sole surivor - not to mention help drop the interim from his title.
Tempting as the offer was, Marcus wasn't about to give up the life he just saved. It was the least bit of defiance he could show in memory of Grayson and to maintain what dignity he had left. He scoffed, "And this sketch is all you've got? Should I arrest every pink haired girl in the Undercity? Don't waste my time." He turned to leave but found Sevika blocking the door.
"Move," he commanded while glaring at her.
With a smug grin on her face, Sevika leaned forward without breaking eye contact. "Make me, piltie," she said, taunting and aggressive.
Marcus for a brief moment considered it, impossible as it was, but Silco's voice brought him back to reality.
"There is... one more piece of information you might find useful." Silco got up and brought the drawing over to Marcus. He put the paper into Marcus' unwilling hand. "A dockworker saw an enforcer carrying off a pink haired girl."
Marcus froze. The stare they shared said it all. There was no point playing the fool anymore, the cat was tired of toying with its prey. He was trapped, and could see from Silco's pitiless eyes that no amount of pleading could get him out of what was demanded of him. His fate had been sealed the day he naively thought that he was the one using Silco. Marcus looked away from the abyss that was Silco's left eye but the horrid gaze remained fixed upon him.
"Don't let me down now, sheriff."