A/N: So this whole no-reviewing thing is starting to get really frustrating. Seriously, anything is welcome.
Chapter 13 – An Old Friend & Pointed Ears – Surprisingly Not Overweight
"Where are we going?" Pocket asked.
"To meet an old friend," was all Hollow said.
The streets of Undeadburg were empty. The place was rebuilt after an earthquake and filled with more… respectable residents.
As Hollow drove up to a small block of flats Pocket asked, simply, "Why?"
"We need him -" Hollow tried to reply.
"Get out of the car!" A guy in a hoodie to hide his face tapped against the window of the Elise with a 9mm handgun.
Hollow sighed and opened the door to the car. "Adurna," he whispered. A spell to cause the charge in the mugger's bullets to dampen and refuse to light.
"Give me your wallet." The mugger growled.
"Ha. No…"
"The fuck you mean, 'no'?" The thief scowled. "Give me your cash, assclown."
"How many pounds do you want?" Hollow mocked.
"I'ma give you five seconds until I'm gonna pop a cap in you… 5… 4… 3… 2… 1… 0." An audible click sounded as the perpetrator squeezed the trigger. He took the magazine out of the gun to find it dripping wet as Hollow sauntered toward him with an easy gait. The man tried to run but Hollow grabbed onto the hood of his jacket and pulled him backwards and slammed his skull into a lamp post. Knocking him out cold. Hollow called the police to notify them. Didn't need them really but he couldn't be bothered to take out the trash himself.
Hollow walked up the steps that led to a locked door. He ran his finger down the list of name and flat numbers until he found the right one, "HF. Peace, Peace, Peace, how's anybody who doesn't know you from 'the crew' supposed to find you?" Hollow spoke into the mic. With his finger pressed into the buzzer.
"Well look what the war dragged in. And don't say you just want to say hi. You never just want to say hi. Come on up – Oh come on, man, I thought we were paused. Blӧdh un andlát. Oh wait, never mind, you botched the rope anyway."
Hollow shook his head slightly as the door unlocked with a click. He held the door open for Arya and she muttered her thanks as she stepped inside. Hollow followed after her. The door shut behind him and rattled slightly.
"So what flat number are we looking for?" Arya asked. She absentmindedly picked at the flaking plaster on the wall.
"It should be room 16 on floor B," Hollow replied.
"What were you saying earlier?" she asked as she started walking up the wooden staircase.
Hollow marvelled at how his footsteps cause the rickety steps to creak at every footfall yet Arya made no sound whatsoever. "He's an old informant. He could probably tell us everything we need to know without a week of research. It's uncanny. Also, he's a good relief from this life. He's somewhat of an enthusiast for video games. I used to play them a lot. Used to make a living out of it. But this war. This war tore it away from me. Just like it tore everything else out. 30,020 years ago, I'd never even think of killing a mugger and yet… I had to restrain myself from doing anything else to the guy just outside and it sickens me, Arya. It really does…"
"Sorry. I've bummed you out, haven't I?" Hollow asked.
"I would be lying if I said your words didn't affect me, Hollow. I would. That doesn't mean I think about you any differently than I did before you said them, though." She stopped on the step above him. Her eyes stood a few inches above his and he was forced to look up.
He lifted his arm to lean on the wall. His elbow snaking past Arya's should to stop some centimetres behind it. "You know we haven't actually been out yet. Just the two of us. Not properly anyway."
"Maybe we could fix that later. Just not today." Arya leaned into Hollow. One hand on his chest and the other running a hand over his outstretched arm. She stopped stroking the exposed skin on Hollow's shoulder to bunch up a fist in the cloth of his t-shirt next to his shoulder blade.
Hollow moved up on step and took his arm off of the wall to curve around Arya's waist as he kissed her. It was a slow, long burning flame. Like cotton balls soaked in Vaseline.
Arya pulled away slightly. She heard a voice come from a voice on the first stop up the stairs. The man in the doorway was slightly taller than Hollow and Arya. He had golden eyes and blonde hair. He's an Elf. She realized, noting his pointed ears.
He said, "Now, I hate to be a cliché but I doubt you came here to smooch in my hallway, Hollow. Who's the pretty lady…? Wait. Why isn't Rage with you?"
"So… He's gone?" The man known to Hollow as Peace asked.
"Yes."
"Damn… How'd he kick it?" Peace put his head in his hands. "Or do I want to know?"
"Stab wound to the back. The blade stopped at his rib. Punctured lung and a major artery was cut open. He bled to death before he suffocated."
"Christ. I didn't want to know." Silence fell upon the front room of Peace's apartment. A monitor on a wooden desk in the corner showed a paused game of Worms. The warm summer day's light shone through an open window on one wall. Hollow & Arya sat on a yellow love-seat while Peace sat on a desk chair he'd swivelled round to face them.
"To tell you the truth, we didn't just come here to tell you about Josh." Hollow continued. "I came because it seems that it's going to need more than just the two of us for this. The last mission very much was proof of that. I need more people. I came to you first. I'm hoping to convince others to come. Curaxu, Pinkfoxes, Sky and some others. Will you, Peace, accompany us in our venture?"
"What will I be doing?"
"What you usually do." Hollow replied. "But there will be times when we'll need you in a fight. I understand that you have some in-depth knowledge of long range weapons."
Aye, that I do. I will come with you. Obviously, you must know that I can't just up and leave right away. I'll need a week to move out and even more time to sell the stuff I won't need wherever you lot have hunkered up this time."
"I understand. Tell me when you're ready to move up and I'll come and pick you up." Hollow replied. Peace looked confused.
"But that's only a two-seater." Peace remarked, indicating to the window.
Hollow only winked at Arya and smiled. "I'll see you around, Peace. Have fun."
"But…" They were already gone. "I swear that guy only confuses me every time that he leaves my sight…"
