Chapter 2: File Found
Kadra smiled at the employed scientist. A dust-covered file sat in front of her on a grand desk. "The master will be pleased." She whispered to the minor biologist. "Where did you find this ancient thing?"
Kiba sat staring at the moon. Long before he had set his thoughts back from the memories, deciding that the sky was more important tonight. The cliff hung over a deep valley, the valley where the city with the flower lay. The lights were dull compared to the moon on the snow. The moon was a second sun raised with a softer mood. It was a softer being altogether.
He suddenly felt broken. He felt lonely and lost and forgotten. He was lonely, lost, forgotten. Just like the flower. Just like the others. Just like Cheza. Cheza? Who was Cheza? He knew he had loved her. Perhaps not as mates love one another, but it had been something. Something she promised. Something she held.
He howled then. A horrid echo. So lonely and sad that as it drifted below and touched the snow, the forgiving silver light wavered. The howl gently floated down to the town, in and around corners, so low to the walkers' feet that no one noticed. Well, perhaps not no one.
"What do you mean? What is this file?"
"Fifteen years ago, around the time of Jagura's death and Darcia's disappearance, some risky research was being done. It was advanced biochemistry along with several other lines. They had many other scientists working on it. After the deaths and the new reform, all the files were destroyed…or so we thought."
Aysu heard it, cold and heartbroken. She almost returned the howl, except that she realized she still stood in the doorway of a cheap diner. She wrapped the shabby, thread-bear coat tighter around herself, listening quietly.
"Hey, babe."
She turned and saw a man staring at her, his eyes boring into the clothing she wore. "Hn." She began to walk quietly, across the street. The man followed, deliberately swaying his muscular body for emphasis.
"Come on, now, babe. You want ta have a little fun?"
"No. I am not in a fun mood."
"Aw, what's got ya down, babe?"
"A song." She reached the other side of the paved road and turned right down the street, following the shop-lined street.
"What kinda song would get a pretty thing like you all down?"
"Go away."
"Why?"
"Because I don't like you and there will be no fun tonight." She said it in a soft, shy voice. Her nerves were shaking, but he took it as a sign of playing 'hard-to-get'.
"Now, babe. You know you'd love to have some fun with me." He reached out
and stroked her cheek.
She froze, suddenly shivering, and not from the cold. "Please don't touch me." The whisper was so quiet, the wind picked it up and carried it far away, up out of the city and into the cliffs and mountains, only to be heard by those who could listen.
"What was that, baby-cakes?"
She bolted, down the alley and climbed up a fire escape before the man could even blink. He looked around, almost dazed. Where had she gone? One minute there, flirting with him and then, suddenly gone.
"There was a forbidden book, too. One about wolves and the moon and a legend. Although it is not essential."
"What do you plan to do with the information?"
"The master shall know what to do with it. Most likely, he will give it to our Senior Director of Sciences and Administrations to begin and expand on research."
"You all know more than you are letting on."
"And so do you. That is why, I am afraid, we are going to have to release you."
The man detected something in Kadra's voice and as he turned, he felt several bullets pierce his skin and sink deep within him, his blood staining the white lab coat and the white carpet. He lay on the ground, eyes empty, and clarity forming in his mind. He knew now what the Master and Kadra were plotting. But it was much too late to stop it.
Hey Look! I wrote another chapter! And I changed the summary! ;)
-RO