Chapter 4: Deep In The Willow
The previous confrontation at the hotel didn't end well, but at the very least Rico was still willing, if not just barely, to help Harry complete his task. Rico himself didn't want to see it this way, but with the Church's intelligence that confirmed that Rock has met with Chang, it was a battle between him and the Japanese man. Both relative newcomers to Roanapur, both operating in the realms of information over might, and perhaps most importantly, both having names that start with 'R'.
Rico was sat waiting in the chapel of the Rip-Off Church, he was pretending to read a Bible as Sister Eda leaned against the altar at the front of the room. The thin rays of late-morning light were making their way through the stained-glass windows. The scene was almost beautiful, even if the business occurring was not so pleasant.
Harry's blunder at the morgue hadn't gone unnoticed by those outside of the Triad, Church, and Russian circles. Roanapur, according to its nature, picked up the rumor that Mr. Chang had been taken down by some unseen assailant, or… assassin? Perhaps it was a stripper in a cake? No one on the ground was quite sure.
The neat thing about rumors in Roanapur is that despite the city's penchant for being unusual in all the usual ways, the spread of misinformation was quite normal, if not accelerated in this case by the involvement of some of the city's big players. Mr. Chang, and Balalaika, two Olympic-sized egos with the brains and gunpowder to back it up. In fact, the most remarkable thing about this rumor was the speed at which it spread, only 32 hours had passed, usually it took less than 2, the Triad's discretion was laudable this time around.
Thus, Sister Yolanda made the call to move what was supposed to be a by-the-book information brokerage up the chain of command to Eda, the Church's Enforcer-In-Chief and undercover CIA spook. Her carefree callous nature worked well to pacify Rico's independence when it came to clients he managed. This was too big just for him now.
The Church's reputation was on the line. And both Sister Yolanda and Eda knew that they wouldn't survive a fight against either the Triad or Hotel Moscow, despite the firepower they had at their disposal. All this and more were running through the nun and priest's heads when the front door to the chapel opened. A young man with a lightening scar came indoors to face the music.
Harry walked up the main aisle between the disused-yet-abused pews and Eda eyed him up. A pervy smile worked its way across her face. Rico shut his Bible and turned to face his client. Harry met the informant's eyes, and he could piece together what had happened.
"Hello, my name is-" Harry started to say in a professional tone to the nun, but she cut him off.
"I know who you are, sugar. Half the town is trying to figure that out for themselves y'know." Eda said.
"I assumed as much." Harry said.
Eda's smile grew even further, "I've gotta say. I expected someone capable of taking out Chang to be a bit less…"
"Nerdy?" Harry suggested.
"I was thinking twink-ish, but if you prefer 'nerdy' I'll respect it." Eda said. Harry had a confused look on his face, which Eda was hoping for.
"Harry Potter, from Godric's Hollow, England. Parents died in a car crash when you were a year old. Adopted by relatives and sent to a boarding school in Scotland." Eda said chiefly.
"That sounds about right." Harry said.
"It is, but my curiosity doesn't concern your past self, it's whatever you do now." Eda produced a paper form the altar behind her, "Says you work for a private security company called Auror International, who I've never heard of." Eda said, showing off a corporate memo of some sort, "But, the weirder thing is, you have zero, and I mean absolutely no experience in anything military or security focused." Eda said, trying to jog Harry's mind into giving her information.
Harry knew this tactic well. It was a good idea during an interrogation, hostile or not, to pretend as if you already know the information you're seeking. "Sister Eda, I understand your confusion." Harry said as he leaned on a pew opposite from Rico, "But I'm under several oaths, contracts, and confidential agreements not to discuss my past experiences." he said, using a vocal inflection to make it sound as if his words were final.
"Bullshit." Eda said nonchalantly, "If you're going to be a pain in the ass for me, I'll have to know everything about you." she said. The statement made Harry surprised at how quick she cut through everything, he felt like she could see right through his clothes too. However, he had the Ministry to thank for giving him some useful intelligence from their MI6 liaison just before he came to the Church via the Floo Network.
Harry stepped forward, Eda letting the man approach her. Harry spoke in a low tone so Rico didn't hear.
"You may know where I was born, where I went to school, and all that shite. I'm not all that impressed to be quite fucking honest. I'm not sure what they say in Langley, but in Hereford, we only have one phrase that matters, 'Who Dares Wins'."
Eda's eyes went wider than they were used to, and Harry backed off to let her process the information.
"Huh!" she said after a short pause, "Not expecting one of you to be around here."
"Thailand isn't typically a priority." Harry said.
"Figured as much, your colony was a few thousand miles to the West ain't it?"
"Yeah, whatever that counts for anymore."
Eda took Harry's comment with suspicion, although she would never show it.
"Well Harry." the nun said, "Rico tells me you're after someone and that you're not leaving without her."
"That would be correct." Harry said, Rico glancing at him.
"I want to make something clear." Eda said, standing up straight from her position on the altar, "We will take your money, but the only reason this Church is helping you is because we don't want the Triads and Russians up our ass. So, you do things our way, or we give them your head on the longest and sharpest pike we have in stock." Eda's eyes were blocked by her gaudy pink shades, but Harry got the message, he shrugged and nodded.
"Good, now wait here." she said before walking through the chapel's back door. Rico took the opportunity to confront Harry.
"What the hell did you tell her?" Rico asked in a hushed but agitated tone.
"I'm now a member of her majesty's Special Air Service, nice to meet you." Harry said whilst offering his hand. Rico looked at him with confusion.
"What does that have to do with anything? She didn't give a shit when American special forces were in town, why would she care for British?" Rico asked.
"Rico, maybe you should just let things lie and be thankful that she's willing to help resolve this mess." Harry said professionally. Harry was gambling that Eda's sense of duty to help one of America's allies would out rule any ideas of setting him up. Harry also figured that her CIA affiliation was a closely held secret. If the young priest hadn't figured it out, then he didn't need to know.
Rico sighed and buried his head in his hands. Eda came back through the door with a binder in her hands. She leaned back on the altar and opened it, the binder thick with papers. "Well, Harry, you're lucky that this Malee Thucrit is associated with the Triads and isn't some dipshit freelancer. Otherwise, our job would've gotten a whole lot more expensive." Eda said, her devilish smile sending a clear signal to Harry about the Church's compensation.
"Do you know where I can find her then?" Harry asked.
"Not exactly." Eda said as she flipped through the papers. "It seems this bitch is involved in some internal politics within the Triad."
"That much we know, I just need to find her and get her back to Britain." Harry said.
"Well, isn't someone feeling frisky! All in good time." Eda said as she skipped several pages of what Harry assumed was some brilliant exposition.
"The best that our sources can indicate is that Thucrit is seeking the help of a fixer named Leroy." Eda said.
Harry nodded, "Is this guy good at his job?" he asked.
"Very, but after a snafu with a schizo maid, Leroy's stock isn't exactly high in the city." the nun said.
"Do you know where I can find this man then?"
"Sure, but confronting him will be on your own time." Eda said. Harry sat back in his pew and thought.
"Very well, give me details."
"Goddamn knew it." Revy sneered. She was riding shotgun with Rock at the wheel. The Lagoon Company's '62 Pontiac Catalina 421 'Super Duty' was coming to a stop outside the Roanapur city hospital.
"I just goddamn knew your dumbass would get wrapped up in some bullshit. First the morgue, then that goth bitch's place, and now this." she said.
"You didn't have to come along you know. And Sawyer's always been on the level." Rock said.
"I woulda gladly kept out of this, but I know you're clumsy as fuck. I give it two hours before you get shot if you did this by yourself."
"That's very cynical of you."
"It's reality, shitass!"
"Whatever, we need information first and foremost." Rock said as he stepped out of the car.
The place was surprisingly modern considering the city it served. The influx of cash from mobsters, gangsters, and bandits looking for medical care after their misadventures kept the facilities clean and ready to serve. Many didn't know this either, but due to the type of work that powered the city's economy, the hospital had some of the best trauma surgeons in Southeast Asia from experience alone.
Rock waved at the secretary as he walked in the front door. "Hello sir, how may I help you?" the woman asked pleasantly.
"Hello, I'm here on business for Mr. Chang, I understand two of his associates are recovering here?" Rock said as Revy lit up a cigarette.
"Of course, sir. They are in the Deluxe Ward on the top floor, Room 3141." the receptionist said, "And Miss Rebecca, there is no smoking inside the hospital." Revy gave the woman behind the desk the evil eyes before flicking her cigarette into a trashcan.
Revy grumbled to herself as Rock and she went towards the elevators. "Since fuckin' when can't I smoke here?" Revy said to herself.
"They tell you that every time we come here y'know." Rock said benignly.
"Shaddup." she said as the elevator doors opened. They got on and Rock pressed the button for the top floor.
"So, what're you gonna ask these fools anyways?" Revy asked.
"Dunno, I just want to hear their stories is all. The morgue was bare of any evidence, and Sawyer said that those guys she looked at died of aneurysms."
"Yeah, almost like they were cursed." Revy said.
"I wouldn't go that far to speculate." Rock said.
"I dunno man, I got a weird feeling when I saw their bodies."
"Oh, the great Revy 'Two Hand' fears dead bodies now?"
"Fuck off jackass, I'm serious, something about this whole thing stinks."
"That's exactly why Mr. Chang has me looking into it, right?"
"Whatever, I just don't want this to end up like another Hansel and Gretel situation." Revy said as the elevator stopped its ascent.
The pair walked down the hallway of the Deluxe Ward, which was typically reserved for the capos of the major crime syndicates. But an unexpected perk of the ward was the armed guards that patrolled up and down the hallways, making sure no nosy visitors tried to sneak into the place. Perfect for associates of a paranoid Triad boss.
A guard by the door to the room with the Triad goons nodded at Rock and opened the door for him. The guard put a hand in front of Revy though.
"I'll hold your iron." the guard said.
"The fuck you will!" Revy snapped back. Almost as if they were phantoms, two other guards stood at her back, pistols cocked and ready. Revy sighed and looked at Rock, he shrugged. Revy turned over her pistols and went inside the room.
The room was shaped rectangularly, the door was in the middle of a long wall and a bed holding a Triad member was on each end. The décor and furniture were a chic take on normal hospital aesthetics, but hospital aesthetics they were all the same. One of the beds had the shutters drawn, the other held a man who was watching the news. Rock went over to the man, Revy in tow.
Rock pulled up a chair and Revy leaned on the wall nearby. The man in the bed muted the TV broadcast. "Anything interesting?" Rock asked.
"Not really, it's all about the Yankee elections." the man said in accented English.
"Well, they're always a hit." Rock said, "Anyways, Mr. Chang has enlisted me to investigate the attack at the morgue. I'd like to hear your account of what happened that night."
"Of course." the man began. "Zhou and I were assigned to protect the back door to the morgue. It's not as if this wasn't against standard protocol. The rest of our guys were posted inside or out front. If there was a struggle, they would've heard gunshots." he said.
"I see, is Zhou the one over there?" Rock asked, pointing his thumb at the other bed.
"Yes." the man said. "Anyways, we were keeping watch. Usually, we would've set up more precautions like infrared laser tripwires and cameras, but Brother Chang made the trip impromptu, so our advance team didn't have much time to prepare."
"But it was my understanding that the Triad was occupying the morgue?" Rock asked.
"That is only partially true. The Ivans have been keeping an eye on the building since it's technically on their turf. So, our operations had to be as discreet as possible."
Rock nodded and let the man continue, "Zhou and I were standing watch and we didn't expect anybody to show up given the spontaneous nature of the trip by Brother Chang and the added presence of the Russians, who wouldn't dare to make a move on the boss. The alleyway was dark, the only source of light had come from the lamp above the back door. All I remember about the attack was a bright red flash and Zhou falling to the ground. I tried to turn to where the source of the light had come from, but I wasn't able to do anything. Another red flash dominated my eyes and I felt stiff as if my body locked up all at once before my muscles stopped working. I lost consciousness on the way down."
Rock hummed and rubbed his chin, "Sounds like a taser to me." he said.
"Can't be." Revy chimed in. Rock turned to her.
"It's true." the man said, "I've been hit with a stun gun before, what I felt wasn't like that. There was barely any pain, and I didn't hear anything like the sound that comes from a taser."
"I dunno if any stun guns emit red light either." Revy chimed.
Rock hummed again and thought some more. "Okay, what happened after?"
"Like I said, I passed out and I was only woken up when I was being wheeled into the hospital. Apparently, Zhou hit his head hard on the ground, he's still a little, uh… yūn." the man said, nodding towards the other bed that was hidden by the curtains.
"I'm sorry to hear that." Rock said sympathetically.
"Eh, between you and me I never really liked him." the man said quietly. Revy snorted and pushed off the wall.
"Well, thanks for talking with us, is there anything else you'd like to say?" Rock said as he stood up from his chair.
"That's all I remember. Just catch the bastard, I want to get a good hit in before Brother Chang puts them in the ground." the man said. Rock nodded and followed Revy outside the room. She collected her guns, and the pair made their way back to the Lagoon company car.
Rock began to drive. "Where to now sailor?" Revy asked benignly as she lit up a cigarette.
"I'm going to head back to the office and try to fit this all together, not that I have much to work off. Can I bum one of those?" he said, glancing at Revy's pack of cigarettes. Revy placed another in her mouth and lit it before handing it over to Rock.
"Thanks. Do you want me to drop you off somewhere?"
"I'll just take the car when you're there, Dutch said to restock the fridge when we got the chance." Revy said as they stopped at an intersection.
"What's he up to?" Rock asked.
"He's working on the boat, Benny's trying to rewire some stuff in the hull." Revy said. Rock nodded and they continued onwards.
"Have you told Dutch about this yet?" Revy asked between a long drag.
"I told him that I was taking a job with Mr. Chang, he didn't ask for any more details."
"That's not like him."
"Yeah, but after the incident with Roberta I'm not sure how much he's willing to know about jobs like this." Rock said.
"What you don't know can't hurt ya." Revy said.
"Yeah, I suppose so." Rock said.
Harry found himself in a familiar situation, pretending to smoke a cigarette, leaning against a light pole, pretending to feel sorry for himself as to fit in with the rest of the city's inhabitants. His target this time was a small apartment building where this Leroy guy lived. Harry had a picture of the man he had studied intensely back at the Church. The sun was low in the sky, which was still bright blue.
Eda's intelligence had also included a meeting that Leroy had been confirmed to be going to, assuming everything went as planned, he should be coming back to his apartment sometime soon. Harry's intention was to interrogate Leroy inside the apartment and then cast a memory charm on the man before leaving. He didn't need any more trouble as things stood.
Luckily for the Auror, his target didn't dawdle, and Harry spotted Leroy heading into the building. The wizard threw his cigarette aside and jogged across the street. He charmed the lock open and went inside, catching the figure of Leroy as he vanished across a corner at the top of a flight of stairs. Harry followed him carefully, doing his best to not make any noise. He had left his invisibility cloak in his jacket's expanded inner pocket in case he had to make a speedy exit.
Harry peeked around the corner at the top of the stairs and saw Leroy unlocking a door in the middle of the hallway, he went inside the room. Harry waited a few moments after Leroy shut the door before creeping up to it. Harry listened intently.
"Yeah, I told them. I'll need a bigger commitment for their advance. After the morgue incident things are heating up around here." Leroy said, for once Harry was thankful for thin walls.
"I know you already-. Yes, I-. Dammit I know you didn't do that stunt! Now would you listen?" Harry heard Leroy say.
Was he talking to Thucrit? Harry heard Leroy sigh heavily, something slammed inside, he suspected that whoever was on the other side of the phone call had hung up.
It was time to move, Harry raised his wand, "Alohomora" he said quietly. The lock clicked and Harry turned the knob while drawing the gun Rico had given him. The door creaked open, and Leroy turned, only to be met with the end of a pistol. The man raised his hands as Harry stuffed his wand back into his jacket.
"Sit." Harry said clearly, nodding towards a nearby wooden chair. The wizard kicked the door shut behind him and his target sat down in the chair, his hands still raised.
"I know you're armed, drop your guns on the floor and kick them over to me." Harry instructed. Leroy was baring his teeth and sweat was beading on his brow. He wasn't in the mood to be shot today, so he did as Harry instructed and pulled a pistol from his waistband, kicking it over. Harry, keeping his pistol on Leroy still, picked up the gun and stuffed it into his jacket.
"Right, I want you to tell me everything about Malee Thucrit." Harry said clearly.
"Man, you don't want anything to do with her, trust me." Leroy said, his tone strained and exhausted. Harry pulled the hammer back on the pistol to emphasize his interest. Since Rico had given Harry the gun, he had practiced a little bit with it by shooting cans in an alley. He wasn't a fan of how much .45 bullets kicked, but Harry was capable of accurate, if not slow, fire.
The gun, now in a single action position, made Leroy more nervous. "Fine, she came to me after those attacks on the Triad guys. She's forcing me to get her out of the city." he said.
"I figured as much, where is she hiding?" Harry asked.
"Hold on? Are you the one who went to the morgue?" Leroy asked, his eyes widening more.
"Not important!" Harry yelled.
"Oh God." Leroy said, he clutched his head. "I don't know what you freaks can do, just leave me alone!" the man said.
'Freaks' The word flashed through Harry's mind.
Did Leroy know about magic?
Harry opened his mouth to ask another question, but he heard the distinctive crack of an Apparition behind him. He turned around and looked at the door, hearing footsteps coming up to the door. The wizard held the hammer and pulled the trigger on his pistol, allowing the hammer to de-cock safely. He quickly re-equipped his wand and shoved Leroy into the corner of the tiny apartment towards an open window.
Harry trained his wand towards the door and waited. Leroy was backed up against a window that was halfway open, his eyes looked downwards. The drop was about twenty feet, and there was a car there too…. Harry meanwhile dragged a small table from one side of the room and turned it over, giving him some light cover.
Just as Harry thought to look back at his hostage, the door blew open. The wooden splinters rushed towards the Auror, and he ducked under the table for cover. He emerged again and aimed at the door.
'PROTEGO!' he quickly thought when a blue streak of light came sailing towards his chest.
The spell deflected off the magical shield and cracked against the ceiling. Harry saw at one side of the doorway an arm, a pale wand gripped in a gloved hand. Harry thought quickly, He aimed his wand at the wall at the side of the doorway and he cast a Blasting Curse. The assailant wasn't expecting such a bold move and she was shoved against the wall at the other end of the hallway amidst the rubble.
Harry dove out of his cover and to the other side of the doorway, he finally got a clear look at his target. Malee Thucrit was sprawled out on the floor, she lad long black hair, a dark tan complexion and proportions that were easy on the eyes. A heavy set of straight-cut bangs obscured her face, and despite the blasting curse, she was still spry. She noticed Harry's new position and pushed off the ground. Harry was sure that she must have used some sort of levitation charm because she backflipped and slid towards the staircase.
Harry gritted his teeth and glanced back at where he put Leroy. Harry saw the back of his hostage as he leapt out the window, Harry rushed towards it and looked down. He saw Leroy getting up, his left leg bent up badly. He was working his way towards an old car which had a broken driver-side window.
"DAMN!" Harry yelled as he turned back to the doorway.
He ran out into the hallway and just barely dodged a distinctively green jet of magic. 'Killing Curse already?' Harry thought. Harry saw that Thucrit was taking cover at the corner where the stairs were, he had to push up. Harry moved his wand frantically, casting just about every non-lethal spell he could think of to suppress his quarry. Thucrit took cover, not letting a single chance for one of those spells to hit. She couldn't stay there, however.
She leapt down the stairs just as Harry rounded the corner. She rolled when she landed, keeping her momentum. Harry sent a Stunner her way, but she deflected it. She then cast Fiendfyre, a serpent of flames shot out of her wand and came rapidly upon Harry. The walls of the staircase singed and blackened. Harry felt the curse's heat singe his eyebrows and he cast the counter-curse to suppress it. He caught the head of the serpent with the tip of his wand and circled it around as it dissipated into smoke.
The Auror raced down the stairs in pursuit of his foe and emerged onto the street. Thucrit was just down the sidewalk, running away. She glanced behind her, and the two magicians exchanged spells. The street was barren, luckily for Harry. He did his best to wear down Thucrit, and he could see her face hardening as she focused more and more on blocking his attacks. She was backing away slowly down the sidewalk, and she decided to make a stand at the entrance to an alleyway.
Harry smirked at her stand, maybe it was a sign that she was tired. They exchanged more spells, Stunners, Blasting Charms, curses. The only thing Harry had to worry about was the occasional Killing Curse that he deftly dodged, years of experience dueling Death Eaters helping him in this department. Just as Harry thought he was cracking his foe he heard the distinct sound of a V8 engine revving in the alleyway where Thucrit stood at the end of.
Leroy had painstakingly hotwired the car, and seeing at his client was becoming more and more of a pain in the ass, he decided to take matters into his own hands. He was lined up at the end of the alley where he saw Thucrit. He wasn't sure if the flashing lights were magic or hallucinations from the adrenaline. But with his good foot he stomped on the gas and his stolen car raced towards the woman. Thucrit noticed the sound of the engine, and she took a risk to glance at the car which was approaching her.
Harry decided that it was time to end this fight once and for all. Summoning all his willpower, he unleashed a barrage of spells which only the most skilled of duelists would be able to block. But just as the many streaks of light flew towards his prey, the witch Disapparated, the spells instead hitting the side of a car which took her place.
Harry audibly cursed and saw Leroy at the wheel of the vehicle. The spells had knocked the car off-course, but the driver managed to keep it straight. The car flew past Harry and the Auror acted quickly, placing a Tracking Hex on the car as it went around a corner.
Harry wanted to deflate and break something in anger, but his instincts informed him otherwise. He dug into his jacket pocket, producing his Invisibility Cloak. He put it over his head and made away from the block as police sirens sounded in the distance.
"Yo!" Revy said. She closed the door to the Lagoon office. Rock was sitting in an armchair. He caught a can of Heineken that was tossed his way.
"Thanks." he said, cracking opened the chilled beer. In his lap was a legal pad and a pen, he had been writing out his ideas around the job in rough diagrams and notes.
"Any luck Sherlock?" Revy asked as she plopped down on the couch, a brand-new edition of NME and a can of Singha in her hands.
"The fuck kind of band name is 'The Strokes'?" she pondered out loud while looking at the cover of the magazine.
"Dunno." Rock answered halfheartedly. "I'm still trying to figure all this out."
"What, your detective skills aren't sharp today or somethin'?" Revy chided as she flipped pages.
"Nah, I'm just getting stumped by the motives, and there's two big things I can't figure out." he said. "First, who are the guys that were being held in the morgue? And second, who attacked Mr. Chang?"
"Well, I bet that whoever killed those guys and whoever attacked Chang are different people." Revy said as she laid back on the sofa.
"I know that already." Rock said, "I think that those guys that died weren't exactly going after the Triads, they were after whoever killed them. Mr. Chang's attacker is a reaction of some sort."
"Makes sense, but you need more." Revy said.
"I know. I'm trying to think of people who would be not only bold enough, but skilled enough to take down Mr. Chang. If they are a reaction to the killing of those men, they would be able to explain everything, and maybe we can get some answers before turning them in to Mr. Chang." Rock said.
"You're really going in for Chang aren't ya? And who's to say that this mystery person won't pull the same magic trick they used on him on me. I'm not as good as Chang in a fight." Revy said.
"Well, I have a hunch." Rock said, Revy peeked out from her magazine.
"Who is the one person we know of who's a recent arrival in town. Someone who came here after the killings but before the attack at the morgue. And on top of all that, has used some weird methods already?" Rock asked. Revy gazed at him like a deer in the headlights.
Rock reached for his shirt pocket. He pulled out the gold coin that was given to Bao by Harry Potter.
"That guy! He looked like he could barely handle a nine-millimeter." Revy said, her hand brushing one of her Cutlasses.
"Revy, the fact is, we don't know where this coin came from, the men died in a suspicious manner, and Mr. Chang's man said he was knocked out by a red light. Don't you think this isn't too weird to not check on? Especially considering that we don't have any other leads." Rock said.
Revy jerked her head back onto the armrest and sighed deeply. It looked like she was about to go on a tangent, but she was interrupted by a knock on the door, which quickly became a frantic slamming.
"WHAT!?" Revy shouted, drawing a pistol as Rock paced towards the opposite end of the room from the door.
A man spoke on the other end as Revy approached the door. "REVY! IT'S LEROY. I NEED A RUSH JOB." he shouted back.
Revy opened the door and saw the man, a messenger bag over his shoulders and a roughly splinted leg he was barely hobbling on.
"We're all booked." Revy said in disgust, her memory of how he helped the maid was still fresh in her mind.
"I know you aren't, and I'll pay triple your rate. I just need to get out of town NOW!" he emphasized.
"What? You the guy who attacked Chang?" Revy mocked. Leroy ignored the comment and looked down the stairs to the road that connected the office with the city, dozens of lowlife thugs were emerging from alleyways.
Revy leaned out the door, and a shot rang out. Almost as if she had slowed the world, she saw the bullet leave a shitty revolver held by one of the guys on the street. She saw it approach and moved her head to the left slightly, the bullet landing in the doorframe. Revy's face hardened, and she drew her weapons.
X
Author's Note:
Howdy! Thanks for sticking with this story so far. It's been going far better than I thought it would and writing it is such a pleasure. Writing this and my other project serves as a nice "no BS" outlet for me considering everything else in my life.
Anyways, I just wanted to say thanks, have a good day/night :)