"What we doing here?" asked Hilbert. The trio stood on the front steps of an apartment, which was the last in a long line of attached identical brick buildings. The only real difference between the one they're at and the others, was that theirs didn't have any broken or boarded up windows. Well, not as many at least.
"Just need to do one last thing before Castelia," said Cress. He knocked on the door with such force that Hilda flinched at each bang. "After this, you guys'll do a few deliveries. Then you can go play tag, or hopscotch, or whatever the fuck kids do."
"We're fifteen," said Hilda.
"Yeah, yeah."
The door started to open, but stopped after only an inch. A face peered through the opening. The one eye that could be seen darted between the three on the stoop. After peering over each person a couple times, it stopped on Cress.
"You going to open up?" said Cress.
"What's the password," said the one behind the door. Hilbert and Hilda could now tell who ever it was, was a girl much younger than them.
"I'm not saying the stupid password. Just open the door," said Cress.
"You're not in charge of us, Tarnal is. And he says I can't let anyone in unless they have the password."
Cress gritted his teeth tightened his fists. Hilda heard him give off a low growl in his throat. She looked up to see his flustered face. Cress glared at the teen girl when he heard her giggle.
"Fine...you two, wait over there," Cress pointed to the sidewalk. The twins shrugged and did as he commanded. They looked back to see Cress hunched over while saying something to the girl. The door closed, but then quickly reopened, this time wide enough for Cress to walk in. Once he was inside, he turned and signaled for Hilbert and Hilda to follow him. When they stepped through the doorway, the girl holding the door open hastily slammed it shut and locked it.
The twins looked around them. The room was dim, with the only light sources being two lamps on either side of a couch with ripped stitching all over. In front of it was a small coffee table with random things on top of it. Fast food wrappers, paper plates and cups, some old magazines. On the other side of the room was a wooden table, it's edges chipped, and a few chairs around it. At the far end of the room was an ascending staircase, with a strange purple light emanating from the second floor. There was also an ominous dark hallway leading out of sight.
"We finished the first batch just earlier today," said the girl.
"How much did you make?" asked Cress.
"About five hundred grams. That should be more than enough to last the two weeks you wanted."
Hilda and Hilbert looked to the girl. She looked to be no older than twelve, her thick rimmed glasses made her face seem even smaller than it was. She wore a blue dress, which clearly needed to be washed as it was covered in pink stains.
"Good. You two, stay down here," Cress said to the twins as he stomped towards the staircase, the girl following close behind. When the two were out of sight, their footsteps from above could be heard. At first there were two sets, obviously Cress, loud and forceful, and the girl, quick and gentle. But then a third pair could be heard, this one like a combination of the first two. The person moved at a fast pace, but also seemed to slam their foot down assertively. The steps quieted, and muffled talking took its place.
Looking at the couch, Hilbert went and sat down. Immediately, part of him wished he hadn't. The couch felt much older than it looked. Instead of having thick cushioning, it felt more like a wooden frame with thin fabric thrown over it. The actual spots to sit were flat and missing most of their stuffing. The armrest felt the same, a huge tear down the side of it had made it impossible for anything to remain inside to provide support. Hilbert sat up straight, refusing to put more of his body on the couch. He looked over to Hilda, who sat carefully on the edge of the opposite arm rest, trying not to have her bare legs touch the filthy fabric.
The two sat in mutual disgust at the sofa for what seemed like an eternity. When Cress came down the stairs, the two leapt from the couch, hopeful that they're about to leave. The two were so joyful they didn't notice the white and pink backpack Cress was holding until he threw it into Hilbert's arms.
"What's this?" asked Hilbert. He looked down at the bag and raised and lowered it to get a feel for it's weight.
"That has what you're going to deliver today. You're gonna have to make multiple trips and this will make it easier."
"And what's in it?" Hilbert asked while starting to unzip the backpack.
"Something that," Cress snatched the pack from Hilbert. "If things go well, will elevate us to new heights."
"What do you mean?" asked Hilda as Cress pushed the bag into her.
"You'll see. Now, let's go. I have some other shit to do."
Hilda looked at the numbers on the house in front of her, then to the slip of paper given to her by Cress. The two matched. Their first delivery of the day. Despite being less than twenty feet from the front door, she couldn't move forward.
"Is this the place?" asked Hilbert. Hilda jumped at the sudden question then sighed when she settled.
"Yeah, it is."
Hilbert began to march up to the house before Hilda grabbed his arm and pulled him back.
"You take it," she said as she took the backpack off and gave it to Hilbert. "I'll wait here."
"What, why?"
"Because...well, it's just that, we've never done this before."
"What you talking about? We've been on deliveries a bunch of times."
"But nothing this serious!"
"I mean, we did witness an illegal pokemon trade gone wrong."
"Aside from that! This stuff, Dream Dust, sounds really bad."
"You're overreacting. Look, I'll do this one, but you're helping me with the others. Alright?"
"Fine."
"Good," Hilbert put the backpack on and started walking across the yard to the door. As he went up the porch steps, Hilda's worries starting seeping into his mind.
'What if this is a set up? Fuck, what if Cress is a dumbass and this was a sting all along?'
Despite his last minute panic, he pushed on to the door. Before he could knock, however, a man opened the door. Hilbert quickly realized the man had no idea he was there, judging by him recoiling.
"Who are you?" the man's voice was loud and deep. He towered over Hilbert, who did his best not to step back.
"Bless sent me, with the, you know, stuff," Hilbert said. 'God I sound like such an idiot right now.'
"Oh, yeah. Is it any good?"
"Would I be here if it wasn't?"
"True. Well bring it out."
Hilbert swung the backpack off his shoulders into his hands and began rummaging through it. He glanced around in case there were any pedestrians walking by. Looking to Hilda, she waved back at him before he turned to the man and handed him one of the small packages.
"There."
"It's not a lot," said the man.
"Well he didn't make a lot."
"Whatever."
Not having anything else to say, Hilbert started walking back to his sister, hearing the front door of the house slam shut behind him.
"That wasn't so bad, was it?" Hilda asked.
"Shut up. Where else do we have to go?"
"Like," Hilda looked to the paper with addresses on it. After a few seconds she pointed down one end of the street. "A couple blocks that way."
"Alright. You're holding the backpack."
"Aw man."
Having finished their deliveries and made it back to the hotel, the two collapsed in their beds. The sun had set, the noises from the day time were gone, and the lights were still on. Hilda opened her eyes and stared at the closest light shining into her eyes.
"Hey, Hilbert."
"Yeah?"
"I'll pay you five dollars if you turn off the lights."
Hilbert looked to all the lights. One overhead light and two lamps. Just one switch and two small chain pulls, and they can sleep peacefully.
"Let me see the money."
"You don't believe I have five dollars?" Hilda said as she turned to her brother.
"No."
"Okay, well I don't have five dollars."
"I'll turn off the lights this time if you do it next time. Deal?" said Hilbert.
"Deal."
Hilbert sluggishly swung his legs off the bed and slogged towards the light switch on the wall. He flicked it downwards and felt some strain leave his eyes from the room becoming dim. He marched on to the lamps on the dresser. Pulling one chain his eyes felt even better. Before he could pull the last one, he was interrupted.
"Wait!" said Hilda. Hilbert looked to her to see she had the covers pulled up to her chin. "Check under my bed for monsters."
Hilbert sighed and rolled his eyes as Hilda giggled and he turned off the last lamp. Crawling into bed, Hilda was still laughing.
"Go to sleep," said Hilbert.
"Meanie."
"Shut the fuck up."
Alright. Next couple chapters, big ones. A lot less setting up now. Can do scenes I've been wanting to do for a while. Also sorry for taking so long to update. Don't really have a lot of motivation for writing. But I will try to get better. Okay, peace.
~~~Sikoh