The Sweet scent of a cold breeze blew through the club as people were moving and shaking their bodies under the succulent slabs of glittering light. Roy strummed while the Raven screamed vocals as he kicked into overdrive right as the big break down came. Crowd leaping from the stage as a circle pit formed in the northeast side of the stage. After coming to a silver shine of the lights clashing into the ceiling as the last note rang out to the sound of the crowd's cheers.
"That's gonna be our last song, you guys were one hell of a crowd." said the Raven as he and the rest of the band exited the stage. Exhausted and heavy breathing filled the hallway that they were camping in as a girl wearing a pink jumpsuit took over the neon booth to the left side of the stage.
Allen and Logan went to the vending machine that was a little further down the hallway. As the Raven was gonna join them. Roy tapped him on the shoulder,"Yo apparently there is a bounty out for you now. What the hell did you do? You were supposed to be laying low. The Order hasn't loosened their grip one bit."
"We only took out a few of their key players but I still haven't seen that woman in the purple cloak and armor. Nor have I seen Tooko or whatever her friend's name is that shot me in the arm with that crossbow bolt. So until I find them this isn't nearly over."
"That's not the point, you think the whole order will just collapse just because you took out one or even two captains. Does that even make a dent in their overall hold? Tell you the truth it doesn't. Although that doesn't mean go against what we stand for and start getting too flashy. We are discrete overall."
"You don't think I know that. It's not like I had a choice. We were cornered and I took care of it. What really sucks is that I didn't get their names."
"I'm sure that won't be the last we are gonna hear from those two. Plus the two that ambushed you and Dorian at one of our hideouts. That isn't just a coincidence. Someone must be feeding them information or we've gotten shitty at our jobs."
"There couldn't be a Rat in the brotherhood. It must be that we've lost more opportunities as the days go on to expand our area of expertise. We've just gotta strike before they light a pier that could set in motion one of the biggest revolutions in history." The Raven said as they went to catch up with the other two.
Making their way back into the crowd after getting their drinks from the machine in the back, the Raven saw the Blue haired Beauty talking with Gumi. Deciding to make his way over there but was stopped by a couple of fans asking for an autograph. After chatting up the fans he looked back over there to see if the Blue haired Beauty was still over there. Unfortunately she was nowhere to be found. When his phone rang.
"Hello?" The Raven answered as his bandmates were all at the bar or mingling on the dance floor.
"We've got a situation, meet at five at the hideout on the west side of the city." Said Dorian on the phone. The Raven sighed as he hung up the phone and the Blue haired Beauty tapped him on the shoulder.
"Where are you off to in a hurry? The party is just getting started." Said the blue haired Dove as she grabbed the Raven by the arm pulling him in the direction of the dance floor. Looking down at his phone for a second he decided to go dance with her instead of meeting up with Dorian.
Dancing with her all night as the DJ played hit after hit, the night seemed like it would go on forever. Everyone was having a blast until the DJ came over the mic and announced that the club would be closing soon. Allen and Logan were waving bye as Roy was talking to Gumi. The Raven was at the bar getting a final drink with the Blue haired Beauty as they were playfully arguing about whether or not Cold Play was a good band.
"What do you mean they are the best band? They only have one good song in five albums, come off it." The Raven said as the blue haired Beauty grinned ear to ear.
"Every last one of their songs is a masterpiece you just got to give them a chance. They are still better than Nine inch nails."
"You take that back, Nine inch nails are so much better. All they play are bangers."
"Their last single is what put a nail in their coffin cause it was horrendous."
Roy walked up to them and chuckled at them bickering,"You two be safe I'm out of here. Gotta get back before the Miss gets upset. Y'all take care. Oh and Aiden remember what I told you earlier tonight."
The Raven waved by as Roy tilted his cowboy hat before leaving. The Blue haired Dove turned to him before saying,"I have class early tomorrow. So I'm gonna have to call it a night as well. We can meet up after. Finish talking bands that changed the recent century."
Grabbing her bag on one of the chairs at their table. She left the club as well. The Raven checked his phone to see multiple missed calls from Dorian. Calling back but it only went to voicemail. So he left the club and went to the hideout that he was supposed to meet him at.
Arriving to find the place completely trashed. Arrows sticking out of the wall and through some of the paintings that were hung up. The couch was overturned and ripped up. It looked like a tornado had ran through it. Checking around for any sign of anyone around but no luck. He found a piece of silver armor that was lying on the ground that matched the one of the Woman that was in the purple robes. The Raven ran out of the building to check to see if there was any trace of where they might have gone. Climbing to the top of the building he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Before changing his vision to his eagle sense. Looking around he saw tire tracks that lead off from the building.Changing into his Silver Robes and calling for backup inside the hideout before he went back outside. Following the tracks to a nicer side of town. Leading behind a building that read, Retirement Clinic.
Taking a look around he noticed there were a few guards patrolling the back of the building. Wearing garb that was slick black robes that had no hood and a red mask that was shaped like a crow. Going down the street while one of them was walking by hiding behind a dumpster as he walked past. The Raven slipped into the building undetected. Inside he saw that everyone was in a hurry to get somewhere. While he hid behind a vending machine he grabbed one of the grunts and dressed as him. Hiding the now knocked out man in a nearby trash can that was pretty deep. Then Following the rest of the cloaked figures.
They all walked into an auditorium that had rows and rows of seats all centered around a body that was covered up. He couldn't quite make out who was hanging on the table that was standing upright, but he could guess. Taking a seat as close to the stage as possible everyone filed in. As the woman in the Purple robes that was armored walked onto the stage. Behind her was her right hand woman, dressed in the same dark robes as everyone and a red mask that matched her scarlet hair.
"Glad everyone could make it. Avalynn Kane here to show off our new prisoner. We have captured another one of the Brotherhood's lieutenants. Let's see if we can squeeze information out of him. Maybe even get the location of the Apple of Eden that they have been hiding from us all this time." Said the woman in the Purple Robes as she removed the sheet from the person on the hanging.
Revealing it to be a barely covered Dorian with bruises littered about his body. She then slapped him awake. Looking around and taking a second to get his bearings he looked at the crowd that was around him. Startling him and struggling to move he looked at Avalynn.
"Release me right now or there will be hell to pay."
"Not until you tell us where that piece of eden that your brotherhood has been hiding is. Tell us that and we will even give you a rank within the order." Avalynn said as she grabbed his face to look at her. He jerked away before spitting on the ground.
"I will never tell you. The order will have to tear this city apart before they find it."
Angrily she punched him in the stomach knocking the wind out of him, causing him to gasp loudly while the crowd laughed.
"Now we can do this the easy way or the hard way. No need to get bloody if we don't have to."
Dorian remained quiet and Avalynn sighed," I guess that means the hard way." Everyone got up from their seats with rocks at the ready. The Raven rose too but didn't pick up the rock that was under his seat. Taking a step to the side Avalynn turned to the Scarlet haired woman beside him and whispered something before she gave the signal.
Everyone began stoning the man that was hanging there. The rocks hit his skin leaving more bruises and some even breaking his skin causing him to bleed. All that came out of Dorian's mouth was screams. After everyone was done throwing, Avalynn walked back up to him.
"Have anything to share?" She asked as everyone began picking up their rocks for the next round. Saying nothing she nodded and walked to the side as they started pelting him again.
This went on for about an hour. Dorian didn't say a word about the brotherhood or the Apple of Eden. Avalynn ordered him back to his cell. The Scarlet haired woman that was next to Avalynn pointed at the Raven.
"You there, why did you not cast a stone?"
The Raven didn't respond as everyone turned to face him. With all eyes now centered on him he said," I'd much rather hit him with my fist."
The Woman laughed loudly," Well then come up here and show him what is what."
Walking up on stage the Raven punched Dorian in the stomach. Grabbing him by his hair so Dorian could get a look at his eyes. That gave him a sense of hope but he didn't show it to his onlookers. The Raven let go and went back to his seat. He was then taken down and hauled off. Avalynn kept an eye on the Raven, as everyone filed out of the auditorium.
Asking around, the Raven mingled with the other masked figures.
"Anyone know where that prisoner is being kept? I wanna see if I can get something out of him." The Raven said.
"Easy now, there is gonna be another prisoner going up. You must be a newcomer. Love your eagerness but most prisoners like him are held in the north block, closer to the commander's quarters." said one of the masked figures before an announcement went over the intercom for everyone to come back for the next prisoner.
While everyone was filing back in, the Raven slipped away and headed to the north block. Making past most of the guards as his disguise held up well he was able to get to the north block but didn't know what cell was Dorian's. The Raven went to the Quartermaster that was on duty and went up to his desk.
"Do you know what cell that prisoner that was just in the auditorium is in? I have orders to take him to the… Umm… East wing."
"East wing? There isn't an east wing. You must mean the cafeteria."
"Yeah that…" The Raven said, chuckling nervously.
"Well it is about that time. Let's see." The Quartermaster reached into one of the drawers and pulled out a document that had Dorian's picture on it.
"That would be cell ninety-four. Now run along. Got to finish this work up before the next set of prisoners arrive."
Seeing a key ring lined with tons of keys attached to the Quartermasters hip. He kept that in mind as he left the office and headed to cell ninety-four. Passing the guards he got to the cell door that had a barred open window and a slot to slide food through.
"Let me speak with the prisoner alone." Said the Raven to the guard that was stationed there and the guard went on patrol. Then knocked on the door, Dorian looked up and sauntered to the door.
"What do you want filthy Order grunt?"
"Is that any way to talk to a friend?" The Raven said, raising his red mask for a split second. Dorian instantly reached his hand through the bar and grabbed him by the robe. Pulling him and smashing him into the cell door.
"Ehh… I guess I deserve that."
"You could've at least pulled that punch earlier, man."
"Couldn't, had to make it believable. Otherwise I would've been made."
"Whatever, why didn't you show up? They raided the hideout. Killed Chris. He had a family, you know."
"The reason doesn't matter. The point is that we have found another one of their prisons that's in town. Plus there is backup coming."
"Great now get me out of this fucking cell."
"Working on that but first gonna look around some. Might find out about other prisons that we can liberate."
"We don't have time for that. They have plans to wipe out half the town looking for our stronghold. In two months the ordinance will be here. Also I overheard something about them having someone close to us. There is a traitor in our midst."
"Hmm well until we figure out who it is I'm gonna warn the headmaster. For now I'm going to investigate. I'll come back."
"Wait at least get my gear back, it's in the Quartermaster's office." Dorian said, grabbing the bars on the window.
"Just hold your horses. One step at a time." The Raven said before leaving.
Heading to Avalynn's office he got a notification that his back up wasn't too far out now. Walking into Avalynn's office unnoticed he saw a giant ax that was mounted on the wall at the back of the room. Next to it was a filing cabinet. Finding a map that had the cordance of a few other prisons that was stationed around the city along with the dates that the ordinance would be arriving. Sifting through the cabinet he heard the door open. Walking in was the Scarlet haired woman except she didn't have her mask on. Having dark maskeria and green eyes.
"Elaine!?" The Raven exclaimed.
Chapter End~