Insider

Sixteen

Accomodations were made for me to sleep at the mansion.  I got a guest bedroom decorated in all crimson, not surprisingly.  There was a mirror, and I looked at my face now covered in makeup.  It was a long way from the little girl who loved learning history in her father's log cabin; and that wasn't a good thing.  I collapsed on the bed and stared at the ceiling the colour of embers.  A few weeks ago, heading back to Crimson Night would've been a blessing.  Now I just wanted to get out of there.  

Matt is not in charge, Trish is.  Matt is dead.  Trish is the one spreading the deadlier drug.  I tried fruitlessly to organize my swirling thoughts of this eventful day.  My mind drifted back to Matt, and how I failed him.  He had his faults, but he was a soul that cared about me.  He twisted the story of how I left him for some fucked up reason, but it saved my life today.  I needed to find out why he died.  

I made my way to the basement.  Trish was in the midst of some Crimson Night goons that had been in service of her father, she seemed overly at ease and giddy to be surrounded by them.  Tobias was cast to the wayside, watching his wife swallow drugs and take shots with not a care in the world.  Thoughts of Jasmine were nonexistent, it was like the couple never had a daughter.  I felt a pang in my chest for poor Jazzy- she loved them more than they loved her.  

"When did she start talking again?" I asked Tobias quietly.  

Sighing, Tobias explained slowly, "There was an incident after you were kidnapped.  Matt wanted us to hunt you down, and attempted to take over Crimson Night when we all decided against it.  Trish finally spoke then, and we held Matt captive until word was spread that you were coming back."

"Why hold him hostage?" I questioned, throat tightening.

"Trish knew what he was doing to you.  She didn't want Matt to find you.  She didn't want Matt to see you ever again.  She ordered him dead for you."

My heart sunk to the floor, and I felt my stomach shrivelling into a tight knot.  This couldn't be happening- I never thought that this would happen when I left.  How could I let this happen?  Matt was killed for me.  Somehow Trish knew about his and I's fighting, and her actions were an attempt to help me.  Blood was on my hands.  A deep, crimson blood.  Faintly, I heard Tobias ask if I was okay.  

Time to be the emotionless Elissa that everyone was familiar with.  I moved onto the question.  "What happened to Jasmine and Rose?"

Pouncing on that, Tobias interrogated, "Didn't you see Jazzy?  What did she say?  Is she okay?"

"She told me that a bunch of guys in masks took her and Rose and shut them in a cupboard in the apartment."  

"Jesus.  Matt arranged that- he's familiar with other gangs willing to do bad things for a decent buck.  Sarah, he was so fucking insane when he showed up, I had never seen him like this."

I said dully, "People can hide their true selves well, I guess."  Including me.

"Is it true that he hurt you?"

I shrugged.  "I guess."  

Trish's voice interrupted us from probing each other further.  "Will you two come here?" she beckoned.  I obeyed and slid into a spot next to her.  "You look like shit, Sarah." Trish whispered, "What the hell did they do to you at S.H.I.E.L.D.?"

"Serve shit food." I grumbled, and laughs rippled through the crowd.  

"Someone get her something to eat!" Trish yelled, and a young Crimson Night member darted towards the basement bar.  My stomach was still feeling like a ball of yarn being attacked by a cat, but before I could object Trish had moved onto the next subject.  That seemed to be her gimmick now- divert attention quickly from one topic to another, not really connecting to any of them.  

A tablet was placed in my hands, a map of New York City on its screen.  In red, there were all of Crimson Night's locations, varying from drug factories to gang members' houses.  I could recognize some of the locations, but it still surprised me how much of New York Crimson Night had under its grasp.  "What's this for?" I asked.

"We're trying to find new locations to drop our new Criz." Trish explained.

"But, they gotta be hidden from the feds and still make good sales." Tobias pointed out.

I thought aloud, "Okay.  We have locations all over New York City, though.  It'd be obvious to anyone if we start selling it within one of our familiar locations."

"What do you suggest?" someone asked.

"Let's go beyond New York City.  Let's choose another city to target." I said.  "They'll never expect it."

Folding her arms, the leader stated, "Sarah brings up a good point, people.  If there's no objections, I say we go for it."  Her golden brown eyes scoured the crowd, and with a look that intimidating no one dared question her authority.  I had the floor now.  

Tobias entreated, "What city do you suggest?"

"Washington D.C.." I answered, then added hastily, "Why not go for the nation's capitol?  Business is booming there for all kinds of people."

Thankfully, Trish agreed.  She stood up and declared, "I think that's brilliant.  Your time away from your family has not rid us of your spark, honey."

The young man sent to fetch me food returned with a sad looking hot dog.  Stomach still queasy, I forced the food in bite by bite to play along.  My mind raced, however.  There was a specific reason why I chose Washington D.C.- S.H.I.E.L.D. was there.  If I could communicate to Sharon that we were coming, they could be ready to shut this operation down.  I needed to get them back to the Triskelion.  

"Do you think I could get a new  phone?" I asked Trish, "S.H.I.E.L.D. got rid of mine."

"What the fuck?" scoffed Trish, "And you said you were well taken care of.  But, I'm sure we have a spare one you can use."

"Thank you, Trish.  For everything." I told her, but not heartfully.

When I returned to my room that night, a phone in a bright red case was on the bed.  The only problem was, I didn't have anyone from S.H.I.E.L.D.s' number.  Fuck, I thought.  My plan sucked already!  But, I couldn't give up.  Not now, not before I did something good for a change.

I did some digging, and found the number for Human Resources at Triskelion.  I sent a message:

Crimson Night is coming to Washington D.C..  Be ready.  -E

Bile rose in my throat, and I rushed to the bathroom to barf out the pathetic hot dog.