In the Name of Chaos

Chapter 2: The Black Market

"The black market," Saint begins, "is like any other business. There are people in charge of  finances, risk management, distribution and a bunch of other things. Aris happens to be in charge of the distribution, so he makes all the plans needed to transport every Gifted person. He makes sure the Gifted and people showing Gifted abilities arrive wherever they're needed."

I nod my head as Saint, who kneels on the floor and rests his arms on the armrest of my chair, explains the elements of the black market to me.

"Who own this building?" I ask.

"Aris. He has a lot of offices around Geode."

"No one ever wonders what's going on in here?"

"It's a front. Everyone else believes the business, although still in the transportation department, only helps deliver things like furniture or gifts. People who walk in here are dealt with on the opposite end of the building; the side where Aris' secrets aren't hiding. I mean, there are times when the police snoop around, but those issues are handled with bribes. Aris has some of them on his side too."

"Hmm. Aris seems rich," I say, considering the elegance of this office and thinking about how the other offices may look, "but we stayed in a crappy apartment."

Saint laughs. The drive from Saint's home on the lake took us to a rundown, dirty apartment. However, I'm not sure the size of that building even allows me to call it an apartment. That's the same venue I...lost control, but Saint said we never have to speak of that girl again.

As promised, Saint had someone treat her, and some hours after they left, Aris was able to organise transport to bring us to his office. I'm glad I'm out of there.

Now, I sit on the opposite side of Aris' desk. The bodyguards strapped me to this chair, but no one laid a hand on Saint.

Just as I begin to lose patience, Saint stands up and moves away from me. I watch as his eyes follow, what the footsteps I hear suggests, a person walking closer to me from behind me.

"Aris," Saint says, but he doesn't receive a reply.

The man I now know to be Aris stops in front of me, and he's closer than I feel comfortable with. Weirdly enough, he also seems uncomfortable, but he makes no movement to step away.

"Can I try something?" He asks.

This man is awkward. I ignore him and look at Saint, unsure of what to say.

"You're an Iron Rod. I'd like to have someone hit you in the face." Aris points to one of his bodyguards. I can't seem to find the right word to describe him; his personality, that is.

Saint sighs. "You know her body will get damaged even if she doesn't flinch, right?"

"Be quiet for a second, Frosty."

Saint rolls his eyes as Aris refers to him by the nickname I haven't heard before today.

"I'm untying her," Saint says.

"Wait," Aris awkwardly places one hand on Saint's shoulder, stopping Saint from walking towards me, "I can't let you untie a girl with her condition," he speaks as if he rehearses every word he says.

Saint can easily move past Aris. Aris is a skinny man and does not seem like the type of person to have any hidden skills when it comes to fighting. I suppose that's why he has bodyguards. He should hire more in case of a more serious threat than a girl with my condition.

"I don't mind," I say, referring to Aris' request that I remain tied up.

"Willow, they're not going to hit you."