Empty Mantle

Chapter Two - Familiar

"Well known from long or close association."

'What a strange dream... Not again.' The picture seemed to have fade out as the sight of the figures left to talk started to dissipate in the distance.

'No wait! Come back! What happens?' His voice echoed aimlessly through the darkness which consumed the vivid picture now blurring before him.

The sound of his sudden gasp was loud enough to wake him for his sleep, startling himself as he did so also mean that he knew he was far too gone in his slumber to have noticed the time at all. As he turned to reach for his phone, he noticed that the light had been on a constant flash every now and then. He unlocked the screen to see the background flash up and saw the seven missed calls and thirteen messages left by none other than, Bzzzt,

"Yes, I am alive, don't go having a heart attack." A low hum from the other side was met with his answer before a voice replied,

"Mister Demson, it is seven p.m. You were meant to be here three hours ago. Perhaps it is best that you don't come in tonight." Aleks raised his hand to his face and dragged it down before breathing out a sigh. He took a deep breath and exhaled.

"Listen, Mik. I said I would help you with this case, so don't worry too much about it. I have been helping you and your brother for five years now, I won't let a little sleep deprivation get in the way -" He was cut off before he could even finish his sentence.

"Aleksander." That stern voice on the other end made Aleks sit up straight in is bed and cleared his throat before replying.

"Yes?" Though it wasn't much of a question, more so a statement.

"I said, you don't have to come in tonight, just rest for tonight." Aleks found himself chuckling before responding.

"Sorry, DAD, but that isn't going to be an option. Besides, you said I don't 'HAVE' to, so clearly, I am going to come in. Besides, no one else is going to be a pain in your ass and you know I am the only one who can put up with you."

"You mean who answers me back." Mikalov retaliated in a defeated manner.

"Exactly, now just keep your pants on and I will be there in say, forty-five?" Aleks then smirked, not as if Mikalov could see him.

"Or, you know, keep them off. Entirely up to you."

"Just get yourself to work, Mister Demson." He could tell the other was smiling on the other side.

"Fine. See you soon... Boss." He grinned before hearing,

"Mister Demson?"

"Mhmmn?" He looked towards his window, overlooking the city and noticing the darkened sky and illuminating dome cast over the buildings by its lights.

"Be careful, okay?" He nodded to the question before lowering the phone and ending the call.

-

Aleks had made his way towards the same building he had been coming to for the last few years, forty-seven stories and he still got nervous before even entering the lobby. He made his way through the rotating doors which his eyes followed what looked to be like marble tiling which honestly didn't notice until now, in fact he thought that it was -

"Late again, I see?" A voice had broken his clear distraction as he came to the marble desk.

"Hey there Diane, I know, Mister Savage already called me this evening. If anything, He will give me a lecture about how tardy and unreliable I am, and we can all go about our day like nothing happened." He sounded almost exasperated as the very explanation was dry and dull, like he was expecting it.