Dark Voices

Chapter Two: Opportunity Knocks

Chapter Two: Opportunity Knocks

Visitors at the Younger household was not a thing.

Lex couldn't blame them; the crumbling, peeling, weather-beaten red house at the end of the street that Lex lived in was not welcoming, inside or outside. It looked almost forlorn some days, overgrown weeds adding to the peeling paint and loose paneling that made her house look abandoned rather than the shelter for her small family.

Before, her mother would fret about the condition of their home, both inside and outside, spending long days scrubbing the wooden floors and attempting to encourage flowers to grow along the side of the house.

Now, like all things, her mother ceased to care, and Lex watched as her home's condition plummeted.

Oakley tried to straighten up inside, sometimes, but lately he favored the solitude and familiarity of the garage, and Lex couldn't blame him.

So he was in the garage, naturally, when there was a knock at the door.

Lex froze, suddenly a lot less interested in the sketch in front of her. She glanced at her mother, who sat silently in her armchair, barely reacting the Lex's seemingly-palpable fear. She knew Oakley still worked in the garage; the muffled sounds of metal shrieking against concrete reached her ears easily through the thin walls.

She was alone.

She took a deep breath, gripping her pen in her hand tightly, struggling not to scream when another knock resonated against the front door. The insistent guest was making the wide wooden door seem more and more like just a piece of wood between her and... whatever waited on the other side.

She thought of Minerva and grimaced.

"Please open the door!" A desperate voice called out, and Lex suddenly sprang the last few steps in her surprise, forcing herself to school her expression before she opened the door a sliver, sneaking a glance at their unannounced visitor.

He looked just a few years older than she, but that was all Lex noticed before he swayed. She stepped forward, holding out a hand in hopes to steady him, when she noticed the blood sliding down his left temple lazily.

"Are you-?"

She took another hesitant step forward when he finally fell, right into her awaiting arms.

...

His name was Rian.

Or so he stated, with surprising politeness for someone who woke up on a worn couch and was met by the sight of their mother staring openly, a seething Oakley, and a very amused Lex.

Lex introduced herself, but avoided mentioning Oakley's name at all. He didn't offer it, and Rian didn't push for it, much to her relief.

Now the siblings and their new visitor were crowded into the small kitchen. Lex took this opportunity to perch herself on the counter, feeling quite pleased at her flawless climb onto the furniture. Oakley was kind enough to hand Rian a glass of water, but not kind enough to retrieve the clearer water in the storage area behind the refrigerator.

Rian drank the murky water without complaint, much to Lex and Oakley's amusement.

"Well, the suspension is killing me,"  Lex drawled from her perch on the counter. "Why are you here?"

Rian gave her a polite smile, and ignored the daggers her less-threatening brother shot him.

"Excellent question. I am here because I need a partner, of sorts."

"Partner?" Oakley echoed, narrowing his eyes.

"Yes," Rian answered calmly. Lex watched him closely, noticing how he adapted a sort of thoughtful look, trying to collect his thoughts for an obviously this delicate matter.

He slightly turned to Oakley, giving him his best disarming smile before explaining, "I need a partner to help me travel to Germany."

Lex snorted, "I assume you mean more than just glancing at a map, yeah?"

He chuckled and nodded in confirmation, "I need help in getting some cargo to a client in a major German city. Which will most likely have a lot of military force monitoring the area."

"So, what? You want bait?" Oakley asked, incredulous.

Shock filled Rian's composed features, and he shook his head sharply, "No! Goodness, no. I just need someone to watch my back. I already have the bait."

It was a weak attempt at humor, but an attempt nonetheless, and Lex couldn't muffle her soft snort of laughter. Oakley gave her a glare, missing the amused look Rian returned her.

"Last I checked, Germany is not just around the corner," Oakley countered.

"Well, technically distance can be a relative concept to some-"

"We're not helping," Oakley cut Rian off, his glare growing only fiercer. Daring for an argument. Rian's gaze was steady for a long, silent moment, then he smiled.

"I appreciate your time and courtesy, then." Rian stood holding out a hand that Oakley ignored. Lex, however, hopped off the counter and strode across the room to shake his hand firmly.

"I appreciate you drinking the shit water you were given," Lex said politely in turn, and Rian's answering chuckle drew her mouth into a smile of her own.

"I've heard the gritty taste is something to acquire, but I'm afraid I won't have such a luxury."

Lex couldn't stop from blurting out, "You're leaving alone, then?"

"Yes. Well, not entirely. I still have bait, after all." Rian nodded to Oakley and gave Lex another kind smile. "I shall take my leave, then. I know where the door is," he added when Oakley took a step closer, "I will cease to cause any further trouble and show myself out."

Oakley shifted closer to Lex when Rian moved toward the kitchen door, and he tensed when Rian paused, turning to give Lex a thoughtful look.

"I heard it is a good day to fly," he said softly, then vanished through the doorway, letting Lex remain behind with fear in her heart and anger in her eyes.