Eyes of the Midari

Part 5

Levi

Levi kicked a stray pebble as he lingered behind Lucca's shadow. He made sure to keep his partner in sight as he observed the gorgeous sunset. He had heard of the beauty of Singapore, but never in his life did he think he would get to see it. The sky looked like it was melting into the horizon as the blue of the ocean turned orange and pink. The clouds were wispy like stray strands of hair to caress the awaiting night sky. Breathtaking. It's a shame he could barely enjoy it without looking over his shoulder every five minutes. The Bane's threats still rang in his ear. He had no idea how far or how close those men were to his location. Levi tapped the parchment that rested in his coat pocket. He didn't trust leaving it in the bar but having it on him maybe even more stupid. Not that Levi even knew what he possessed, but whatever it was, it was worth following him across the Atlantic. He glanced at Lucca keeping equal strides in front of him. Levi didn't know the first thing about his new teammates, but he didn't want to bring misfortune to them.

He chuckled to himself; he couldn't say the same for them.

Levi quickened his pace as he caught up with Lucca, "So, where exactly is this address leading us?"

Lucca shrugged, causing his unbound hair to fall over his shoulder, "I have honestly never been around this area."

He abruptly stopped, causing Levi to skid along the slick ground, he groaned, "I swear the ground is always wet here. Is it ever not humid?"

Lucca chuckled, "No." He looked down at the address and then back up at the building that stood before us, "Well this is odd. It's an apartment building."

Levi squinted, "An oooold apartment building. There's moss engulfing the entire thing! Here I thought Jess was classier than this."

Lucca walked right up to the doors, leaving Levi scrambling after him. The outside was a complete cover for the marble that covered almost every inch of the main entryway. Even the smell was stunning; it was like lavender and cedar were giving him a warm hug.

"Ni hao."

Lucca and Levi both spun to see a slight old lady seated behind the reception desk. She had streaks of white scoured through her short black hair and deep dark eyes that shut as she smiled.

Lucca cleared his throat, "Ni hao, we are here..."

"Miss is waiting for you upstairs. Go up three levels and make a right, she is the door at the end of the hall."

She lowered her head and goes back to moving her hands below the desk. Levi peered over to see her knitting.

Levi gave Lucca a weird look, "We sure we can trust this lady? She doesn't seem to be all there if ya know what I mean."

The woman doesn't even look up from her knitting as she said, "Run along now, miss doesn't like to be kept waiting."

Lucca tugged Levi along with him as they began scaling the grand staircase that spiraled in the middle of the building. He glided his hand along the chrome banister and realized he could hear the squeaking of is skin on the metal.

"Hey Lucca, you don't think this place is just a little too, um, quiet?"

Lucca looked around as they ascended, "I was thinking the same. It's an apartment building, we should have run into at least one other person by now."

They made it to the top of the stairs and sure enough, one door stood at the very end of the hall. Gold embellishments crowned the entire frame, down to the doorknob. Levi looked around anxiously. The lavender scent was gone, all that was left was dread.

"You don't think she would um..."

"Lure us to an abandoned building, kill us, and take the treasure for herself?" Lucca only smiled.