𝗽𝗵𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗺 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮 ➪ 𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗻𝘆 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸𝘄𝗼𝗼𝗱

𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗻. 𝗰𝗮𝗿 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘀

"SIXTY GRAND!
he's paying us sixty grand!"  Lucy whispered as they went down the steps.

"but we haven't got it yet. and we've gotta move fast." Lockwood warned.
"who's the negative one now, huh?" Agnes was ignored.

"Lucy, get us packed and prepped. George, find out everything you can about Combe Carey Hall, all right? I'm gonna go to Satchell's, find out what help we can that doesn't explode." he paused, staring Agnes.
he sighed; he was still annoyed of how she treated him.
"you'll come with me." he licked his bottom lip.
"see you at home; and tell no one." each left to do their individual tasks in a hurry.

Agnes and Lockwood took a cab to go to Satchell's.
it was awfully quiet, Lockwood stared at the window.
"can you stop?" Agnes closed her eyes in frustration, she knew he was mad. he made it obvious enough.
"I'm not doing anything." he whispered, Agnes clicked her tongue.

"I was a dick. I'm sorry that I treated you all like nothing and said those things to Sir John-"
"do you really think of us like that? ordinary people who struggle to put food on the table?" Agnes looked down to her legs.

"at some point..." she bit her top lip, he scoffed shaking his head unapprovingly.
"look, I was born directly into a wealthy social circle - I know that's not an excuse. but it was just how kids like me were raised sometimes, it all begins with the stereotyping, then the laughs and bullying. I never partook in it, though. but sometimes I'd see other people and I guess I would pity them; for not having what I had. it was a long time ago, I was like what...nine? I met John Fairfax at that time. he was a dick, laughing at the humiliation of others." Agnes paused.

"one day mother told me to serve them wine, see what my father and him were talking about. I ended up tripping in my shoelace and the bottle shattered, he scolded me, calling me things like mentally slow and..." Lockwood brushed his hand against hers, he intently listened now. this was the first time Agnes shared a large piece of information about her past and he was not letting the opportunity to know more about her go.

"it's all right, Agnes." he smiled softly.
"what I mean to say is that... I guess he took a special interest in me, got to know me and do certain things. it would be unnatural of me if I didn't act like that in his presence. so I really am sorry." he held her hand, looking at her face, her features. a soft, but painful gaze as she remembered childhood memories- small freckles stuck on her cheeks like a constellation of stars, tainted red cheeks and soft lips. in his eyes, Agnes Berkshire was the most perfect being on earth; nobody could beat her beauty, not even gods themselves could recreate something so perfect yet absolutely chaotic.

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

"this job's gonna kills us." George said to Lucy. papers were spread everywhere on the table.
the sun had set, the dark blue sky and dark clouds took over the sunset now. the moon was starting to rise higher up and the stars appeared brighter.
Lockwood had a large bag from Satchell's in his hands, Agnes walked behind him, empty handed.  she told him she could've carried the bag countless times on their way over, he refused each and every time.
"I'm sorry to hear that." Lockwood glanced at the papers in astonishment. Agnes did the same

"wow...this is all Combe Carey Hall?" Lockwood glanced at Agnes, she nodded in confirmation.
"everything Fairfax forgot to mention. it's not just a country house. it used to be a satanic priory of medieval devil worshippers." they all stared at Agnes, who did not mention it before they closed the deal.

"oh, right... I forgot about that detail." she raised her eyebrows before quickly letting them drop, focusing on something else hoping to be removed from the spotlight. "good. evil monks. at least we know what we'll be facing." Lockwood commented nonchalantly.
"anyone fancy another beer?" he offered, though he was ignored.
"no, actually, we have no idea. it's killed loads, including some at a party thirty years ago. but those deaths weren't blamed on the monks, no they were blamed on a Screaming Staircase or a Red Room, whatever they are." Agnes furrowed her brows, trying to remember of any room that was red or a screaming staircase. nothing came to it.

"without flares, this job is suicide. look! we're not the first ones to try, either." Lucy passed a paper down to George, who raised it.
"at the start of the Problem, an elite Fittes team was sent in. there was only one survivor. and one, Samaran Pandey, is still unaccounted for." he pointed to the agent.
"Fairfax kept all this from us!" Lucy exclaimed, Agnes sat down on the table.

"no, he got himself a good deal. and so did we. this is a job that's finally big enough for our talent. but we're a team, so... if either of you have another option on how to keep this agency afloat, then I'm all ears." they all stayed silent. "right. that's decided, then."

"Agnes, you have any information about Combe Carey? from the red room or screaming staircase." Lockwood questioned, Agnes looked down; shaking her head left and right in embarrassment.
"I visited about four times, all with my parents. they'd never leave the lobby, and I was too scared to venture around. that house is easily top twenty of the most haunted places out there." Lockwood sighed.

later that night Agnes had retired to her room.
she had changed in a black tank top and fuzzy pink pijama pants with a hello kitty print.
usually at this time, when George stress cleaned and Lockwood sorted things out (occasionally arguing with George.) she'd go out, stargazing with a lit cigarette in her lips. but this time she walked towards the safe. where she encountered Lucy, in her dark blue towel nonetheless.

"what are you doing here?" Agnes furrowed her brows.

"what are you doing here?" Lucy questioned, she was about to pick Lockwood's key from his jacket before being interrupted.

"I asked first." the blonde crossed her arms her chest.
"I was trying to get the keys to the safe..." Lucy looked down in defeat.
"what about you?"
Agnes was silent, she pressed her lips into a thin line before giving in. "I wanted to check on the ring..."
"wanna partner up, then?" Lucy smirked.

"I'll have the ring this time! last time you had it I almost died from blood loss or whatever." Agnes took the locket from the safe, checking on the ring.
"whats makes you sure you certainly won't be killed now?" Lucy muttered, though she wasn't mad. it was fair, plus Agnes was the one who had the real connection with Annabel.

"I'll take my chances." the blonde smiled. the ring seemed to call her for her, visions of Annabel's ghost and past life passed through flashes in Agnes's green eyes. she hid the locket in her pijamas pockets.
they'd left the room, silently and unnoticed.