The Lost Love Above | Elizabeth x (m) Reader!

A Circle Unbroken

  "This is what they want, brothers," a man spoke to a small crowd consisting of a child, a woman, and a man. In front of him are a burning barrel and a hastily put-together sign that read: WHY HAST THOU FORSAKEN US?

  "To keep you so HUNGRY you can't speak but to beg... To keep you so IGNORANT, you can't think of solutions to all your problems. To keep you CHASIN' that ALMIGHTY SILVER EAGLE, so you can BUY EVERYTHING they're sellin' to keep you down, brothas... But Daisy Fitzroy says there's ANOTHER way... Another way comin' REAL soon."

The smog is so thick at this level that it covers the sunlight and everything else above. There's also a strong smell of rot here. You grimace and look around, seeing the state of everything matching the scent. It's the New York slums without any of the decency of ordinary folk.

Elizabeth brushes against my shoulder and muses for a moment before speaking. "These people are like this because of Fink? Maybe Daisy's right. Maybe she should pay him back for all of this."

We walk past a few people that are hardly breathing. Banners wave along the walls in tattered. The windows are boarded, and there are signs asking for help everywhere. "She'll get her way as soon as we're through on our end," I saw one poster that read: DAUGHTER SiCK NEED DOCTOR.

Elizabeth's eyes drift to the many other people, and she sighs heavily. "I guess we should head straight for the police station...or see what's in that bar. What do you think?"

  "The bar," I say absentmindedly. I couldn't lie and say I was worried about Booker above us. He could handle his own in a fight, so I felt we had time to cut back and relax. "Unless you think otherwise?"

  "No," she says quickly. "I think we could do that. Mr. D– I mean, Booker would probably like some time away from us anyway."

I felt that wasn't true, but I wanted a break, so I agreed. "Yeah. That sounds about right."

The name of the bar was called "The Graveyard Shift," which after everything we've been through today, the name seemed a little too fitting. By this point, I would have thought the army and police force would be straining for active members.

As we descended some steps, two men scrambled out to greet us. "HEADS UP!" The one in front of us says, presenting a pistol similar to what Columbia fancies.

The other one, on our further left, has what I think is a shotgun in his hands. My eyes flicker to both of them, and my mind starts to work. The one with the shotgun scoffs, remarking us as "privileged types," which didn't seem right, considering anyone privileged would have avoided this place like the plague.

  "Spare some coin, friend... Not all of us gainfully employed down here... An' a man's gotta eat," the one in the front says to us.

There was gross satisfaction when this man and his friend approached me. Someone didn't know who we were, and they thought shaking us down was a valuable action... I looked at Elizabeth, who was, in return, looking at me to see what I was going to do.

I wanted to avoid any unnecessary fighting, but I also wasn't to let a thug get away with taking advantage of other people. I shifted my weight, but the man clicked his tongue at me. "No, no, no... You're not going anywhere."

  "You'll regret bothering us if you continue this," I warn, flashing the handle of my sidearm.

  "No cash?" The one with the pistol questions. "Then let us have a pass at your girlfriend there. She's better than anything else this place has to offer."

  "I'm not telling you twice," I hover my hand near my handgun, and when neither of them decides to back away. I produce my pistol and spit out a few shots in rapid succession. My aiming wasn't intended to maim. It was trained to kill. The shots sound hollow down here, and no one seems to be bothered by the outcome behind us.