WHISPERS || Anthony Lockwood

three

*TRIGGER WARNING*
Light mentions of child abuse

"Y-Yeah" Lucy said before she cleared her throat, "I mean yes I am".

George and Addison let out a little chuckle at the girl's slip up from the professional mask.
But Lockwood didn't seem to notice and only smiled at the thought of having a new agent on board.

"How about I give you a tour then?" Lockwood smiled. "Ads? Coming with?" The girl in questions simply huffed and rolled her eyes. Of course she was going. Lockwood was about as useful as a chocolate teapot.

The day Addison came to the agency, it took Lockwood three hours to explain where the bathroom was. Honestly, she swore this boy's mind was on autopilot.

They quickly made their way up to the stairs where Lockwood began talking.

"I can see why you think our set-up is a little unusual. We're still classed as a relatively new agency, been registered a year. Accredited by DEPRAC but we aren't on their payroll like Fittes. We make our way and we like it that way. Less rules, more fun"
He began.

"More like more ways we can find the almost die" Addison muttered under her breath but it was very clearly heard by the new member who tried to suppress a chuckle under her breathe.

Lucy had clearly taken note of the clippings decorating the stair walls. Newspapers of Lockwood on his own but then there were others of the him, George and Addison. Some seemed decades ago in Addison's mind but there were some she felt like just happened yesterday. But her curiosity had to end when they reached the landing.

"Who are your supervisors?" Carlyle questioned clearly confused on why she hasn't met any adults yet.

"Oh no. No supervisors here Lucy, it's Wood's company hence the name. It's kinda nice though" Addison said before Lockwood could but in and say something stupid.

"No supervisors here. We learn as we go, adults just but in when they can't even see the bloody ghosts" the boy added with a grin.

anyone?

do it
GET OFF ME

please

A frown made a way onto Addison's face. She was so confident she had gotten a handle on those whispers but here she was, stuck listening to their (what she could only assume) death loops once again.  a handle on these She had done so well lately to block out the whispers but now they were back. A pounding hit the back of her head and little spots danced in front of her eyes, flashes of those who has passed seemed like her own distant memory.

"Bathroom, my room and George's room" Anthony interrupted her train of thought as he pointed towards each room. Lockwood's room was the furthest from the stairs but they were parallel to it. George's room was located right next to the stairs leading to the bathroom and the bathroom itself was a few steps down.

"Now I wouldn't go in George's room without knocking though. Ant swears he saw George doing yoga naked" the youngest agent said intending to embarrass both lads. It must have succeeded as the eldest glared at her.

"Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to bed for a bit. Got a bit of a headache" Addison continued. She could see the immediate concern on Lockwood's face, she always had a headache.

Lockwood knew about these random headaches of course but no matter how hard he tried, she wouldn't take anything for it or see anyone. Not that paracetamol would do much for a girl hearing a ghost from across the globes final words.

Lockwood and Lucy did continue the tour on their own however. Poor Lucy didn't know what she was in for.

"Erm where did she train?" Lucy asked after a few beats. Lockwood gave her a confused glance before realising she was asking where Addison was trained and graduated from.
"Oh. I think she was taken in by some local operative called... er" he paused trying to backtrack his brain," oh yes it was Alastor and Co I believe" well Lucy's face must have said it all.

It was some kind of emotion Lockwood couldn't quite place. Shock maybe? But why now that was a mystery to him.

On the other hand, Lucy knew the shock was evident on her face. The way he had said so casually, had scared her, didn't he know? She could remember the days when Jacob's would use Alastor and Co as a threat if the agents misbehaved. An agency where no agent was safe.

Agents had told horror stories of what happens inside the walls of that agency but a powerful man like Alastor could persuade anyone with a simple smile. The agents from the agency had never came out the same kids as when they entered it. Of course none of talented would ever be the same naive kids they were but Alastor kids came out worse.  Dark circles crowded plagued their eyes, bruises hid poorly under a foundation that was most certainly not their shade and a constant twitching, like their always needed to be doing something but didn't want to.

Most people saw through their lies. Most people but not the higher ups at DEPRAC.

"Something wrong Carlyle?" Anthony questioned trying to decipher what was wrong. She didn't reply just gave him a tight lipped smile in return and gestured for him to continue.

It wasn't her news to share

—————————————————————————

Oh my god!

It has been so long without an update but I've finally managed to get one out!

You may have noticed I changed the name of Addisons old agency to Alastor, it just better suited the story as it means tormentor (from what I've found)

As always updates are irregular so keep that in mind.

Stay safe

jxne_09_