Dark Obsessions (Emma Myers X Jenna Ortega)

Chapter three

Brussels, Belgium — 14:32

Packing has always been Emma's least favourite part of traveling, and she inevitably forgets something behind each time. For this most recent mission, she had come here to Brussels to tackle the research firm, though, as it turns out, all she had needed to do was just wipe their servers. No violence had been needed, and after a day of staking the place out and following one of the employees, Emma had gained access to the building through a stolen key card.

From there, it was a simple matter of hiding out inside while she waited for everything to close down. Once everyone was gone, Emma wiped the servers using a disk that contained a rather nasty virus Brady had given her for this kind of work. Every trail they had regarding the operative's ally was erased, and Emma knew there would be no coming back from that. The job was finished in three days, and Emma had a two day layover here before her next job that's taking her all the way to Singapore.

Such a quick turnaround meant that Emma was not able to return to her home base, a safe house located on the outskirts of Zadar, Croatia. All of her passports are there for her different aliases, and Emma had not prepared for a job right after this one. This means going to her local contact here, a forger who goes only by the codename Blade. His real name is Louis Partridge, an Englishman who moved to Belgium approximately five years ago and set up shop here, creating false documents for some rather foul clients.

However, he is the best at what he does, and Emma needs a new passport quickly so she can leave. It's cold here in the city, and Emma's never much liked coming out here to Anneessens because she once had a job here that had nearly gone very south very quickly. That was only a street over, an evening when Emma's target had noticed her sitting outside his business. Walking along the street, Emma peeks down the nearest alley and can see the very storefront she had sat outside that evening.

Bundling her jacket further around her neck to keep the cold out, Emma continues walking down the road, her hands shoved in her pockets. Louis' place is only a block ahead, tucked in the very back of a little pawn shop here along the streets. Hardly anyone is out today, only a few people are milling around on the streets, all bustling toward different locations while wrapped up in warm clothing. Emma prefers the streets to be empty, though, making it less likely that she will be detected when entering the shop.

When Emma opens the little door, the bell chimes merrily above her while she pulls it shut and flips the lock.

"Blade, I'm here to pick up that passport I spoke to you about on the phone"

Emma calls to the back, taking in the crowded shelves around her, each one filled with various little trinkets and knickknacks. Louis never kept this place neat, but Emma never once minded it because the clutter blocked the windows. There's a security camera facing the door, but Emma knows it doesn't work. Only the one in the back of the shop, where Louis keeps all of his equipment.

There's no response, so Emma walks further into the store, unbuttoning the top buttons of her coat, seeing as it's decently warm in the shop. Dodging some of the items that jut out into the barely formed rows, Emma can see the back window and counter from here, and there is no sign of Louis anywhere. With a frown, Emma gets closer, her movements slow, and her hand shifts to her hip, where her gun rests under her jacket.

Brushing the fabric to the side, Emma removes the gun from her holster, clicks the safety off, and holds it out in front of her. Louis should be in right now, and the fact that he hasn't answered her is not making Emma feel very comfortable right now. With very slow and precise movements, Emma makes her way to the side door, taking in a deep breath before placing one hand on the knob. The moment she opens the door, her gun leveled around the room, Emma spots the issue and clicks her tongue, letting out a quiet sigh.