How Things Are

twenty eight

This was the first time I didn't want to leave the elevator. I could hear Lucas yelling through the phone on the way back. Then Teedo sent me up alone with that unreadable face of his. I couldn't tell if it was motion sickness from this contraption or what I was about to face that made me feel hot and cold at the same time. When the magic door moved me to the top, oddly slower than usual, I was pacing and pulling on the collar of my uniform. The portal door dinged but didn't open. I tried the buttons I saw the others push but nothing happened. After five minutes, what felt like hours, it opened and on the other side is none other than Lucas.
The look on his face was terrifying. It reminded me of the first time I saw him. When I escaped my father's, he looked at me like I wasn't worth mentioning. Wasn't his problem. He's a reminder to everyone that there is always someone stronger than you. I gulped as he got in the elevator and closed the door. He said nothing, just stared at me for longer than some would've liked, then hit a button, and the ground started moving all over again. Well, it's been an alright life for the most part. An adventure. I should have left my will to Winwrey so she gets my Katana when I die...

My mind fills with dark thoughts of my torture until another ding and the door opens. I never saw this room before. There are screens way bigger than their phones in here with moving pic of Mafia City everywhere. I slowly walk in and look. How do they get a whole city to fit instead of screens? Did the magic elevator door make the city shrink as we went down? Are we giants now?
The look on my face seemed to humor him. His angry face settled for less than annoyed as he explained what this room was.
"These are monitors, always recording what people do in my City." I tilt my head "I have cameras everywhere showing me what I want, when I want."
Ahh. "So another magic room like the elevator." I cross my arms and nod.
He sighs. "I forget how low-born you are."
I should probably take offense to that but in all honesty, I've road in a car three times since I came here. That's more than most Gangs. They do what they can to keep their territory nice so they reverted back to carriages. Car transport has always been for high rank because of the vast territory and business they have throughout multiple cities. Some low rank gangs own cars just for show, but they'll only use it to travel to other cities. So when he called me low-born he has a point. I've been spoiled. If Win new I road in one that many times, she'd be so jealous.
"Are you done daydreaming?"
Huh "oh. What did you say?"
Lucas sighs again "You fail." Oh crap "your first job and you come back without my slave."
I stiffen "Greg said that way his slave."
His eyebrows come together. "He favored her."
"So she was yours and you let him do whatever he wanted?" I accused
"What she did in her spare time to get extra benefits is up to her."
"What I'd it wasn't? What if he forced her?" I push
"Enough. Your questions and interference made her run. Not one of my men."
Before I could speak again he interrupte "You'll be looking over these recordings until you find my slave." He put the first tape in and taught me how to use it. "Consider this your new bedroom until you find her.
I watched him leave and sat down. This will be fun.