Solo Ruby in the Raven's lair | Taennie ff

22

"A Brewing Storm"
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A cold wind howled outside, rattling the windows of the old, decrepit building. The dim light from a flickering bulb cast eerie shadows across the room, amplifying the unsettling atmosphere. The walls, covered in faded wallpaper, seemed to close in, suffocating anyone who dared enter. The air was thick with the stench of smoke and decay, sending chills down the spine of anyone who lingered too long.

In the center of the room, on a large, black leather couch, sat a man whose presence alone could freeze blood. He was a terrifying sight, with a deep, jagged scar running from his left brow to the corner of his mouth, giving him a permanent sneer. His eyes, cold and devoid of mercy, stared blankly into the haze of cigarette smoke that surrounded him. He took a slow drag, the ember at the tip of his cigarette glowing ominously, before exhaling a cloud of smoke that hung heavy in the air.

The door to the room creaked open, and a man cautiously stepped inside. His steps were careful, almost reverent, as if he feared the wrath of the figure before him. He swallowed nervously, his voice trembling slightly as he spoke.

"Boss, we've been keeping track of that girl... Ruby," the man began, his eyes darting around the room, avoiding the boss’s piercing gaze. "We’ve discovered the whereabouts of her mother, and..." He hesitated, knowing the weight of his next words. "It appears that Ruby is also getting close to the leader of the Dark Ravens, V."

The man on the couch remained silent, his icy gaze narrowing as the name "V" was mentioned. His scarred face, partially illuminated by the dim light, twisted into a look of deep contemplation. He slowly, deliberately, crushed his cigarette into the ashtray beside him, the faint sizzle of the burning ember extinguishing the only sound in the oppressive silence.

His hand lingered over the ashtray for a moment before he leaned back into the dark leather of the couch, the shadows seeming to swallow him whole. A cold, dangerous smile curled at the corners of his lips, but it never reached his eyes.

“So,” he began, his voice low and menacing, cutting through the stillness like a blade. “It’s confirmed then? She’s aligned herself with the Dark Ravens?” He let the question hang in the air, though he already knew the answer.

The man standing before him nodded, visibly nervous, his eyes fixed on the floor as if daring not to meet the Boss’s gaze. “Yes, Boss. She’s officially with them now.”

The Boss’s fingers drummed lightly on the armrest, a rhythm as steady as his controlled rage. “First, that girl has the audacity to disrespect me by beating my most trusted man, Jackson...” He paused, his voice dripping with venom. “And now, she thinks joining my enemies, the Dark Ravens, will save her?”

He stood abruptly, the sudden movement causing the man to flinch. The Boss loomed over him, his presence suffocating, the scar on his face making his expression all the more terrifying. “Ruby,” he spat the name out like a curse, “has crossed a line she can’t come back from. She thought she could humiliate me and get away with it. But she’s wrong. Dead wrong.”

The man nodded quickly, sensing the tension thickening in the room. “And... and about her mother, Boss...” he stammered, trying to remain composed under the weight of the Boss’s gaze.

“Yes, her mother,” the Boss mused, his tone suddenly calculating. He began to pace slowly, his footsteps echoing ominously. “You said you found her whereabouts?”

The man swallowed hard. “Yes, Boss. We’ve located her. We’re keeping a close eye on her.”

The Boss stopped in his tracks, his eyes gleaming with a cruel satisfaction. “Good. Keep it that way. Her mother will be... very necessary,” he said, his voice laced with dark implications. “If Ruby thinks she can hide behind V and the Dark Ravens, she’s sorely mistaken. We’ll make sure she learns that nobody crosses me without paying the price.”