Chapter 12 - Cowl Standoff

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Peaking my head through the gap, I don't see anybody. All I see are large wooden crates stacked high and metal shelving that reaches the ceiling. I use my helmet to finish breaking the window, and it might be unnecessary, but better safe than sorry. There isn't any easy way down, but a large, almost pyramid-shaped stack of boxes is nearby. All it'll take is a short jump, but if I miss, I will fall over thirty feet onto concrete.

I've lived my whole life on mute, unable to experience any emotions. Even basic instinctual ones like fear are out of grasp. I am cursed to live while only being able to feel bodily sensations like pain, pleasure, and exhaustion. I imagine this sensation is similar to what drugs do to you. I will chase this even if it leads me to hell. It isn't a hard decision; the excitement I have felt since entering the docks is undeniable. I'm in the air, my body moving as my mind dallies. I stick the landing perfectly, but the crates are old and rotted. The box I'm standing on falls apart under my weight. Tumbling down through the boxes, I'm thankful for the helmet protecting my head and neck.

The rest of me isn't so lucky as I manage to hit every part of me on the way down. My left side crashes into the concrete, and I feel something give. Gingerly moving my hand, I press against my rib cage, sending a jolt of pain throughout my body. I let out a hiss, and the helmet makes it sound like a family of robotic snakes. The pain is terrible but manageable. Wait, where is the fucking gun? Shuffling around on my hands and knees, I search everywhere. I see a glimmer in my peripheral; the thing is stuck under one of the shelves. Crawling my way over to it on my stomach, I give it a once over, and it looks fine.

I need to find Aubrey and get both of us out of here. Watching those two titans duke it out has shown me that I was naive to the realities of Neuvohuman fights. There is no way to leverage either of our powers to allow me to take their abilities. Either one of them could kill Aubrey and me easily. I should have talked her out of this; we are not dealing with a deranged rookie like Davis. These people are gangbangers with powers. Once I am home I can take the time to create better than this.

It's arguably better to hurt my ribs and not a leg. At least the injury won't impact my mobility. I move as quickly as I can without making a sound. Do not let the past few weeks be wasted; I would prefer not to have to restart my plans with Jean-Luc. He isn't as malleable as her and is likelier to get cold feet. She can be influenced and molded into a perfect pawn. No one has come, and Aubrey is standing still. With my entrance and subsequent fall, I made so much noise, yet no one came running. I continue through the warehouse, careful of what might await me ahead. Raised voices break the silence, and I quicken my pace. I duck down behind some boxes as I get closer.

What awaits me is a three-way standoff between Aubrey, a jacked Korean man, and a middle-aged mafioso. The Korean man is a bald, bulging mass of veiny musculature, taller than me by a good bit, and his arms are the size of my torso. He's wearing grey basketball shorts and a white V-neck. On his arms and legs are thick golden bands. The older man has slicked hair and a goatee. Why is everyone dressing like idiots?

"Give it up, criminal scum. Cause Queen Bee is here to stop you." Aubrey's voice has a slight buzz added to the overlapping voices, giving it a more bee-like quality.

The Korean man starts laughing. "Gio's scraping the bottom of the barrel now, huh? Sending bitches and cokeheads to do his dirty work."

"I don't know who this Gio guy is, but I am here to stop you both. Surrender now and come along quietly." Aubrey said

"Shut your mouth, whore. I could snap you in half." The Korean man said. His voice is hoarse, and his grin is wolflike.

The Italian chuckles and then says something so softly that I'm unable to hear.

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