𝑻𝑶 𝑩𝑬 𝑳𝑶𝑽𝑬𝑫, 𝒋𝒊𝒏𝒙

𝑖．𝑟𝑒𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑓𝑢𝑙 𝑑𝑎𝑦

Sevika saunters into Silco's underground hideout. Her heavy footsteps alarm his few lackeys of her arrival. For a moment, their quiet conversation is stopped, until they resume their business. Sevika knew that they were all afraid of her. But she liked that. She liked knowing that none of these shits would stab her in the back. She was second in this organization only to Silco.

A man that Sevika often plays cards with offers her a drink, his words are barely comprehensive because they come out slurred. But, she is not in the mood. She hits his hand away and it hits wooden beam. She can hear his hushed scream that he attempts to mask. Sevika hadn't intended to hit him that hard.

The few green and purple lamps illuminate the final stairs she must descend to her boss' office. The cascading steps seems to scream at her. But, she's screamed at herself enough. She doesn't need an inanimate object to discipline her especially when she's about to get an earful from Silco.

Her savior comes in the bottle of whiskey. It's perfectly perched on top a work desk. She opens the bottle with her mouth and takes a swig.

In front of Silco's office, Sevika steals her nerves and rolls back her shoulders. No one scares her not even Silco she tells herself.

She swings open his door and saunters in. She expects to see Silco's chair turned to her, so he can dramatically turn, but he's already pacing in front of his desk. His desk has numerous vials of shimmer that some doctor has been experimenting on.

"You!" He screams, his finger pointed deathly at Sevika.

She chugs more of the whiskey, living for the burn. She quickly shuts Silco's office door.But, highly doubts the door will cancel the conversation from bleeding into the upper levels.

"Ugh! I didn't take your for someone who was sloppy! But, here we are! He throws his hands up in the air exasperated. "We just started this operation, and you already mess it up!"

"It was a mistake." Sevika grits out. She wants to get drunk as quick as possible. Or high off of hundred of cigars she imagines. All to make this conversation bearable. Because this whiskey bottle will do nothing with her high alcohol tolerance.

"It's a mistake to not finish the job!" Silco gets up in her face, yelling.

Sevika's past sleepless nights add to her irritation. "I'm not killing a little girl." She pushes Silco's chest and he stumbles back.

"She needs to die." Silco glares up at me. "They'll trace her back to us. Everyone's looking for her, and all because you messed up."

"They're not going to find her. Zaun is too big for that."

Silco's lip curls and he considers this for a moment. "You don't have to kill her, but I will have someone kill her. So just give her up." He says apathetically.

Sevika hurls a scream throwing her bottle just an inch away from Silco's head. It shatters at the wall behind him. The brown liquid seeps along the floor and stains his rug.

Silco looks back at the shattered bottle and ruined rug. He crouches down to picks up a piece of glass and finger the carpet. "You're buying me a new rug."

"Only if you don't kill the girl." Sevika rebukes. "In a year she won't even remember any of what's happened. She's just turned five, Silco." Her desperation is clear, but this is the only thing she's ever asked of him.

Silco stands from his crouched position and walks to her. He stares off, considering her proposition. He finally sighs in defeat. "Fine. But, she's your pet Sevika, so she's your responsibility."

I sneer at his words. No kid is my responsibility. I just don't want her death to be my fault.