The Stigma (by Koltin Scott)

Chap. XIII

"Man, THAT was close..."
Anonymous

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The Baron

"Did you really have to kill those last two Waya?"

"The two fatties HAD to just left Dunkin' Donuts; I just couldn't resist."

"Quiet MasterLock," I said, "I'm trying to think."

Four of my goons were inside the van; two in the front and two in the back. We were almost home already and our masks were off. Most everyone was huffing and puffing.

Alien, huffing and heaving, was working hard on figuring out what tipped the Angels off. On his WristPad lights and keys flashed and tapped furiously. My phone buzzed,

<Let's talk about all this when Obsidian and everyone is up and going.>

I sent back,

<Really Alien?>

He looked up and smirked. He knows that I don't like people ten-feet from me sending me messages. His face sobered and he sent,

<Excluding AllFall.>

I looked at him with a risen brow, and sent,

<I was musing the same suspicions.>

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Later...

The Baron

Me and Walker went for a trip around the city. Not only were we anxious about the marriage but it would take several days for Obsidian to stabilize. The wind carried debris, sirens were heard in the distance constantly. Crime was on a rampage.

"So," Walker said intertwining her arm in mine, "the park?"

I glanced to her with a smile,

"I was thinking about a diner I'd visit frequently. Do you wanna go to the park instead?"

"No," she smiled, "a diner is fine."

We continued in the slower stop-n'-go traffic of the city. Less and less people own cars so traffic is smoother, but not completely nonexistent. A majority of the cars out have some sort of damage done to them; people lack a lot of the funding to repair their cars.

It was six in the fall, so the sun shone forth orange beams on days dying decent down like a burning plane. Orange shone beautifully on the wet pavement; making the black streets seem to have pits of lava here and there. Ghosts of people gazed out from their hoods or jackets pulled overhead like poverty were the bars of prison.

"Well," she said thoughtfully, "we could go to the movies."

My shoulders slumped.

"Oh!" She covered her mouth, "I forgot that you don't watch movies."

My muscles relaxed and I took a turn before she asked again, both hands on my arm,

"You going to tell me why you don't watch television?" Curiosity permeating in her voice.

I smiled,

"Maybe..."

She rolled her eyes, I've kept that like a little carrot of mystery my bunny of honey has to chase for years. Next I asked,

"So... did you have a good day the day before yesterday?"

My usual smirk turned into a playful toothy grin; I was referring to the day we got attacked by the Angels. She giggled,