Rise

Melanie

Rogue is a dump. It looks like the bar has survived a hurricane only to be charred by a raging inferno. Old stools line the bar counter, threatening to break under the stress its users are giving it. Wooden tables and chairs crowd the rest of the room, the neon lights shine on the tables gloss. I scan the room looking for any person I might have recognized. There are people from all over, a few burners and even shivers that argue over an ale or chewing on their greasy food. One man stands out from the rest. He sits in one of the back tables, better dressed than the rest of the men in the bar; wearing a clean pair of jeans and a nice white button-down shirt. He plays with a little black box, one that I've seen some of the people working for Rise use as well. I make my way over to him, sitting down in the chair across from him.

"Melanie I presume?" he is quick to speak, his blue eyes scanning me.

"yes and you are?" he holds his hand out for me to shake. I eye it then slowly extend my hand out to him.

"Porter Edric" I scoff.

"your name is Porter?" he laughs loudly at me, having most people in the bar to stare at him.

"yeah well I never really got the chance to pick it, did I?" he grins at me and I chuckle, my laugh slowly dying while my frown dissipates.

"I think I am supposed to meet your brother. " I try to hold back a smile creeping its way on my face. I clear my throat and eye porter.

"Yeah about that. Why didn't I receive one of those letters myself? if rise hasn't noticed, I'm also on this assignment. " a man walks up to our table, a waiter. He sets down and ale, eyeing me before walking away. I look at the ale then at Porter, he smiles.

"rise knows you're on this mission, Melanie. It just seems that your brother would give us better results than you. " I roll my eyes and sip at my drink, it tastes awful but I swallow anyway.

"well here's something that you nor rise know about me. When I want something. I will get it, and if you want my mother to do something I have her wrap around my finger. " I lean over the table. He chuckles, leaning back in his chair.

"wow you umor women are really all the same"

"what is that suppose to mean"

"You just remind me a lot of your sister is all. Very..." he searches for the word

"headstrong. " he grins.

"you've talked to my sister?" I ask, puzzled by how. Then I remember, Porter works for Rise, he's probably been watching her since we all left.

"yes. I talked for her for about... ten minutes at the least, and boy she didn't like me" he chuckles to himself, taking a big swig of his drink. He leans over the table just like me, our faces inches apart, I can smell what seems to be whiskey on his breath.

"she told me to give you something, well it was for your brother but I think you'll pass the message. " I listen, putting my hand on the condensating glass, leaving a trail with my thumb.

"yeah? what's the message?" and with that he takes my hand away from the glass, holding it in his own. When he squeezes I stop, swallowing down a tidal wave of emotions. I yank my hand away from his, grabbing the glass once more and taking a swig of my own.

"thanks, " I say hoarsely.

"no problem. " we sit in silence, well not silence. The sounds of wild music and drunk people laughing fill the room, but between the two of us, there is nothing. Porter finally clears his throat, finishing off his drink before speaking.