The Frieden Chronicles: Reckoning

Followed

Mason Lopez

"Hmmm, I'm craving some breadsticks right now, think we can grab a small box from a shop on our way back?" I asked, hinting that we were still being followed by a vehicle. It was clear that they were one to us and it would have been too risky to hold a meeting at that time with Falcone.

 "I got an idea cap, I bought some frozen italian food yesterday. We could try to sneak that keg into the barracks and watch the game in my room." Pix said with his all too familiar raspy voice. He actually did buy some frozen Italian food the other day during that time from the quartermaster. His act was so flawless that even I for a second thought he forgot this was just an act.

"Sounds like a plan, although the keg is going to be very tricky to get it past security."

 "Don't worry about it, I got a way to trick those scanners." Pix said with a smug.

"I take it that you're saying that from experience pix?" I asked almost chuckling

 "Oh you know it, I remember this one time at a party we had to smuggle our booze in. All it had was one of those scanners so all we had to do was to cover the damn thing with a thick jacket and boom you have yourself some booze!"

"What about the guards?" I asked before he scoffed.

 "Look Cap, those night shift guards could care less if you give them some of what you bring, they don't get paid enough to deal with that kind of bullshit."

"I'll take your word for it, but you guys owe me big time for this one."

"Duly noted sir!" Pix said with his all too common smug attitude as we made our way down the uncommonly emptied streets thanks to the nearby protest that has been going on for the past few days.

We could not help but notice the clear after effects of the bills and laws that have favored the capital city. From tax increases to new prohibition laws, killing industries overnight and leaving thousands unemployed.

We had already passed a few ladies of the night as well as entire families left out on the street homeless or in poorly made shacks. Unfortunately, this was just the immediate issues that could be seen by mere quick glances.

If you looked closely, the road itself seemed to be in a state of disrepair, the trams were full of graffities and on their last leg. Down the road, we could also see a Hybrid getting kicked out of a market as the clerk yelled at him that he did not served his kind as he pointed to a sign. It was clear that the hybrid was hungry as his only plea was for some food, but all he received in response was a punch to the face followed by a few kicks as he laid on the ground.

The situation looked rather bleak for the hybrid, but that was not my problem. I already had too much attention and that will only call upon more. The buildings looked like they were mistreated like in any big city, but the troublemakers in the recent protests seemed to have had a bone to pick with the stores and residents of the surrounding buildings.

The ones responsible for the destruction were further down the street yelling obscenities at a rather sizable house being kept at bay by the police while a handful were being placed into a police van with humans and hybrids alike.

We continued our way down the debris covered streets as our wits became ever so sharper and our trigger fingers ever so sensitive under our coats. That was until we passed by the familiar site of the cathedral of Saint Lazarus.

We noticed one of the nuns shaking a bell in an attempt to attract the attention of people for some spare change. The cathedral was well known for housing orphans and it was not rare to see them going out of their way to help those who are in need. It seemed that this as well was instilled in the children as two of them seemed to aid the old sister with her duties.