Monstrum Origins 1: Dominique (WIP)

Come Challenge Me

                 CHAPTER 4

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  "The King is dead." Baby J snorted and crossed her eyes, sticking out her tongue at Jai while we walked down the marble steps. He raised an eyebrow and chased her down the final few. But with cat-like reflexes she avoided his reach.

He gave a deep chuckle sending a few chills through me. "I'm not King yet...but you're enjoying this huh?"

She nodded. "I've never seen the great Jai-Hyun in trouble."

Jai smiled and in that moment, the image I had of him being moody and slightly unhinged slipped some. His smile was incredible, and infectious, when he looked at me the corners of my lips inadvertently lifted into an awkward grimace. But then all playfulness vanished, his gaze so intent, soon had me uncomfortable again.

He looked at Baby J." I need to stop by my room, I'll be there in a second."

She clicked her tongue and shook her head. "Avoidance? Never expected such a cowardly reaction."

He smiled. "So disrespectful, you're no longer a baby. There's younger crew than you. You should lead by example now." He cupped his chin as in deep thought. "Hmmm, maybe ­Su can handle your training?"

I couldn't tell if the fear that passed over her face was real or not. But she snapped to attention and gave a small bow. "I apologize Sunbae. Please do not turn me over to her." She whispered. "Oppa, she's crazy."

Jai laughed and put his hand on her head and then brought his hand down, pushing them back into his pants pocket. He glanced at me before turning to head down a connecting hallway.

Baby J started walking. "Come on, it's this way."

I hurried to catch up with her. "What do you mean he's king?"

She glanced over at me."Our crew is in a Get-Up Battle with the Northside crew. Our Jai-Hyun and their leader Noke have gone head to head for years. This'll finally decide who'll be labeled King. The best graffiti writer in the district."

I couldn't believe how different the Neukdae world was to my own. Well, I guess it would be my old world now; when I decided to leave home the day of my sister's funeral, to search for the guy who gave her Somnium, the virtual reality drug, I had the strangest sense then, I'd never return.

We headed in the opposite direction from Jai An old train station housed the Neukdae crew. The mammoth building stood two stories high, and the main hallway we walked though was marble...floor to ceiling in shades of tans and chocolate with gold trim everywhere. We passed several rooms with the doors open. I could hear the sounds of voices drifting out. Baby J walked to one door and stuck her head in. I caught a glimpse inside and several people who looked to be in their late teens and early twenties sat in a circle on the floor. A tall guy with a shock of blue hair contrasting with his all black attire of a black t-shirt and cargo pants which had multiple pockets adorned with small chains. He flicked a glance at the door; his ocean blue gaze took me in quickly. "Heyo, Baby J and new girl I've never seen before."

I liked him. He seemed a bright day compared to the storm clouds that apparently filled the other one.

Baby J said. "She's Dominique and it's time to eat. Scout wants everyone."

He winked at her."Gotcha, just need to finish up here."

He turned to the group again."Okay, that's all now guys. Next time we'll study some of the street artists from before the war in the year 2100. There'll be a short quiz."Groans sounded out as he smiled. From one of his pants pockets he pulled out a small controller and pointed it at small metal box that sat on a desk. The green light shifted to yellow and when that happened the students began to fade. Once the red light flashed, we were the only three left in the room."

Color me surprised."Wait, what?" Baby J rolled her eyes and Lieutenant laughed.

He said. "I had the same reaction when I first came. A new take on on-line learning. I like the feel of actually having the students here. They're avatars, basically holograms of my real students' located offsite. I appreciate the option. Jai's a genius."

I frowned, I couldn't help myself. "You mean the scary guy I just had the non-pleasure of meeting?"

His smile grew even brighter. "Jai Hyun's good peoples, you just got to get to know him." He held out his hand. He continued. "Not sure if I said. I'm Lieutenant. So Dominique right?"

I took his hand. "Dominique Coutee. Just Lieutenant?"

He said. : Just Lieutenant." He paused and then said."Dominique Coutee? That sounds familiar?" He snaps his fingers. "Erica mentioned you!"

I'm sure the shock showed on my face. If it was the same person, Erica had been a childhood friend. We'd grown apart but recently started hanging out again. I hadn't seen her since that day three months ago. A day filled with friends and good times which morphed into a day of death. "Erica Hanson? She's here?" I thought maybe she and I could team up. I was reminded of what's important...to find who's responsible for my sister's death.

He frowned and shook his head. "No, she's been gone about a month. She wanted to find..." He stopped as if he didn't want to mention anything more.

I jumped in. "She wanted to find her sister's killer? How did you help her? What did she find out?" I tried not to push. I couldn't help it.

Lieutenant said. "She trained with ­Su on her fight skills and she also worked closely with Jai and his team. She found something...she wouldn't tell me what; she said it was too dangerous. Whatever it was had her out of here quick." He walked quietly to the desk and became busy with putting up equipment. Baby J elbowed me and nodded towards the door.

She said. "It's dinner time." Baby J grabbed me by the wrist and pulled me from the room.

I resisted at first wanting to find out more about what Erica may have found. But I could tell Lieutenant had shut down and I allowed myself to be dragged out. My thoughts wrestled with each other. What did Erica find? How did she find the Neukdae? We walked some more and Baby J called into a couple more rooms. We passed one area where fight choreography was happening. Another room had Neukdae members bent over desks working with old school China Markers, altering photographs. They handed these off to others at computers who typed and rendered 3D images. We continued down a long corridor past more Neukdae members who wore respirator masks while working magic with their paints creating images on one of the station walls. Others wore round clear glasses looking closely at the graphic messages. Searching for codes? Any other time, all of this would've been fascinating. But I was distracted. Erica trained with the Neukdae. What did she find out? Did she find Emile?

We arrived at double doors. Baby J said. "In here." She opened the door to a dining hall already filled up with crew members. I was surprised at the large gathering. The room was full of clinking plates, cups and utensils alongside low rumbling conversation.

Jai walked in through another door behind an older man who looked to be in his early fifties. They sat at a table at the front of the room. He turned suddenly and looked at me. I held his stare. You know something about Erica, and I'll find out what. Almost as if he could read my mind, Jai  smiled.

I thought myself. Challenge accepted.