Three Hearts Left Intact

Chapter 10: Deal

The two men standing in the center of the cold warehouse began to notice a flicker in the light. "What do you know about the girls?" Alex asked out.

"I can tell you more than I did last time. I've managed to sort out whose in which level. Lain she's stuck in level four, and she doesn't seem to be leaving it any time soon, meanwhile Kaila she's already in level five." Alex's eyes popped out of his head. He hoped he had more time to prepare something to get them out, but seeing as Kaila was already in level five, it wouldn't be long before the next auction.

However, while Alex stood looking into the fire digesting the information Mallix stood behind him bug eyed. He was so lost when it came to the discussion. He wanted to cut in and ask questions but Alex's warning silenced him. Instead he decided it would be best to listen first and take it all in, then ask Alex about them all on the way back to Zander's house.

"When's the next...selling?" Alex asked hesitantly choosing his words carefully. He knew Mallix didn't understand the levels, which he was thankful for in that situation. Having him hear that about his girls would have pushed him over edge. At least telling him about it later would allow him to freak out away from Cave members ears from listening.

"Fendly posted an announcement throughout the entire Cave that there would be one in two weeks. By that point if Lain isn't sent to level five, then those girls won't be seeing one another for a long time."

"Two weeks?! There changing the algorithm, there suppose to be held once a month! The last one was just earlier this week! Their doubling it now?!"

"You've been out of touch with the system for far too long Alex. Their empires growing, more and more people are working for them. They have double the amount of people getting poor souls put into their facility than before, and demand has begun to grow." The distorted voice mocked with a high pitched tone, still under the distortion.

"Alright fine, so we have two weeks to get them out of there within two weeks before Kaila will be gone. Lain could still possibly be there if she doesn't get moved up to level five. But now how are we suppose to get in there? The blueprint you got me last time doesn't exactly cover every department in the facility."

"They've expanded tremendously, the blueprint is of their original layout they had a year ago..." he began before Alex interjected.

"A year?! They've grown that much within a year?!"

"That's what I said."

"Most services or companies in the Cave take a decade for them to build any type of reputation or to begin growing. The Fendly's are going at a fast rate!"

"That they are. But anyways back to before you rudely interrupted," the voice said holding and rolling the R in rude, "the blueprints old. There isn't any of their new departments or new clinics around the outside of the facility mapped on that one. The contractors only made one for their original build design, that's the one you got. I have some people on the inside as we speak working together to formulate a new one. One that details the entire facility but it's going to take some time. They need to keep their heads low while they snoop around the place."

"Can you get that to me when they finish?" Alex asked needing the new blueprint before they could continue. He was under the impression the one they left at the house was the most current edition to the facility. Hearing that, his palms grew sweaty. He needed a more accurate representation of the layout before they could set a plan of action. Their old one had been scraped from the back of his head now, the details he now knew broke many of their ideas.

"Sure, but it'll cost you again. And it's going to be some time they aren't finished yet."

"How much? And when's the earliest you can get it to me by?"

"Another five hundred. And if they continue at the rate their going, then I'll say five days."

"Five?! That nearly cuts out an entire week we have to do anything. Can't they speed it up, I'll pay extra?"

From the way the distorted voice continued it was clear there was a grin on his face. "Sure they'll get it done in three for a thousand."

Without any hesitation Mallix spoke up from behind Alex. "Deal." Alex looked at him crossing his arms. "Well take the three day option." Leaning in closer to Alex, Mallix whispered. "I'm paying for it, don't worry. Besides the faster they can make this map, the faster I get my girls back, it's a win-win scenario."

Alex rolled his eyes knowing Mallix was more than capable of coughing up a thousand dollars and nodded his head to his terms.

"I'll call you Alex to set up a time to exchange the blueprint for the money."

"I look forwards to it as usual." Alex said grabbing Mallix by the shoulder and helped to lead him towards the exit.

"Oh wait one last thing before you leave Alex." The voice echoed through the halls one last time causing the two men to pause in their tracks just in time before they got to the door. They stopped to focus on what was going to be said. "The Fendly's aren't as naive as you think they are. Don't do anything too early without thinking it through. They've got eyes and ears everywhere nowadays. It's hard to find somewhere they aren't spying. It's why I chose here. They'll know somethings up if there's even the smallest change in their system." He warned to which Alex and Mallix thanked him for before leaving.

Back under the cover of night, the two men got past the murky water as they climbed into the car. They looked at one another pondering the idea of everything they just encountered. Alex was comprehending and understanding as the conversation went on, but now being in the car. It was Mallix's turn to take everything they just bear witnessed to in. The way he looked over at Alex, he could see all the questions his friend was about to lay down on him.

Starting the car up, Alex began driving their way back to Zander's place while he mental prepared himself for the interrogation he was about to be in. And he wasn't wrong. The whole ride home Mallix was asking question after question. Trying to help himself make sense of the entire situation that just befell upon him.
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Let me know what you think. Thanks Lexx signing off