Midnight, In the Storm [on temporary hiatus]

Eight: Hapless discoveries

Audree stood outside the dimmed cafe, waiting beside Rin, who even now radiated an infectiously joyful energy.

It was nightfall, 10:15 precisely, according to Audree's black wristwatch.

Kean Min had lingered back in the cafe, doing a double-take to make sure every switch was off on both staff and business floors - even though Audree had done the double-checking already, she'd forgotten to point it out before he'd dashed back in a scurry. She'd shrugged it off.

As soon as the last table had cleared and left, the duo had invited Audree to join them for dinner. It had been a surprise to see the two of them grinning in unison as if they hadn't been retorting back and forth for most of the work hours - but what more surprising was watching them bicker and joke along at such random intervals.

Audree had smiled, politely yet indirectly rejected their offer, but still volunteered to accompany Rin and Dianna outside as Kean Min remained in the shophouse - where, turns out, Dianna resided on the second floor from time to time.

The bell dangling by the door's frame chimed, Kean Min tugged on a thick white sweater over a dark-toned flanel as his navy hi-tops tapped out the front door, "So I guess we'll be seeing you tomorrow then, Audree?"

Audree hummed her agreement, waving as the trio departed, heading towards the heart of the city - where the district's festivities thrived timelessly through hectic days and vibrant nights.

She knew she was missing an opportunity at perhaps a brighter side to life, but Audree didn't think much of it as she faced the partially lit street ahead of her, and trudged into the unlit alley opening further by its side.

She needed a space to think, somewhere she knew she would be alone. She knew exactly which open rooftop awaited.

Averting her focus, she paid close mind to every movement, every wavering shadow of the maze and counted her steps in the dark.

Taking the rungs two by two, she scaled the rusted ladder that creaked despite her smooth and weightless movements. The surface of the roof was damp by reason of the afternoon's brief drizzle, subdued ripples of skylight reflected off scattered puddles, Audree skipped past the pools of water and a shut doorway that probably led to some stairway.

She sat with the tips of her boots dangling over the ledge, breathing in the fresh night air. She needed to find a way to get to the Cassiopeia by tomorrow night. She had a brisk idea how, but it was brash, reckless even. But it was her only shot. Now, the decision depended on Keir's agreement.

Her plan was to discreetly track down every high-ranked member of the Shadow Wraith, - targets with authority, access to information and influence - disguised as a faceless messenger - starting with someone she knew exactly where to look for, but she'd have to learn of his current position in the wraith first, and that meant coming up with a tolerable excuse.

The anonymous messenger system was one her mother had started due to a... miscommunication - as she'd called it.

It was no miscommunication. And Audree was sure of it - not when the adolescent boy who was sold to her mother's cause, without a choice, had been slain, all for a mere slip of tongue that cost him his life.

Brutality, it was the way Audree was raised and taught herself the ways around the Shadow Wraith. It was how she survived, heeding, obeying and executing without question - not after witnessing that as a child.

To the woman who'd brought her up, she was now a disgrace, a mind-washed runaway turned enemy. To herself, she had failed to stop her mother - a pointless survivor until the day she succeeded.