Stars of Autumn

Chapter Three

(Trigger Warning: Blood)

Osprey proceeded to head over to her favorite place to spend time, the local sushi bar. As she opened the door the doorbell made the oh so familiar obnoxious ring. The master chef as well as store owner looked up from the california roll she had just finished preparing.

"You're out early," the woman said.

"I needed a few answers on something from an 'old wise lady' " Osprey replied with a glint of laughter in her eye.

"Are you sure you want answers, 'cause you're not making me want to give any helpful ones," the woman blandly stated.

"Okay, okay, I'm sorry," she paused, "Can I still get some decent answers?"

"Fine," replied the woman before sipping some green tea.

"Thank you Cyprus. Can you tell me everything you know about the darkside?" Osprey requested.

Cyprus spit out her tea, "What?! No no no no, I can't do that. I'm not quite sure you understand. I'm not allowed to share that information. End of discussion-" she was interrupted.

"Wait! Please, I need to know, just," she sighed, "You don't have to answer all of them, just please, please, please answer a few."

"My answer was no Osprey, and I mean it," Cyprus answered.

"But," Osprey held out the U in but,"What if I grab you some extra rice and fish from storage?", Osprey proposed.

Growing seasons were extremely short, and getting a necessary portion for a full stomach was nearly impossible. Fish was a delicacy to the highest of people, and to those only. It was an extremely good deal for only a snippet of information, some may even call it foolish.

"You're kidding right?" Cyprus questioned her in disbelief.

"Nope, not kidding. I can slip in and out without a soul noticing. It'll be here by tomorrow afternoon." Osprey answered.

Cyprus sighed with contempt,"Alright, what do you need?"

Osprey smirked,"What is the Darkside, and elaborate the explanation," she requested.

Cyprus looked around and in a hushed tone she replied, "Let's head to the back."

Once they entered the back room Cyprus moved the certificate of approval for the shop and punched in the password to the keypad behind it. A small metal shaft opened beside them.

"What's in there?" Osprey whispered.

"That's for me to know, and you to find out," replied Cyprus.

Just as Osprey began to wiggle her torso into the tight space, she felt a message signal go out. She located the source, which was, Cyprus, Osprey thought. Wait, how was she doing this? She can't read minds. 'But you just did, Osprey answered her own question. It read 'I have Osprey, she's ready for transport'.

Osprey immediately slipped out of the small space and bolted to the door. She swung open the door and it made the guards outside patrolling the square raise their guns. Osprey turned her head only to see Cyprus aiming a pistol at her. For a moment, all time seemed to stop. She stared Cyprus in the eye for a split second before she somer-saulted onto the floor towards what she once called a friend. Osprey took a death grip of the hand with the pistol in it and twisted it harshly until she heard a sickening pop coming from her opponent's shoulder. Cyprus screamed in pain as she clutched her shoulder in her other hand.

The two swiftly turned their heads as they heard the shattering of glass behind them.

"What's going on here?!" one of the two guards questioned with his gun pointed at the pair.

"She's a damn psychopath!" exclaimed Osprey out of breath, "She's tryn' to ship me off to some other sick fuck that she calls a friend!"

"I'm sure this is all a misunderstanding-" he couldn't finish before he was shot in the knee. He screeched in agony as he fell to the ground, holding his knee close to his chest.

"Thanks for the distraction Osprey," Cyprus said with a sly smile.

Osprey froze along with the other guard.

"S-s-stay back!" Osprey said with fear, "D-don't come any closer!"

"That's cute," Cyprus walked over to the petrified girl, softly stroking her cheek, "Say, how much would you ransom for? A few thousand scales? Ten thousand maybe? I had a deal for six thousand, but I can probably get a lot more from your brother, hm?" Cyprus quickly, and skillfully tied Osprey's hand behind her back. The remaining guard slowly reached for his pistol, which was in his holster. She threatened the guard, "Make one move and a bullet goes through both of your heads."

Osprey held her breath and kept her eyes shut tight. Cyprus slowly circled the guard and removed his transmitter and pistol, leaving them hopeless. She made her way back to Osprey and pointed the gun to her lower back.

"Try anything and this goes through your back, understood?" Cyprus seethed through her teeth, "Look, you got me twenty minutes behind schedule."

Osprey only gave a small nod of apology. Cyprus escorted the two to the door, leaving the guard.

As they were about to pass through the door Osprey ducked and dove between Cyprus' legs and jumped to her feet behind her enemy. Cyprus swiveled around and went to shoot Osprey, but Osprey had already struck a blow to Cyprus' head, causing her to stagger backwards. Osprey kicked Cyprus in the chest with a great deal of force, causing her to lose balance and fall to the floor in agony as she clutched her chest in pain.

    Osprey shoved her foot onto Cyprus' chest, pressing down harshly. She glared daggers at Cyprus, not needing any words to say, 'You're so dead'. Cyprus shifted uncomfortably under the pressure and her captor's cold glare.

    A force of 6 men came rushing in. The leader asked, "What happened here?"
    "This woman has committed treason sir. She attempted to capture me and ship me off to god knows where," Osprey explained without looking away from Cyprus.

    "I see. Shall it be execution? Or, torture? Or-" the lieutenant was interrupted.

"I'll take care of it," Osprey proposed.

"We can take her off your hands for you, it would be better for you to tell him than for one of us," the lieutenant requested.

She nodded and continued, "Then I'll head back to the office, report this to Caiman."

"Do you need an escort my lady?" the lieutenant asked.

"I'll be alright on my own. I'd suggest staying here and ambushing her partner, it'd be easier to find out who sent them and who they work for" Osprey advised.

"Will do m'lady" the lieutenant replied with a nod.