Scars Ch. 5
#5 of Scars
Lucan was raised in a guild as an assassin at a young age along with his brother, Drake. After breaking one of the guild's laws, Lucan ran away and sought out by the guild's leader, Conway. After being saved from homelessness by a friendly Dingo named Chris. He tries to protect his new-found friends against his former family.
Scars Ch. 5
Me and Chris are walking down the old, decrepit streets of downtown Midna. Deteriorated shops line the streets; gloomy shopkeepers sweep the dust away from their doors. Prostitutes, drug dealers, and sex offenders are the majority in this part of the city. The odor is foul, and I clasp my hand to my muzzle to stop me from gagging.
Chris isn't in good conditions either, his head turning each way like he's the one being hunted and not me. This would be a perfect place for Victor to strike; the people here look like they would turn a blind eye to a murder.
We soon reach our destination, a raggedy, worn down antique shop. The only antique shop that sells actual swords and not the fake, foam swords sold at toy stores. The shopkeeper, an old turtle whose eyes keep shaking from exhaustion, stands at the cash register.
We step into the rickety shop, it's floors creek loudly with each step. The shopkeeper finally notices our presence and gives out a quivering, but friendly smile. "Hello and welcome, do ya see something you're interested in buying."
Chris gives me a nervous look and I turn to the shopkeeper. "Yes, I was hoping you have any swords for sale, preferably ones that are in good shape," I said.
"You wanna sword?" the shopkeeper hollers.
"Yes do you have any for sale?" I say again. Chris swiftly turns around when the sounds of a police car drives down the street, it's siren blaring loudly. The shopkeeper slowly walks away from the register and goes to a glass display case, inside is a katana-like sword.
The shopkeeper takes out a key from his pocket and puts it in the keyhole, turns it and opens the case. "Would ya mind helping me, my hands aren't what they used to be," the shopkeeper asks.
I walk over to the display case and take hold of the sword. I grip the saya and take the blade in my right hand. I stare at the katana; it's sharp, polished blade. The leather guard feels good against my paw; the katana's edge shines as sunlight comes into the shop.
"I'll take it," I said, still mesmerized.
"How much?" Chris asks.
"600," the shopkeeper says. Chris's eyes nearly shoot out of his head. I put the blade back in the scabbard and put it back in the display case.
"Do you have a sword a little more cheaper?" I ask.
Back at the mercenary village; behind the main building, Tonya is throwing knives at a practice dummy; Ollie is sitting cross-legged on top of a boulder eating rice. Tonya rapidly takes three knives out and hits the dummy, each one hitting a different lethal location.
"You know," Ollie said a mouthful of rice in his mouth. "I'm actually surprised with Ol' Conway's decision to send that freak of nature, Victor to take care of our lost pup."
"Why's that?" Tonya asks.
"Victor ain't a mercenary like you and I," Ollie says. "Victor does everything for the thrill of the kill. He loves to see others in pain and takes every advantage to make people suffer."
"What does this have to do with Lucan?" Tonya asked.
"My guess," Ollie says. Tonya takes out another knife. "He volunteered." Tonya throws the knife hitting the dummy in the head.
"I'm sorry we couldn't buy that other sword Lucan," Chris apologizes as we get back to our apartment.
I go over to the couch and place the sword against the couch. "It's okay, this small sword will have to do," I said. "We might be lucky and Victor might laugh himself to death at the sight of my sword."
I turn to Chris, whose worried look has not changed the entire day. "Maybe I should have gotten myself a weapon as well," Chris said. "You know, for protection."
"I don't think that would help," I said. "I've been trained since I was the mere age of ten with using a sword, and Victor still might have the upper hand against me."
"And if he comes after me?" Chris said, becoming more tense. "I have to defend myself somehow."
I walk over to Chris, put both my hands on his shoulders and look him straight in the eyes. "Listen to me and listen to me well, Victor is not going to hurt you, I know the man and I know his tricks. If it so happens that I do get into a confrontation with him, he will not get near to you," I say.
Chris's muscles relax as he breathes out deeply. "Okay, I believe you," Chris says. "It's been more than a week since you've been here and already so much is happening."
"I'm gonna make sure you're safe Chris," I said. "It's the least I can do from saving me from the streets."
A knock on our door quickly cuts out conversation; Patrick is standing outside the door, a bottle of vodka in hand and a joint in his mouth. Chris looks at me and I know what he's thinking and I give him a friendly nod.
Chris walks to the door and let's Patrick in. "Patrick we...need to tell you something," Chris said.
Patrick walks into the apartment and stares at me and Chris with bewilderment. "You two haven't gone gay have you?" Patrick asks.
"NO!" Chris yells. A small chuckle comes out of my mouth at how much that comment irritated Chris.
Patrick notices the short sword by the couch and points to it. "Hey, were the fuck did you find that thing?" Patrick asks.
"That's what we're about to explain," I said. "I think we should sit down for this."
Tonya has her back against a practice dummy, she throws a knife in the air and catches it and repeats the process. "Who does that sick bastard think he is?" Tonya thought. "Of all the fucked up things he can do to pass the time, he decides to do this."
Tonya catches the knife as its in midair and swings it at the dummy, decapitating it. Suddenly, a buzzing noise is heard in her pocket. She takes out the phone, pushes accept, and holds it over her ear.
"Who is it?" Tonya asks.
"Hello Tonya," a familiar voice says.
"Victor!?" Tonya let's out.
"It's good to hear from you again," Victor said. "What's wrong, you sound...afraid."
"Shut up you bastard!" Tonya yells. "Where are you?"
Back in Midna, Victor is sitting on a bench, legs crossed, a great big grin across his face. "Wouldn't you like to know that," Victor said. "With how good you are at throwing knives you might still be able to hit me from here."
"I'll keep that in mind," Tonya said. "What do you want, aren't you on a job?"
"A job I am enjoying to the fullest," Victor says.
"Shocking," Tonya says.
"I don't know why we have to live in that isolated village of ours," Victor says. "This city is just what we need."
"The location of our guild isn't really my jurisdiction," Tonya said. "Take it up with Conway."
"I will, but I'm a little busy at the moment," Victor said. "I found him."
Tonya's eyes become wide, but lower back to normal. "Where is he?" Tonya asks.
"In an apartment," Victor says. "He's found shelter with this dingo guy. He just came back from an antique shop and bought a sword. I'm right outside the apartment now."
"When are you gonna strike?" Tonya asks.
"When I'm done enjoying myself," Victor said. "Maybe kill one more person before I get to business."
"You are revolting," Tonya says with disgust.
"True," Victor said. "
One last question before I go."
"What?" Tonya asks.
" Would you like his entire body or just his head when I bring him back?" Victor laughs, evilly.
Tonya closes the phone and throws it against a tree, breaking it into pieces. Tonya grips her fist to the point her hands nearly bleed.
Patrick sits on the couch, the vodka bottle set next to him. Me and Chris are sitting in front of him; Patrick looks at both of us in an almost confused state.
"So what you're trying to tell me is that Lucas...," Patrick said.
"Lucan," I cut him off.
"Lucan is a mercenary for hire who was kicked out of his guild," Patrick says. "And now he's getting hunted down and at any time in the day he could be attack and I'm endangering myself just by talking to you."
"No one is in danger for just talking with me," I said. "Now that I have a weapon, I can defend myself."
"I'm gonna hold you to that," Patrick says.
"So when is Victor going to find us?" Chris asks.
"I don't know," I said standing up and walking to the window. "Knowing him, he probably already has."