Chapter Two: Return to the Game. Part Three.
May 21, 2021 21:16:28 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on May 21, 2021 21:16:28 GMT -5
To be a handler was to be a liaison. The handler was the Judge’s right hand, their everything. The source of their intel, their equipment, whatever the judge needed, the handler would acquire.
“Bullshit…” She started. “…I want out of this as soon as your six months are done. Please don’t do anything, I’m not asking for them, or even me. I’m asking for my parents, my brother, his wife and kids. I’m asking for all the people they showed me that will die if I can’t get you to do as they say for six months. I’m asking for them, please stay out of whatever is going on.”
He wanted to tell her that when this was over she could simply walk away, but that would be a lie. The truth was, they’d seen something in her via her association with him and now they were hoping to parley that into a relationship that benefited them all.
“I agreed to stop activities in Bankhead, I’m not in Bankhead technically. And second, I’m just watching. Though there’s something I need a closer look at so I’m heading for a walk, care to join me?” He asked as though she wasn’t ordered to follow him around.
Thrusting them back together was just the element of cruelty ‘they’ enjoyed, knowing their relationship had ended badly. Brushing past her, her hurried to catch up.
“You can’t get involved! They’ll kill my fucking family! Does that mean anything to you?!” She was pleading with him as the entered the stairwell. Tears started to pool in her eyes.
“Of course it does, I’m not going to get involved. I promise. In fact, if I saw what I think I saw, I’m doing them a favour. Cleaning up a loose end as it were.” What was designed to set her at ease had only a partial effect as she wiped her eyes.
“How do you live like this?” Her question wasn’t hollow or mocking, she was serious. She’d only been living this life a few months and she was exhausted constantly. The fear of losing her family haunted her constantly.
“I had no one to lose. So they had nothing to threaten me with…” He stopped speaking just long enough to contemplate if he should finish his thought. “…until you.” He finished, starting down the stairs once more.
He shouldn’t have said that, but it would give her something else to fixate on until they got to the alley.
Holding the door for her, they were soon on their way properly. They’d barely made it a few steps before the questions began, her reporting background getting the better of her.
Her first question was short and simple. “What did you see?”
His eyes narrowed as he remembered each detail from the fine needle like point to the bottom of the pommel. “A dagger, more specifically…a stiletto. The weapon of a judge. They’re here in Atlanta Alyssa. If we recover this, I’ll know for sure they’re here, not much more. And before you ask, this isn’t violating my agreement. This is understanding the wording of the agreement and finding some grey on which to walk. Returning the dagger will make you stand out.”
She wasn’t sure she wanted to stand out, but she understood his point. She’d look good coming back with the only evidence left behind.
“Can we talk about something else? Are you enjoying competing again?” The past few months made her head spin, at least wrestling was something that was familiar to them both. Her as a reporter/interviewer and he as an in ring talent. It was how they met.
“I missed it more than I gave myself credit for if that’s what you mean? If I was to be forced back to the ring, I at least wanted to put what happened in RSW behind me, bury it. Start fresh. I needed to prove something to myself, that I could still do it. I’m as ready as someone in my position can be…” He chuckled. “…when you’ve been gone as long as I have, everyone is a new opponent, no one ever knows me. It’s all I ever wanted. To be judged on my own merits and nothing else.”
The self doubt was shelved for the time being, either he had sated the appetite of his own self loathing for the time being or he simply didn’t have time for doubt. Either way, his next move was risky.
Maneuvering her down a side alley, a series of light smoke trails rose from black dumpsters lined off in a row. People were picking the remains hoping against hope for something to build off of. Furniture, clothing, food…nothing was spared.
There was no need for an explanation, you could see it in the eyes of the people. They were homeless now, just innocents caught in the crossfire of a war that raged in broad daylight…yet no one saw.
Making his way across the alley, he knelt picking up the stiletto as he did. She was here Alyssa.
“Who?” She asked, yet fearing she knew the answer.
The tone of his voice dropped; their own personal devil. “Esmeralda Von Krauss.”
“Bullshit…” She started. “…I want out of this as soon as your six months are done. Please don’t do anything, I’m not asking for them, or even me. I’m asking for my parents, my brother, his wife and kids. I’m asking for all the people they showed me that will die if I can’t get you to do as they say for six months. I’m asking for them, please stay out of whatever is going on.”
He wanted to tell her that when this was over she could simply walk away, but that would be a lie. The truth was, they’d seen something in her via her association with him and now they were hoping to parley that into a relationship that benefited them all.
“I agreed to stop activities in Bankhead, I’m not in Bankhead technically. And second, I’m just watching. Though there’s something I need a closer look at so I’m heading for a walk, care to join me?” He asked as though she wasn’t ordered to follow him around.
Thrusting them back together was just the element of cruelty ‘they’ enjoyed, knowing their relationship had ended badly. Brushing past her, her hurried to catch up.
“You can’t get involved! They’ll kill my fucking family! Does that mean anything to you?!” She was pleading with him as the entered the stairwell. Tears started to pool in her eyes.
“Of course it does, I’m not going to get involved. I promise. In fact, if I saw what I think I saw, I’m doing them a favour. Cleaning up a loose end as it were.” What was designed to set her at ease had only a partial effect as she wiped her eyes.
“How do you live like this?” Her question wasn’t hollow or mocking, she was serious. She’d only been living this life a few months and she was exhausted constantly. The fear of losing her family haunted her constantly.
“I had no one to lose. So they had nothing to threaten me with…” He stopped speaking just long enough to contemplate if he should finish his thought. “…until you.” He finished, starting down the stairs once more.
He shouldn’t have said that, but it would give her something else to fixate on until they got to the alley.
Holding the door for her, they were soon on their way properly. They’d barely made it a few steps before the questions began, her reporting background getting the better of her.
Her first question was short and simple. “What did you see?”
His eyes narrowed as he remembered each detail from the fine needle like point to the bottom of the pommel. “A dagger, more specifically…a stiletto. The weapon of a judge. They’re here in Atlanta Alyssa. If we recover this, I’ll know for sure they’re here, not much more. And before you ask, this isn’t violating my agreement. This is understanding the wording of the agreement and finding some grey on which to walk. Returning the dagger will make you stand out.”
She wasn’t sure she wanted to stand out, but she understood his point. She’d look good coming back with the only evidence left behind.
“Can we talk about something else? Are you enjoying competing again?” The past few months made her head spin, at least wrestling was something that was familiar to them both. Her as a reporter/interviewer and he as an in ring talent. It was how they met.
“I missed it more than I gave myself credit for if that’s what you mean? If I was to be forced back to the ring, I at least wanted to put what happened in RSW behind me, bury it. Start fresh. I needed to prove something to myself, that I could still do it. I’m as ready as someone in my position can be…” He chuckled. “…when you’ve been gone as long as I have, everyone is a new opponent, no one ever knows me. It’s all I ever wanted. To be judged on my own merits and nothing else.”
The self doubt was shelved for the time being, either he had sated the appetite of his own self loathing for the time being or he simply didn’t have time for doubt. Either way, his next move was risky.
Maneuvering her down a side alley, a series of light smoke trails rose from black dumpsters lined off in a row. People were picking the remains hoping against hope for something to build off of. Furniture, clothing, food…nothing was spared.
There was no need for an explanation, you could see it in the eyes of the people. They were homeless now, just innocents caught in the crossfire of a war that raged in broad daylight…yet no one saw.
Making his way across the alley, he knelt picking up the stiletto as he did. She was here Alyssa.
“Who?” She asked, yet fearing she knew the answer.
The tone of his voice dropped; their own personal devil. “Esmeralda Von Krauss.”