The man behind the desk had black hair and black eyes. A face not too memorable. The shadows flowed on the walls.
"Do you know who I am?"
Marlo shook his head. "No." It came out thinner than he meant. "But I know you're no good man, having children in a place like this..."
"Children... a place like this," the man repeated softly, as if tasting the words, a slight smile on his face. "I don't know what picture these two idiots painted for you, but it's best not to make assumptions on anything, ever."
Marlo scanned the room with more than just his eyes. There wasn't much to it. What you saw was what you got. The man drummed the desk, the hollow sound filling the room. "When's the last you ate, boy?"
"Nearly three days now..." Marlo thought it best to lie. He didn't think priests would be in such a place or spend time on a thief about loaves of bread, but it was still best to be safe.
"Ah," the man nodded, "reminds me of my own past." He snapped his fingers at one of the two seated men they'd found in the room, who stood up and went to a small cabinet. "Have you had to kill for food yet?"
Marlo shook his head, watching the man at the cabinet open it slowly and retrieve something small wrapped in brown cloth.
"Good, good... it's not as bad as it used to be, then." The man brought Marlo's attention back. "Course I wouldn't know. Once you leave, you don't want to go back, heh." He raised his hand to the man at the cabinet and signaled two with his fingers. The man reached in and grabbed another bundle.
"My dearest calls these priggies," the man behind the desk spoke as Marlo was handed the two bundles. "Eggs, potatoes, flour, and onions all fried together. She wraps them up for me most days..." He leaned forward. "You're lucky today. They have quite the taste. Cold now, though."
Marlo squeezed a little and felt the "priggies" squish softly in his hands. He looked back up at the man behind the desk, who still had a corner smile on his face, hands softly tapping his desk. Without much thought, he squeezed further and put them in his pockets.
The man laughed. "Take them how you will." He leaned back in his seat. "Now, as I was telling you, make no assumptions. I am but a little man with little duty to my coin, which, rest assured, I would never make by exploiting kids... sexually." He slapped his right hand on his desk. "Nearly broke my heart hearing such filthy accusations about me." He let out a sigh and ran his hand through his hair. "Course, I do work with children in other matters... and I pay them."
He took a deep breath in. "You are quite a good listener, aren't you? Considering you've taken an advanced payment, you'll have to follow Canduan and Brujo here, and they'll set you right in with the rest."
Marlo reached for his pockets. "No, no, no..." The man raised his hand. "You've already taken it." He brought down his hand and smiled at Marlo, then his eyes shifted to the big man who'd come with him. Marlo felt the familiar hand on his shoulder, this time with more pressure.
At that moment, Marlo remembered he'd followed the men here with an idea of being a hero. He willed himself and controlled the smile from forming on his face. He shifted, caught the big man by surprise, grabbed his wrist, and felt it snap.
Through his spatial awareness, he sensed and heard the chaos erupting around him. That's when he realized it was a bit overwhelming, perceiving the three people coming at him, the skinny one he'd come with and the other two they'd found in the room.
At the last moment, he was able to avoid the dagger of the skinny man. It sliced his shoulder and the back of his neck. Marlo realized the seriousness of the situation. That man had just come for the kill. The other two probably as well, and-
Right when he remembered him, the fist of the big man whose wrist he was holding landed on his cheek, sending him flying backward. What kind of people were these? Weren't they in an office?
As soon as he hit the wall, they were upon him. Another dagger dug into his left palm. A kick to his head. His heart raced and heaved. Too much. Trying to process his spatial sense and the physical attacks was confusing him.
"Enough!" He heard the shout. In that moment of a breather, he saw where the door was again. He didn't think twice. He wasn't in control of that situation at all. He ran for it. Someone grabbed at his collar, but the raggedy cloth simply tore apart. He smashed through the wooden door, nearly as easily as his clothing. The men standing guard weren't quick to react.
One, two, three jumps. he'd already made it to the exit door. The air of freedom could have put a smile on his face, but not at that moment. He could sense them rushing down the stairs as well. Out here in the open, he doubted they'd achieve much in trying to catch him.
Smashing into drunkards and running through alleys, Marlo finally felt he'd made it far enough. He'd wanted to head to their makeshift home at first. Disoriented, however, and with the fact that it was night, he was a bit lost.
He stood against a wall to catch his breath. Being stabbed, burnt, or crushed—those were Marlo's worst ways he could think of going out. He raised his left palm and felt the wound with his finger. It wasn't as deep as it should have been. Neither was the slice on his shoulder and the back of his neck. He still bled either way. He felt the pain now too.
I can't make decisions without thinking them through next time, Marlo thought back. That man's wrist had snapped like chicken bones. They overwhelmed me, however, and my spatial sense only added to the chaos.
He'd gotten scared when he felt he'd been given no choice but to follow. In truth, if the man truly was not exploiting children in any sexual manner and paid them food for work, Marlo was more than willing. If he'd asked nicely, I'd have been more than happy to oblige.
Nothing much he could do now. Unlike the priest, he felt he needed to be wary of these men. They looked the type to hold a grudge and kill you over slight disrespect. He'd snapped the hand of one. I could go back, apologize, and agree to work for pay. Then Marlo thought otherwise. There's no way a kid like me, looking like walking bones, breaks the hand of a grown man and endures the assault of four. He might have exposed himself. If he went back, they might not just employ him but fry him and eat him—if the rumors were to be believed about eating awakened flesh.
This raised another problem. Even if they were not to mind Marlo much for attacking them, they would definitely be looking for him at the thought he's awakened. Damn it! Why'd I tell myself to be cautious and then go and try to play hero?
After cursing himself, Marlo took a relaxing breath. It's not too bad. Kens might not be a big city, but it's still big enough for someone like him to hide. Or leave—what's even holding me here? He knew why he stayed.
He'd been born and raised here. His new mother died here as well. He didn't really know what he'd find if he headed north, south, or any direction. How far? Would he starve before making it? How safe? It's better the place he knew. He didn't even know the alley names, but he'd be damned if he ever managed to get lost here. It's like the map had been imprinted in the back of his mind.
Marlo reassured himself and made for his home.
The man behind the desk had stood up to shout "Enough!" after sitting and watching the altercation.
Hands on his hips, he slowly walked from behind the desk, brows furrowed. Standing in front of the door, he looked at the place Marlo had smashed through. The big man was on his left, cursing and heaving, sweat running down his forehead, grabbing the hand with the broken wrist.
"Jhiq..." one of the other men began. Jhiq turned around and silenced him with his gaze. He ran his hand through his black hair and chuckled. "This... this is truly something. You two idiots have outdone yourselves."
He turned back around to the men in the office. "Speak a word of this to anyone, and I'll have your heads." The men nodded to his almost physical air of authority.
"Canduan..." called Jhiq. He snapped his fingers at the other man as well. "The knives." He stretched out his hand and opened his palm. Canduan, the skinny man who'd sliced Marlo's shoulder and back of his neck, mumbled and squeezed his dagger a little tighter. "It's a dagger, this one... I worked a great deal to obtain it, boss."
Jhiq's eyes constricted. "Canduan. The dagger..." Canduan's shoulders fell, lips trembled, and he handed it over. The other man followed suit.
"What do you intend to do?" asked Brujo, the big man. Jhiq's corner smile returned. "I hear witches can do much with blood and organs. I'd bet they can find the boy for us."