To call Oliver’s home a house was a bit of an understatement. It stood three stories high, with a beautiful Victorian styling, accented with gold griffins all over. It was more of a chateau or a manor.
When Emma pulled into the parking lot of a drive-way, looking quite out of place in the raggedy 1996 Jeep, her and Lucas were swiftly greeted. A balding mustached man, followed by 3 armed guards, stood in front of the Jeep wearing a broad smile. The armed guards opened the Jeep doors and forcefully removed Lucas and Emma.The balding mustached man was wearing a shining black tuxedo, with polished white dress shoes that shone like the sun. His cologne was almost as bad as Benny’s, although it seemed to be masking alcohol rather than garbage. Despite the alcoholic fumes radiating off of him, he walked perfectly without stumbling, even evoking power with each step. He said nothing but looked at Lucas and Emma who were being held by the guards.“Hey man, if you know who I am you’d try to save your job right now.” Lucas said calmly. The balding mustached man glanced at Lucas, then walked towards Emma. He pushed her hair behind her ear and still said nothing.“Benson! I told you who was coming this morning did I not?” A powerful voice rang through the drive-way. The balding mustached man, Benson, looked away from Emma towards the house. He took a step back.“My apologies sir. They arrived in a suspicious vehicle. Release our guests now men.” Benson spoke unapologetically. The guards released Lucas and Emma. Within the instant he was released, Lucas removed his glock and shot Benson in the forehead. Blood splattered across the passenger side of the Jeep and pooled around the remainder of Benson’s head on the driveway.Lucas looked towards the house and shouted, “He touched Emma! I warned him who I was!” before replacing the pistol to his waist band. The guards seemed slightly confused but made no movements.Oliver walked slowly from the house to the center of the drive way, smiling. He was quite young in the face, with unkept hair. He wore a puffy bath robe and a pair of Gucci slippers. At first glance you’d assume him to be the son of the owner of this home, however looking closer, Oliver expelled signs of wealth in every action.“I told him who you were too. Apparently my description wasn’t clear enough, otherwise he would have known. Eh I never liked him anyways. He thought he was running things, I swear it’s so hard to find a good butler these days.” Oliver said understandingly.“Will you be inviting us in Olly?” Emma asked.Oliver smirked, “please, right this way. Manny please clean up Benson’s mess.” He led Lucas and Emma into the house as the guards began disposing of the body in the drive-way.Oliver’s large house felt very small upon entering it. It was filled with countless statues and paintings lining the walls. Everywhere else was occupied by half naked people dancing together to music that apparently only they could hear, as no music was playing. Oliver led Lucas and Emma up stairs to a room filled only with a long table and surrounding chairs.The conference room smelled like a mixture of body odor, urine, and burnt flowers. It was colder than the rest of the house, partly due to the lack of half nude people here. The windows all had their drapes pulled most of the way shut, giving the room hardly any ambient light. Oliver slowly opened each drape, brightening the room immensely. He then made his way to the end of the long table, gestured for Lucas and Emma to sit, then took a seat for himself. He was smiling at them with a twinkle in his eye.“Ya-ya’s shop got a little hot. Apparently the fire department’s working on putting out the flames now, no one knows if Ya-ya was in there. If you ask me, I hope he was.” Oliver stated, still smiling with that twinkle. Lucas shifted in his seat but kept his same face. Emma was unreadable. “He was there.” Lucas said coldly.“Ah, that’s right. You did say you were going there this morning didn’t you! Well, you did a good thing. A stupid thing, but good.” Oliver repli
“Heroin!” Emma shouted. “He couldn’t have started us with weed?”“You need to stop watching the history channel, weeds been legal for decades, there’s no market in it.” Lucas responded, trying to remain calm for Emma’s sake. He didn’t look at her though, he feared she would sense his anxiety. “Oliver gave us Elijah’s contacts, so we’ll start there.”“What then Luke?” She responded, “exchange the profits for products and do it again? It’ll never end that way.” He didn’t know what to say, she was right. Now that this door was open, it would never shut without force. Either he could shut it, or wait for Oliver to. The latter wasn’t much of an option seeing as how it ended for Elijah. “Well we need to start somewhere, I’ll call some of the contacts.” He said with his false confidence back in place. He went into his bedroom and tapped the corner of his dresser. A holo-phone appeared and he began reviewing the contact list Oliver had given him. None of the contacts had r
When Lucas wakes in the alley beside the tunnel, all he can think about is getting back to Emma. He gathers his bearings looking around the interior of his car. Everything was in place, as if nothing had happened, except Lucas was now unarmed. He started his car and drove as fast as he could back home. Nearly missing several other vehicles, he made it home much quicker than he should have. Sprinting through the doorway to the lobby, straight through Ernest’s digital body, past the elevator, and up the stairwell as fast as his legs would take him. When he finally made it to his apartment he burst through the door. Emma was fast asleep on the sofa with the holo-vision still playing. She woke at the sound of the door being thrust open so violently and looked at Lucas. Worry was spread across her face like it were sunscreen. She began to shout at Lucas.“Where in the hell have you been? You run out of here without saying a word, after we get some of the worst news we
Emma woke to the smell of bacon and eggs. The bed was warm and she didn’t want to get up, but the smell was so alluring, and she knew they had to meet with the group of contacts soon.She rose herself out of bed and made her way to the kitchen, following the delicious scent all the way. She couldn’t believe her eyes, Lucas must have been up all night making this. There was a stack of pancakes, plate full of waffles, scrambled eggs, over-easy eggs, a mound of sausages, pile of bacon, pork chops, steaks, biscuits and gravy, and a large pot of coffee. “What the hell?” Emma asked with a large smile on her face. Lucas poured a cup of coffee for her and placed it in front of her.“I couldn’t sleep, and I think better when I’m cooking. Plus we could use a home cooked meal before things get even crazier.” He said. “I’m starving, but we’ll never be able to eat all this. Whatever your thinking about must have been complicated.” She said, filling a plate w
Macy’s boulevard wasn’t a long distance from Lucas’ apartment, so he and Emma walked to the meet place. When they had arrived they discovered it was just an ordinary office suite, tucked between other office suites. When they entered the building they were greeted by yet another rendition of Ernest the door man. This time around he seemed to have a bit more responsibility as he worked the reception desk of this office. “Welcome to Becker’s accounting firm, do you have an appointment with us today?” Ernest asked politely when Lucas and Emma entered. “Yes sir,” Emma responded, “Eva and Lubert here to see Ms. Coldwell.” “Very well, please make yourselves comfortable, Eva and Lubert.” Ernest said before vanishing completely.Several moments later a middle aged woman in a pan suit emerged from the hallway in the back. She had brown hair, starting to show signs of greying, pinned up professionally. She wore a professional pan suit and a set of elegan
It was dark and still when Lucas woke in his bedroom. The covers were like warm clouds, and he was engulfed. He didn’t want to get out of bed, but knew that he had quite the day ahead of him. After a few minutes of debating with himself, Lucas rose from his bed with the covers still wrapped around him and walked over to the window. This was a moment he wanted to soak in. He absorbed the chill radiating from the hard floor, and allowed the warmth of the covers to spread through his body. The sun was starting to peak up from the horizon, and the smell of coffee was looming from the automatic coffee maker in the kitchen. Lucas particularly enjoys sun rises more than sun sets, he believes the beginning is more beautiful than the end, filled with possibility.This moment could last forever if it were up to Lucas, but time continues as it always has and always will, and the moment was interrupted by a loud buzzing. He threw his blanket back on the bed and made his way to the holo
“Now arriving at ‘Ya-ya’s Chop’s’ chop shop and mechanical repair. Operator, how would you like me to finalize this journey?” asked the vehicle. “Drop us up front, then pull into the shops loading stall.” replied Lucas. The G Wagon pulled in front of the shop and stopped directly in front of the entrance. Lucas got out first and made his way around the vehicle to open Emma’s door. Once Emma and Lucas were out of the vehicle and a safe distance away it drove off, turning towards the garage. Elijah’s shop wasn’t too far from Lucas’ apartment. It was small, with a minuscule parking lot, no lights, and no signs. The windows were lined with dust as old as the rest of the building, and the building looked on the verge of collapse. No customers ever came here, only business men and women looking to offload others assets. Lucas was one of these businessmen. As Lucas and Emma neared the door they were greeted again by Ernest, the virtual door man. “A g
Macy’s boulevard wasn’t a long distance from Lucas’ apartment, so he and Emma walked to the meet place. When they had arrived they discovered it was just an ordinary office suite, tucked between other office suites. When they entered the building they were greeted by yet another rendition of Ernest the door man. This time around he seemed to have a bit more responsibility as he worked the reception desk of this office. “Welcome to Becker’s accounting firm, do you have an appointment with us today?” Ernest asked politely when Lucas and Emma entered. “Yes sir,” Emma responded, “Eva and Lubert here to see Ms. Coldwell.” “Very well, please make yourselves comfortable, Eva and Lubert.” Ernest said before vanishing completely.Several moments later a middle aged woman in a pan suit emerged from the hallway in the back. She had brown hair, starting to show signs of greying, pinned up professionally. She wore a professional pan suit and a set of elegan
Emma woke to the smell of bacon and eggs. The bed was warm and she didn’t want to get up, but the smell was so alluring, and she knew they had to meet with the group of contacts soon.She rose herself out of bed and made her way to the kitchen, following the delicious scent all the way. She couldn’t believe her eyes, Lucas must have been up all night making this. There was a stack of pancakes, plate full of waffles, scrambled eggs, over-easy eggs, a mound of sausages, pile of bacon, pork chops, steaks, biscuits and gravy, and a large pot of coffee. “What the hell?” Emma asked with a large smile on her face. Lucas poured a cup of coffee for her and placed it in front of her.“I couldn’t sleep, and I think better when I’m cooking. Plus we could use a home cooked meal before things get even crazier.” He said. “I’m starving, but we’ll never be able to eat all this. Whatever your thinking about must have been complicated.” She said, filling a plate w
When Lucas wakes in the alley beside the tunnel, all he can think about is getting back to Emma. He gathers his bearings looking around the interior of his car. Everything was in place, as if nothing had happened, except Lucas was now unarmed. He started his car and drove as fast as he could back home. Nearly missing several other vehicles, he made it home much quicker than he should have. Sprinting through the doorway to the lobby, straight through Ernest’s digital body, past the elevator, and up the stairwell as fast as his legs would take him. When he finally made it to his apartment he burst through the door. Emma was fast asleep on the sofa with the holo-vision still playing. She woke at the sound of the door being thrust open so violently and looked at Lucas. Worry was spread across her face like it were sunscreen. She began to shout at Lucas.“Where in the hell have you been? You run out of here without saying a word, after we get some of the worst news we
“Heroin!” Emma shouted. “He couldn’t have started us with weed?”“You need to stop watching the history channel, weeds been legal for decades, there’s no market in it.” Lucas responded, trying to remain calm for Emma’s sake. He didn’t look at her though, he feared she would sense his anxiety. “Oliver gave us Elijah’s contacts, so we’ll start there.”“What then Luke?” She responded, “exchange the profits for products and do it again? It’ll never end that way.” He didn’t know what to say, she was right. Now that this door was open, it would never shut without force. Either he could shut it, or wait for Oliver to. The latter wasn’t much of an option seeing as how it ended for Elijah. “Well we need to start somewhere, I’ll call some of the contacts.” He said with his false confidence back in place. He went into his bedroom and tapped the corner of his dresser. A holo-phone appeared and he began reviewing the contact list Oliver had given him. None of the contacts had r
The conference room smelled like a mixture of body odor, urine, and burnt flowers. It was colder than the rest of the house, partly due to the lack of half nude people here. The windows all had their drapes pulled most of the way shut, giving the room hardly any ambient light. Oliver slowly opened each drape, brightening the room immensely. He then made his way to the end of the long table, gestured for Lucas and Emma to sit, then took a seat for himself. He was smiling at them with a twinkle in his eye.“Ya-ya’s shop got a little hot. Apparently the fire department’s working on putting out the flames now, no one knows if Ya-ya was in there. If you ask me, I hope he was.” Oliver stated, still smiling with that twinkle. Lucas shifted in his seat but kept his same face. Emma was unreadable. “He was there.” Lucas said coldly.“Ah, that’s right. You did say you were going there this morning didn’t you! Well, you did a good thing. A stupid thing, but good.” Oliver repli
To call Oliver’s home a house was a bit of an understatement. It stood three stories high, with a beautiful Victorian styling, accented with gold griffins all over. It was more of a chateau or a manor.When Emma pulled into the parking lot of a drive-way, looking quite out of place in the raggedy 1996 Jeep, her and Lucas were swiftly greeted. A balding mustached man, followed by 3 armed guards, stood in front of the Jeep wearing a broad smile. The armed guards opened the Jeep doors and forcefully removed Lucas and Emma. The balding mustached man was wearing a shining black tuxedo, with polished white dress shoes that shone like the sun. His cologne was almost as bad as Benny’s, although it seemed to be masking alcohol rather than garbage. Despite the alcoholic fumes radiating off of him, he walked perfectly without stumbling, even evoking power with each step. He said nothing but looked at Lucas and Emma who were being held by the guards.“Hey man, if you
“Now arriving at ‘Ya-ya’s Chop’s’ chop shop and mechanical repair. Operator, how would you like me to finalize this journey?” asked the vehicle. “Drop us up front, then pull into the shops loading stall.” replied Lucas. The G Wagon pulled in front of the shop and stopped directly in front of the entrance. Lucas got out first and made his way around the vehicle to open Emma’s door. Once Emma and Lucas were out of the vehicle and a safe distance away it drove off, turning towards the garage. Elijah’s shop wasn’t too far from Lucas’ apartment. It was small, with a minuscule parking lot, no lights, and no signs. The windows were lined with dust as old as the rest of the building, and the building looked on the verge of collapse. No customers ever came here, only business men and women looking to offload others assets. Lucas was one of these businessmen. As Lucas and Emma neared the door they were greeted again by Ernest, the virtual door man. “A g
It was dark and still when Lucas woke in his bedroom. The covers were like warm clouds, and he was engulfed. He didn’t want to get out of bed, but knew that he had quite the day ahead of him. After a few minutes of debating with himself, Lucas rose from his bed with the covers still wrapped around him and walked over to the window. This was a moment he wanted to soak in. He absorbed the chill radiating from the hard floor, and allowed the warmth of the covers to spread through his body. The sun was starting to peak up from the horizon, and the smell of coffee was looming from the automatic coffee maker in the kitchen. Lucas particularly enjoys sun rises more than sun sets, he believes the beginning is more beautiful than the end, filled with possibility.This moment could last forever if it were up to Lucas, but time continues as it always has and always will, and the moment was interrupted by a loud buzzing. He threw his blanket back on the bed and made his way to the holo