Chapter 4

Underground Level. Where things that go bump in the night come to hide. Where vengeance makes its dirty home. Where everything and anything can take you by surprise. Earlier today I was cornered by Benny and he confessed how he wanted me to be his eyes and ears. He said this was the chance he was waiting for to take down the Dusks. The worst part? I didn't agree, but here I was doing what was asked of me. Why? Benny threatened to fire me and leave me in the streets. I can't afford that. Actually, I can't afford a thing right now.

Walking through these streets was normality. It's sad, but I've gotten used to the damp air and trashed roads. The Underground rested over the Pit. We weren't completely cut off from the sun. The sun might barely grace us with its light, but the Pit was all dark with the exception of lamp posts here and there. I've never gone down there but I've heard rumors, enough to keep me from setting foot on the remaining stairs that would take me there. Nothing good came from the mouth of those that spoke of the Pit and you never saw its residents come up to the semi-light of day. Only one. Hobs, but that's another story. There was a pounding in my chest when I walked into Benny's Cafe. I was greeted by Hobs, one of the Pit's most known criminals. He was a friend of Benny's. I noticed him from the countless times he's come to flaunt himself around. He and Benny always took to the back of the kitchen and talked for a considerably long amount of time, often in secret and hushed tones. Also, he had a thing for me. Something he was not ashamed of showing.

"Always a pleasure to lay eyes on you, Nilex," His forced tone come off raspy, as always. He reached down to grab my hand but I gave him a warning look. He should know better by now than to touch me. In defeat, he raised his hands and stepped aside to reveal the round table surrounded by middle-aged men and a hand full merely in their twenties. They waited for me, and I wished I could make the journey toward the table just a bit longer.

"Well?" Benny stood from his seat. He was no longer wearing the black stained apron that once was white. He glanced at me as if I held the answers to everything, which is what all this charade was about.

"Well?" I responded.

"Don't play games, Nilex. Tell us what you know." Benny's fist pounded on the table and it rattled, the men falling into a deafening silence.

"Nothing," I admitted.

"I told you this depended on your employment and quite frankly your life," He forced.

"I know! Benny, it's been one day. Do you really expect me to know all the secrets the Dusk have?"

"I expect you to work faster."

"If I work any faster I'll rise up suspicion"

"Mason Dusk has taken an interest in you," he said, mostly to the men around him though. "He is the key to our success."

I shut up. That was true. Mason asked me out on his own. No one forced him or persuaded him.

Benny sighed and sat back down. He scratched at his beard before looking at me through thick eyelashes. "You will have more time. I'm hoping that a month will suffice. If not? Consider yourself fired. And that means you leave Trilogy immediately."

I turned from the group of men.

"Nilex." Benny called out. "This is what we agreed on. You spy for us and you will be taken care of. I am a man of my word and I'm sure you'll want to keep yours too if you intended to keep your home and the ability to feed yourself. If you don't keep your end of the deal then... Well, you are either with us or against us."

"I take no side. I need the money and that's all."

"That's not what it will seem like to the Dusk family. I suggest you rethink where your loyalties lie. When we overthrow the Dusk family and expose them for the power hungry tyrants they are, you wouldn't want to be at wrong with us. So take the month off work with pay and focus on getting the information we need. That is all."

I was out the door as fast as I could. Hobs followed me onto the street and made the attempt of wrapping his arm around my shoulder. I slapped it away, and he let it drop with a grin across his face. It made him look his age. He wasn't young, but not old either. If anything, Hobs was in his mid-twenties, but his stern look always made him seem a lot older. It suited him most times, and then other times it only gives away the fact that he was a slimy little rat.

"Oh, Nilex. Why do you fight me?" He leaned against the lamp post and folded his arms across his chest. He was well built and broad at the shoulders. His long hair was always tied back into a ponytail. His hazel eyes were glued to me and it gave me the impression that he was doing a lot more than looking at me. The strong features he possessed were another factor that added to the much older look he had going on. Most of the time I wanted to punch him, but other times I'd like to know what it's like to be with a man like him. I always ask myself not to judge. I've never been with a man because no man has really been interested, except for Hobs. But in the end, I wouldn't let myself sink that low.

"I wasn't aware you were trying to conquer." I made my tone sound well composed and even. Only I knew that I was ready to give myself into his teasing smile.

"You dressed up for him."

"It's an act, Hobs. I need to seem convincing." A jealous Hobs. Interesting.

"Are you sure? That it's just an act?"

"I don't even know the guy."

"Attraction has nothing to do with knowing a person."

"Is that what you tell yourself?"

There was a horse laugh from his part and I shook my head when he winked at me.

"Alright. Point to you. But..." He trailed off. His index finger was suddenly under my chin and he tilts it up so I'd be staring right into his eyes. For a moment I felt paralyzed, and I thought I saw something shift in his eyes, something hungry and lustful. "One day." His voice lowered to a whisper and his face leaned in closer. "One day I shall divide and conquer." His eyes trailed down my dress. Maybe I was insane, but I could feel his eyes on my flesh, fully taking in the sight of me.

"Don't hold your breath." I realized he was aiming for my lips, so I pushed him off me as hard as I could. He didn't even stumble, but he did step away. Keeping a smile on his face, he left and disappeared back into the alley towards Benny's. I felt sick to my stomach. Lying, threatened to get fired, hit on by a scum bag I find attractive. It was no doubt this place was getting to me in more ways than one, none of them good. I would do this just to make the money I need to get the hell out of here. I've been here too long and I'm more afraid of being found than betraying anyone. Of course, if I could avoid both that would be fantastic but we all know that's the fault-full wish of a dreamer.

The migraine squeezing my brain only got worse when the manor came into view. There was a smell in the air that was terrifyingly familiar. My feet carried me to the porch. There was a note. It sat on the spot in front of the door and I snatched it from the floor. There wasn't much on it, but it was enough to paralyze me with fear. I felt like all my nightmares were unraveling. There was no room for reason in my head. It read: Nilex. Is it? See you soon.

No, you won't.

At the back of the manor, there was a garage. I kept a bag, and all the money I saved up in case of an emergency It wasn't much. Hell, it wasn't nearly enough, but I'm calling this a freaking crisis. I doubled back out of the porch and hurried towards the garage. The rusty, metal roll-up door cried as I pulled it up with all my might. It lifted out of my hands and I ducked inside and grabbed the bag. I ran without looking back. I was pushing my feet to hurry through the graveyard. Too bad for Benny and the others. They'll have to find someone else to do their dirty work. My time here is done and I'm not about to get caught because a bunch of old men and naive juveniles needed a snitch.