Preparations

When I get back to the cafe with the group of five teenager boys following, I find Kelly had also brought someone to help. It was Riley, the boy who helped me when I first arrives to this city.

"Oh, hey Estelle!"

Riley called out to me in his girlish voice, his peach hair and pink eyes only adding to his girlish look. Honestly, if someone told me he was a girl, I would believe them, not that it matters.

"Hey Riley, it's been a while. How have you been?"

"Oh you know, same old job as a servant for some fancy restaurant. You?"

"It's been the same thing everyday. Serve rowdy customers and cook food. The bath is nice though, and it isn't too stressful, so I like it here."

"That's good to hear. Who are those guys?"

"Kelly asked me to bring some men from Daniel after the Reapers threatened us."

"I see. Well, I would like to think everything will be fine, but when Reapers make a threat, they always go through with it. We should start preparing this place for battle. I've heard that the cities guards have been paid off by the Reapers, so we will be on our own for the next few days. You think we can last that long?"

"Yeah, I do. It shouldn't be too hard. After all, it's only a few idiots, what's there to be afraid of?"

"Haha! I like your optimism, but you haven't seen a gang war in this city. They can be brutal. Buildings get burned down, people get beaten, some get massacred, and it's all ignored by the guards because they get paid off. Honestly, if it weren't for the frequent gang wars, this city would be wonderful. It's too bad that the guards won't come down on the gangs."

"I see."

Man, they get that bad? Who the hell would let something like this happen for a bit of money? I hoped corruption wouldn't be as bad as it was in my old world, but if this is anything to go off of, it's just as bad, if not worse.

Why would they let their own people die, and why would the gangs go so far as to kill each other? I've seen gang wars with my own eyes in my past life because if the group of people I was involved with, but this feels like it would be a straight up war.

As my thoughts raced through my head, Kelly came out of the kitchen with a wooden box in her hands. She walked over to one of the tables and set it down. As the box landed on the table, the sound of metal clanking against mettle could be heard. A quick glance inside made it obvious what she had carried out.

"Swords? Are we really expecting this much trouble?"

"Yes, we are. Honestly, I wish I had more than I do right now because it probably won't be enough. If we have a full on gang war in our hands, things will be messy. We should prepare for the worst. Riley, since your here, I want you to shop for some wooden boards and cover the windows. You boys, I want y'all to keep a lookout and call out if you see anything suspicious at all. Estelle, you come with me."

As soon as she finished, Riley ran out the door. Three of the boys walked over to the front door to keep an eye out while the other two, including the one I had beaten up, walked towards the back door to keep a lookout. While they began to do their jobs, I followed Kelly. She led me into the backroom where our rooms were and closed the door behind us.

"I need you to listen to me. What's about to happen will not be pretty. You should expect bloodshed and a few bodies. If you're not prepared for that, I completely understand. If so, you should leave, now."

Are you serious? Why would I willingly leave this place? This place is like a dream! Food, clothing, shelter, a bath, why would I leave all of this behind?

I clenched my fists as I stared with determined eyes into Kelly's.

"I'm not going anywhere. I'll fight with you. Besides, how could I turn my back on the person who took me in?"

A small smile crept onto Kelly's face.

"Good. I appreciate you choosing to stay and fight. Well, since you're staying, you're going to help prepare as well. Understand?"

"Yes mam."

"Good. Here's what I need you to do. When Riley gets back, I want you to help him barricade the windows. Until then, prepare some food for everyone. I'm going to head out for the Reapers and see if I can't negotiate our way out of this."

"What? Are you sure that's a good idea?"

"Of course not, but this cafe means everything to me. I need to at least try. If things don't work out, I'll come back. Try and form a strategy with everyone while I'm gone, just in case."

"Okay, I understand. Be safe."

"Do you have any idea who I am. I'm Kelly, the former right hand of the Skellies. Believe me when I say I know how to fight. I'll be fine. Now, get to work."

"Yes mam."

With that, Kelly left me in the back room, making her way to the Skellies main base. I went into the kitchen and began to prepare some food. A soup should be good. I think I'll make a vegetable soup, just like I made on my first day here.