Chapter Twelve.

Hey everyone, sorry for the late update!

I have a bit of info, that will help you better understand all things Ecrea.

Because Ecrea is futuristic, things like pockets and portals exist for everyday use. Also a pocket isn't like your Jean pocket it's a small device that is implanted in your wrist that appears as a projection screen.

If you want to know more about Ecrea or are still super confused you can ask in the comments.

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The moment I stepped on Medeis sand, there was something in the air I couldn't place. The rushing of waves bowing to the shore filled my ears. When the portal closed behind us, I realized what it was in the air that worried me.

"We should head to the suspected bar first." I pointed out.

The rain was softly pummeling down as we walked off the beach and through the city. The sky was dimly lit with electricity, which is unusual for Medeis weather.

As we approached the bar, we passed by a dark alleyway. A dark van was parked as two people were being loaded in. They looked unconscious while being thrown into the back of the hover van.

"Hey, Lilith. Look." I nudged Lilith, getting her attention. "I don't think that's normal, do you?"

We both turn on our ability amplifiers and start walking down the aisle.

"Hey! What's going on over there?" Lilith shouts.

The man loading them into the van quickly swivels his head in our direction. Jumping from out of the back, he shuts the door. "Uh, you know the usual drank too much situation. I'm just getting them back home. We do that here." He shrugs nonchalantly, but his shoulders are tense.

"Oh really, is that it? How nice of you. You don't mind if we take a look around- Hey!"

The man dashes away to the front of the van and jumps inside. The van starts to move and we're running after it, but it speeds up to fast to follow. The whole thing happening way too quickly.

"Well at least I got the van ID." Lilith shrugs with a mischievous grin.

"Have I told you how much I love that brain of yours?"

"Only a million times, but I wouldn't mind to here it again." She smiles. "In all seriousness though, what do you think we should do?"

"I was thinking, you go into the bar and ask around about the van or some missing suspicious people. I'll go to track the van down."

"Yeah, that sounds good but be careful, alright? Something doesn't feel right here, especially after what just happened. We should regroup after a few days in Draçon." We hug it out, and I leave her with a kiss to remember me by.

"Don't you dare go all wild assassin without me okay? If you get hurt, I'll be so pissed." Her smile tells me she completely understands.

"Ditto. I don't want to see a scratch on you, except for the ones I've already seen." She winks. "The van tag should already be on your holo pocket, but just in case you lose it I updated it earlier so that you can still see its last location."

With one last kiss, she brushes off my shoulders and holds my face in her hands.

"Let's find this son of a bitch." Her lavender eyes peer into mine with determination and worry.

"Let's find this son of a bitch." I gently tap her nose, and nod, smiling through my own anxiety.

And with that I open a portal, using the van ID Lilith inputs for me.

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Lilith

I walk out of the alley and into the bar on the right, making sure to get a full scope of any targets.

Heads turn as the door closes, and not in a good way. The feeling that I'm not welcome here is definitely there.

"Hi there, first time in Medeis?" The bartender questions.

She smiles a little bit too wide, her red hair popping out in contrast to the lighting of the dim room. The freckles on her face, and brown eyes seem to be tense. She looks shaken up, almost scared.

I take a seat at the bar, since it's the only place that looks like I won't be viciously murdered. "Yes, actually. You know, this place has the most beautiful climate in all of Ecrea." I respond. "I'm looking for some people, you think you could help me out?" I ask politely.

"Sure thing, what they look like?" She leans forward on the bar.

I project the two images of the two missing individuals.

"Their names are Adria, and Jasper. One of them is apart of a dangerous gang. Have you seen them around?" The second the two images are projected her face went blank. Way too blank for someone who didn't know anything.

Everyone in the bar as well, got slightly quieter. To the untrained senses, it would've all seemed completely ordinary however, the bars lowered volume as well as her tell told me how all of them knew something.

Something was definitely off here.

The bartender shook her head at the images before flashing a smile and going back to work.

"Can you tell me a little about some of those vans?" I ask instead.

She looks up and at first seems confused. "Oh, you mean our hover vans? We use those to transport people who have had a little too much to drink."

Something about that answer doesn't sit right with me. It's almost as though the entire bar is front for something.

"Wow, what a considerate thing to do. Well thank you for your answers, I'll be on my way now."

The downpour outside has stopped, and the sky that was, just moments ago, gloomy and cloudy is now clear.

A tall building catches my eye, it stands at the end of the street to my right. It's vertical sign on its left, in bold red.

Inside, it was spotless. The lobby was buzzing with customers and employees alike. There were small shops that sold drinks, clothes, and tech. Four portals and two large stairways led I'm guessing to the rooms, bitch they were past a wide desk that sat at least eight spread out desk accountants. In order to pass you had to have an input downloaded into your pocket.

I approached the wide desk, narrowly missing a flying object that a kid controlled.

I chose to speak with the last one, closest to the left stairway.

"Hello, and welcome to The Silver Phoenix Inn, what can I do for you today?" She smiled brightly.

"I would like one room please. Also have you seen these two individuals by any chance?" I projected the photos from my pocket again.

"I don't recognize the man, but the woman has been here before yes. I think her name was Adria? No last name." She starts to flip through the computer screen. "Here she is, she didn't pay for the privacy plan so her info is public, but because I didn't ring her up I don't have access to her info. All I can see is her name, it says here Margarie did though, so you can ask her."

"Where is Margarie?"

"She's on drone duty today, so she'll be on the eighteenth floor. Did you still want the single room, honey?" I nod, opening my pocket up to pay. "Okay, was that just a single room no amenities? The basic plan or the private one?"

"I'll take the private plan." My pocket bings with the purchase and I walk past the desk and clear myself with my input.

I type into the keypad next to the portal the eighteenth floor and enter.