On a sparrow's wings

Chapter 10 - A wicked smile

  They were at the entrance of a huge bunker, hidden within the subway. The first room they came across was a huge corridor that was as long as an entire train. There were rooms to the sides and stalls inside them. Is everybody a merchant in this city? Every merchant used a room to store the items they sold. It was crowded from wall to wall with people. So much so that Anastasia couldn’t see the end of the corridor. The items seemed different from up top, like their only purpose was to kill. And the people who bought them were okay with that and bought them exactly for that reason.

  The air was so thick and heavy that there was a tiny mist forming on the floor. She could barely breathe through the cigarette smoke and smell of cheap liquor. The people pulled and shoved each other trying to get in front of each other in line. A few jackets moved and Anastasia saw the people carrying guns of all kinds even automatic ones which weren’t allowed in the city.

  Everyone seemed to be on the verge of shooting someone. The screaming was so thick in the air that Anastasia could barely think. A few punches flew and a few people flew back and hit someone, which inspired them to hit someone else. The guards didn’t do anything they just watched as circles formed and men fought inside them. Anastasia could even see some people bet on who would beat who.

  “What is this place?”, Anastasia asked Michael.

“A shithole. Let’s go.”, Michael made his way through the crowd, he move faster than usual.

Anastasia followed the line that Michael was creating by pushing people aside. A few turned around but quickly averted their eyes when they saw who pulled them.

Michael and Anastasia made it to a stall on the other end of the room. Michael pulled the other people out of the line, not giving them and explanation when they asked.

  He came up to the merchant who had a toothy smile on his face until he saw who it was, “Holy s**t! You are still alive!”, the merchant slightly shuttered back.

“The package?”, Michael was tapping the stall with his fingers and looking around himself.

“Yeah of course. I got it right here.”, the merchant quickly and clumsily move a few items from the Ilves behind him, knocking a few of but seems to be more concerned with Michael’s package. He picked it up from behind and placed it in front of Michael, “Finding a jeweler was a pain in the ass but it turned out good enough I think.”

Michael grabbed the package and put it in the inside pocket of his jacket, swiftly as he looked around.

“I gotta ask-”, but before the merchant could finish Michael had already turned around and was heading out when.

  Michael was stopped in his tracks by two men. The one that had his hand on Michael’s chest was as tall as him and was visibly strong, with broad shoulders and big arms. He was bald and beardless. His face was long and broad. A big toothy smile was on his face showing he was missing a few teeth and his nose and ears were broken.

“Hiyah Mickey! Oh you weren’t leaving, were you? The boss wants to see you. And sadly for you Devin isn’t here to save your ass this time.”, his voice was rough, like he had been smoking all his life.

“Lead the f*****g way Aj.”, Michael sighed.

Aj let go of Michael’s chest and headed to the end of the corridor. They went through a door and up some stairs and through another door, a left, right and through another door.

  They ended up inside an office that had a glass wall that looked towards the corridor from above, there was a man looking out of it. The office had all kinds of things littering the walls, Ilves and the desk. There were many paintings and skulls all around. Mostly animal skulls, like deer and pig but a few ones of greys as well were placed on the Ilves. The room had five different carpets on the floor, three were red, two orange. They had different design and size which made for a weird look. The room didn’t have the thick smell of the corridor, it smelt tropical, almost like a pineapple.

  The thugs went next to the man and Aj whispered something in his ear. The man quickly spun around. He had short hair with a fade and a beard trimmed short. He was dressed stylishly and he had his legs crossed in the chair. He had small eyes that looked Michael over before he threw him a huge smile.

  “Michael! It’s so good to see you! Come take a sit.”, the man pointed towards the two chairs in front of his desk as he took a sit.

Michael ignored him as he crossed his arms and looked at him sternly.

“Still the same old brooding Michael huh? Do you like my new office?”, he spun in his chair, “A lot of things changed while you were gone. With Devin’s… unfortunate and unexpected demise and all. A terrible accident, but the service was quite the event, although the food could have used some more work. Did your invitation get lost in the mail? Those pesky mail men, can’t deliver a simple letter right. I specifically reserved a very special seat just for you. You were very much missed there.”, he turned to Anastasia, his dark eyes creeped out Anastasia as they laid on top of her, piercing and analysing, “And who is this tasty little morsel?”. He got up and quickly walked to Anastasia. He was shorter than Anastasia thought, half a head shorter than her. “I think introductions are in order. I am Victor the lead of this here fine establishment. And you young lady are?”

“Anastasia.”

“Anastasia. Such a lovely proud name, you know there once was a french queen that was named Anastasia. I knew an Anastasia once I-”

“Victor. Enough chatting.”, Michael cut in. If he hadn’t Victor might have gone on for a while.

Victor turned and hopped over to Michael, “Still all business I see. I always liked that in you. Always… ops here I go again. Excuse the chatting, I am a very interested men and you here are very interesting people..”, Victor went over to his desk and sat in his lavish chair.

Michael still refused to sit.

“Well Michael won’t sit down that’s obvious, but what about you young Anastasia, would you like a seat? You seem like you could use a warm seat right about. And as it happens I happen have one right here.”

Anastasia mimicked Michael and stood quiet.

“Like father like son. Or like father like daughter is more befitting. Interesting, I never received an invitation to the baby shower Michael. Are we not friends? And I haven’t been introduced to your wife, if we weren’t such great friends I’d honestly be insulted.”

Anastasia almost gasped out loud. What? How does he know we’ve only told two people?

“What do you want Victor?”, Michael rumbled under his thick grey beard.

Victor slammed his hand on his desk, “What I want is for you to pay back the debt you owe me!”, Victor snapped at Victor, pointing his finger at Michael, his eyes blood red. He quickly adjusts himself and smiled once again,”But how do we do that? Paying me in cigarettes is too… boring, mundane, unoriginal. And I don’t want the reputation of an unoriginal man. Let me think for a second, I am sure I’ll think of something more inspired.”, Victor spun his chair around, put his hands together, consumed in thought.

Michael and Anastasia exchanged a few awkward glances.

  After a few moments Victor quickly spun his chair back around and placed his hands on the desk, stretched out, “Well I can’t think of anything at the moment. Inspiration seems to be avoiding me, so you will go collect some loans I’ve given out, I guess. Aj will see that there are no… complications.”

Aj steped up smirking under his crooked and broken nose.

“I don’t need a babysitter.”

“Babysitter!”, Victor laughed and he snapped his eyes blood red again, “You forget who holds your leash Michael. If you aren’t careful I might pull a little too hard and your head might make its way right there on my shelf... And who knows, maybe young Anastasia would like a shiny new collar around her pretty little neck as well. A few good ones have gone…  unused of recent.”, his smile appeared on his face again turned his chair back around and waves them out.

That send shivers down Anastasia’s spine and goose pimples on her arms. What has Michael gotten himself into?

  They exit out of the black market and into the dark tunnel. Aj was following after them. They turned on their flashlight and made their way through the dark and cold train tunnel. After a few moments Anastasia decided to ask Michael, “So who is this guy Victor?”

“A powerful little shit.”

Aj didn’t seem to care what they were talking about. He was too busy slashing the air with his knife.

“But there is more to that. What do you owe him for?”

“None of your business.”

“Don’t you think I deserve to know. I mean I am helping you do this.”

“You are?”, Michael threw her a glance.

“Well of course! We are a team now.”, Anastasia nudeged at his side with his elbow.

“Yeah… a team.”, Michael thought for a moment and sighed, “Fine. I had Victor find something out for me. That’s all you are getting.”

“Come on! You can tell me more.”

“Quit while you're ahead, kid.”, Michael quicked his step to the light of the derailed train.