Gunner's Paradise

A Part to Play 1.2

Mathinda made changes to her clothes transforming herself back into her deceiving disguise to everyone outside a caring, loving woman. Now looking her part of a saint to many and a mother to all, she walked towards the gate with her followers trailing behind her. There she came face to face with the leader of one of the local gangs in the area his face was not unknown to her. The man’s name was Lashley. He was on the top of her reports however this was the first time seeing him in person. To Mathinda, he was an i***t that was unable to think beyond the picture; more or less, he was just slightly a bit above the others in this city. The other man of note was Alexander but she wasn’t too sure in the group who he was.

 She regarded Lashley as she drew nearer. He was a tall muscular man with broad shoulders. His skin was dark with a bald head and silver eyes. The clothes he wore were the standard White Fist uniform; it was just of higher quality. She observed the fatigues with a white jacket and the standard stripes at the side. Two other men stood on both sides of him and looked like dwarfs in comparison with less than flashy clothing.

Mathinda took a deep breath and reflected on the information she had on this man. She knew he was a hot head and quick to make irrational decisions. The fact that the school was neutral grounds was also a degree of content for him but for now. He wouldn’t be able to do anything without creating problems with the other two gangs.

They were many men stationed behind them and weren't afraid to show that they were all visibly armed. She looked at them all unconcerned as she approached with her followers unarmed.

"Well, well," Lashley addressed her, "I didn't expect to see much of a leader here, call me surprised. I am going to make this short, we are looking for a girl and we are paying for her return; one hundred thousand dollars for her safety. This is what she looks like." He pulled out a photo and held it up towards Mathinda. His gaze then fell upon her followers in the back.

Mathinda was irritated at the tone and the lack of introduction but tried to not pay it mind. Would any of them fall for this pathetic level of money? Mathinda could not rule it out even though she had not seen the girl before. People were fickle and even with their own beliefs, fools were still fools.

She took the photo. "I haven't seen her here before but if she should ever arrive, I will inform you of this although grateful for informing us about the reward. There is no need for money, we hold a very neutral policy here and all we care to do is to help those who are in need."

Lashley touched his chin as he regarded her. “ Keep the picture if she does come here please feel free to contact us and let us know," he said, "you know where to find us." He turned to one of his men first and whispered something before walking away. He was followed by his men trailing along slowly while still keep watching of them for any sudden moves.

Mathinda was about to leave when she heard his final remark.

“I wouldn’t like to come back and torch the place for a lie if the girl was here. It would be a shame.”

Many of the homeless had gathered around to hear the exchange. They saw her as their light in the dark and seeing someone threaten her made them angry.

She looked at their faces before speaking to them. "Friends, although we have kept to ourselves, the outside gangs merely register us as nothing more than pushovers. That they can do what they feel they can with us. We don't bear ill will; We only come to help and provide a home for those that do not have. Yet our members, especially our new members, disappear suddenly out of the blue. The time is coming soon my children that we must make a choice. I hoped it never reach that day, but it slips out of my hand and I will do everything I can to protect you."

They took her words to heart and cheered in response. Every one of them were nothing more than sacrificial pawns to further her agenda, Mathinda thought.

Mathinda didn't like the idea of being intimidated; it irritated her and money had no use to her god. The only thing that mattered was strife and anarchy which she created here as she walked back into the school. She glanced a fight breaking out between the homeless over scraps of food, the fight between the two men attracted others who joined in to just get a piece of the scraps that had fallen on the ground. Whatever, she thought, this is how it was supposed to be, and this is where she felt most alive. It didn't take long before one of the homeless men was dead and her people were dragging the dead away. She smiled to herself soon she would make the entire city like this to play with.

Still, she thought, they are many gangs here, and to ignore them as a threat would be foolish. Where did they get that level of money from...? Something felt off. Was information being withheld from her? Maybe this was a spark she could use to exploit to further her gain.

She would pass the picture around the school to help find this girl and offer a reward. If anyone saw anything they would receive her gratitude and just enough scraps for her to be entertained. She smiled deviously to herself. "Yes," she said out loud, “That should do just lovely.”

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"That was quite an intimidating performance,” Alexander said to Lashley as they walked towards the cars.

"I don't trust her," Lashley said to Alexander in return, "She must be hiding something."

"Why do you say that sir we did offer a lot of money that should be enough to turn some results?" Alexander asked.

"Her eyes Alexander, they told me a lot about her. She is not one to be trusted. Have some of our men infiltrate and pose within that school as homeless. Then let's see if we can find anything ourselves rather than waiting on her. I would more enjoy keeping all the money to the gang than to share with someone that may end up strangling me when I sleep," Lashley said.

“I agree, she does strike me as a bit odd and as you wish sir. I will get some of our boys to infiltrate the school as soon as possible," Alexander responded.

"Good, Alexander let's head back," Lashley said.

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Henry watched her return from the second-floor balcony with a smile on his face. "Now things should start to get more interesting," he said. "I grow tired of groveling in this dirt and wearing these rags while I bow to your whim.”

"You should be careful with your ambitions, Henry," said Karla it might get you killed.

"How did you... never mind it seems that you have discovered it was me?" Henry responded, his hand reached towards the knife by his side. "What will you do now?"

"Whatever do you mean; I am just advising a dear friend," Karla responded.

 “Would you support me in my bid to take over the council?”

She smiled as his hand eased and walked away from him.

“I prefer to stay silent Henry and observe. Good luck to you but if I noticed this the others might be able to.”

Henry looked down at the people passing down below. It was a dangerous game he thought.

A spider caught his eye as it passed by his hand while he was still leaning on the balcony, making him shake his hand and stepped back in response.

"I really hate those things," he said as he left the balcony.