Rimora pt. II

Drake Firas was sitting in his apartment complex on Southward Boulevard, beads of sweat were dripping from his forehead. He placed his two hands on the coffee table in front of him, and a dim blue light emitted from the surface. Drake lifted his hands and a screen appeared before his face. He swiped his hands across the screen, and a list of locations appeared. He looked to the packed suitcase, that was set up at the door. His apartment was nearly cleared out. He had a manipulator that was attached to the back of his head, and ran down his spine.

“What am I doing?” he said to himself. He swiped one of the names on the screen, and closed it. Drake stood up, and walked toward the door to grab his suitcase. He took one last look at the apartment, and left. Drake walked outside, and headed down to the closest bus stop. The streetlights lit the sidewalk as he approached the stop. He sat down on the bench that was there, and felt the cold metal against his back. The hairs on the back of his neck began to stand up. He waited at the stop until a blue bus drove up. The bus had rust and a few dents in it. The doors swung open, and Drake stepped on.

The bus only had two other passengers; Two men who were sitting on the far end of the bus. Drake walked down the aisle, placed his luggage overhead, and took a seat next to the emergency exit. The bus closed its doors, and began to move. Drake looked in the bus driver’s rearview mirror, and examined the two men sitting in the back. His foot started to tap on the hard floor of the bus. The bus began to gain speed as it rode through the city. Drake noticed that it was bound to run straight into the building at the end of the street.

“What’s going on?” Drake said.

The bus gained more and more speed as it approached the building, the wall dematerialized, and the bus drove through, as if the building wasn’t there. The bus came to an abrupt stop. Drake turned and looked out the window. He was no longer in the city. He stood up and walked toward the doors. The doors swung open, and Drake stepped out. He looked around the room, and saw a woman sitting on an arm chair with a cup of hot tea in her hand. She was wearing a fitted black jacket, and a pair of black pants. Her blonde hair draped over her shoulder. Drake felt a push on his back, and he stumbled out of the bus. The two men on the bus, stepped out from behind him.

“Ah, Mr. Firas, I’m glad you could make it.” The woman said.

“Where am I?” Drake said.

“Why don’t you sit down?” She said

“I’m fine standing.”

“Nonsense, not while you’re my guest.”

Drake looked around, and took a seat on the couch across from the woman. “Who are you?” he said. “And where am I?”

“Oh, how rude of me, my name is Raina Aldrich.” She said “And these are my associates; Garret and Turin Burge.” Garret and Turin were twin brothers. Garret’s black hair came down to his shoulders, his pointed ears jetting out from his locks. He wore a brown leather jacket, with a red patch on the shoulder, and black jeans that were ripped at the thighs. Turin was wearing a black beanie, just above his ears. He had a scar across his face. He sported a black long-sleeve shirt with a grey vest jacket. They both stood behind Aldrich. Turin leaned against the back of the armchair, with his arm hanging over, While Garret stood with his arms folded across his chest.

“And where am I?” Drake said.

“We’ll get to that.” Turin said.

“Patience.” Garret said.

“You see Drake; we know a bit about you.” Raina said.

“Like what?” Drake said.

“Well, we know that you’re running.” Raina said

“And we know what you’re running from.” Turin said

Drake’s eyes widened. His grip tightened on the chair. His foot began to tap against the hardwood floor. “What do you want?” He said.

“We work with a group of people, who are wanting to spark a revolution.” Raina said.

Drake pulled out a pack of cigarettes, with some matches from his back pocket. He pulled out a cigarette from the pack, and stuck it between his lips. He pulled a match from the box, and struck it against the bottom of his black combat boots. “A revolution?” He said, as he wiped the sweat from his palms.

“That’s right. We want to change this city.” Raina said. “And we want to extend an invitation to you Drake.”

Drake’s foot stopped tapping, and he took a drag from his cigarette. “An invitation? Why?”

Raina stood up from her chair. “ Oh, we could use your talents Drake.”

“Why should I join you?” Drake said. He took another drag from his half-finished cigarette.

“Well for starters, you would have a place to run to. Our leader would accept you with open arms. Something you wouldn’t get any place else, considering your background. Also, we have living facilities we will be able to provide you with. Not to mention a chance to change history Drake. You would get to be a part of that.”

Drake finished his cigarette, put it out on the bottom of his boot, and looked around the room for a place to dispose of it. Turin picked up an ash tray off the end table next to the arm chair, and held it in front of Drake.

“Thanks.” Drake said. He looked down to see the ash he had been flicking on the floor. “Look, this is all pretty sudden, and honestly it doesn’t sound real.”

“Well, I understand the concern Drake, and you don’t have to answer right away.” Raina said. “You don’t even have to say yes. This has to be your choice, and no one can make it for you.”

Drake rubbed the bridge on his nose, and then ran his fingers through his red wavy hair. “I think I need to go.” He said.

“Of course.” Raina said.

The doors of the bus re-opened, and Drake made his way to the bus. He stepped on the bus, and looked back at the three standing there.

“Oh and Drake, we know where to find ya.” Turin said.

The doors closed, and Drake walked up the steps and took a seat in the first seat he saw. The bus started up, and soon Drake was on his way back to his empty apartment. When Drake got there he left his suitcase at the door, laid on the couch, staring at the ceiling.

There was a knock at the door, and Drake quickly shot up from the couch. The knock came again, this time harder than the last. Drake swiped upward on the back of his neck, and a green glow came from his manipulator. It rushed from the bottom of his spine up to the top of his neck. Code rushed around his eyes to form a green tented visor. A dark green hood materialized around his head, and cloak came down his back and around his shoulder. A band shaped around his chest attached to a quiver that formed on his back. Another knock came at the door, this time louder than the last. Drake pulled an arrow out from his quiver, and a bow materialized in his left hand. He set the arrow on the string on the bow, and pulled back.

“Hello? Mr. Firas?” Came a voice from the other side of the door. “It’s Ren.” Ren was the landlord of the apartment complex.

Drake let out a breath. He swiped the back of his neck downward, and his equipment dematerialized. “I’ll be there in a second.” Drake took a few deep breaths, and walked up to the door. He opened the door to see an older man standing outside the door. “Hey Ren. Is everything alright?”

“Well I guess so.” Ren said. “I thought I heard something, and I just wanted to make sure everything’s alright.”

“Yeah, everything’s fine. I haven’t heard anything.”

“Okay, if you say so.” Ren smiled, and turned away to leave. “Oh, Drake, I nearly forgot. Rent is due next week. I just wanted to remind you.”

“Alright.” Drake said. He closed the door, and rubbed the bridge of the door. Drake walked back to the couch to lay down, and soon fell asleep.