Aida
Visibly shaken I made my way to the appraising room, and back to my table. Not believing what had just happen. Does Yu know that Miss Tiangchi has a foothold in here? I shrug that thought away, past caring. If he's the Yu I know, he has changed, if he isn't he is on his own. Soon he'll find his legs cut beneath him. I sigh.
"Are you okay?" Jinx says eyes worried.
"Yeah I'm jelly," I forced a smile and turn back to work.
I try to concentrate work but I couldn't . in the end I gave up and pick my bag, I turn to Jinx."Care for some time off?"
"Are you sure, you know we've never gone home early."
"You can stay, I'm going back." I don't think Mr. Xi is in any shape or frame of mind to check on us.
"Alright, I'm game baby." Jinx picks up her bag and follow me to the parking lot.
"Yours or mine?" I ask.
"Yours!" she chirps, "I'm curious about your upgrades, and I'll be driving sweetie." She smiles sweetly, elbowing me gently out of the way.
I smile and hop into the passenger's seat. Jinx waves her hand and Imsy pops out of the tiny, cylindrical ear device tucked behind her ear, she disappears into the wheel.
"Where to?" Jinx turns her beautiful face, a devilish smile on her face.
"The bottom-dark" I smile mirroring her devilish smile.
"Are you sure?" she asks voice shaking.
"Imsy three hundred levels down." She commands.
"I don't think this is a good idea."
"I know, but I need to see it with my own eyes, you can stay in the cruiser, this is my own kind of closure." I say not looking at Jinx, afraid that she will see the lie in my gaze.
I need to see how bad it has become, maybe just maybe it's better than I remember years ago.
Imsy plummets the cruiser at maddening speed, twisting and turning in air-alleyways I have long forgotten.
Soon the sun light disappears, and only the lights from the cruiser and the street lamps could be seen, I stared at the makeshift aerial pathways in stages of disrepair. Jinx kept quiet the whole way, I am glad she did, because right now I'm lost in thought as I relive the soul-eating fear that I always felt when I was here.
The cruiser lands on a rickety landing pad, and the door whoosh open, I was the first to jump out of the cruiser, Imsy has landed us on rotten apple street, Jinx's nose crinkles and she pulls a handkerchief out from her pocket and tied on the back of her head, covering her nose, sheltering it from the awful smell, she tries not to heave on the ground. She clutches her knees and dry heaves. I pat her on the back.
"It gets better believe me. come on follow me." I lead her away from the cruiser and into the countless maze of streets, using my memory that I'm glad isn't faded, heading to the one place I hope is still there.
"Psst, hey beauties, want some company?"
"Don't look back, ignore him." I tell Jinx increasing my strides.
Hopefully they'll get the hint and bugger off, if not I will have to try other means, I hoped I don't have to try.
The inn comes into view, a few patrons hang about outside, a man empties the contents of his stomach into a metal bucket, and hangs his head on the lip of the bucket, his eyes empty with nothing in them, just a deadness that mirrors everyone else's. Jinx kept close to me, shadowing me, I'm glad I didn't have to tell her to do that. I stared at the letters written above the entrance.
"Kenger's Tankard, and jollies." Jinx reads.
I hurry to the bar, and slam two credit coins on it,"Two fire monsters please, make it the best." I say to the tan-skinned man with the riot of small kinky curls in his salt and pepper hair, he stiffens, and sniffs the air.
He suddenly spins around hand grab hold of my hand, and sniffs it, I eyed the sun glasses that hide his eyes from view, a frown marring my face.
"Small rabbit," his hands run over my hair, mapping my features to the scar that runs down my neck.
The name makes my eyes mist, and I grab hold of his huge hand, and smile fondly at him. He pulls me over the counter in a bear hug and whirls me around before I could react, I hug him back with enthusiasm.
"What are you doing here." He growls his excitement dying down, replaced by something I couldn't put a finger on.
"I miss this place, just visiting Kenger. Is there a problem?"
"No, don't mind me, I'm just being an old fart, I never thought you'll come back ever again little rabbit." He says working back to the bar and preparing the drinks I ordered, I watch as he set fire to the two tankards, putting a blue pearl in each. He sets it before us.
"Sit, this is on me little rabbit." He waves a hand, and pushes the two credit coins towards me. I study him, something has changed in all the years I have been away. My brow crinkles as I try to ferret what did with my gaze. Jinx takes sip of her fire-monster and gasp, fanning her lips, her eyes sparkled and she takes another sip and moans, in seconds she downs the whole tankard. Her yes goes to my full tankard.
I picked mine up and sets before her "Easy tigress, this is meant to be sipped slowly.
"Thanks. I can't help it, it's just so good."
"Come little rabbit, we've much to talk about. I want to hear all your tales." Kenger leads me into the bar and into the back room. I glance at Jinx.
"Don't worry she'll be safe here,"
"Okay," I nod and disappear, following him into the inner back rooms.