To Rule In Shadow

Samuel drove around the corner on the chosen street, and pulled the SUV against the sidewalk where Vance had instructed him to. Traffic was a little lighter now that it was getting late, but it never really stopped in this city.

The kid who was causing all of this mess was waiting patiently for them, or at least Samuel assumed that was the case. The streetlights along this stretch of road had gone out, and he could only see a figure bathed in shadow, periodically illuminated by passing headlights. Even then, his features remained obscured.

As soon as the vehicle had stopped, Jim, Ronald, and Greg stepped out and got ready to drag the target, Adrian Veldt according to the report, into the vehicle. Surprisingly, the kid was already moving towards them once the SUV had stopped. He walked past the astounded men, climbed up into the center of the back row and took a seat.

Samuel had a chance to examine the young man in the mirror. The kid was darkly handsome, and his appearance and clothes gave off the air of a wealthy sophisticate. Ordinarily, that would have been enough to inspire scorn in him, as long years of growing up in the worst parts of the city had bred an almost innate dislike for the wealthy. However, this kid seemed off. Something about the unusual level of confidence, and his cold, sharp aura gave Samuel the creeps.

After making himself comfortable, the kid looked around at the four suits. "Well, are we going?"

Quietly, the other three got back into the car, slamming the doors shut behind them. Greg motioned for him to go, so Samuel put the SUV in gear and started heading to the safe house. This was the part where they usually threw a hood over their target's head, but evidently Greg decided to skip it this time.

His knuckles tightened on the wheel when he realized what was going on. No hood usually meant that the organization was not concerned with a target releasing any information.

[So it's going to be that kind of job. Wonder if the kid knows….]

The rest of the journey was made in silence, with Adrian leaned back in his seat, eyes closed. Samuel thought he looked completely relaxed, almost as if he were sleeping. He didn't open his eyes until the SUV had pulled into the underground parking garage attached to the safe house.

Adrian turned to look at the man, a slight smile playing across his lips. One that didn't reach his ice-cold eyes. Samuel felt a chill run down his spine. However, the kid merely started walking, almost taking the lead as Jim and Ronald were forced to awkwardly move to the front. After a short walk, they entered the small waiting room attached to McLean's 'office.'

Vance was standing there, hands behind his back, waiting for their arrival.

"Mr. Veldt. So good to see you again." The giant of a man said while stretching one slab like arm in the appearance of a friendly handshake.

Adrian, for his part, took Vance's intimidating appearance in stride, and offered his own hand in turn without any hesitation. "I presume you are the boss here?"

The large man chuckled a little at that, although Samuel felt it was a bit forced. "You can call me Vance, although I'm one of the executives of this organization, I can hardly call myself the boss. Mr. McLean is the highest ranking person here, and he's right through that door." He said while motioning to the double doors that led into the next room.

Adrian frowned. "Hmm, I was hoping to meet the actual boss, and not mere flunkies. Since you've been letting me see all of your faces and this location, it means you don't intend to let me leave. What you're looking for must be worth a great deal to you if you are willing to anger my family to acquire it."

Samuel felt another chill run down his spine. The young man was far too calm. Especially since he'd basically called out the organization's plan to silence him after they had what they wanted. Something was really wrong.

Vance motioned for Adrian to move forward towards the next room, "I'm not sure what you wanted to speak with the boss about, but I'm sure McLean can answer your questions just as well."

"I highly doubt that." The youth replied as he walked through the doors, once again leaving his escort behind. They rushed to follow, but found Adrian just past the entrance, eyes fixed on the sight in front of him.

What had once been a set of offices had, through McLean's methodical approach, been converted into something resembling a surgical suite. Harsh fluorescent lighting beat down on a wide array of wicked looking tools and instruments. The linoleum floor was polished mirror bright, but there were a few spots that seemed to be stained with a dark, reddish brown substance.

In the center of the room, was a chair, riveted to the floor. A human figure sat unmoving in this chair, hidden underneath a white sheet that was stained with splotches of dried blood.

"What is this?" Adrian asked. For the first time, Samuel heard the hint of some emotion entering his voice, and he couldn't help but tremble at it. A cold rage was burning in the young man's eyes and it was all Samuel could do to not run away right then.

McLean stood up from a desk set against one wall. He was writing something in a notebook, completely unconcerned about the body he was sharing a room with.

"You must be Adrian. Please call me McLean. I'm sure you are a little confused. Before we begin, do you have any questions?" The whip thin, balding man asked with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

Adrian turned his baleful gaze on the man, and for the first time since he started working for the organization, Samuel saw McLean flinch.

"Who is that?" The youth hissed. Anger now rolling off him in waves.

The reptilian smile returned to the bald man's face, faltering only for a moment. "Are you perhaps worried that we might have questioned someone close to you first? Well, worry not. You've haven't seen the man beneath that sheet for a very long time. Why, by normal standards, you'd hardly even consider him an acquaintance."

McLean walked over to the body. "You are probably wondering why we've left this man sitting here prior to our meeting. Well, the answer is twofold. First, I wanted to make sure you understood the folly of resisting us. This is what noncompliance will earn you. Simply tell us what we want to know and everything will go much smoother."

"Ah, well that's something of a personal matter for me. You see, I've always enjoyed reuniting long-lost relations." He grabbed the blood-stained sheet with one hand.

Samuel found himself backing up towards the exit, reaching out blindly for the handle of the door. He didn't know what was going to happen, but he knew it was going to be bad. He fumbled at it with increasing desperation, unable to turn his gaze away from the horror that was about to unfold.

"You see I had a few problems with my own father. A bit of a deadbeat, really. Left my mother when I was but an infant. Once I was old enough, I made sure to track the bastard down, and let him know how I felt about it." A slightly manic grin had replaced the lizard smile on McLean's face.

"So, now, when I see someone in the same situation as mine, I can't help but want to share the joy I felt when I cut that lying tongue from his head." With a flourish, he removed the sheet.

For a moment the room was silent as they all, collectively, took in the sight of the ravaged body. "Isn't it just so liberating?" The maniac asked.

Samuel heard the youth utter a single phrase, "What a waste."

The lights flickered and died.

Then the screaming started.

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He wasn't sure what had happened in the room, but the sounds were the stuff of nightmares. He found himself wishing for his mother's silver cross. The one he'd sold years ago to pay off a debt. Now, he'd be willing to pay any amount to feel the worn metal in his hands as he prayed for salvation.

He heard footsteps in the hallway outside of the tiny office he'd been hiding in. Holding his breath, Vance hoped that his hammering heartbeat was quieter than it sounded in his ears.

The door slammed open, and it was all he could do to keep from yelling.

The cold voice of Adrian Veldt shattered whatever faint hope he still had that he'd avoided the youth's notice. "Get up. I would like to speak to your boss in person, and I don't have time for any more of these diversions."

Trembling, Vance lifted his head above the desk and laid eyes of the terrifying youth. He wished he'd followed his initial instincts and fled when he had the chance.

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A young woman in a hoodie watched the black SUV pull out of the nondescript parking garage before entering the door of the attached office building. She moved through the deserted halls before making her way to the oddly surgical room.

She paused to take in the empty, bloodstained, metal chair at the center of the room. A quick sweep of her gaze failed to reveal anything else of interest. One of the hands that had been resting inside the center pocket of her sweatshirt revealed itself, holding a cell phone. The woman pressed a number on speed dial and held it to her ear.

"Reporting. He's heading towards Ortega.....yes.....judging from the signs, it safe to say he's used it. Yes. Will do."

Shrugging, the woman left the building and disappeared into the dark city streets.