Death from the Shadows - Chapter 1
CHAPTER ONENyeusi Kifu, or as the media has so creatively titled him "Black Death", is one of the many hybrids that inhabit the wasteland that is jokingly called "Old New York". Nyeusi is a hybrid Panther, a hybrid that was never meant to exist. He was an error from the day he was created, and since that day society has paid dearly for that mistake. Nyeusi is currently sitting in the one bar that allows hybrids, "The Dark Tavern". He is occupying a booth in the furthest and darkest part of the bar, the part of the bar which Nyeusi has deemed to be his. For Nyeusi, darkness is a friend and aid to his career. It's also where Nyeusi goes to get away from the humans and hybrids which scurry about the city. He does not care for most of those around him, in fact to him they are nothing more than wastes of space on the planet. Make no mistake, he does not exclude himself from that belief. He is no less a waste of space than anyone else, at least in his mind. Nyeusi may be many things, hypocritical is not one of them.The bar is unusually quiet tonight, which means there is some form of event going on that everyone is attending. Aside from Nyeusi, and the owner of the place Rudy, there are only four or five others sitting around nursing beers, or whatever other poison they choose. It's a good night to not have a job to deal with, for Nyeusi.Nyeusi pulls a pack of cigarettes out of the front pocket of his BDUs, flips open the box and flicks a cigarette up so he can grab it with his
teeth. He grabs his lighter off the table, flicks it and after watching the flame for a moment, lights the cigarette and takes a drag. 'Smoking will kill you', Nyeusi thinks, remembering all those shitty anti-smoking ads and posts one sees all around the city. Smoking will kill you, but so will a knife and Nyeusi would far rather die by smoking, than by knife.Nyeusi reaches over to pick up the shot glass that sits in front of him when the door to the bar opens. While most of the denizens of the bar ignore the newcomer, as is the tradition in this bar, Nyeusi peeks up to see who is walking in. Being in the business that Nyeusi is in, requires him to continually be aware of any change in the environment; even a change as simple as someone walking into the bar. You can buy people off to protect yourself, but sometimes those people you buy off stab you in the back regardless.Nyeusi's hand reaches down into the trench coat which he is wearing, hand wrapping around the butt of a 1911 pistol which he keeps hidden in a shoulder holster. Once the 1911 is within his control, he looks up to see just exactly who has entered the bar. Noticing that the newcomer is a female that he has never seen before, his grip on the 1911 releases, to again reach for the shot glass. He tosses back the whiskey, sets the shot glass back down on the table and then focuses his full attention on the newcomer. This bar is not known to attract many women, especially women that are dressed like they work at some massive corporation.Rudy looks up and moves over to the side of the bar closest to the door. "What can I get for you miss?" he asks. Ah, Rudy, always business and always quick to get to the customers. When one runs a bar that is usually quite quiet, any time you can get a new customer is an occasion that must be met with speed and politeness. Nyeusi takes a drag off the cigarette, tapping it against the ashtray to get some ash off, and turns full attention to the bartender and the newcomer."Oh, I'm not here for anything to drink," the woman replies. You can almost see the pain in Rudy's body language when he hears he will not be making any money off this customer. "I am looking for the one they call Black Death. I got a lead he might come to this bar."Nyeusi's ears perk up at this statement. No one has ever asked for him directly, in fact, rules in his business dictate that you only ever discuss a job with someone who deals with individuals to take that job. You never favor one over the other, and you let the contact decide who is best for the job. The fact that this woman not only asked for him, but also managed to find out that he frequents this bar is troubling, and a matter that must be looked into and dealt with as appropriate."Ma'am, that person doesn't even exist, it's all just a bunch of shit that the papers print to explain murders that the cops are too stupid to investigate.""No disrespect meant, but I found out that he does exist, and he frequents this particular bar."'No disrespect meant' Nyeusi says to himself as he shakes his head slightly, and chuckles. Apparently, a fawn has wandered into a pack of wolves and didn't have the sense to realize that that is not a good place to be. Nyeusi is curious about this woman though, and if there is a true statement in the world -- 'curiosity killed the cat' is it.Nyeusi hefts his 7'5", 350-pound frame out of the booth and begins making his way up to the front of the bar. Rudy glances up, grabs an ashtray from under the bar and sets
it out on the bar and then scurries back into the corner he came out of. "You are looking for Black Death, are you? Well, you have found him." Nyeusi reaches the bar and sits down on the stool closest to the door, making an escape for the woman a lot more difficult. He reaches over, pulling the ashtray to him, and sets his cigarette in it. "What can I do for you?"The woman lets out a very audible gasp as Nyeusi settles onto the bar stool. The papers do talk about "Black Death" but no one has ever given an accurate description. Apparently the woman was not quite prepared for Nyeusi's appearance, nor his act of blocking her exit. The woman fidgets with her purse for a moment, swallowing hard, before speaking. "I...well I wanted to talk to you if I may.""Dear, we are speaking. If I did not desire to talk to you, I wouldn't have come up here would I? No, you would have been told that I did not exist and have been asked to leave. Now, what do you want to talk about?""Well...I am Abegail Horn, and I have been asked to write a book about your kind, and the experiments that created your kind. I was also requested to find out if you exist and get some information on you for the book since you are the most known hybrid.""First off, I would appreciate if you didn't lump me into all the other hybrids. They are largely a bunch of worthless sheep, and I do not consider myself such. Secondly, what makes you think I would give you any information on myself? Would that not be a dumb move on my part?""Look, I could keep you anonymous. I could word everything about you as speculation. No one would believe it anyway, just like no
one believes any of the news articles on you. I just need as much history on the project as I can get."By this time, the cigarette that Nyeusi had set in the ashtray was nothing but ash, so he pulls out another one, lights it and takes a drag. He rubs a hand under his chin thinking over the proposition. The cops in the city are largely afraid to bother with Nyeusi, and, in fact, have used him for jobs in the past. Also, the point about no one believing Nyeusi exists is also quite valid, since he has made the newspaper countless times and he is still considered an urban legend. He sits back a little in the chair, mulling everything over for a moment."Tell you what, Ms. Horn, I will grant your request. Now, as I do not do anything, for anybody, for free, there will be a fee for this job. I believe fifteen-thousand is a reasonable number for my assistance. In fact, it's quite the bargain compared to my normal cost. In exchange, you will get the answers you seek."Abegail stammers as she speaks, "Fi...fifteen-thousand dollars? How do you expect me to come up with that kind of money? I haven't even gotten an advance for the book.""That, my friend, is not of concern to me. It's fifteen thousand dollars or nothing. Very simple terms. Go talk to whoever wants this book, I'm sure they will help you out.""I...I...alright, I will figure out a way to get the money. How do I get you the money?"Nyeusi reaches over and grabs the notepad that sits next to the phone behind the bar, grabs a pen from a cup next to the pad of paper and writes down a location on the pad. He tears off the page, setting it on the bar in front of the woman and then replaces the notepad and pen. "You get the money together, and come back here to tell Rudy that you have the money. The day after you inform Rudy you have the cash, you will leave it, as well as a way to contact you, at the location on that paper. I will be in touch after that."The woman picks up the paper, looking at the location. For a moment, her face starts to drain of color, but that soon stops, and she looks up at Nyeusi, "And how can I know I can trust you? What if you run off with the money and screw me over?"As soon as the words 'screw me over' are out of the woman's mouth, Rudy is rushing over to the end of the bar. He knows what happened to the last person that questioned Nyeusi's integrity, and wants to avoid the clean up this time. Nyeusi waves him off, shaking his head. "Don't worry Rudy, she doesn't know how things work. I am not going to penalize her for that statement." Nyeusi looks over to the woman, "I don't screw anyone over, my dear. A man's word is an oath, at least in this business, and I have yet to break any of the promises I have made. Don't worry, you will not get screwed over, not by me." Nyeusi glances over to Rudy, who has returned to his corner, "And forgive my friend's reaction. The last person that ever questioned my integrity...well, let's just say he has ceased to exist."Nyeusi takes a drag off the cigarette and moves off the barstool, starting to head back to his booth. "You follow my instructions, you will your interview." He turns back to glance over at Rudy, "Oh and Rudy, bring me another whiskey when you are done wetting your pants over there, or whatever else it is you do over there." Nyeusi lets out a chuckle, as he settles back into his booth.**********Nyeusi watches as the woman leaves the bar. The woman looks far less confident when she walked in, something that seems to be common when one comes in contact with him. He has never been the friendly sort, but dealing with the types of people he has dealt with over the years has not helped that. Nyeusi is quite content with that situation and sees no need to work on changing it.After a few minutes, Rudy walks over to the booth Nyeusi is sitting in, sets the shot of whiskey down on the table, and then takes the seat opposite Nyeusi. Nyeusi takes the shot glass off the table, tosses the whiskey back and sets the glass back down. "You have to stop watering these shots down, Rudy. I pay good money for them and I expect to get what I pay for.""Get what you pay for? Nyeusi, you haven't paid your bar tab in years, so technically you aren't even paying for them. Besides, those are not watered down. That is the strongest whiskey I have in this joint, and the amount you drink would have most people under the table, or probably dead.""Rudy, you have to understand, I am just trying to get by on what I get paid. I will cover my bar tab, I promise," Nyeusi says, giving Rudy a grin. Nyeusi is 'getting by' about as well as some of the highest paid individuals in the city."I don't think I have ever seen you crack a smile before, Nyeusi. Are you getting soft on
me now? I wish I were 'getting by' like you are. I damn well wouldn't be running this shit-hole, nor would I be living in this damn city. I would rather be in the middle of fucking nowhere than be here."Nyeusi reaches into his back pocket and pulls out a small wad of bills. He counts out five one-hundred dollar bills and sets them on the table in front of Rudy. "There, my bar tab is covered and then some. Besides, with the money you have earned from finding me jobs, you should be able to get out of here. I don't give you peanuts after all, and you know it. You say you hate this place, but if you wanted out, I know you have the cash to get out.""You know Nyeusi, I can't figure you out. You are the oddest motherfucker I have ever met, and even after thirteen years you still never cease to amaze me in your actions. Take this woman, for instance," Rudy says as he takes the money off the table and puts it in the pocket of his apron. "You have no clue who she is, yet you agree to talk with her. What if you give away information that could be used to hunt you down? You would be fucked.""Rudy, you are avoiding my point that you could get out of here if you wanted. Proves my point. You bitch and moan about this place, but you really don't want out. Also, you are underestimating me, Rudy, which surprises me. I always think at least one move ahead and have considered the possibility of information getting out that could fuck me over. The possibility of that occurring is absolutely nil.""Oh yeah? So there is no chance of you getting screwed in this? You know this for certain? Nyeusi, I know you are good, but you can't be that good.""Rudy, all I have to do is send her on a few goose chases to get the information she is after about the project. If she wants to know about me, I answer a few questions and keep stringing her along until she gets tired of it. I earn an easy fifteen grand, and she gets her little book. I go back to being an urban legend, and soon people will again forget about me. Now, it's possible that I may have to bribe a few more officials to keep their mouths shut after the book gets released, but that is the cost of doing business." Nyeusi settles back in his chair knowing damn well that will not end this conversation."Okay, fine, so you have thought this through. I am just worried that sometimes the easy money makes people forget the little things, and I will lose my meal ticket out of this shit-hole. If you are so hell-bent on doing this job, where are you going to do it? You sure as hell can't take her back to your apartment."Nyeusi lets out a laugh, slapping a paw on the table. "Are you my manager now? Need to know every last little detail of everything? Should I give you an action plan for every job I do from now on?" He shrugs his shoulders, not actually having considered the location of this meeting, but he will be damned if he admits that. Nyeusi pulls out another cigarette, lights it and takes a drag. He doesn't need another cigarette, he's gone through near a pack just sitting here, but it is a reason to think things through without admitting he's thinking things through. "I was thinking at the warehouse. It's in a safe enough area, and there is enough weaponry there to deal with any threat. Besides, I think it has a certain charm to it that our little miss paperback writer would like.""Jesus Christ Nyeusi, can't you show some respect to someone? You treat everyone like they are worthless. As for doing the interview at your warehouse, I think that would be a bad idea. She would then have information as to where all your money and guns are. If she went to the cops, they would bust in there with all their toys, and seize everything, even if you had bought off the entire force."Nyeusi looks up at Rudy, furrowing his brows slightly. "Are you sitting here scolding me for being myself? You know who I am, and how I am. You have known me long enough to know that I don't give a shit about anyone and that I don't censor myself just to be polite."Nyeusi leans back in his seat, contemplating the risk of someone knowing where the warehouse was. Rudy was right in that the cops would happily raid his cache, as the money alone would fund the local force for a couple of years. "Okay, manager, where do you suggest I meet with her? You know how limited I am in my movement...how limited we are in our movement."Rudy lets out a sigh, as he slides out from the booth and stands up. He smooths out his apron and moves the money out of it, and into his back pocket. "Bring her here and use the basement. There isn't a lot down there, but it's better than your apartment or the warehouse. Besides, I can keep an eye on you to make sure you don't leak too much information, especially information that might get me caught up in all of this. I am not one that would do well in prison.""Oh, I wouldn't get you caught up in this. You are my primary job contact and if you go to the state penitentiary, I am pretty well fucked for jobs." Nyeusi puts out his cigarette in the ashtray and slides out from the booth. He runs a hand over his chest to check the location of his shoulder holster and to ensure that the guns concealed in it are not too apparent. He grabs the wad of bills that he left on the table, slipping them back into his back pocket, then he stretches his back out, a few audible cracks emanating from having been sitting too long."Fine, I will have her come here to do the interview. You can chaperone us as you seem to want to do. However, if I do this, the bar closes during our sessions. Sound carries from down there, and I don't need the whole bar hearing the conversation." Nyeusi waves his hand dismissively as Rudy begins to say something, "I will make sure it's during the times where you only have tumbleweeds to keep you company. Don't worry, I won't hurt your business. Fuck, I will pay you two hundred per hour for full use of the bar, that work for you?""Fucking hell Nyeusi, why I put up with you is beyond me. It's a deal, two hundred an hour and I will close up the bar for you. Just let me know when you want the bar so I can post that the bar will be closed at those times. Now, as I have technically over-served you, and I am done talking to you, get the fuck out."Nyeusi grins, now impersonating a drunk man's slurred speech "But Rudy, I am not drunk. Go ahead, give me a sobriety test right here if you don't believe me." "Get out Nyeusi. I don't care if you are totally sober, I still have to follow laws, and you know that damn well.""Fine, fine I will get out," Nyeusi says chuckling as he starts up the aisle towards the door. "Make sure you contact me as soon as that woman lets you know she has the money. I would hate to make her wait, or give her time to reconsider how stupid it is to drop fifteen-thousand on something that a few phone calls would grant her.""What if another job pops up before she comes to me?""Sod it, I am taking a little break. Send it off to one of the other guys you know.""Good night, Nyeusi.""Yea, whatever." Nyeusi walks out the door, into the windy night and begins his walk back to his apartment.