Fan Fiction ❯ Red Scarlet ❯ Burgundy ( Chapter 3 )

Red Scarlet

Episode 3- Burgundy

Seen: Cashus's office.

Cashus: "I am pleased that you have made it back in one piece, Red."

Scarlet entered and stood next to the chair.

Cashus: "Are you happy with your payment?"

Scarlet nodded.

Cashus: "I am wondering if you have herd yet."

Scarlet: "About what?"

Cashus: "Watts's guards where constructs."

Scarlet didn't make any acknowledgement to the statement.

Cashus: "You knew?"

Scarlet: "Wraith told me earlier that Genitech was using constructs as guards already."

Cashus: "Then it isn't anything new. Very well. Please depart. I know how to get a hold of you."

Scarlet nodded and exited.

October 18, 2012.

*

Seen: Scarlet's apartment.

Scarlet woke early. She looked at the clock. It flashed 12:00 at her. Rubbing her face she stood. She dressed in her usual sleeping attire, white shirt and underwear. She looked out the window. The sun reflected off the glass and steel of the building across the street. She opened the front door and took the daily newspaper from the mat.

She went into the bathroom. She just about slipped into the toilet when she sat down.

Scarlet: "Damn it!"

Scarlet stood then slammed the seat down. Angrily, she opened the paper and read.

On the front page: Headline- "General Technology did it again!" sub title- "Today they announced the 1 trillion credit deal, buying out the dieing Microsoft Industries. The second biggest takeover in the history of business."

Scarlet folded the paper and sat it on the sink. She wrapped the toilet paper around her hand and dried herself. Looking down at the news paper.

Scarlet (clinching her teeth): "Shit!"

January 10, 2009.

*

Seen: A frat house in the upper state, 30 miles south of Neo City. The party is hopping. The smell of cigarettes and booze was heavy in the air. A slight under smell of pot hug about as well. The group was mostly 19-23 year olds, more of the older ones attending. The houses were off campus by a mile and the super attendants are nowhere to be seen.

Enter Scarlet, dressed more or less the same way as the rest of the partygoers. Three of the guys notice her and approach.

Student (guy 01): "Hey, babe. What brings you out here? Haven't seen you on campus before."

Scarlet: "I'm new."

Guy 02: "So you one of those Beta chicks?"

Scarlet: "I am looking for someone."

Guy 01: "Who are you after, Babe?"

Scarlet narrowed her eyes at Guy01.

Scarlet: "Do you know someone named: Greg McPherson?"

Guy 03: "Pierce? Sure we do."

Guy 02: "What do ya want with Pierce? He's such a lame ass."

Scarlet: "Were is he?"

Guy 02: "Fine, fine. He's up the stairs, first door on the left. In the bathroom, puking his fucking brains out."

Scarlet pushed by the three of them and started up the stairs. She stepped over a half necked woman that was passed out in the hall floor and opened the door.

Greg was curled up in the corner next to the toilet. Dark bags were under his eyes, and he smelled of vomit. He hugged his legs closed to him and rocked slowly back and forth.

Scarlet: "What will another `Grounder say if they saw you like this?"

Greg: "Shut (hiccup) up."

Scarlet: "Come on. Were getting you back home."

Scarlet took his hand and helped him up.

October 30, 2012.

*

Seen: Back seat of a Mercedes.

Scarlet lit a cigarette and took a long draw on it, as she returned the lighter to her pocket. She looked out the window at the ally way.

Greg was standing there, two other men where talking to him.

Greg looked back over his shoulder at the car. He swallowed hard when those cold yellow eyes glared back at him from the slightly lowered window. The tip of the cigarette glowed through the tented glass.

The two men waved back at Scarlet. They took Greg further down the ally. They turned the corner.

An inhuman scream occurred. Black blood flung from around the corner. Half of what remained of a withered body hit the far wall. Two humanoid wolf creatures mauled what was left of Greg.

October 31, 2012. 10:49 PM.

*

Seen: Cashus's Halloween `Costume' Party. It was held in the basement of the main building. The concrete floor was covered with a large red rug. A cocktail bar was set up in the far corner. Undergrounders of all types were gathered.

Scarlet stood beside a rather large Demon.

Cashus (the Demon): "Enjoy yourself."

Scarlet: "I rather not."

Cashus: "You are missing out on the great party."

Scarlet shook her head.

Scarlet: "I'm heading home."

Cashus: "Wait. There is something I wish to show you."

Scarlet followed the large bulldog faced demon to the elevator.

Once inside, Cashus transformed back into the suit-and-tie fat man.

Seen: The elevator opened into a storage room. This was a level lower then the basement. The room looked much like the evidence room in a Police station.

Cashus opened up one of the gates and removed a plastic baggie. Inside it: a small red ruby.

Cashus: "This is a missing counter part to you sword. The dragon's eye."

Cashus handed it to Scarlet.

Scarlet: "Why give it to me now?"

Cashus: "To finish the payment. It took a long while to find it. And the sword is now yours."

November 1, 2012. 12:12 AM

*

Seen: the empty streets of Neo City, five blocks away from Scarlet's apartment.

Scarlet walked down the street alone. She kept her hand on her sword as she navigated down the road.

A catcall came from one of the doorways.

Scarlet didn't pay attention.

A few hookers came from the ally way and stood before Scarlet.

The guy that catcalled her stepped out of the doorway behind Scarlet. They all were undergrounders: the hookers, Succubus, the pimp, an Incubus.

Incubus: "Hey, baby. Where are you heading at this time of night?"

Scarlet brushed passed the Succubus.

The demon women grabbed hold of her arms and pulled her back.

Incubus: "Babe, I'd like an answer."

Scarlet: "Home. Let me pass."

Incubus: "My, my, my, a frisky one. How about I escort you home?"

Scarlet: "You will let me pass if you know what is good for you."

Incubus: "We are not going hurt you, Baby."

The Incubus came up behind her and rested his hands onto her shoulders and started stroking them.

Scarlet: "I am warning you."

Incubus (whispering in her ear): "You are warning me?"

The Incubus's hands slowly moved down her shoulders to her breasts.

Scarlet's lightning reflexes drew her sword and shoved it into the gut of the demon.

The Succubus screamed and moved aside.

The Incubus fell slowly onto his knees, clutching the wound in his stomach.

Scarlet pulled the sword up and sliced off his head.

The Incubus's black blood spilt out onto the sidewalk.

Scarlet took one look at the Succubus and they coward next to the building.

Scarlet continued down the street.

Two of the Succubus carried off the Incubus's body while the other retrieved his head. They exited the streets down the nearest ally.

November 1, 2012. 2:17 AM.

*

Seen: Scarlet's apartment.

A knock on the door.

Scarlet rolled out of bed.

The clock is once again flashing 12:00.

Scarlet buttoned up the shirt and put on a pair of man's blue slippers.

The knocking continued.

Scarlet looked out the peephole to see a rather hairy man standing at the door. He was grungy and greasy. It was the landlord.

Scarlet unlocked the door and opened it.

He gave her a very angry look.

LL: "Who the fuck are you?"

Scarlet: "Are you blind? I live here remember."

LL: "No you don't, Missy. This place is rented out to a Layton. You sure as hell ain't him, Woman."

Scarlet: "Look, Robert. I do live here. I paid the rent for the past two months on time. Even the back pay for the six months prior."

LL: "No woman was listed as a resident here."

Scarlet: "Bill isn't planning on coming back anytime soon. He wanted me to take care of his apartment until he gets back."

LL: "Did you do anything to him?"

Scarlet: "Of coarse not. He's my brother!"

LL: "Ack. Bitch. You better not tare up the fucken place, and you better pay the God Damn rent on time."

Scarlet: "I wouldn't let you down, Bobby."

The Landlord turned away down the hall.

LL (to himself): "Fucken sister. Acts just like the bastard."

Scarlet closed the door and re-locked it. She leaned against it and slid down onto the floor. She gave a sigh of frustration.

February 4, 2009.

*

Seen: Scarlet's bedroom.

Scarlet woke late, her whole body felt sore. She looked at the clock: 11:04 AM.

Scarlet moaned and stumbled out of the bed and into the bathroom.

Scarlet finished and got the newspaper. She read it over her morning coffee and smoke.

The phone rang.

Scarlet picked up the caller ID.

ID: Paranormal Insight- 1(888)-***-2456.

Scarlet picked up.

Scarlet: "What is it this time Ralf?"

Voice (scrambled): "Mr. Cashus is out of service."

Scarlet (sitting up): "Who the hell are you! What did you do to Ralf?"

Voice: "It is not your concern any more...Miss Scarlet."

Scarlet: "Oh, hell it is! You fucking call me from an unauthorized number and it is not my concern?"

Voice: "We will be in touch. Say `Hi' to Mr. Layton when he returns."

They hung up the phone.

Scarlet threw the headset across the room.

November 1, 2012. 11:37 AM.