Fan Fiction ❯ Red Scarlet ❯ Tape ( Chapter 5 )

Red Scarlet

Episode 5- Tape

Seen: A café in the down town business district of Neo City.

Scarlet was at a table drinking a cappuccino, and occasionally stirring it with the little red straw. She was dressed in a pair of khakis and purple turtleneck sweater. She had a backpack slung over her shoulder.

Enter Gracie Blain. She was dressed in a navy blue business dress. She sits down at the table and orders a latté.

Scarlet: "I don't like these places."

Blain: "A stuffy old office is too archaic."

Scarlet: "Less ears."

Blain: "True. But the new guard insists."

Scarlet: "Who is the new boss anyways? This second hand shit is driving me off the walls."

Blain: "And what do you think the boss gets from his sources?"

Scarlet: "You didn't answer my question."

Blain: "I am not at liberty to tell you."

Scarlet: "This is crap."

Blain: "I don't know what I could tell you."

Scarlet: "Do you even know who the boss is?"

Blain (hesitantly): "Yes."

Scarlet (flatly): "You're lying to me."

Blain held up her hands.

Blain: "I swear. I am not."

Scarlet: "Fine then. Tell the boss that I will not work for him, or her, if it isn't face to face."

Scarlet stood and walked away.

Blain got up. Reaching into her purse she threw a twenty down on the table, and started after Scarlet.

Blain: "Red wait. Please, wait!"

As soon as Blain turned a corner, Scarlet was gone.

March 5, 2013.

*

Seen: Scarlet's apartment. It was cleaned up. Books in place, the papers on the table in order, a floral slipcover on the sofa, and even a doily on the coffee table.

Scarlet's jaw dropped when she entered the room.

Two Wraiths enter the room.

Wraith 01(female): "You like it?"

Scarlet: "What the hell did you do to my apartment?"

Wraith 02(gay-man voice): "We cleaned it obviously."

Scarlet: "Yes, obviously. I am not blind. I am asking: Why?"

Wraith 01: "Bobby left a note saying that he was going to inspect the apartment."

Wraith 02: "And it was such a mess. My stars, you would have been evicted for sure if he saw such a sty."

Scarlet (clinched teeth): "Thank you."

Scarlet entered her bedroom. She screamed.

Seen: Her bed was made, but in pink sheets and a flower quilt stretched out over top. The usual curtain was replaced with a white-laced one, and all her clothing was missing.

A different Wraith entered the room.

Wraith 03(another female): "I did it myself."

Scarlet: "Where are my closes?"

Wraith 03: "The laundry mat. We found so many lost socks it is ridiculous."

Scarlet: "What about my black outfit?"

Wraith 03: "Dry Cleaners."

Scarlet: "And how are you getting all of this stuff?"

Wraith 01 popped her head in the room.

Wraith 01: "Home shopping Network. We used your credit card."

Scarlet: "You what?!"

Wraith 02: "Don't fret you have millions laying around."

Scarlet: "I know. But that gives you no right to use my money."

Wraith 02: "That reminds me, Sweetie."

Scarlet: "Don't call me `Sweetie.'"

Wraith 02: "What ever, Dear. But that Ms. Blain called twice while you were out. She kept saying for you to meet with some guy named André. She is such a nerve."

Scarlet: "Outsider. Damn it."

Scarlet flopped down on the made bed.

Wraith 02: "If I were you, Honey, I'd brush them off and find some new work."

Scarlet: "And put up with the fun you guys bring me for free? Not on your after life."

March 6, 2013.

*

Seen: A dark room. The only light comes from lighted candles on the walls. The smell of incense and sage is strong in the air. The room was small. The only furniture is a large chair left over from the previous century, a beanbag chair, and a small box covered with a black silk scarf with a crystal ball on top.

Scarlet sat in the large chair.

In the beanbag chair, Andre was in dark robes slowly waved his hands over the crystal ball. He was a thin, short man with a long red beard.

Andi: "The dead are attracted to you. I see twelve dark spirits recently entered your life, causing turmoil in daily goings."

Scarlet: "You don't know the half of it. And I know you were already told that by Gracie, so cut the crap."

Andi looked up to her.

Andi: "You are no fun. Yes I was told about the Wraiths in your house, but not by Gracie."

Scarlet (sigh): "Who then?"

Andi: "The Greater Powers."

Scarlet narrowed her eyes at him.

Andi: "Well now. Let's begin. I guess you weren't told that the new head is also the head of the Outsiders."

Scarlet: "Zhyn L'Nie?"

Andi: "We would prefer you to call him Samuel Finch."

Scarlet: "Finch. As in the CEO of Genitech?"

Andi: "An illegitimate son of the CEO of Genitech. Charles Finch unknowingly had a little one night stand back in college with an Outsider."

Scarlet: "And the web weaves itself even further. So this half-breed bastard son is now the head of both the Outsiders and the Underground organizations. Perfect, he's turning out to be just like his old man."

Andi: "I'll make sure to tell him that the next time he comes in."

Scarlet stood and pulled back the curtain to leave.

Scarlet: "While at it, tell him that I quit."

March 11, 2013.

*

Seen: Scarlet's apartment.

Scarlet slouched in the couch, a Budweiser in hand and a cigarette hanging from her mouth.

Four Wraiths (the three from before and the one from the boat) float about the room.

Wraith 02: "See! Am I psychic or am I psychic? Honey, you'll be better off."

Scarlet: "Damn Genitech and everything they stand for."

Wraith 01: "That's the spirit! I am sure there are dozens of people out there that want to get a hold of your services."

Wraith 04: "Mortals don't need your services. They are best left in the dark."

Scarlet: "This is just one big conspiracy: them verses me."

Wraith 03: "You really got to stop thinking that way. It will make you old before your time."

Scarlet: "Why would you guys even care if I go off the deep end? The past five years have just been a waste of my time. I might as well go to the nearest asylum and book a room."

Wraith 02: "Awh, Honey, things aren't that bad. You have my faith in you that you could bounce back from this."

Scarlet: "I can't go back now, but I can't follow the way of the `grounders anymore. Genitech will eventually corrupt them and it would have been a pointless struggle."

A fifth Wraith rushes into the room.

Wraith 05: "Scarlet! Get out now!"

Scarlet sat up.

Scarlet: "What's wrong?"

Wraith 05 scooped Scarlet off the couch and jumped out the open living room window with her.

Wraiths 01, 02, 03, and 04 look at each other in confusion.

Wraith 02: "What do you think that was all . . ."

Before the Wraith could finish the sentence an explosion annihilated the apartment and the entire east wall of the building.

March 13, 2013. 9:30 AM

*

Seen: An Underground nightclub.

Scarlet sat at the table, a little bruised but in one piece.

Seven of the Wraiths were present in the club as well. Many of the Undergrounders kept a close eye on the ghostly company.

Wraith 05, who turned out to be the main information gatherer, and was the one that told her about the constructs, stood by Scarlet's chair.

Scarlet: "I forgot to thank you for saving me."

Wraith 05: "It is understandable."

Scarlet took a few sips of her drink and patted down her empty shirt pocket.

Scarlet (dolefully): "Man, I really want a cigarette."

Wraith 05: "They'll kill you."

Scarlet sneered.

Scarlet: "You're right. You are absolutely right. But that doesn't stop me from wanting one."

Wraith 05 laughed.

Wraith 06 entered.

Wraith 06: "We found it. It took a while but we found it."

Wraith 06 sat the Shallyn Sword onto the table. The silk wrap was burned, but the sword was still intact.

Scarlet took the sword from the Wraith.

Scarlet: "I appreciate that very much."

Wraith 04 came up to the table.

Wraith 04: "We were able to get your accounts re-activated with a little persuasion on our end."

Scarlet: "Oh? What did you promise that half-breed to get him to un-freeze them?"

Wraith 04: "Part-time work."

Scarlet: "You got to be joking."

Wraith 04: "Enough to get you out of the loop. You are stuck on hits and deals."

Scarlet: "Hits and deals. Damn it, now I really want a smoke."

Wraith 04: "He considered you a professional and would only call you in only for the tough stuff."

Scarlet: "`Tough stuff?'"

Wraith: "Other planar trouble makers."

Scarlet: "That just put a cap on this fine day. If I don't take it he'll freeze all my accounts again, and leave me broke."

Scarlet chewed on her thumbnail.

Scarlet: "Tell him that I will only except the job if I could get an audience with him."

Wraith 04: "As you wish."

March 15, 2013.

*