Chapter Two

  Part Three

  They had run across the city, until they had come to The Station. The Station was a large hub on the outskirts of the city, it was what people had begun to call the merchant gates that led in and out the city. These gates were certainly not as grand as the main gates, and specifically made for merchants just so they didn’t disrupt the appearance of the main gates. But certain individuals would use The Station to smuggle goods and people in and out of the city. There seemed to always be an investigation open for The Station, but every now and then the case would close by a higher authority.

  The Station was only accessible by via The Back Flow, a path of wide back alleys specially designed just for merchants and The Station. You could buy just about anything in The Back Flow. It was quite a seedy place, even though there were many guards here, that didn’t stop sleazy merchants from selling wares. Just like The Station, The Back Flow would also often have ongoing cases here, but they were never finished and always close after a short while.

  Line had never been to these places before, she only knew these things from reading the open and shut cases of these places from the monastery library, and after reading about them. Thought she would probably never have to come here. But apparently, fate has decided that she did indeed need to come here.

  Ali led her through the darkened paths, only lit by hanging paper lanterns of a variety of colours. There were thick different coloured fabric that hung across the rooftops, creating a kaleidoscope of colours that lit the alleyway. People walked to and fro through this place. Carts carrying all sorts of goods, pulled along by donkeys and horses would pass by them every so often. The Back Flow was loud and full of people, one of Line’s worst nightmares, she unconsciously held onto Ali a little tighter.

  Appearing in front of them was large open gates. There were guards present, checking through the many carts that were coming and going.

  Line pulled Ali aside “what does Kidd look like?” she asked

  “I’d say, he is pretty greasy looking, he has a moustache and a goatee, shoulder length curly black hair. He doesn’t wear armour but a suit vest and suit pants, and without the grease, he would be decently good looking”

  “Alright”

  “should we split up?”

  Line looked at the busy street “I don’t like crowds”

  Ali smiled “it’s alright, they’re harmless”

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  Line looked at Ali.

  “then you wait here, I’ll be back” Ali let her go and walked into the crowd.

  “wait, Ali!” Line tried to follow, but was immediately over taken by the people around her and lost sight of Ali. Slightly panicking, Line moved further through The Back Flow, intending to make her way towards The Station. When she caught sight of him. Kidd was indeed as Ali had described, he was taller than she had imagined but other than that it was the spitting image. Line followed him, trying to catch up, but it was like the people parted for him. Making an easy path for him to walk.

  She wondered how she should go about this, her top priority right now was to arrest him. But with this many people, it was hard to get close. Kidd stopped, stood in front of him was Ali, blocking his path forwards.

  “did you miss me?” Ali asked

  “Ali? Well look here, here I was, about to have someone find you. Yet you came to me. Saves me trouble”

  As he spoke, Line took her chance to close the distance between them.

  Kidd spoke up again “and you’ve brought a friend along”

  Suddenly Kidd threw something behind him towards Line. Line just managed to move out of the way. But in fear of whatever he threw to hit a bystander, she reached out and caught it. It was a small dart. Line, thinking he should ought to be missing the dart he just lost. Out of reconsideration, she threw it back at him. Angling the dart in a way so it wouldn’t hit any bystander. Kidd saw this, and did quite an over-the-top roll to dodge to the side. He them immediately sprinted down The Back Flow. Line didn’t waste any time, and followed after him in a sprint of her own. She was worried he would out run her, not because he was fast. But because he knew The Back Flow better than she did.

  Her sprint was fleeting, as she had to not only dodge the people around her, but also carts and wagons. The more she was here, the more she truly disliked this place. Around this time is when she noticed Ali, her veiw on her would disappear as she moved past behind the carts. Line had an idea. There was a cart ahead of her, moving slowly forwards. Line didn’t slow down her speed, and instead jumped onto the cart. She continued running across it and jumped onto the next one.

  Now she had a clearer view and could make out the figure that was Kidd, Line made her way, jumping from cart to cart. With her skills, she could jump much farther than the regular person could. When she was close enough, she leapt over a group of people’s heads, and slammed into Kidd from behind. She put Kidd into a choke hold, forcing him to pass out. When he was, Line carried him to the side and waited for Ali to catch up.

  Ali was extremely out of breath when she met up with Line “where... where are we putting him?”

  Line thought for a moment “to the monastery”

  “Monastery? What monastery?”

  “my monastery”

  Ali paused “why aren’t we taking him to the authorities?”

  “Because I have some things to ask him. If we take him to the authorities, then I doubt we could interrogate him, since he’s a member of an assassin organisation. You would also be taken away”

  Ali nodded “alright, then your place it is” a pause “wait. Is there even anywhere to put him in a monastery?”

  “of course. There are secret room beneath the monastery, we use those rooms for keeping hold of people we don’t necessarily want taking away just yet”

  Ali raised an eyebrow “you have a prison? In a monastery?”

  “it is not a prison”

  Ali folded her arms.

  “It is not a prison” Line repeated.