A knock on the door made Ella jump. She held a finger to her lips and motioned for Chris to climb down into the hatch on the floor. He nodded, limped towards the opening, and paused. “Aren’t you coming?”

  “I’m right behind you.”

  She stepped to the hatch, waited for Chris to make it safely down, before closing the door and sliding a table over the opening. “I’m sorry, but I can’t risk losing you.”

  Ella walked to the door and tapped on the viewscreen. The homeless man she had seen on her first trip to her practice spot stood on the other side. He knocked again, tapped his foot twice, and then turned to leave.

  Ella pressed the red microphone button. “Can I help you?”

  “No, ma’am.” The man chuckled from a toothless grin.

  “Then what are you doing here?”

  “It’s not what you can do for me. It’s what I can do for you.”

  Ella released the button. “What in the hell?”

  She pressed the button once more. “And what can you do for me?”

  The wrinkled face came closer to the peephole camera as he tried to look inside. “I can deliver a message to you.”

  “From who?”

  “Your friends, you crazy girl.” The man scratched his dirty beard. “That metal-armed fella and his nerdy friend.”

  “Why didn’t he come tell me himself?”

  “Probably had something to do with those other two guys with them.”

  “Other two guys?” Ella’s eyebrows raised. “What did they look like?”

  “Like normal mud covered guys passed out on a stretcher. Although they all smelled like shit, so maybe that wasn’t mud.” The man laughed.

  “How can I be sure you aren’t lying to me?”

  “Eh…to be honest, I don’t care. Metal finger already paid me. It’s no skin off my nose if you believe me or not.”

  Ella released the button, rested her head against the door, and sighed.

  The man knocked again. “You still in there?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Well, do you want the message or not?”

  This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

  Ella clinched her jaws. “Alright. Tell me.”

  “Let me see here. What was it, again?” The man pressed his thumb against his right nostril and blew out a string of snot from the other, that made Ella gag. “Oh right. It’s time to practice.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “How should I know?” The old man shrugged. “Maybe you suck and need to get some more practice time in. I don’t know.”

  “Where were you when you saw my friend?”

  “The same alley I see you wander around every day.”

  Ella buried her face in her hand. “How could I be so stupid?”

  “My guess is that’s why you need to practice more.”

  “I wasn’t talking to you.” Ella sighed. “Hold on.”

  Ella ran to the hatch and opened the door as Chris looked up at her. “Is the coast clear?”

  “Something like that.” She held her hand out. “Come on.”

  “Where are we going?”

  “For a walk.”

  “Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Chris gripped Ella’s hand as he limped up the stairs.

  “No. But something tells me we don’t have a choice.” Ella helped Chris to the door and opened it. “Alright, let’s go.”

  “Do what now?”

  “I thought you were supposed to take us.”

  The man slapped his knee as fake laughter rumbled from deep within him. “Hell no. Your friend only paid me to give you the message. Not to deliver you.”

  “Listen…ummm. What’s your name again?”

  “Tim.”

  “Tim.” Ella placed her hand on the old man’s shoulder. “If you help us, I’ll make sure Hunter pays you.”

  Tim squinted. “Who?”

  “Hunter.” Ella rubbed her forehead. “Metal arm.”

  “Oh right. Alright. Let’s go.”

  Tim led Ella and Chris through the building and out into the street just as five Republic Guards passed by, flanked by two drones. Ella’s breath caught in her chest as she watched one guard stop a female passerby. He held up his wrist band and projected a holographic picture of herself, then flicked to one of Thad, and then to one of Hunter. She grabbed Tim’s shirt and pulled him back inside as the women nodded and pointed to the building they were standing in.

  “You have got to help us get out of here.” Ella pleaded.

  “Now way.” Tim shook his head and backed away from Ella. “Those were Republic Guards. I don’t know what you all have gotten involved in, but I don’t want any part of it.”

  Ella brought her hands to her chest. “I don’t know what Hunter paid you before, but he’ll double it.”

  Tim pursed his lips as he tapped his chin.

  “Triple.”

  “I don’t know. How can I be sure he’s good for it?”

  “He is. I swear.” The roar of drone engines on the other side of the door intensified. “Please! If they catch us, they’ll kill us. You can be a hero.”

  “Hero Tim has a nice ring to it.” Tim paused as he considered her words. “And here my mom said I would never amount to anything.”

  “So, you’ll help us?”

  “Eh sure.” Tim shrugged his bony shoulders. “Why not?”

  Ella wrapped her arms around the old man. “Thank you so much.”

  “Don’t mention it. Now get out of here before I change my mind.” Tim shooed Ella away as he grabbed a patchwork blanket from the floor, draped it over his head, and took a hunched over seat in front of the door as Ella led Chris out another door at the opposite end of the room. “But don’t forget. Triple the money.”

  “I won’t. I promise.” Ella looked over her shoulder just as the door burst open and one-by-one each guard tripped over the old man.

  Ella cringed and pushed Chris forward as the sound of Tim cursing echoed down the darkened hallway.