Colin's posts

"I realize that, but we need your talents." the man behind the desk responded.

He then handed her a file, to which she accepted and looked through.

"Local law enforcement cannot track these people." he said. "They've done nothing more than theft right now, but we can't be sure thing will get out of hand." he went on.

"From the reports inside, we can determine they are mages, at the very least." he continued.

"And the Triad and Council have deferred this case to us, as they're both currently dealing with a massive scandal. You know the one I'm referring to." he then said, shaking his head.

"Regardless, your talents are just what we need for tracking these individuals, but I realize that doing it alone may be a tall order, even for you." he continued.

"So I'm allowing you to choose your partner for this assignment."

"Yeah, see you later." Lindsay replied as she headed off.

He then looked out the window, and sighed.

"At least the weather's nice." he said.

'For whatever THAT'S worth...' he then thought.

-A little over a week later, in another location-

A woman made her way down the hallways of what seemed to be an office building, until she made her way into a receptionist's office. She was told to sit and wait for a moment... so she did.

And she was only waiting for a few moments, before the secretary spoke.

"Agent Sharp will see you now."

Ryker just sighed deeply, and hung his head a little.

"....right." he said.

"You're right." he said further. "I AM overreacting." he admitted.

"I just... worry about you is all." he told Eke.

"Perhaps I shouldn't. Not as much, anyway. You... you can take care of yourself." he went on.

'With a little demonic help.' rang through his head.

'Shut it.' Ryker mentally snapped back.

"Well, to be fair, I AM better at bouncing back from fatal injuries than you are." Lindsay responded.

"...would be a fire hazard, though..." he then admitted.

"Regardless, as long as nothing's seriously wrong, and you're okay." he then said.

"Guess this means you definitely won't be going on a run for a little longer." he went on.

"Which is fine. I'll make sure we have food." he assured her.

A few seconds later, she heard his voice call to her from across the space.

"Hey!" he called back.

"Over here!" he said.

The two of them then started to make their way towards each other, meeting in the middle.

"Hey again." Lindsay replied.

"What happened there?" he asked.

"Was the floor broken or something?" he asked further.

"Anna!?" Lindsay called down.

"What happened!?" he asked.

"Do you need help!?" he asked further, as he scanned what he could see.

'Damn... this is dusty...' he thought.

He then noticed the blood that was left.

'...that hurt her...' he thought further, concerned now.

"Are you badly hurt!?" he then asked her. "I see blood up here!"

Lindsay had already been racing towards where Anna had called from, but suddenly froze when he heard the thud, and then the silence.

"....ANNA!?" he called out.

"ANNA!" he then shouted, as he picked up his pace immensely.

"ANNA!" he repeated, as he tore through the warehouse, honing in on where he'd heard the noise come from.

He then raced towards the room he'd heard her call from, and dashed inside, unsure as to what he'd find.

"........tomorrow." Ryker responded.

"But now I wonder if that's such a good idea." he then admitted.

"That cough was worse." he said. "WAY worse." he went on.

"You're gasping for air now, Eke." he continued.

"What happens if it goes further, and I'm at work, and you're alone?" he asked.

"....no. I know what'd happen. And it'd be unacceptable." he then mumbled, sadness and anger in his tone.

Lindsay shook his head.

"Nope." he said.

"Go ahead." he told her.

"I'm going to stay out here and keep looking around." he went on.

"See if I can't find anything useful." he continued.

"I doubt it... but anything might be handy that was left behind." he shrugged. "It seems a lot was left when this place was shut down." he muttered.

"A shame it's been going to waste." he then commented.

Ryker just shrugged.

"Not much." he replied.

"....not much at all." he said further.

He then put a finger in his mouth and looked like he was picking at his teeth slightly... but nothing came of it.

"Anyway, I have a job now." he told him.

"That construction company. REALLY good money."

".......if you say so." Ryker responded.

After a few more minutes, Eke was handed a plate of food.

It had mashed potatoes on it, as well as mixed veggies on the side, and 2 thick steaks as well. Ryker then set down a loaf of fresh bread, with soft butter in a small dish as well.

"Let me know if that's not enough." he told him.

"I have some more steaks ready to cook up."

"......that cough is bad." Ryker said, hearing the cough.

"Seriously, that sounds awful." he told him, concern in his tone.

"Are you all right?" he asked.

"Does it hurt at all?" he asked further.

"...there anything I can do to help...?" he then asked, but this time more quietly.

"I might be able to manipulate people." Lindsay replied.

"If I go to the same places you did, or near them, and scream about a brown-haired kid with your sweater on stealing something from me, they may chase after where I said you went." he told her.

"Leaving me to pick what I can while they're on a wild goose chase." he explained.

"It might work, and even if they don't chase after you, they don't know about ME, so no harm done." he finished.

Lindsay sighed in relief, and nodded.

"All right." he said.

"That's fair enough." he told her.

"....and I think I know a way that I can do it." he then said further, thinking about it.

"But it depends on whether or not they saw you." he continued.

"Did they?" he asked. "Which is to say, did they get a good hard look at you?" he clarified.