AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Orin City felt alive. Compared to the simplicity of Ridgeshire, Orin was a gargantuan beast that seemed to come alive at night. The high skyscrapers and the hustle and bustle of pedestrians in the streets. The steady stream of vehicles rushing to and from various locations, letting their horns crescendo into a maddening tune that served as the beat for the backdrop of urban life.
Emma found a small motel where she could relax for a bit. She had driven through the night, and by evening, she was exhausted. She ordered pizza and a drink before taking a long shower and a nap, allowing her to rest before the night’s activities. As she stepped out of the building, Emma noted the nightlife in the city—people hurrying to their cars, or heading out to the fancy restaurants.
“I could get used to this,” Emma said to herself as she stood in front of a boutique’s glass display, looking at a dress left out for people to view.
She was dressed in plain combat jeans, allowing her to move quickly if she needed to shift. They had an elastic waistband that would make sure they stayed attached to her body, regardless. Underneath her denim jacket, she wore a short-sleeved top that fit around her figure, accentuating her breasts. Its neckline had a slight plunge to it, just enough to show a bit of cleavage.
The jeans hung around her hips, accentuating her curvy figure. Emma wasn’t a face you’d easily forget; at least that was something she was told often. She was used to people staring at her body; men, and women too. A man walked up to her, the smell of alcohol on his breath and a dopey smile on his face.
“Evening, sugar. You need help with something?” he asked in a slurred voice that told Emma all she needed to know.
“I’m fine,” she replied without making eye contact with him. He was already on spaghetti legs from the alcohol, and Emma was certain that even a child would be able to tip him over.
“You got a pretty…” The man let out a hiccup as he tried to follow her. “Face.”
Emma made her way away from him, heading toward the address she had gotten from the woman at the counter at the motel. She had asked for a specific kind of bar, where she would find all sorts of people. Emma was certain she would run into one local paranormal there.
She made her way to the bar, hearing the music emanating from the small brick building. Emma pulled her collar up to her neck and walked into the place. The smell of beer and sweat instantly hit her nostrils as she walked in. Emma made her way up to the counter, moving past the bodies of people who writhed to the music that came from all around them.
“I’ll take a Bud,” Emma said to the man. He looked up at her, nodded, and turned around to get the beer from the fridge.
As she drank, Emma scanned the room, looking for the type of person who could know a thing or two about what she wanted. She knew she could ask the bartender, and he would know a thing or two about Orin City, but Emma was certain he wouldn’t know anything about the paranormal presence.
As she took a sip of the drink, she picked up on a smell. Someone had just walked into the bar. She looked up to see a sleezy-looking man, his hair going bald. He walked with a limp and had a scar across his face, one that cut across his eyebrow,nose, and the side of his lip. Emma wasn’t sure what he was, but he had dealings with other creatures. She could smell it on him. He walked over to her, smirking deviously.
“Well hello,” he said, sliding into the seat beside her. “You’re new here.”
“I’m looking for someone,” Emma began. “A person who’s known to find other people. I was told this is the place to find that kind of person.”
“Have you filed a missing person?” he said, leaning closer to her.
Emma put the butt of her drink to the man’s head, nudging him back gently. “The person I’m looking for doesn’t want to be found.”
“Oh, that kind of person, yeah?” he asked, showing his crooked teeth through his smile. “Yeah, I can take you to him. But, let me finish my drink first.”
Emma fought the urge to ask what happened to his face. She couldn’t sense heat emanating from him, so it was obvious he wasn’t a Dragon. She sniffed the air, picking up a faint foul smell that lingered around him. As she turned to the man, he rolled his eyes.
“I’m sure you’re wondering where I got these scars,” he said in a horrible attempt to replicate the iconic voice.
“That was a terrible attempt, but now that you’re offering, yeah,” Emma replied.
“Ever heard of Kanai?”
Emma shook her head no.
“Powerful demon, didn’t take shit from anyone. I once had a run-in with him, and he had a nasty trick that stoppedus from healing. So, I got the ass-whupping of my life, and he left me this.” The man finished his beer, setting the bottle down. “Name’s Caleb.”
“Nice to meet you, Caleb,” Emma replied.
“What, no name?” he said, smiling. “Alrighty. Come on, with me. Out back.”
Emma let him go first as she listened to all of the sounds around them as they made their way into the back storage area of the bar. The bartender didn’t seem to mind as she walked past him, turning and heading down a row of stairs to a small basement. Caleb walked up to a large steel box and shoved it over with one hand, revealing a hole underneath it.
“Here we are,” he said, gesturing to it. “After you.”
Emma looked into the hole, seeing it descended into darkness. She took a step back, looking at Caleb. “Where does it go?”
“Way way down underground,” Caleb said with a smirk.
