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Chapter 27

  At the same time as Mr Squeeks was acting as a deliveryman, an eccentric squad had descended upon the sewers.

  The foursome was originally only a duo, a pair of rising stars who had finally managed to acquire the paperwork they needed. To be able to cross District borders, a permit was needed, as travel between the Districts was heavily restricted for the safety of humanity.

  That being what the masses were told.

  The paperwork they had acquired allowed them a temporary travel pass for work purposes. Convincing the Central Government that their form of work, was indeed actually work, turned into a mammoth task with laborious amounts of effort being needed.

  Going by his alias, the live-streamer Little Quacks was wearing his trademark bright yellow waterproof jacket. By his side was his ever faithful 'friend' who wore a bright pink waterproof jacket. The friend in question, was actually Little Quacks most trusted servant who had been in his employ since childhood, and grown up with the young master.

  Little Quacks had a reputable 'street' image, one that had gained him a large online following, and no end of die hard fans, although his 'street' image was only that, a mere image. He was in fact Bruno De La Pato, the son of wealthy merchants. He discarded this identity and created his alter ego to rebel against his strict parents. Firmly showing that he could stand on his own two feet.

  The other two people in their group were two security guards that had been arranged by his parents. Upon learning his son wanted to cross Districts, his father sent his personal security guards, although they were never actually told that the location they were travelling would be the sewers. Standing at an imposing 6ft4, both men were wearing a black suit, and also maintaining a barely held back look of rage. The sewage waters had submerged their legs up to their shins, with the running count of three separate pieces of faeces having floated past the pair.

  Little Quacks' voice jolted the security guards out of their dire thoughts.

  "Say Giles, have you made the appropriate preparations for the recording equipment?"

  Holding a top of the range video camera, the pink clad man dutifully responded.

  "Yes Young Master, the camera is connected to your family's main server for optimal coverage"

  Giving a nod of approval, Little Quacks replied before screaming not long after.

  "Good, I shall prove to my father that I have the ability to provide for myself. Now then, we shall try to prove the veracity of the suspected ARGHHHHH!!"

  At that moment, a rat bolted past them, a pristine white envelope within its mouth, its cleanliness standing in stark contrast to its surroundings and holder.

  The security guards acted instantly and drew their side-arms, fully intent on taking their anger out on the hapless rodent.

  BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!

  Four distinct shots rang out, the muzzle flashes lighting up the sewers, with each flash and subsequent sparks showing that the shots missed.

  When the security guards turned back to face the person they were supposed to be protecting, they saw him clutching his ears in pain. By his side, Giles had his fingers jammed squarely within his ears and looked completely calm.

  Little Quacks wanted to shout out in anger at his security, but the memory of the rat running so close to him, coupled with his ringing ears left him weak willed.

  "That, that thing had an arm in its mouth! I saw it clearly, a woman's pure white arm!"

  Giles pulled his face slightly and shook his head internally.

  "Young Master, that was a Rattus Norvegicus, more commonly known as a sewer rat. It was carrying an envelope, not a woman's hand, so please be at ease Young Master"

  Straightening his body, Little Quacks casually brushed his hand down his chest to smooth the creases out of his jacket. With a look of superiority, he turned away from them and replied.

  "Oh.....Just as I thought. Always remember Giles, I will test you often. Now then, we shall begin"

  Giles immediately turned the video camera on, with Little Quacks centre frame, and only a torch light illuminating a short distance into the sewer tunnel.

  Little Quacks personality did a complete reversal, fully delving into his alternate internet persona.

  "Yooooo, it's ya boy Little Quacks!........As ya can see, this ain't no duck pond yo!....I'm here in da sewers, crossing Districts in search of da monster!......Last time I showed ya a ghost, but this time.....It's gonna be a monster! I know ya all heard about that man eatin monster in da sewers, am I right, or am I quackin right!"

  Maintaining the fearless look on his face, Little Quacks made his way through the sewers. As he made his way forwards, only his back was visible to the camera, if the viewers could of seen his face at that moment, he most definitely would of lost face.

  Ahead was pitch black, the torch light barely halting the darkness from consuming him whole. Little Quacks had a face of terror, he knew full well that there was a monster in the sewers, only that its last sighting was a few Districts away, and as such he should not run into it. Plus, he has his two armed guards off camera.

  There was one problem to his frame of mind that morning though, the pocket mirror that his grandmother had gifted him for his 12th birthday had now cracked. When his beloved elder gave him the present, she informed him it was a Fate Mirror, an object that can predict a great doom to its owner. It is a fate that cannot be avoided, only in exceptional circumstances when one outside of fate intervenes.

  Now with this occurrence, Little Quacks would of happily called off the live stream, and indulged himself in worldly pleasures, but.....His viewers were expecting a show, and he could not let them down. He was stuck between a rock and a hard place, and his feeble mind instead convinced himself that the Fate Mirror broke because it was old.

  Turning back to the camera, his pale face gave off the illusion he was a hungry ghost that prowled the sewers looking for victims. His viewers assumed it was bad lighting. Looking at his smiling face, who would believe that his body was shaking and his manhood had retreated from the unknown terror that his mind was telling him would swallow him alive.

  At the same time as the underground adventure was happening, a very happy woman was receiving a phone call, her eyes full of equal parts lust and longing.

  Henrietta was stood around the corner from her Guild, nestled within a shadow, she conversed on her phone.

  "Are all the arrangements completed?......Paperwork, documentation? Nothing can be wrong, not a single error is allowed...........Good, good, I'll bring him to the docks when I'm prepared.......I've added a bonus in the payment. It's a pleasure working with you as always"

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  Ending the call, Henrietta could not help but lean back on the wall, a satisfied expression on her face. Whispering to herself, she slowly began to correct and hide her emotions.

  "My beautiful Red, you're finally mine!"

  With a slight hum escaping her lips, she made her way into the Guild.

  Noticing her arrival, the Guild Master looked at her with sparkling eyes, as if she was the most perfect treasure. This strange gaze sent a shiver down her spine and spurred her to talk first.

  "Guild Master, I want to take some time off. Just a little holiday"

  The Guild Master stood there with his mouth wide open, the words he was condensing stayed caught in his throat, before they chocked him twice and vanished. After finally closing his mouth, he replied.

  "Ahhh, Henrii, you want a holiday? You have never taken time off before......How long are you wanting?"

  Pursing her lips, Henrietta was seemingly silently fighting within herself for how long she wanted. Obviously if it was an ideal world, she would rather have her lifetime not working, just bathing in love with her dearest Red.

  But, real life often hits ones dreams harshly.

  "How about 2, no, 3! yeah 3 should do"

  Relaxing his shoulders, the Guild Masters whole change in posture showed his relief upon hearing that she only wanted 3 days off from work.

  "Of course you can Henrii! You have never had time off before, you're our hardest working Guild Member. 3 days off is the least we can do for you.......After you're back, there's a slight problem we ne........"

  The Guild Masters words were halted by the incredulous look he received from Henrietta. She looked at him like he was a performing monkey, who was failing miserably at his only job.

  "Days!? Guild Master, I meant years!"

  "BAHAHAHAHAH!"

  A sudden burst of uproarious laughter came from across the room. Jesse was sat on her swivel chair, making full use of it as she span around, her laughter reaching every corner of the room.

  Jesse's laughter did not effect Henrietta, but for the Guild Master, each sound of laughter felt like a drill revolving within his brain.

  "Henrii, 3 years, it is a bit excessive, no? People usually take days, or maybe a couple of weeks, but NEVER years!"

  Henrietta stood with her back straight, her imposing aura not relenting in the slightest as she looked at the man in front of her.

  "Hmm, okay then, because I am kind and value our friendship Guild Master....I'll only take 2 years then"

  Imitating a fish with Tourettes, the Guild Masters mouth opened and closed silently, while his left eye constantly twitched.

  The negotiations had now begun.

  "Henrii, Henrii, 2 week"

  "Hmph, 18 months"

  "3 week"

  "14 months"

  "4 week"

  "19 months"

  "Huh.......Henrii, you're not meant to go back up"

  With a disdainful look on her face, her eyes bored into the Guild Masters. She looked down on him as if he was an ant.

  "I'm the one negotiating here Guild Master, I know what I'm doing"

  Holding his hands up in defence, the Guild Master glanced to the side at his precious niece, only to see her still laughing at his misfortune, but only now doing it silently.

  "I know you know how to negotiate, I am not saying you don't, I promise....But, we are both negotiating, so how about a month? That's longer than anyone has ever taken as a holiday by a large margin.....And.....I'll also give you one favour, no matter what ever it is! What do you th......"

  "DEAL!"

  Henrietta's abrupt shout shocked the Guild Master, but also made him feel a wave of relief wash over himself. With a smile on his face, he could not shake the nagging feeling that he had fallen into a spiders web, so much so that even his skin felt sticky. He knew it was only a mental feeling, but it still made him uncomfortable.

  "Okay Henrii, now that is over with.....I need you to kill a monster for me, for the Guild. With you carrying it out, it will be great publicity"

  Not replying to him, Henrii walked over to Jesse, a broad smile on her face. Jesse matched her gaze and fought to control the smile on her face that wanted to burst out. A second later and the noise of a crisp slap rang out, with the duo of Henrii and JJ giving each other a high five.

  "It was exactly like you said. Tell me about this monster JJ"

  "He He. I told you he was a push over........This monster wasn't a high risk threat at first, plus it was residing in another District.....But, using the sewer system it has started to become a lot more mobile, and seemingly showing interest in wanting to come to our District......From the intel we have, it seemingly was scared of coming this way, but for some reason that's now changed, so it could come to our District at any point"

  Jesse's exuberant mood had calmed down and she was now displaying some rarely seen concern for the matter at hand. With her fingers becoming a blur across her keyboard, multiple reports from different sources were all congregating into an easy to read manner on the screen.

  Henrietta had a thought when she heard Jesse's words, a pang of worry striking at her heart. Her grand plan was about to come to fruition, and now some lowly creature was wanting to ruin it.

  "JJ, you said that monster was wary of the sewers over here? Why do you think that is? Has anyone else gone into the sewers to investigate it?"

  Jesse shrugged her shoulders, her palms raised and her cheeks puffed out. She was also baffled on what could scare the monster away, and why it had now changed. Glancing over Henrietta's shoulder, she looked to her uncle.

  "I haven't sent anyone to investigate Henrii. No deaths have been happening, or disturbances, so it can't be another monster in the sewers that was scaring it away.....One of the police reports that was sent over a while ago had something interesting on it though......A building housing a monster and large quantities of its blood was destroyed recently, so we thought it may be a territorial thing"

  Henrietta nodded inwardly after hearing what the Guild Master said, before she mumbled to herself.

  "Good, good, good boy"

  Henrietta clamped a hand on the shoulder of the Guild Master, a look of contentedness on her face. She had figured it out, and knew that wayward blood and subsequent drug was shielding her darling Red. Now all she had to do was to sweep her bride away before the shit show begins.

  The Guild Master was dumbstruck by Henrietta's action and lightly said words, revealing an unseen side of her. At that very moment though, a loud alarm noise escaped from the computers speakers next to Jesse.

  WHOOOP!....WHOOOP!....WHOOOP!

  Everyone looked at the computer screen, as Jesse quickly muted the alarm and checked the report.

  Jesse spoke up with her shoulders slumped, her slender frame shrinking further.

  "Henrii, it has crossed over to our District...I'm sorry, I know you had plans"

  Henrietta placed her hand on Jesse's head and lightly ruffled her hair, her voice carrying a soothing tone with it.

  "Silly girl, what are you apologising for.....This, yeah, this may work out quite well actually.....Damsel in distress it is"

  ""Damsel?""

  The Guild Master and Jesse spoke at the same time, before Jesse suddenly remembered something.

  "Ahhhh, I forgot about those idiots!...They're still livestreaming down there, I was watching them earlier"

  On the computer screen, a video sharing website had been minimised, and at that moment, it displayed the current viewer count at the bottom. The ever increasing numbers were now too large to fit in the limited space. An ominous feeling welled up in everyone's hearts upon noticing that.

  Jesse brought the livestream up and almost immediately their ears were assaulted.

  "Arghhh.....Fuck...Shit....Damn!......I'm sorry, please don't eat me!......I'm a friendly duck I promise!......ROARRRRR!........BANG!...BANG!"

  The screen showed the live video feed of the up and coming live streamer Little Quacks. He was currently in the sewers, being chased by a snake like monster that was nearly the size of the entire sewer tunnel.

  If no one knew any better, they would of swore they were watching a poorly made horror video.....But everyone was well aware that a tragedy was happening beneath their feet.

  Little Quacks dressed in bright yellow, and his friend wearing bright pink, were the most delicious meals the monster had ever seen.

  How can something so bright not taste nice!

  The camera was shaking non stop, the noise of cursing and laboured breathing was interjected with the monsters roar, and the sound of gun shots. The two security guards who had remained off screen thus far, were now taking the limelight as they ran behind their master, constantly letting loose bullets from their pistols. The random gunshots were barely working at keeping the monster at bay, but were unfortunately completely insufficient at injuring, or at least scaring the monster away permanently.

  Henrietta stared at the screen in anger, her eyes fixed on the small 2D map that showed the route the monster was heading. It was going straight towards her heart.

  Not wasting anymore time, Henrietta swiped a comms unit off the desk and placed it into her ear, before taking up a small electronic tablet. Just as she was about to leave, she suddenly stopped and looked back to Jesse and the Guild Master.

  "Make sure this livestream is turned off. I don't want anyone to see me strike.....Ermm, those idiots may get hurt, that will be bad publicity....If it's not ended when I strike, I'm quitting the Guild!"

  Henrietta's words instantly smashed apart the Guild Masters vision of his most outstanding Adventurer, slaying the monster and saving those idiots, thus boosting their popularity......Now his vision was filled with the same scene, but the brightly coloured idiots dead on screen, and Henrii quitting the Guild.

  Jesse heard her words and the threat at the end was like a thunderbolt to her heart, her eyes wide as thousands of different scenarios flashed through her mind. Then she arrived at the correct one. Jesse's fingers became a blur, even going as far as turning on an another monitor and throwing up several more programmes.

  "Don't worry Henrii, I'll definitely shut down those idiots livestream, I promise!".

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