Chapter 38: A Disturbance

"Howard, is that you?" Vicky laughed, sitting at a coffee shop on Montgomery street outside of Sealed Hell Prison. "I swear. What I'd do to slap that face of yours again."

Vicky saw a flash of light coming towards her before everything went back. A taser gently touched against her back, causing her to instantly disappear into her dreams.

The two barista's at the counter wiped the sweat off their head and gave a thumbs up to the cop putting chains and a blindfold over Vicky. A few seconds later, a car showed up, and the prison guard that deserved the award of the century, got tossed in the back of a van.

Swoosh!

A large portal appeared in the center of the coffee shop a second later as six figures exited it. Howard, Monica, Barabin, Reece, Una, and Kellen appeared, a cloud of smoke lighting off their bodies, as the two coffee barista's walked over towards them.

"Here, on the house," A pink haired girl with an apron drifted over to them and handed a cup of scalding hot coffee to Reece. "Glad we got here early, boss. Some strange lady wouldn't leave, so we had to call Indell to send an enforcer to put her to sleep."

"Thanks, Yena. You have five hours left right?" Reece had sent three of her girls ahead last night to make sure no ambushes greeted them in the morning. "You can take the shift off and go have fun now. Just make sure in 5 hours no one is around to see you disappear from the face of the Earth."

"Yes, mam!" Yena handed her a map, "To make things easier, Indell said he'll meet you here."

"What's that van?" Howard said, scratching his head, watching it speed off and jump off a curb. "I-i thought I saw someone familiar in it."

"Guys, go in the back," Reece patted Howard and Monica on their backs. "Go have a feast. There is more fresh food back there than you get in a year in the Furnace."

"Come on Howard. They don't want us teenagers to get in their way," Monica pulled Howard's hand and walked back into the coffee shops storage area.

Back in the room,

Barabin nervously looked outside, watching all the passerbys with a strange fear on his his face. Holding out his hand, a small sword began to form, spinning in his fist as he nervously shook.

"How strong are you here?" Reece said, wrapping her arm around Barabin and pushing their chairs together, causing their worlds to momentarily join. "If some cops came, could you blow them up for us?"

"I-I'm much weaker than I thought. However, what are those metal boxes moving?" Barabin pointed at a bus screeching passed a pissed pedestrian before it ran a red light. "Why does the air quality feel so bad? Did someone suck the life force out of the planet?"

"That's just pollution," Reece said, leaning her head against Barabin's shoulder, "Anyways, you made any progress on drinking my blood yet? It will make you big and strong."

"The other three are strong,�� Barabin gently patted Reece's hand, "Besides, if I put my teeth against your neck, I-I might lose control."

"We're on the surface, Sally told me it's the perfect time. Even Howard can beat you up here," Reece brushed aside her hair and gently grabbed Barabin's head, "Come on. We might get killed if you don't bite me! Just take a sip!"

"No!" Barabin slammed his hand down into the table, splitting it in half. A few pedestrians turned to look at him, one talking on his phone, before he rushed off in fear.

Barabin's eyes had turned bright yellow, causing him to look like an apparition in the glass windows of Montgomery Coffee Shop. Sighing from this response, Reece patted him on the back before walking over to Harley. Tossing a address registry down on the oak table, Reece winked before heading to the back.

"She-she wants me to try and find him, doesn't she," Harley annoyingly picked up the registry, turning to the last page. "Brother probably wouldn't want to hear from me. I'm not calling him." Harley had been with her brother the day before she got taken to the Furnace.

He had spent years trying to hide her wings from her mother and father. Whether it was morning or night, Quent brought her food, magazines, and even helped her bandage her wings so she could get away with a date. However, because of her wings, she had never even been truly taken into the embrace of a man.

'If i called him right now, the Exland Empire would probably question him for a few days. However, maybe if I can order him something.' Harley picked up the registry and turned to their favorite restaurant, 'Somber Salads.' Picking up the phone, she dialed, seeing her brother jumping in front of her and protecting her from those swordsman in black suits.

'He-he deserve the most expensive meal. Heh, whomever this Vicky is. Thanks for the thousand collarin bills.'

'However, it's a shame that I can't see him. what I'd do to give that bastard a kiss on the cheek. Ugh, why can't I just be normal!'

Harley grinded her hand into a ball and finally pushed herself to a stand. Walking into the back room, she entered, only to find Howard and Monica cuddling against the wall.

"I-I don't believe it. I can't turn a corner without finding you two cuties," Monica smiled and sat down on Howard's left side. "We have three hours. Monica, at least let me sit on his shoulder."

"Hmph, we're on the surface. Why don't you go find a boyfriend real quick?" Monica said, hugging Howard in her arms. "There are millions of guys here."

"I have wings. They wouldn't touch me," Harley wiped a tear from her eye, forcing herself to smile. "Just-just ignore me then. It's fine."

"Monica, it's just my shoulder," Howard said, pouting. "What's so wrong that?"

"It's not just your shoulder. After your shoulder it will be your lips!" Monica turned angrily away from Harley and crossed her arms. "Ugh, fine! Just his shoulder!"

"I-I had a brother once," Harley said, crossing her arms. "He was super handsome, and protected me from the evils of the world. He-he is the only guy I ever touched. Isn't that terrible?"

Harley dropped her head on Howard's shoulder, and stared at Monica, "Just-just let me stay like this for a little while." Harley grabbed Monica's hand as she scoffed and turned to the side. "I-I'm not too heavy am I?"

"Nope, happy to take some weight off you!" Howard said with a smile, "Now, what's happening with Indell?"

"He's almost here," Reece pushed Barabin into the room. "However, Barabin here is apparently already a fugitive. Looks like someone called the cops and things just got a whole lot more complicated."