Thread: Secrets (Broomhandle45 and Selini)

People were told a lot of things, and it was usually best to believe all of it. Hannah didn't blame them, nor was she going to. Serenity was exactly what it sounded like peaceful, unified...a utopia in a world where that was simply a joke word. A population of fifty thousand people was an impressive number, and it was all thanks to a massive wall that surrounded them. People didn't wonder what it took to build the roads outside of Serenity, people didn't question what those drivers of the convoy may or may not have seen, or the people who kept them safe did to make sure they saw nothing. People never thought about how much it took to make more barriers, to make more ignorant people. No, ignorant was safe and alive. Knowing was danger and death. Coming to Serenity was a disturbing breath of fresh air that someone as bitter and rough as her didn't know what to do with. Everyone was always so damned happy, she couldn't help but crack a half honest smile at their politeness. She wasn't here for pleasure, however...she was here for business. On the good side of thirty, Hannah didn't have a last name. A lot of people in her former line of work didn't. She was a woman who once possessed a youthful vitality, a pointless exuberance for her job. Now, her beauty was shadowed by the hard reality of life, her curly blonde hair currently in a messy ponytail as she stuffed her hands into her worn jacket pockets. Serenity was a bustling place, filled with buildings made when technology was better. Now, they were in states of constant disrepair, some had been cleared out and replaced with newer, less impressive buildings. Some had yet to be cleared out at all. On the south end of Serenity, a place where the poorer people lived...the ignorant happiness was still there, even if it was more than a little forced. She took a casual glance around, and then at the house in front of her. At one point, it was probably some kind of store that had all kinds of items, but as time wore on...it was retrofitted, chopped up and made into a house. It was a weird amalgam of new and old, and all of it looked like shit. She sighed faintly, moving swiftly up the creaky steps as her green eyes narrowed toward the door. That familiar feeling made her skin crawl, but she suppressed it with a light swallow. It never got easier feeling it. She knocked on the door twice, and the door opened without much hesitation. Magic. Dark, dark magic. The people within the house were dirty, wearing tattered clothing and grinning at her with their diseased teeth and dirty gums. Some of them were hacking up blood. She knew what she saw. Adepts, people who thought they had a talent for magic...and instead gave their souls away for a fraction of power. It would eat away at them until there was nothing left. When the world went to shit so many years ago, there were plenty of people who could use magic. If there were now, they kept quiet...and they certainly didn't turn into half dead masses. She pushed past the mess of dirty, desperate people and headed further into the house. There, she met the real magic-users. Men dressed in slightly better clothes, but walked like they knew better and they were made better for it. Ah, Miss Hannah. The leader greeted, an older man...with pale skin and burning eyes. If it was her old job, he'd be shot on the spot. But it wasn't, but that didn't stop her fingers from twitching inside her jacket, however. The urge to draw and put two into his smug face was almost overwhelming. She wondered if it was because she didn't like him, or it was just an old habit? His hand settled on a large black case on the table, patting it fondly. I requested your services specifically, because I need this delivered to Dead End Bend as soon as possible. Hannah quirked an eyebrow at that, her posture tightening a fraction. Dead End Bend? All the way on the end of the First National Road? That was a trip, to say the least. As soon as possible, Hannah repeated, glancing down at the case. It takes at least a month for the convoy to get from one end to the other, maybe less than that if they get lucky. Way stations and small little villages were popping up everywhere to help reduce that strain, but there were some places that were absolutely inhospitable to people...for more reasons than one. How do you expect me to do that? A reasonable question, Miss Hannah...rest assured, we have prepared a transport for you. He smiled, motioning for one of his men to take the suitcase. It seemed oddly heavy, which made her curious. And...somewhat grateful she wouldn't have to lug that damn thing everywhere, but she followed the man out behind the back, where a surprise awaited her. It was a car, one built for the rough and tumble roads and situations outside Serenity. These were usually given to Pathfinders, or the occasional wall patrol team. It was suspiciously absent of any markings...hm. Half of your payment is already in the vehicle, The older man supplied, as one of his underlings settled the suitcase on the back with a faint grunt, shutting the door. You will get the other half if you reach Dead End Bend in less than a month, Miss Hannah. A fairly generous offer, which made her slightly paranoid. But she nodded all the same, and headed towards the car. She had done worse for less, she supposed. Oh, and Miss Hannah? The man smiled, his eyes glittering with magical power as she glanced back. You must not, under any circumstances, open the suitcase. It wasn't usually her policy to ask questions, but she furrowed her brow a moment and slid inside the car without answering. The man seemed satisfied with that answer as she started it up and it rumbled to life. Honestly? She didn't really want to know what was inside it, especially since she was helping a bunch of shady magicians. Whatever it was, she didn't need to know. Still, it was nice having her own vehicle. The Wall Patrol gave her a weird look when she drove up in what appeared to be an exact copy of their own four-by-fours, but it wasn't anything they could really help. The world outside of Serenity was a dangerous, horrible place...but the few miles before Serenity reminded her of old stories about Elysian Fields, the beauty surrounded by Hell. It was a lazy drive in such boring, but peaceful surroundings...but every so often, her eye would catch behind her to the suitcase. Ignorance was bliss, but sadly...that had been burnt out of her a long time ago. Hannah was almost certain she saw that suitcase move. No matter, it wasn't important. Her job was to get it to Dead End Bend, that was it. Right? Right. Right. ...But her eyes still lingered, every so often. Even as she stopped at the gate for Paradise, the first little town that still had blissful ignorance-really, they all did, but Serenity and Paradise didn't have to try as hard- she pulled into a tiny little inn, designed mostly for the convoy and other occasional travelers. She tried to distract herself about it, by getting something to eat and taking the suitcase in with her to the small, single bed room. It didn't move when she carried it in, but it was surprisingly heavy. It was a strange suitcase, at first blush. It had a carrying handle, but she saw no actual clasps to shut it and close it...or anything actually preventing it from opening up except for a single, polished silver button. There was some sort of etched character on it that she wasn't familiar with. She probably stared at the suitcase for hours, until finally...it moved. Not subtly, or faintly. But the entire bed shook gently, she moved forward carefully and ran her hands over the smooth frame. This was it, wasn't it? How Hannah finally died, not by old age...but by her own stupid curiosity that kept gnawing at her like a parasite. What was she transporting, and why in whatever gods name was it moving ? Something told her to open it, but she didn't know what...or why. She licked her dry lips, and pressed her finger against the button. Almost immediately, a thin needle slammed into her finger and she recoiled back with a hiss of pain. The etched character filled with her stolen blood, and the entire suitcase let out a hiss. But it wasn't a mechanical hiss. Her ears started ringing, her eyes started watering...she was hearing things, whispers and voices. Arcane magic slowly seeped from the suitcase as it slowly opened up. Hannah moved forward, even though everything in her body was telling her to run. What was there...surprised her. Her green eyes widened in faint shock. She was carrying a...naked girl?