The Trial of the Ghost

Chapter 3: First Day

Allelosin was called into Bui- Mr. Paitrewhi’s office for one reason and one reason only; Mr. Paitrewhi was the only managing editor at the paper who could talk to him for more than five minutes without wanting to fire him, courtesy of being his mother’s friend, his father’s former friend, and knowing him his entire life. Well, beginning and the most recent years.

Losin’s coworkers were constantly going to HR to complain about anything that could get him in trouble–that was how much they hated working with him. He could acknowledge that he was difficult. He wasn’t good at social situations. He had been raised in a blunt, no nonsense environment where white lies got people killed. And he was still trying to get into the habit of curbing his tongue.

Trying might have been a loaded word. He didn’t like white lies, they felt too much like manipulating people to like him and that felt like something his father would do.

He would never become his father. He’d kill himself before it came to that. He had got into journalism to take down his father, to make sure the world knew what he did to innocent kids-

Focus La’dyliap. If Buiyikyuk wants to speak with you, you did something. What was it?

He honestly couldn’t think of anything. He’d been quiet recently. He’d been doing as a friend of Rox’s apparently recommended (he’d never met this girl and the idea that Rox talked about his work problems to his friends was worrying), starting with just being quiet if he had nothing nice to say. Better to be closed off than insulting.

What could he have possibly done this time?

When he arrived at Buiyikyuk’s office, he hesitated. There was a girl in there, speaking with him. He could see long, loose, dark brown, s-shaped curls and was that a bubblegum pink blouse? He’d understand magenta, but bubblegum pink? Who wore that color outside of middle school? Or a party?

He rolled his eyes and stepped away from the window. He was not about to be caught snooping, but this was insane. No one she interviewed would take her seriously. Then again, that could be an advantage. Perceived incompetence got people to admit things they wouldn’t to someone in a suit. Maybe she was actually a genius… No. Stop that. You’re thinking like father. What people wear is not your business. Try to be nice, or you’re actually going to end up fired. He glanced in the window again. Yep. It was still a long sleeve bubblegum pink blouse with a collar similar to the one on his button up.

“Losin!” Buiyikyuk called. “Stop spying and get in here!”

His mouth thinned. Caught. Shit. He opened the door and walked in. Buiyikyuk motioned to the seat next to the girl, which Losin took with caution.

“Mr. Paitrewhi,” he said carefully, trying to keep his tone respectful, “you wanted to see me?”

Buiyikyuk flinched. “You being respectful is weird, Losin.”

“Sorry, sir,” Losin quipped back.

“Ugh. That’s even worse.”

Losin rolled his eyes. Buiyikyuk was an old family friend. He and his husband were over for dinner at Losin’s mom’s once a month. At least. This man had seen Losin grow up. Had seen Losin vomit all over his father as a baby. Had laughed at it. “Fine Yuki. What did I do this time? Shall we guess?” Losin’s eyes narrowed. “Did I say someone’s dyed hair was unflattering? Cause I was right and neon blue is not Darat’s color.”

“No, Losin,” Buiyikyuk replied, a warning underscoring his words. “There’s someone joining our staff that I’d like you to meet.”

And, although Allelosin La’dyliap didn’t know it, the world held its breath as Buiyikyuk gestured to the girl next to him.

The world exhaled when Allelosin La’dyliap turned and took in Kra N’tek.

First, he noticed her eyes. They were deep, brown, lighter than her curly hair. Then, he noticed that her skin was a warm brown, a much richer color than his brown skin, which he often called dull in his head–something, he noticed, he’d never said about his sister’s, despite her shade being nearly identical to his. The new girl’s reminded him of his mom, even though his mother was a lot darker. The girl’s skin had a similar richness that his skin didn’t. His father’s paleness was to blame for that. His father was to blame for a lot of things. At least Losin hadn’t inherited his blue eyes. At least he had his mothers eyes, which were so brown they were nearly black.

The girl’s blouse had a collar with a loose bow tied right in the center. There were three flying sparrows embroidered on the fabric with a pale yellow thread. It was surprisingly professional, especially with her simple black pants and pink flats. Overall, the look worked very well for her. He could easily imagine her walking into an interview with no one underestimating her.

Except for the fact that she sat with her broad shoulders pulled in close to herself and a hunch. She kept fidgeting with her hands and glancing around the office with a mixture of awe, nervousness, and anxiety, clearly terrified being here.

“This,” Buiyikyuk said proudly, “is Kra Nutek,” The girl stiffened, “recently of the Mundane Chronicle. She’s joining you as a general assignment reporter.”

“Really?” Losin asked, carefully studying Kra. “Then say what you wanted to say, new kid.”

“I- I’m sorry?” Kra asked, giving him a confused look, in an accent that he couldn’t place.

Losin got distracted. “Wait, where are you from?”

“M’sav,” she said quietly.

“Speak up,” he told her, very careful to not roll his eyes. He could make an enemy of her on her second day. No need to start on her first.

“M’sav,” she repeated, a little louder. “It’s, uh, an island in the M’sailke archipelago. I, well, I grew up in Lil.” He gave her a look. Lil? “It’s, um, a s-small town.”

“Sounds made up,” Losin muttered.

“It’s small,” Kra clarified.

“Whatever, not the point.”

“Er… the point?”

“Yeah. I saw you wanted to say something earlier. While Buiyikyuk was talking. What did you want to say?”

“Oh. That. I well, you see, i-it’s not important.”

“How are you going to be a journalist if you can’t speak up?” he countered, giving her a pointed look. “What did you want to say, new kid?”

“I… I… It’s not Nutek,” she finally blurted out. She turned to Buiyikyuk, looking horrified to correct him, but she continued. “It’s N’tek. There’s a stop. It’s the ‘n’ sound and then ‘tek’. No ‘uh’ sound between them. N. Tek. N’tek.”

“Oh.” Buiyikyuk’s cheeks went red.

Losin grinned at her and she looked at her lap. “See. Was that so hard? Ms. Nutek. No, Nu- no. Damn this is hard.”

“I’m so sorry,” Buiyikyuk continued. “Please correct me if I ever get it wrong again.”

Kra shrugged. “Well, it’s hard for mainlanders. It’s okay. I-I don’t mind.”

“I’m going to get it,” Losin resolved confidently. “And it’s not okay Ms. Nu- N- N-tek! Yes! Yes, right?” Kra nodded. “It’s your name. People should get it right.”

“Agreed,” Buiyikyuk said. “So, moving on. Ms Nu- nu- nu… Nut-”

“Kra?” Kra suggested.

“Kra,” Buiyikyuk continued, a little relieved, “Mr. La’dyliap is going to help you adjust to Kyp Daily and you two will be partnered on all assignments for the time being.”

“Excuse me?” Losin interrupted. “What?”

“Kra,” Buiyikyuk said, giving Losin a ‘hold-it-together’ look, “would you please step outside for a few minutes?”

“Yes! Of course!” She scrambled out of the room as if she couldn’t get out soon enough and nearly tripped over her feet as she went.

Kra closed the door and took a deep breath, letting the air fill her lungs. She didn’t need the air or need to breathe, but this body was designed to be sustained like a normal human’s yet could be sustained on a fraction of the magic she naturally produced, which was what she normally did.

She was going to be working with Allelosin. This was… not what she had expected. She wasn’t supposed to interact with him. She wasn’t supposed to give him a chance to guess.

This was… going to be alright.

Kra let a smile come to her face. Yeah, this was going to be alright. She could make it work.

She was good at what she did and she’d gotten pointers on her act from Cebrua Kaenwe, who had been doing not just the vigilante life longer, but had also been convincing the world she was one someone else longer. Kra had seen interviews and her ‘needs-everything-spelled-out-for-her-three-times-before-she-gets-it’ act was so effective, it was a little scary. The two of them, being some of the most observant beings on the planet, had been giving each other pointers and making their respective cover personalities better for the last four years.

She was good at this. Los was observant, but she had a lot of practice and she was convinced he didn’t feel that odd soul thing. He couldn’t. She was Troan and he wasn’t. He didn’t have all her unusual powers. He had no reason to suspect. He wouldn’t suspect. None of her other friends had… well, Corla had eventually, but they had been living together. That was never going to happen with her and Los.

She could work with him and protect her secret.

This was going to be alright. She would make it alright.

The moment Kra was gone, Losin turned to Yuki. “You want me to babysit her? She can barely talk.”

“You got her to talk just fine.”

“Yeah, ‘cause she was already frustrated and has probably been frustrated by people messing it up for years. It’s easy to bring that out.”

“And you noticed it. I didn’t.”

“So?”

“So, Ms. Kra came highly recommended by Aetorl Joreg.”

“Aw.… You still talk to him?”

“It was none of your business seven years ago, it’s none of your business now,” Buiyikyuk snapped, the exasperation getting the better of him. He knew Losin and sometimes felt that no matter how long he knew the kid, Losin wouldn’t stop being frustrating. He glared. “You know it was amicable and I’m happily married now. And stop trying to distract me! The point is that Aetorl practically begged me to hire her, so Ms. Kra is your new deskmate and partner until I say so and count yourself lucky that I found the one person in our field that might be willing to put up with your bullshit!”

Losin’s eyes narrowed and his arms crossed, practically of their own accord. “What is that supposed to mean?”

“Come on, Sin,” Buiyikyuk prompted, rolling his eyes and using the nickname that only came out with family and ignoring the pique in Losin’s voice. Buiyikyuk was not threatened. Leroena was probably in an ER shift right now, but he could call Losin’s mother to reprimand him any time he wanted. That was security from, quite simply, Losin’s bullshit. “We don’t normally say it, but maybe we should. You’re too smart to not know what I’m talking about. We both know no one wants to work with you.”

“I’m working on it,” Losin grit out.

“I know, trust me I know, but there’s only so much you can do on your own and I can’t force anyone to really get to know you. You need help. You need someone to help make you approachable to our colleagues if you want a future here. And do you know what Aetorl told me about Ms. Kra? What he wouldn’t shut up about?”

“What?” Losin snapped. He knew Buiyikyuk was right (hadn’t he been thinking about it on the way here?), but that didn’t mean he wanted to hear it.

“He kept swearing on Wedivej that she was the kindest person he’d ever met. Kept going on about how she always looked for the good in people, was willing to give them second chances, and how easily she made friends.”

“You had her hired on that?”

“Sin, please. She also had a glowing work ethic and some very impressive journalism for someone working part time while in college. She didn’t get hired for being nice, but once we verified she was qualified, she was put at the top of the pile. Sin, don’t you see? Kra Nute- N- N’tek could be the answer to your problems. Watch her, learn from her how to make friends. Let her get to know you, befriend you. Let her help you retie a few knots in the staff. Or, at the very least, try to let her.”

“Is that an order? Befriend the new kid?”

“If you want a good story sometime in the next year.” He gave him a look. “Please, don’t make me make it an order. And goddesses in the Godrealm, help her with her confidence, would you?”

“That I can try. Although, who knows? Maybe she’ll want a new partner by the end of the week.”

“Sin,” Buiyikyuk said, dead serious, “if you can make her hate you, you’re beyond help. Call her back in, would you?”

Losin nodded and strode over to the door. He popped his head outside. “N’tek, battle’s over, boss wants you back in here.”

Kra nodded and shakily rose to her feet. She followed him inside. Buiyikyuk smiled to himself as they both took seats next to each other.

Buiyiyuk cleared his throat. “So, Ms. Kra, as I was saying earlier, Mr. La’dyliap will be showing you around the paper today and helping you get oriented. Consider all assignments to be joint for now. Today, I believe you two are going to cover a new comedy club in Ulertown. Comedy Bombity, I believe.”

“What?” Losin exploded. “What about the zoo? The club is this afternoon!”

“Your schedule is not clear for both. You’re settling Ms. Kra in and helping her learn the systems this morning. You’re booked.”

Allelosin clenched his jaw. “That should be my story.”

“I am sorry Allelosin, you do not have the time.”

“I-”

“Allelosin. I’ve already told Dewadre. My decision is final.” Losin just stared at him, not processing. Buiyikyuk sighed. “Mr. La’dyliap, I believe we are done here. Please show Ms. Nutek around the Dip.”

Losin grit his teeth and forced the fakest smile he’d ever given his boss while catching subtle flinch at the mispronunciation of her name. “Of course, Mr. Paitrewhi. Right away, sir.” Losin stood and turned to Kra. “Ready for a tour and then the Emlytos wild, N’tek?”

He shot a glance at Buiyikyuk. See, he carefully didn’t say. That’s how you pronounce it.

“Um…” Kra began, her hands fidgeting with her shirt hem. “Whatever you think is the most appropriate, uh, La’dyliap?”

“Mr. La’dyliap,” he corrected. He probably should be nicer, but, even though be could feel Buiyikyuk’s eyes burning holes into his back, what was the point? She would end up hating him like everyone else. It was only a matter of hours. And he was feeling bitter. “Let’s go.”

Losin turned around and started going towards the door as Kra scrambled to her feet. That zoo story should have been his. He was the one who got the lead.

“I… uh….” She started following Losin, but called back, “Nice to meet you Mr. Paitrewhi!”

“You too, Nutek!” Buiyikyuk called back.

Losin walked with the speed of a city kid and tore the door open. Wasn’t this just how it went? He’d been an intern here for years, but he was only recently hired as full time staff. Bottom of the food chain. Anything interesting he found would be given to someone else.

So he yelled over his shoulder, “Keep up, N’tek!” and kept power walking, taking a grim satisfaction in seeing the new girl, who was as tall as him if not taller, scramble to keep up as he led her deeper into Kyp Daily.

Los walked and talked so quickly, Kra likely wouldn’t have been able to follow along if she wasn’t Troan. She frowned, however. Los didn’t normally walk this quickly. Maybe it’s because it’s work. There are places to be and this is a newspaper. She picked up her own pace to match his. It was easy, but she kept up the pretense she was struggling to stay at his side.

The only thing she didn’t understand was that Los kept referring to the paper as the Dip. She’d been in Emlytos for four years and still didn’t understand why the natives said that. The internet hadn’t been that helpful.

Eventually, once they’d gotten to their desks, Los took a breath and before he kept talking, Kra managed to squeeze in, “Mr. La’dyliap? I have a question.”

Los sighed. “Yes?”

“Well, why… uh, why is Kyp Daily called the Dip?”

Allelosin gave her a look, almost asking if she was crazy. “It’s a shortening of Kyp and Daily.”

Kra’s confusion was real. “But… if it’s a portmanteau, why isn’t it Kaily?”

Like clockwork, everyone within earshot chorused, “Because that’s stupid,” without even looking up from their work. It was so sudden and synchronous that Kra nearly jumped out of her chair.

Allelosin, who obviously didn’t partake in stupid in office traditions like that, just rolled his eyes. “Because people are dumb, new girl.” In the distance, Kra’s ears picked up someone murmuring ‘fuck you, La’dyliap.’ Los sounded absolutely exhausted, as if every time they did this it removed several years off his life. “Why did you think?”

“Also,” Ym, a photojournalist across from them, pipped up as she adjusted filters on her computer, “because we get all the best scoops.”

Kra shook her head. “Now that makes no sense.”

“Welcome to life,” Allelosin shot back. “Come on, get your press pass. We need to get going before we’re late.”

Fifty minutes, half an hour, later, they were walking in silence, Kra at Los’ side. The entire trip had been silent except for Los informing her that she was going to take photos and work the equipment. First story with the Dip and all. She should just learn and observe. It was supposed to have been a one person assignment anyway.

The club was on a quiet street. Kra noticed some men with tattoos eyeing them. She quickly focused on the design and recognized an Ulernish gang symbol. They were in gang territory. Pale Knives territory. They were ruthless, having taken out all other Ulern gangs in this section of the city years ago. Lately, they weren’t content with just their cultural district, but had been expanding into Riverside, prompting the Zarnish gangs to the south to challenge them for the new territory.

She’d gotten in the middle of their scuffles more times than she cared to count within the last few months. The Pale Knives were bad news.

This isn’t good.

She forced blood to her cheeks and tried to look bashful, as if she thought the gangsters were looking at her because they were interested. She looked away.

It’s fine. They aren’t violent right now. Do the assignment and then get out of here.

Finally, they reached the club. Kra stepped up and gently knocked, only to have Los lightly push her away and pound on the door. She wanted to scream. She saw the gangsters stiffen across the street in the door’s glass.

The door opened and a well built man with a jacket over his suspenders glowered at them. “Can I help you?”

Los smiled, which accidentally came off as hostile. “Hello. I’m Allelosin La’dyliap. I’m with Kyp Daily.” He handed over his press pass. “I’m looking for Vingalern Warnullak for an interview about the club. We spoke on the phone yesterday.”

The man’s eyes narrowed and he nodded at Kra. “Who’s she?”

Kra smiled, which actually came off as friendly. She let herself be a little loud, so the men across the street would hear. “Hello, uh, sir! I’m Kra N’tek! His colleague. I, I was assigned to work with Mr. La’dyliap on the story.” She held out a hand. The man awkwardly shook it and she countered enthusiastically. She didn’t let it falter for one second. “It’s lovely to meet you, sir!”

The man extracted himself. He eyed Kra as if she was a glitter bomb set to go off at any wrong move. “Let me see if Mr. Warnullak is in.”

He closed the door, but was back with a short, chubby man in a nice suit a few minutes later.

“Mr. La’dyliap!” Mr. Warnullak said jovially. “Come on in, welcome! So nice to meet you! And your colleague! Come in!”

He smiled as if they were all old friends and clapped Los’ back, who winced. He shook Kra’s hand. She returned it and then tripped, falling against the other man.

“Oh! I am so, so sorry, Mr… uh…?”

“Tersbeulmak,” he said, pushing her off.

Kra had felt it, a lump. She swallowed. “I am really sorry Mr. Tersbeulmak. Please, forgive me. I have two left feet.” She let out an awkward laugh as she looked around. To a normal eye, the club wasn’t anything special. A stage, bar, seats. But Kra’s eyes weren’t normal. Sofeyel help me, she thought. “This is a really lovely place you’ve got here, Mr. Warnullak. I love the red of the curtains. It’s gorgeous and really ties the whole place together, don’t you think Mr. La’dyliap?” Los nodded. “Do you mind if I walk around a bit and take some pictures for the article?”

She dug into her bag and brought out a camera.

Mr. Warnullak smiled. “Not at all, Ms. N’tek. Knock yourself out.”

Kra beamed and handed the recording equipment to Losin, who resisted the near, overpowering urge to glare at her. “I will!” Pictures were meant to be the second half of their outing, but Kra knew an opportunity when she saw it even if Losin didn’t understand yet.

She began to wander around the bar while Los got settled in with the others. He asked for consent to record and once he’d gotten it, hit play.

“Comedy Bombity interview,” he began. “This is Allelosin La’dyliap of Kyp Daily. I am here with…” He gestured to the two men.

“Vingalern Warnullak,” Mr. Warnullak jumped in with a hearty laugh.

“Lyththannen Tersbeulmak,” Mr. Tersbeulmak said in the same tone most people associated with the recent death of a beloved pet.

“So, Mr. Warnullak, you’re the owner of this fine establishment, correct?”

“That I am Mr. La’dyliap!”

“Tell me about yourself. What’s your life been like and what has led you to be here, wanting to open a comedy club?”

Kra tuned out the interview, especially after she figured out Mr. Warnullak was spinning absolute bullshit. He talked about living in Lowlands, the poorest, most crime ridden neighborhood in the city, and how he could count the number of times someone smiled in high school on one hand. Kra had spent a lot of time in Lowlands. The people were downtrodden, sure, but there was still joy in the sorrow. There was still laughter and joy there and it stood out even brighter and sweeter because of how awful everything else was. He was obviously making this up or embellishing for a good backstory.

Eventually, she walked behind the counter to take some pictures. She let them think she was thinking about the next angle while she subtly slipped a hand into her pocket and grabbed her phone. She put it on silent without looking. Then, she tripped and fell face first behind the bar.

The three of them turn at the sound. Mr. Warnullak called, “Ms. N’tek?”

She had only seconds. Once Kra was covered by the counter, she slipped into superspeed and flipped so she would land on her back. She slipped into normal time again and once she crashed, she turned her phone on and quickly took pictures of the guns hidden under the counter.

“Kra?” Los called, genuine worry in his voice.

Kra flipped back silently, shoving her phone back into her back pocket, then readjusting her limbs so they were properly askew. She closed her eyes, relaxing so her body went limp.

“Check on her,” Mr. Warnullak ordered Tersbeulmak.

The lackey walked over and leaned over the bar. He rolled his eyes then turned back to call to his boss, “Dumbass tripped and literally knocked herself out!” Tersbeulmak came to the other side of the bar and picked her up. “Nameless, she’s heavy.”

He carried her over to a chair and deposited her down onto it with a thud. Los winced slightly, sure that if Kra was even a little bit conscious it would hurt. He ran his eyes over her, checking for bruises and blood, finding none.

Warnullak nodded towards the water glasses on the table in front of them, but Los said, “Give that to me,” and snatched it up before Tersbeulmak could reach it. He didn’t like the near violent, calculating look in the other man’s eyes. So, he just splashed a portion of the water onto Kra’s face.

At that, she opened her eyes, appearing disoriented but awake and reasonably aware.

“What happened?” she asked groggily.

“You tripped and passed out,” Los told her tersely.

Kra blinked. “Again?”

“Again?” Los exploded.

“I think I’m at two or three now.” She shrugged. “Maybe four. Can’t remember.” Los grit his teeth. “Mr. Warnullak, I am so sorry to disturb your interview. Is… is there somewhere I could go that’s quiet for a bit?”

“There’s a private bathroom on the second floor,” Mr. Warnullak said diplomatically. “Just past the stairs. See them?”

She squinted at the area. “Yeah, I do. Thank you so much Mr. Warnullak.”

She shakily rose to her feet and hobbled off towards the stairs, their camera slung over her shoulder. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Tersbeukmak subtly nodded to her, to which Warnullak gave a small shake and nodded towards Los. He was the threat not her. She had done her work well.

So she went to the second floor bathroom and made sure they heard the door close before creeping to a room with a ‘Reserved for Private Parties Only’ sign, careful to not make a single sound.

Kra slipped her hand into a sleeve and tried the doorknob. It was locked but a twist from her broke it open and she entered a room with three sofas and several armchairs. She took out her phone and snapped a few photos of the room undisturbed then removed cushions from the sofa, careful to keep her hands inside her sleeves. She snapped photos of the weapons hidden in there before putting the cushions back exactly as they had been before.

She scanned the room then took a photo of a patch of floor. She removed the floor boards and took pictures of the drugs, money, and guns inside. She looked through the floor. The interview was still happening. She still had time for the painting.

On the wall was a painting of an old castle and when Kra took a photo of it. She then pushed it back to reveal a wall safe. Her transparent vision revealed the combination and took more pictures of the contents undisturbed. Record book, more drugs, more cash. She took out the book and started flipping through the pages, taking pictures of every page.

She was half way through when her ears picked up sounds on the staircase.

Time’s up.

She returned it to the safe and reset the safe as quietly as she could. She started uploading the pictures to her Garn drive and shared it with one specific email.

There was one thing left to do. She slipped into superspeed and flew downstairs. She took in the scene. Warnullak had a gun to Los’ head. How had she missed that? Had she really been that absorbed in the record book?

Not much she could do right now. She slipped her phone into her purse, which she’d left downstairs, and put Los’ phone inside as well.

Done here for now, she flew back upstairs. Tersbeulmak was almost upstairs. She passed him and put the door back correctly and entered the bathroom. She slipped inside the stall and then back into normal time. She listened.

She heard Tersbeulmak go to the private room and discover the forced door. She heard him slip a gun out and examine the room, which looked undisturbed. Then she heard him approach the bathroom.

She flushed and exited the stall, making for the skin, keeping herself as casually ignorant as possible. She started washing her hands when Tersbeulmak pounded on the door.

“You! Come downstairs!”

Kra finished up and turned off the faucet. “Oh, is Mr. La’dyliap almost done?” she asked innocently, hiding the grin she wished she could let spread across her face.

“Yeah, sure. Come. Now.”

“One moment please,” she begged. “I really need to dry my hands.”

Tersbeullak stormed into the bathroom and grabbed her. He put the gun to her head and marched her downstairs. She squeaked, but didn’t dare protest. She did dare to look scared. He dragged her back to the main room and then patted her down. When he found nothing, he forced her to the chair next to Los.

“Well?” Warnullak inquired.

“The door was forced open, but everything was in place. No sign she saw the safe or floor boards.” He aimed his gun at Kra’s head. “Camera. Now.”

Kra turned it over, nearly dropping it as she held it so gingerly, it might as well have been a live python. Tersbeulmak looked through the photos, but they were all the innocent ones.

“Nothing,” Tersbeulmak spat out.

“What?”

Warnullak looked at the photos too, and the moment the two of them had their concentration off the reporters, Los moved. He bolted and overturned the table into Warnullak and Tersbeulmak. The latter recovered first and Los lured the gangster to an open space. Los expertly kicked the gun away before engaging in hand-to-hand.

Warnullak started to stand and no one was paying any attention to Kra. She grabbed her purse and pulled out her phone, opening emergency contacts and dialed. Kra brought her phone to her ear. Any second now.

Warnullak raised his gun, aiming for Los, the moment Kra’s call went through and she loudly said, “Hey mom, so good of you to call.”