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| Act 2 will begin after a short break. |
Act 1 Epilogue: From Ashes
The sun was setting through the big
windows and slowly making the light dim in the restaurant, a man
flicking on a light to keep the room lit enough for any customers who
happened to still be eating at the time. After another hour, 6 PM,
the sign flipped on the glass door to say it was closed for the
night. And for the most part, it was. Morgan stood at the door of the
closed shop, people too busy to notice nor care about her standing
there as they were focused on going home.
Morgan sighed, reaching down into her black leather jacket to pull out a cigarette, lighting it by blocking her hand from the cold winter breeze, it was snowing earlier and she knew standing here would have been a pain in the ass.. as least the cigarette would distract her from waiting so long. The man on the phone told her to stand here exactly 25 minutes after the shop closed for her to come in... but her impatience means she got there about 25 minutes too early, instead.
She quietly stood there, occasionally taking a drag of the quite unhealthy stick, each drag making her face light with a soft red glow for a couple of seconds, before fading out to a faint light, ashes blowing in the wind and extinguishing as she waited. The door opened, causing the bell to ring loudly, breaking her trance. A large man wearing a white suit and sunglasses stood in front of her. “She's waiting for you, come in.” He said in his gruff voice, Morgan walked inside with him as he locked the door.
Her face felt numb from being in the cold for too long, but that didn't stop her, she started to walk further inside, but his arm firmly stopped her from moving. “We need to make sure you're not here with any ill intent.” He stated, Morgan turned to him, raising her brow at him. “I'll intent?” She asked simply, his hands began to pat down her sides, chest and hips as he spoke. “Stuff like hidden microphones, weapons, poison. Many people want the boss dead and we're not going to take any risks for a nobody like you.” He explained, Morgan would normally throw up a fuss about him digging in her pockets or grabbing her body.. but she was here for a reason and to get thrown out because she didn't want to be patted down would be a massive waste of time.
“I didn't bring anything except for my wallet, see for yourself.” She said as he pulled out her wallet, folding it open and inspecting it, before he quickly handed it back to her. “You're clean, then. Go see her in the back room, down the hall and to the right. Be sure to knock five times.” He explained, Morgan nodded and walked around the back of the main floor of the restaurant and came across a hallway. It was a kitchen, a janitors room and two restrooms, but there was a way that split both left and right. She looked to the left, noticing that it was just the fire exit. She looked right and noticed a room with no label on it.
She quietly walked up to it, taking a deep breath before reaching up and knocking on it firmly five times. The door's locks unlatched and it opened seemingly by itself. She walked in, and it slammed shut behind her hard enough to make her black hair fly up in the wind. She turned around, another man in a white suit, this one with a colossal beard was locking the door, apparently he was the muscle. A voice spoke to her as she looked at him. “Don't mind him, he's just a precaution.” She spoke, with a mature but light and soft sounding voice. Morgan turned her head and saw a woman sitting in a chair in front of a large, rounded table.
She was 5'8, with long black wavy hair to her shoulders and blue eyes, she was wearing elegant jewelry and a pure white gown, made of some kind of elegant silk that Morgan didn't care about. She wore a bit cartwheel hat that was black and covered her brow and eye line a bit, she gently tilted it up to give her a friendly and serene smile, slowly gesturing her to come closer.
“I'd have to request for you to stop smoking, though.” She added, Morgan tilting a brow because she had a halfway finished cigarette hanging out of the side of her mouth. “Don't see the point.” Morgan commented, blowing some smoke into the air as the woman pointed just behind Morgan. “I have an image I'd like to upkeep, Pierce?” She requested, the big goon behind Morgan pulling the cigarette out of her mouth and extinguishing it with his thumb, before tossing it aside and glaring at her.
“No need to intimidate her, Pierce.” She asked, he silently backed down as Morgan slowly began to walk forward to her. Placing her palms on the table as she woman looked up at her with a calm expression. “We did a quick background check on you, Morgan. Spectrum member, Parents died in a drunk driving accident just on the outskirts of Riverside, you were raised in an orphanage in town along with your older brother since you were 5 years old. Is this information correct?” She asked, Morgan sighing and giving a nod.
“Yeah... Pretty much right.” She stated, she nodded a bit as the woman gestured to come sit with her. “I assume you already know who I am.” The woman mentioned, Morgan nodding her head a bit as she walked over to sit beside her. “Stella Rousell, Leader of the Rosewall syndicate... and apparently a restaurant.” Morgan explained, before looking around a little bit. “Uhh... Why a restaurant?” Morgan asked, confused at such a weird place to hold a clandestine meeting such as theirs.
She shrugged with a chuckle, reaching down and pouring a small glass of Brandy into a glass with ice and took a sip. “Well, it's just one of the many places we get our income from... Also it's the one I went to when I was younger, so I'm kind of glad I could keep it running.” Stella explained, Morgan sighing and leaning back in her chair as she looked at her. “Well I'm glad it's working out but that's not the reason why I'm here.” Morgan stated, Stella leaning up to rest her hand on her chin as she watched her.
“You sure? I could always get someone to cook you something, it'd be on the house.” She offered, Morgan shook her head again and looked at her, Stella chuckling a bit and shrugging her shoulders. “Fine, was just offering.” She said, finishing her glass and slamming it on the table. “So, what do you want?” Stella requested, Morgan looking at her with a somewhat dire face. “My brother is a member of Silent Fall after the leader changed and they started to commit more violent crimes, he feels too afraid to leave.” Morgan stated, Stella's face got more stern as she glared at her.
“Oh... Them.” Stella said flatly, quickly reaching to pour another glass of brandy. This one was much fuller than her last glass. “So... Your brother. Nicholas, was it?” She asked, Morgan nodded a bit. “So you want me to help him get out safely.” Stella added, Morgan looked away from her and covering her mouth a little bit as she listened. “Yeah, I need a way for him to escape because apparently the leader is a violent sociopath and murders people if they try to leave.” Morgan explained, Stella nodding quietly as she let her talk.
“I need all the information or help I can get to actually save him.” Morgan stated, Stella nodding a bit and giving a quick yawn before speaking. “The only way your brother could possibly be safe is if you shut the entire thing down.” Stella elaborated, Morgan looking at her quietly as she spoke. “It's a pretty violent movement, I'm not sure anyone can safely leave unless the entire thing was destroyed... And you're talking to one of the few people who can do that.” She boasted, Morgan pondering a bit as she thought that over. “Might as well inform you about some things, it might help you out.” Stella stated, putting both hands on the table and leaned into it and looked at her.
Morgan sighed, reaching down into her black leather jacket to pull out a cigarette, lighting it by blocking her hand from the cold winter breeze, it was snowing earlier and she knew standing here would have been a pain in the ass.. as least the cigarette would distract her from waiting so long. The man on the phone told her to stand here exactly 25 minutes after the shop closed for her to come in... but her impatience means she got there about 25 minutes too early, instead.
She quietly stood there, occasionally taking a drag of the quite unhealthy stick, each drag making her face light with a soft red glow for a couple of seconds, before fading out to a faint light, ashes blowing in the wind and extinguishing as she waited. The door opened, causing the bell to ring loudly, breaking her trance. A large man wearing a white suit and sunglasses stood in front of her. “She's waiting for you, come in.” He said in his gruff voice, Morgan walked inside with him as he locked the door.
Her face felt numb from being in the cold for too long, but that didn't stop her, she started to walk further inside, but his arm firmly stopped her from moving. “We need to make sure you're not here with any ill intent.” He stated, Morgan turned to him, raising her brow at him. “I'll intent?” She asked simply, his hands began to pat down her sides, chest and hips as he spoke. “Stuff like hidden microphones, weapons, poison. Many people want the boss dead and we're not going to take any risks for a nobody like you.” He explained, Morgan would normally throw up a fuss about him digging in her pockets or grabbing her body.. but she was here for a reason and to get thrown out because she didn't want to be patted down would be a massive waste of time.
“I didn't bring anything except for my wallet, see for yourself.” She said as he pulled out her wallet, folding it open and inspecting it, before he quickly handed it back to her. “You're clean, then. Go see her in the back room, down the hall and to the right. Be sure to knock five times.” He explained, Morgan nodded and walked around the back of the main floor of the restaurant and came across a hallway. It was a kitchen, a janitors room and two restrooms, but there was a way that split both left and right. She looked to the left, noticing that it was just the fire exit. She looked right and noticed a room with no label on it.
She quietly walked up to it, taking a deep breath before reaching up and knocking on it firmly five times. The door's locks unlatched and it opened seemingly by itself. She walked in, and it slammed shut behind her hard enough to make her black hair fly up in the wind. She turned around, another man in a white suit, this one with a colossal beard was locking the door, apparently he was the muscle. A voice spoke to her as she looked at him. “Don't mind him, he's just a precaution.” She spoke, with a mature but light and soft sounding voice. Morgan turned her head and saw a woman sitting in a chair in front of a large, rounded table.
She was 5'8, with long black wavy hair to her shoulders and blue eyes, she was wearing elegant jewelry and a pure white gown, made of some kind of elegant silk that Morgan didn't care about. She wore a bit cartwheel hat that was black and covered her brow and eye line a bit, she gently tilted it up to give her a friendly and serene smile, slowly gesturing her to come closer.
“I'd have to request for you to stop smoking, though.” She added, Morgan tilting a brow because she had a halfway finished cigarette hanging out of the side of her mouth. “Don't see the point.” Morgan commented, blowing some smoke into the air as the woman pointed just behind Morgan. “I have an image I'd like to upkeep, Pierce?” She requested, the big goon behind Morgan pulling the cigarette out of her mouth and extinguishing it with his thumb, before tossing it aside and glaring at her.
“No need to intimidate her, Pierce.” She asked, he silently backed down as Morgan slowly began to walk forward to her. Placing her palms on the table as she woman looked up at her with a calm expression. “We did a quick background check on you, Morgan. Spectrum member, Parents died in a drunk driving accident just on the outskirts of Riverside, you were raised in an orphanage in town along with your older brother since you were 5 years old. Is this information correct?” She asked, Morgan sighing and giving a nod.
“Yeah... Pretty much right.” She stated, she nodded a bit as the woman gestured to come sit with her. “I assume you already know who I am.” The woman mentioned, Morgan nodding her head a bit as she walked over to sit beside her. “Stella Rousell, Leader of the Rosewall syndicate... and apparently a restaurant.” Morgan explained, before looking around a little bit. “Uhh... Why a restaurant?” Morgan asked, confused at such a weird place to hold a clandestine meeting such as theirs.
She shrugged with a chuckle, reaching down and pouring a small glass of Brandy into a glass with ice and took a sip. “Well, it's just one of the many places we get our income from... Also it's the one I went to when I was younger, so I'm kind of glad I could keep it running.” Stella explained, Morgan sighing and leaning back in her chair as she looked at her. “Well I'm glad it's working out but that's not the reason why I'm here.” Morgan stated, Stella leaning up to rest her hand on her chin as she watched her.
“You sure? I could always get someone to cook you something, it'd be on the house.” She offered, Morgan shook her head again and looked at her, Stella chuckling a bit and shrugging her shoulders. “Fine, was just offering.” She said, finishing her glass and slamming it on the table. “So, what do you want?” Stella requested, Morgan looking at her with a somewhat dire face. “My brother is a member of Silent Fall after the leader changed and they started to commit more violent crimes, he feels too afraid to leave.” Morgan stated, Stella's face got more stern as she glared at her.
“Oh... Them.” Stella said flatly, quickly reaching to pour another glass of brandy. This one was much fuller than her last glass. “So... Your brother. Nicholas, was it?” She asked, Morgan nodded a bit. “So you want me to help him get out safely.” Stella added, Morgan looked away from her and covering her mouth a little bit as she listened. “Yeah, I need a way for him to escape because apparently the leader is a violent sociopath and murders people if they try to leave.” Morgan explained, Stella nodding quietly as she let her talk.
“I need all the information or help I can get to actually save him.” Morgan stated, Stella nodding a bit and giving a quick yawn before speaking. “The only way your brother could possibly be safe is if you shut the entire thing down.” Stella elaborated, Morgan looking at her quietly as she spoke. “It's a pretty violent movement, I'm not sure anyone can safely leave unless the entire thing was destroyed... And you're talking to one of the few people who can do that.” She boasted, Morgan pondering a bit as she thought that over. “Might as well inform you about some things, it might help you out.” Stella stated, putting both hands on the table and leaned into it and looked at her.
“Silent Fall was originally a small
group of couriers I hired pretty much to protect cargo whenever we
needed to move something from point A to point B” Stella explained,
closing the bottle of brandy.
“I had someone working under me named
Elliot Kiersburg, he was a bit of a bitter man but he did good work
and I trusted him.” Stella continued, Morgan quietly watching her
before looking around the room and sliding her hand along the table
quietly. “I decided he would run the group because he was pretty
damn good at his job, but he had one caveat he had if I wished to
promote him to a different role.” She said, with a slight pause
until she explained herself further.
“Kill a certain man.” Morgan raised
an eyebrow at this, leaning forward as she was inquisitive. “Kill a
man? I didn't know the syndicate put out hits on people.” Stella
nodded some, pouring a third glass for herself as she spoke. “And
you'd be right, we usually don't kill innocent people. But as Elliot
explained it to me, this man wasn't innocent at all... He was one of
the worst kind of people to people like him and I.” She added,
Morgan lowering her brow a bit as she spoke. “And that'd be?”
Morgan asked, slightly confused.
“A snitch.” She stated coldly, Morgan rubbing her own chin and sighing a bit. “A snitch?” She asked, before Stella once again put the empty glass down, the ice melted away, so she flipped the glass over upside down to signify she was finished. “This man he wanted to kill... He got my father, Adam Rousell arrested, and married Elliot's sister, convincing her to disown him.” Stella continued, looking at her bodyguard in the room as he was watching both of them quietly.
“To take this conversation off track a bit, Morgan.” She said, pointing to Morgan as she looked down at Stella's finger, noticing it was draped in several rings. “The way you get a long career in the crime game is you learn when to shut up. No one likes a rat.” Morgan shook her head and sighed, before Stella cleared her throat, talking with hands crossing over each other on the table. “Anyway, we sent in a hitman, and then sent in a captured riftfallen to clean up and make it look like an accident... People will get suspicious if you just are resting with a stab wound from nowhere.” She added, Morgan furrowing her brow.
“We ended up killing his sister because the riftfallen was... more than we expected we could control. So the house was burned down as well.” She said, Morgan stood up and pressed her hands onto the table. “So he had a grudge and it backfired in his own stupidity, thanks to you.” Morgan said, Stella slowly standing up and crossing her arms over her light frame, her ivory skin becoming more apparent in the light. “I just did what he asked to get what I wanted, but it went wrong and he resented me.” She explained, her necklace dangling it's pendant off her neck.
“He began to despise me for attempting a cleanup, and convinced people after 2 years to abandon us and form his own group that would more actively interfere with things... but now they're just murderers.” She explained, Morgan looking confused once again. “Why would they start killing people and being so active in things compared to the syndicate?” She asked, Stella looking at the floor. “I don't know, maybe insanity has became his rationale.” She said, before snapping her fingers. “Pierce, the phone.” She said, and he quietly left the room for her as Morgan looked over to him.
“This problem is dragging our organization through the mud and ousting us to the public and I'd rather not have that happen. I want Silent Fall dead in the water, and you my friend just might be key to all of this.” She said to Morgan, Morgan looking at her and waiting to hear what she meant. The door opened again and Pierce walked in, putting a red cell phone on the table. Stella picked it up and gestured Morgan to hold out her hands as she explained. “This phone is encrypted in a way if you call anyone with it, it will just be static unless you have it's decryption device or reverse engineer it.” Stella added, Morgan looking at the phone after taking it and checking both sides. “I'm giving it to you for a special reason, do not tell a single soul about this phone or we'll start attracting suspicion.” She warned.
Morgan slid it into the pocket of her coat and looked at her. “So why did you just give me a phone?” Morgan asked, Stella grinning at her. “This is because if you want our assistance in returning your brother to you, you will help us out.” She stated, Morgan furrowing her brow and putting her hands in her pockets. “So what do you want me to do? Hide a body or something?” Morgan asked, but Stella broke out into a laugh at such a request, she quickly became sullen before turning to Morgan.
“One day, you won't know when... That phone will ring. You will pick it up and do EXACTLY what it tells you to. Don't ask questions, just do it.” She said, her voice much more threatening as she looked at Morgans subtle nodding. “Once you're finished, I'll consider you an ally and we will work together to get your brother back to you. If you do not complete this, we are done with each other.” She explained, Morgan pulling the phone back out and staring at it.
“All I ask of you is one question.” Stella said, Morgan looking up at her and waiting for her to talk. “Why are you coming here for help, instead of Spectrum?” She said, a bit suspicious of her. “Spectrum won't do shit for me, Stella... I'm desperate and all they want is to put Nick in jail. I won't let that happen.” Morgan said with a serious tone to her voice. Stella smiled a little and put a hand on her shoulder.
“That's all I wanted to know. You're free to go, Morgan.” She said, Morgan nodding and putting the phone back in her pocket and walking to the door to exit the restaurant. “Hey, Morgan.” Stella said as Morgan reached for the door, Morgan turned to face her, hand on the handle as Pierce stared at her since they were standing next to eachother.
“Happy new year.” She said, raising her glass for a toast before Morgan left, Morgan just sighed and left the room quietly.
“A snitch.” She stated coldly, Morgan rubbing her own chin and sighing a bit. “A snitch?” She asked, before Stella once again put the empty glass down, the ice melted away, so she flipped the glass over upside down to signify she was finished. “This man he wanted to kill... He got my father, Adam Rousell arrested, and married Elliot's sister, convincing her to disown him.” Stella continued, looking at her bodyguard in the room as he was watching both of them quietly.
“To take this conversation off track a bit, Morgan.” She said, pointing to Morgan as she looked down at Stella's finger, noticing it was draped in several rings. “The way you get a long career in the crime game is you learn when to shut up. No one likes a rat.” Morgan shook her head and sighed, before Stella cleared her throat, talking with hands crossing over each other on the table. “Anyway, we sent in a hitman, and then sent in a captured riftfallen to clean up and make it look like an accident... People will get suspicious if you just are resting with a stab wound from nowhere.” She added, Morgan furrowing her brow.
“We ended up killing his sister because the riftfallen was... more than we expected we could control. So the house was burned down as well.” She said, Morgan stood up and pressed her hands onto the table. “So he had a grudge and it backfired in his own stupidity, thanks to you.” Morgan said, Stella slowly standing up and crossing her arms over her light frame, her ivory skin becoming more apparent in the light. “I just did what he asked to get what I wanted, but it went wrong and he resented me.” She explained, her necklace dangling it's pendant off her neck.
“He began to despise me for attempting a cleanup, and convinced people after 2 years to abandon us and form his own group that would more actively interfere with things... but now they're just murderers.” She explained, Morgan looking confused once again. “Why would they start killing people and being so active in things compared to the syndicate?” She asked, Stella looking at the floor. “I don't know, maybe insanity has became his rationale.” She said, before snapping her fingers. “Pierce, the phone.” She said, and he quietly left the room for her as Morgan looked over to him.
“This problem is dragging our organization through the mud and ousting us to the public and I'd rather not have that happen. I want Silent Fall dead in the water, and you my friend just might be key to all of this.” She said to Morgan, Morgan looking at her and waiting to hear what she meant. The door opened again and Pierce walked in, putting a red cell phone on the table. Stella picked it up and gestured Morgan to hold out her hands as she explained. “This phone is encrypted in a way if you call anyone with it, it will just be static unless you have it's decryption device or reverse engineer it.” Stella added, Morgan looking at the phone after taking it and checking both sides. “I'm giving it to you for a special reason, do not tell a single soul about this phone or we'll start attracting suspicion.” She warned.
Morgan slid it into the pocket of her coat and looked at her. “So why did you just give me a phone?” Morgan asked, Stella grinning at her. “This is because if you want our assistance in returning your brother to you, you will help us out.” She stated, Morgan furrowing her brow and putting her hands in her pockets. “So what do you want me to do? Hide a body or something?” Morgan asked, but Stella broke out into a laugh at such a request, she quickly became sullen before turning to Morgan.
“One day, you won't know when... That phone will ring. You will pick it up and do EXACTLY what it tells you to. Don't ask questions, just do it.” She said, her voice much more threatening as she looked at Morgans subtle nodding. “Once you're finished, I'll consider you an ally and we will work together to get your brother back to you. If you do not complete this, we are done with each other.” She explained, Morgan pulling the phone back out and staring at it.
“All I ask of you is one question.” Stella said, Morgan looking up at her and waiting for her to talk. “Why are you coming here for help, instead of Spectrum?” She said, a bit suspicious of her. “Spectrum won't do shit for me, Stella... I'm desperate and all they want is to put Nick in jail. I won't let that happen.” Morgan said with a serious tone to her voice. Stella smiled a little and put a hand on her shoulder.
“That's all I wanted to know. You're free to go, Morgan.” She said, Morgan nodding and putting the phone back in her pocket and walking to the door to exit the restaurant. “Hey, Morgan.” Stella said as Morgan reached for the door, Morgan turned to face her, hand on the handle as Pierce stared at her since they were standing next to eachother.
“Happy new year.” She said, raising her glass for a toast before Morgan left, Morgan just sighed and left the room quietly.
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