RRRRRRRRRRRRRRIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNGGGG!!!
The bell rang as classes concluded. The sun had already hugged the horizon, and the setting light cast a purple-orange glow across the school, seen through the screen-mech windows. Claire and her classmates packed their bags, the teacher doing the same. Claire walked up to her, tugging her bag onto her shoulder, and asked,
"Ma'am, might I know where the Science Club is?"
"They're on the third floor of the opposite building," the teacher said, packing her laptop away.
"Thanks," Claire nodded.
When she got down to the courtyard bridging the two buildings, the wind was already howling, swaying every piece of dangling fabric along with it. In the beams of light, she noticed that the students hugged the shadows of the walls, stepping around every beam of light like it was a puddle .
Sighing, she proceeds to the path to the opposite building. Heads upstairs, then finally arrives on the third floor. She noticed that the hall is filled with club rooms as she spots the labels on top of the doorways. Walking, she finally finds the Science Club that she's looking for.
Peering at the sunkissed glass window at the door, she couldn't see a thing through, so she cups her hands to shade the view, she finds out that there was no one inside the room. She knocks just to mke sure.
…
Several seconds later and still no response.
Observing the room from the inside, it was completely empty. She takes out a plastic card from her wallet, completely blank, but the film has certainly seen its glory days.
She wedges the card in the doorknob. Wiggling it inside, she finally feels the card latch onto something. Bending the card loosened the door's grip, this allowed her to push through with her shoulder, and gently opened the room's door.
The room was dim, with only the sunset lighting it up, however the whole place was still visible. So she locks the door behind her as the light slowly trickles down in a pace that's barely noticeable.
The room smelled like bleach and something sweeter underneath. A lab fridge hummed in the corner. Glass clinked softly on the shelves every time the wind leaned on the windows.
Claire turned the lock behind her. Click. Then she looked around: vials, flasks, beakers, all lined up and labeled. Nothing with a name she recognized.
She started pulling drawers. Pens. Gloves. Goggles. Then one that wouldn't budge, and the one under it, and the one under that.
She scoffed, whispering "ooooh~ secret stash"
No keys on the desk, none under the keyboard. She slid out her wallet card, already bent from the door, and worked it into the first slit. It took three tries before the latch gave out. Inside, a zip bag of unmarked capsules, some chalky white, some cracked down the middle.
She shut it. Her card came out with a fresh crease.
The second drawer fought her less. Rows of tiny glass vials, clear liquid, each with a cheap orange cap. Beside them, a bundle of plain syringes, still sealed. She picked one up and squinted at the label.
"Damn," she whispered. "These science chuds are juiced."
She put it back exactly where it was.
The third drawer didn't want to open. She slipped the card in and felt the resistance right away, a tight, stubborn grip, and her card slid in and stuck. She pulled. Nothing. She wiggled it. Nothing. The sunset had thinned to a dull orange line across the floor.
She planted her feet and yanked.
SNAP
The card came out in her hand, but only half of it. The other half was still in the slit.
She stared at the stub of plastic. Then she heard it, a key scraping against the lock on the door.
Claire immediately darts her eyes at her surroundings.
As the club member managed to unlock the door to open it. They opened the light and took a glimpse of the surroundings, not a single hint that they noticed someone broke in. As they closed the door, Claire peeked right behind the desk, peering at the club member. The club member quickly heads to the locked drawers, first unlocking the drawer full of pills - took a bag of it, next was the one with vials and syringes, took one pair.
And when they unlocked the last drawer, they actually had a harder time unlocking it compared to the three, upon opening they found out there were bits and pieces of plastic on the lip. They simply brushed it off to the side.
The club member pulled out a vial of Noctum with an injector already attached to it
Claire saw thing and she gasps
The club member noticed the sound, darting their head behind, they pull out a scalpel from one of the shelves as they lay the drugs on the side. They walk around the room's desk, slowly creeping in from the front, she raises the scalpel as soon as they get behind the table.
There was no one there
"How much force does it take to knock somebody out?!"
"What?" The club member looked behind
"A lot!"
THWACK
Claire hits them with a solid roundhouse kick to the temple, knocking them out
*Same evening at Charlotte's clinic*
"So basically, an escort mission?" Poppy crossed her arms.
"You can put it zat way. Zis time you are protecting a family, with the threat of hitmen circling zeir mansion," said Charlotte.
"What put this family on the radar anyway?" asked Zephyr.
"You see, their father, Joaqin Chevalier, is currently running for mayor, and is also a close friend of mine..."
"Lemme guess, he's your friend because he's French?" Poppy scoffed.
"Partly." Charlotte tilted his head. "But to get to my point, people want him dead because he wants to abolish ze dubious casinos popping up like rats."
"I can see why they want him dead," Zephyr shrugged.
"To be fair, those casinos are why the homeless population is filling up to the brim." Poppy twisted her hand at Zephyr.
"Ahem!" Charlotte cleared his throat to recapture both their attention. "I also need to mention somezing. Does Noctum ring a bell?"
Poppy's face tensed. Charlotte glanced at her. "So you are familiar."
-WIP-