Two long purple lights buzzed loudly on the conference room ceiling. They hung too low for stylistic purposes, as though hastily attached.
The dim glow was just enough to illuminate the surface of the whiteboard revealing a plethora of jots, dashes, and squiggly narrow lines.
Anna stood staring at the map she had just finished drawing, as her unwelcome visitor sat sulking in a nearby white plastic beach chair. She had forbidden him from sitting on anything leather given the man's uniquely odorous quality.
He rarely spoke, though brief occasions would call for a short riddle.
Source: Pixabay.com
He was a hulking pile of filthy brown rags covering layers upon layers of black shiny cloth, dripping with disgusting oil, or whatever it was that Antwerp used as their stinky concealment agent. His face was completely hidden. The raspy voice could have gone either way, as far as gender.
A wide assortment of different colored lights flashed here and there from beneath the bundled up clothing. Anna had taken to calling him "Chip" given the amount of circuitry that was clearly embedded in the flesh.
Chip hadn't really wanted to hide. He just needed to get out of South Bedlam. Anna didn't know if he'd killed the man or not. It didn't matter though. She was locked in this, for better or worse. With her extensive knowledge of streets and sewer ways, Anna was certain she could get Chip to safety.
"The Red Train yard waits for the yellow key to open it's gate." Chip breathed almost inaudibly.
"I don't doubt that." Anna replied hastily. "You can look for that Train yard yourself though. I can only promise to get you out of dodge."
"Yessss." he hissed, like a viper excited to see the fear in it's prey eyes.
The plan was a simple one. It was 20 feet from the sewer hole's opening in the alley behind her shop to it's dank concrete floor. Anna had thrown down a variety of cushions in order to ensure a safe drop.
Chip landed harder than she had expected. "This guy must weigh 500 pounds on a good day." she thought. Running towards the abandoned subway juncture, Anna was surprised to hear an emotional crack coming from her unusual companion.
"Antwerp is no one's enemy, save those who are evil. Antwerp is the hope of mankind."
20 yards to go, they just had to cross the emerald river. Droplets of something better not thought about rained down lightly from somewhere on high.
"The yellow key card has the information. It is the key. It is the beginning of all things."
Just a little further now. A left turn, now a right.
"No matter what happens.....you must get the yellow key card to the red train yard."
They were almost at the station's entrance now. A hop, skip and a jump. Chip could walk the abandoned rails all the way to Reddington. Then he'd be out of her hair. After a thorough disinfectant job, her office would be as good as new.
She stopped slack-jawed at the bottom of the cracked, narrow staircase. Standing halfway down the steps were three Cerberus agents. Two metal heads and a boss.
The plan was a failure.
Anna wondered briefly if this was the day she would die.
This is the second part of a two part story that will eventually be entered in Neoxian's cyberpunk contest. It is clear to me now that a third part will need to be created as well. This is only the rough draft of the second part. It is NOT the completed story. I should end up with a complete 1000 word flash fiction piece, though it will now need to be cut down from 1500 words or so. I will release the first draft of the third part tomorrow then compile all of the parts together and edit them before releasing the full story as a contest entry. This is an original work.
Part one is here - https://steemit.com/fiction/@jeezzle/green-dreams-part-one
