You Are Here - Part 4

Elijah took note of the vehicle as it screeched to a desperate halt outside the window, he was half expecting a robbery, but who robbed a coffee shop? Upon seeing the sharply dressed man exit the vehicle he knew immediately that this wasn’t some drive-by, spur-of-the-moment robbery, it was something else, but what? As the man outside began to shout, he would just watch through the dirty windows, waiting to see what would happen next. To his surprise, the man that was yelling suddenly fell silent upon seeing Syhreena and appeared to tuck his tail between his legs and get to opening a door for her. Elijah raised a brow, finding this rather curious behaviour, not just the man’s, but also Syhreena’s, he thought they were about to sit down and have a cup of coffee together, but it seemed she had other plans. Now that he was sitting alone, he raised the fresh mug of hot coffee to his lips and started to drink, he hoped that maybe the woman had taken his advice, maybe this was her way of just saying ‘fuck it’ and leaving the city before it could get its hooks into her, but at this point, he really didn’t know. Not wanting to be sat there alone with no one to talk to but the waitress, he would stand up and head for the door. He would raise his mug, gesturing towards the waitress, “Taking this to go.” He said politely as he returned to the job, protecting the streets, with a coffee in one hand and a gun on his hips.

 

Meanwhile back in the city, the sun rose higher into the sky and people began to emerge from their homes ready to face the day ahead. While many were just starting their day, Elijah was about to finish his. Sipping from his mug, Elijah would take note that the name on the side wasn’t his own, in fact, it read ‘Shyreena’, which meant, he had something in his possession that he didn’t want. Casting his mind back a few moments, he tried to remember what the mysterious woman had asked for, then it hit him, she’d ordered a ‘large cappuccino’, his expression would shift to one of mild annoyance as he was looking forward to his bitter, black coffee, but he knew what he could have ended up with could have been far, far worse.

 

Upon leaving the coffee shop, he would head towards the station, enjoying the sun on his walk, he couldn’t wait to get out of his uniform, it always seemed to weigh so much more on a night shift for some reason. When he arrived at the station, he would slip into the locker room and start undoing the straps on his bulletproof vest and sliding out of each item of clothing, leaving himself standing in the locker room with nothing on but his underwear. Due to the fact, that only other members of the force were able to access the locker room he didn’t really care about who might have walked in. While he stood in just his underwear, he folded his uniform neatly before opening his personal locker and swapping the neatly folded uniform for his civilian wear and began to get dressed. With a fresh set of ‘normal’ clothes on, he was now free to go home.

 

After leaving the station, Elijah headed home, he lived in a simple apartment, which really didn’t have much in it but the basics, he didn’t feel the need for much else. As soon as he arrived home, he would crack a window open before throwing himself down into his bed with a cigarette and lighting up, letting the nicotine do its job while he closed his eyes and cast his mind back to the strange encounter earlier, that woman, her tattoos, that car, it all seemed to dance around in his mind and it wasn’t going away, he wanted those thoughts to stop spinning around inside his head so he could sleep, but thoughts are a nuisance sometimes. He laid there, trying to relax, and finished his cigarette. Finally sleep appeared.

 

Elijah had slept away most of the day, as he often did, waking up just as the evening arrived. He was on the night shift which was often the worst of all shifts, the cover of darkness seemed to bring out the worst in people, which he knew, but it didn’t really bother him, as it was part of the job, to try and stamp out the criminal element where possible like the lit ash that had been dropped from hiscigarette. Dragging himself out of bed, Elijah stepped into the shower, washing away the musk of the night before, before returning to his room, wrapping in nothing but a towel.

 

Eddie drove for nearly an hour before turning into an area that was surrounded by forest. He parked the car and moved to open the back door “We are here Miss “he said softly then again a bit louder. Shyreena shook her head a bit and then stepped out. She stretched and looked around and smiled. This would do nicely, she thought and turned to look at Eddie, he nodded to a huge gate that loomed in the distance, her gaze followed and there partially seen was a huge iron gate with the moon phases highlighted in brass on each bar.

 

She smiled a little, pleased to see some instructions followed and turn hopping back into the car “let’s begin “she said to him and he shut her door, entered the driver’s seat and proceeded towards the gate, halting as he pushed the button to open the gates, then drove onward up a windy driveway to the front door of the large stately home. He quickly hopped out and opened the door for Syhreena, she looked at him and could sense his excitement, confirmed by the tell tale signs of his jittery body movements.

 

She turned grabbed her items, not forgetting the cup and stepped out, ignoring his offer to help. She moved up the steps towards the large oak entry door and as she approached the door opened and a female nodded to Syhreena opening the door wider and standing back. Syhreena stopped and turned looking back towards the car “leave the car Eddie, report to the order, you are relieved of your duties” her eyes met his then she turned and entered the manor. Eddie looked down trying to hide his disappointment, knowing he was not permitted to respond he started to walk up the stairs behind her following her into the house then turned a sharp left and walked down the dark corridor out of sight.

 

Syhreena went to her desk and stood while she tapped away on the keyboard at lightning speed then eased the cover shut and stared out the window. She thought it ironic as the new dawn rose in the distance, the sun seemed to mark not only the start of a new day but the confirmation that the Order had begun. She sank into the chair as her mind settled and drifted into semi rest, she had hoped that she would be at the homestead before the sun rose but would have to make do thanks to Eddie being late.

 

Syhreena was tired, it had been a long night and she wanted to sleep. She clicked her fingers to the staff standing quietly to the side. Quickly, one followed her to her chambers. Syhreena stood thinking with her arms out as they undressed her and eased a robe onto her shoulders, she hurried them and put her arms through the arm holes and wrapped it around herself, then moved away, intending to lay on the freshly made bed and sleep; the quilt and sheets on the bed had been rolled down , Shyreena turned, flicking a finger in a movement to dismiss the staff before turning and laying down to rest, she was asleep within minutes.

 

The day passed quietly and when the evening commenced, a bell chimed in the room and Shyreena rose to find a meal had been served. She quickly ate, showered, then dressed in clothing that would be suited to her purpose before she phoned down to the garage informing them that she would be going to town now and headed towards the front door. The car approached and she made note that it was a different driver and hopped into the car. She was eager to move about and explore the town; her town, she was starting to feel it would become, and she was keen to become familiar with the haunts where the underdogs would gather. Her mind kept returning to Elijah, a slight flicker turned in her soul as she focused on him and she chewed her lips as she thought of what it could mean. The driver slowed the car as it reached the town site and instinctively pulled up near the worst part of town. Opening the door, he bowed as she exited and disappeared into the darkness of the evening; he watched until she was out of sight and returned moving the car away from town until he was called for again.

 

Done