The Gothic Ballerina Part 5 (standard:science fiction, 1495 words) [5/8] show all parts
Author: kissofthehungry	Added: Jul 08 2005	Views/Reads: 2619/1855	Part vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
Following the dwarf to The Hyenas head man's home gives Echo a startling revelation and increases her little group's numbers.

The dwarf was easy enough to follow, for though he moved fairly fast, he
made all sorts of noises and was easy to track.  For once, Mikey kept 
his silence, probably afraid of revealing what they were doing.  For 
this, Echo was thankful.  Never before had she dealt with someone who 
grated her so much, but she knew it was her bad temper that made it so 
easy for him to push her.  It didn't make her feel any better knowing 
this, just frustrated her more. 

The small and smelly man finally reached a large mansion that looked
beaten with time.  All the windows were shuttered and the once 
beautiful paint was marred with curse words and gang symbols.  Standing 
at alert by the front door were two shirtless guards with scars and 
piercings crisscrossing their flesh.  Both were large, muscular brutes 
who looked coldly at the dwarf like he was an insect.  Yet they let him 
by, giving a barely perceptible nod that was hard to see when the eyes 
caught the size of their guns. 

Forgetting she had a partner, she moved silently so that she was in the
shadows near one of the guards.  Mikey moved with her, equally as 
quiet, and she had to give him credit.  He could be quiet when he had 
to be. Drawing out her blade, feeling the power it gave her, she crept 
upon the unsuspecting man.  With a move more like fluid water than 
human, she sliced into his body bringing instant death.  Before he had 
even fallen, she was attacking the second guard, who was dying as his 
eyes lit on his fallen comrade.  Mikey needed no instruction and as she 
slayed the other guard, he was already pulling the first one into the 
shadows.  Carefully, she did the same, wondering how often had he done 
this before.  Was there something he was not telling her? 

Cautiously, she opened the door and stuck her head in, half expecting
more guards.  But there were none.  The Hyenas' were so confident in 
the belief that everyone feared them so much that they were never 
attack, that they didn't even bother with more protection.  For that, 
they were lucky.  Quickly, she gestured to Mikey to follow.  Then they 
were in, as swiftly as that, with no resistance. 

From down the great hall came the steady pulse of bass music, sounding
like a giant heartbeat in the emptiness.  For a moment, she didn't 
think she could take it for she felt as if she were in some giant, 
croutching beast.  The hallway was it's throat and down she was going 
to descend into it's belly to either die or cut her way out.  However, 
she was able to push away the horrible image and make the bass into 
what it really was, and not a heartbeat.  Mikey looked as uneasy as she 
felt, and briefly she felt sorry for him.  Then he smiled at her and 
she was reassured that he was okay, and she actually smiled back. 

The hallway had beautiful works of art, it was strange given the
condition of the outside, for the inside was obviously well taken care 
of.  The paintings were in glistening frames with muted lights above 
them to draw attention but not destroy them.  The carpet was thick, 
plush red with wooden floors on either side.  It made her feel like 
royalty but at the same time, reminded her of the croutching beast.  
Then they found the door and could tell for the music practically 
rattled through it.  Afraid of giving herself away but not having any 
other choice, she slid the door open to reveal what looked like a club. 


There was a stage with walkway down the middle that had half a dozen
poles and benches lining it.  There was a bar with glowing bottles of 
alcohol and other poisons behind it.  Men and women, mostly men, 
lounged about, laughing and drinking, observing the young women dancing 
on the stage.  And they were young, obscenely young.  The oldest looked 
as if she might be eightteen and the youngest was about thirteen.  It 
made her stomach clench and her fingers gripped her sword handle so 
tightly that it was imprinted into her flesh. 

Beside her, Mikey gasped then pointed to a young beauty who was about
fifteen or sixteen on a pole.  She looked like a delicate pixie with 
short black hair gelled to her head, light hazel eyes rimmed with thick 
eyeliner and mascara, dark red lips, and a pair of silver panties and 
boots.  Quickly, he looked away, ashamed of what his sister was doing.  
Echo couldn't understand the attraction, they were children with barely 
developed breasts and a shattered innocence that should not have been. 

Rage filled her and blinded her momentarily, then she found who she was


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