Lost In The Sunshine State: Part 1 (of 2)

                      Lost In The Sunshine State

Recap: Soul and Krow team up and head to Orlando, Florida to kill a Rattus demon that has been causing trouble for Defy. Only Krow knows the details. Soul is just in it for the fun.

Authors note: "I am SOOO sorry that this is a day late. To be honest my life has been a nightmare the past few days so I haven't even been on here that much.... Because of this error on my part I will be releasing Lost In The Sunshine State Part 2 on Wednesday."

  

Krow slides a picture across the table. We are sitting down for lunch at an ancient IHOP in Orlando, Florida. Krow waited until we got here to tell me what exactly we are doing.
I take a look at the picture. It features a "Stalker shot" of  presumably, a young man. He looks fairly normal hanging out with a group of guys in a local club. Wait a second... a club. That means-

He looks something like this ^

"Don't let his looks fool you. His demon nature keeps him young looking but he is actually 28." Krow says. I look at the time stamp on the picture. This photo was taken a few days ago.

"Does this mean he is still in the area?" I ask while sifting through the other files on the table.

"That is what we are hoping. After the night crowd comes out we are going to hit the strip and see where the good criminally active locations are." He explains while drinking his cup of coffee. He did most the driving so I guess he is tired.. Oh well.

"What is his name?" I ask. To be honest I have never hunted like this before so I am completely out of my element.

"You don't need to know that. It will just give you sentimental thoughts." He warns. I glare at him from across the table. What type of demon does he think I am?!

"I am not the sentimental type! I have probably done way more gruesome things than you have. Like you have the right to harass me about my resolve." I fume. Seriously. This guy waltz's right into my life and drags me 5 states away from home to kill someone and just now decides to insult me... Then again it was smart of him to wait and insult me until I couldn't run away.   

    THUD

He slams his fist down on the table and glares at me.
"Are you telling me you would feel no remorse for killing another demon? Killing someone who is just like you? Just like me?" He does this annoying exhale thing through his nose. It means he is displeased. I had never considered this but I already know the answer.

"Yes." I stare him down. I don't feel things like that. He shouldn't either.
 Everyone else in the restaurant is trying to avoid the awkward atmosphere. I hope they don't ask us to leave...

"It doesn't matter anyways. We are immortal. Nothing bad can happen to us anyways.." I mumble. I made him mad and its ticking me off because I don't know why. He laughs and then looks at me shocked.

"You know we are only immortal to wounds caused by humans right? Demons, Monsters, Curses, Elements, Spirits, Beasts, Magi's, Trainers, Guardians and basically every supernatural being out there can kill us." He says with a frown. The look on my face must have answered his question. So demons can kill other demons... Krow does a face palm. He has just now realized that he brought a total rookie on a really important mission. He is undermining my abilities again. Krow grabs the files and goes and pays for breakfast. Now he is leaving... Oh! I chase after him and into the parking lot. My instincts say to yell at him but I wont do it in public like this. I am smart enough to restrain myself...

~4 minutes later in the parking lot, between two vehicles

"Oof!" I shove Krow into the side of his Jeep and knock the breath out of him. I can't rationally explain my anger towards him. In the end its just me being petty because he wont acknowledge me as an equal because I am not one but for the moment I think bashing his skull in will serve my superiority complex nicely.

"Why did you bring me when you are clearly capable of doing these things on your own?" I ask him as I lighten up my grip around his throat. Despite me having the dominant position in this fight Krow's eyes are ablaze. He is ticked.
In one swift and fluid movement he sneaks his foot behind mine and shoves me backwards, putting me off balance. He then swings me around and pins me to the Jeep door, face first.

"Need I remind you that you beat the crap out of me a few days ago? Demons do damage! Don't you think that crap hurt?! I can barely keep you pinned down. What do you think would happen if I go to kill the Rat and he has a bodyguard or some crap. I brought you for two reasons. One, you are my new partner. Two, you owe me." He yells and hisses at me. He lets me go and takes a step back, clutching his collar bone. I briefly remember sinking my fangs into him when we first met.. And possibly doing it again at prom last weekend... I avoid eye contact and massage my wrists where he had them pinned. I start to say something uncharacteristic of me but he shuts me up by handing over $200.

"!?" I am shocked that he is willing to hand over this much at once. He has the same crappy pay that I have and that doesn't allow for this kind of pocket change.

"Go find a hotel room. Call me once you have settled in. I am going to go for a walk." He says as he turns and walks away without waiting for an answer. I crinkle the money as I shove it into my pocket and I walk in the opposite direction. I am sure I can find a cheap hotel around here. I slip my ear buds in and start walking. The road we are currently on is called International Drive. You know all those fancy theme parks and stuff? This is how you get to them. The behind the scenes is a real dump though. Thankfully there are plenty of cheap hotels...

~Sundown-The drag comes alive

I ended up finding a place to stay but not actually buying a room. That way I never had to call Krow. I am going to go and do this murder thing my way. We are two totally different people with two different ways of doing things. This is my way. I am sitting in an alley in between a nightclub and a bar. I am just sort of blending in with the scenery like I always do. There are a few crowds of people on the dark side of things but none of them seem to be on the same level as the guy I am looking for. I see one person who is sort of hanging back from their group. I can't get a good look at their face though. I am getting a creepy vibe from him. The group is on the move. I follow them to the front of the building but hang around the corner. Crap. They went inside the nightclub. The big portion of the group went on in but the other one stayed back and talked to the bouncer. (That is what its called, right? A bouncer? Gosh for a demon I am to dang innocent...) They did that awkward bro hug and then the other one crept around the other side of the building. I follow him. In the other alley the ending isn't a dead end but rather a little building. The person goes into it. I creep closer to see if I can hear anything.
--
Nothing. I enter the building and all I see is another door. I open the door and see a staircase that goes down into the dark. I follow it.
--
It leads to an abandoned underground area. It reminds me of a subway station but without tracks. There isn't any electricity but there are a few candles that are glowing here and there down the tunnels. The only thing I can hear is a slight dripping from somewhere that I can't see. I step a little further into the darkness.

"Gahh-" I exhale as I am shoved against the brick wall. I strain my eyes but I can't identify the attacker. They have my mouth covered so I can't yell. I growl at them.

"Soul, what in the heck are you doing here?" A voice that I identify as Krow's says. He is teeming with anger. He uncovers my mouth.

"I was doing some research and trying to find the target before you." I whisper to him. He shoves me back in the direction that I came from.

"Get out of here and go find a hotel room. This is the demon underground you idiot!" He whisper/yells at me. Hnnn.....

"No. Why are you down here anyways? You looked pretty cozy with some of those people topside." I confront him. To be honest he actually blended in very nicely with the crowd. I suppose that is something that I will have to learn how to do again. It's not like I can spend eternity in the background.

"What the?- Seriously Soul. Are you surprised that I used to roam these streets while I was enjoying the high life with a previous owner?" Krow responds. Oh, that's how it was..

"That's not what I meant. Do you seriously plan on killing the Rattus alone?" I sort of redirect the conversation. I don't like it when people point out me being petty. I can hear Krow shuffling a little.

"Yeah, that was the plan"  He admits reluctantly. I don't know why but I am actually caught off guard by his sudden honesty. We hear footsteps from further down the hall. Then voices...

"I still haven't found a pet that I like as much as I liked him... Crazy how things can end huh, Kas?" A deep and menacing voice says. It sends a shiver down my spine. I back up against the wall just so I know I have something behind me. This almost feels like the panic attacks I used to get when I was still human. I slide one hand over my mouth and one over my stomach... Man I feel sick. I feel Krows hand slide around the back of my head as he pulls my ear closer.

"Run. Get back to the Jeep and stay at the hotel near there. I will be back soon. If you trust me and want to live to see tomorrow then behave for once and please run." He whispers urgently as he sticks some items in my pocket. I nod my head in a reply, I know he felt it because he lets me go and walks out into the hall as I run back up the stairs.
I have never heard him like that.
I burst out into the street and keep running. I might not be good at much but this I can do.

I run.