What's In The Box?

What did I do? Oh well, they're cheering for me!

Syla was still recovering from nearly being shot to death.

She, Kadro, Blake, and Tayla had all made it back to the Warehouse unscathed, but Syla had never been shot at before. True, she had been threatened by random old men on the streets, but she had never been shot at by one.

“You'll be fine, Jensen.” Kadro assured her, playfully punching her on the arm, “Vigilantes get shot at all the time by the people we liberate stuff from. You get over it every time you escape.”

“So no one's been shot?” Syla asked, unsure.

“Well...no, I didn't say that. I remember this one guy named One-Arm got shot in his left arm. He...couldn't use it afterward, but he survived alright.” Kadro admitted.

Syla felt her insides freeze.

“What, did a hospital take him in?” she inquired after a moment.

“Yep. Harbinger Medical on Twelfth Street takes in patients all the time. Gangs aren't any different.” Kadro told her.

“And...you're not concerned when someone gets hurt on the job?” the new girl asked as they ducked around an old building.

“We do worry. Like I said, we're a family. But we can't worry too much--it's dog-eat-dog out here, Jensen, and if someone gets hurt, the rest of us can't stop what we're doing to help them up.” Blake told her, cutting across the conversation.

“Yeah. You're just lucky Kad was there to help you up when the shop owner started shooting. We would have just left you there if it weren't for him.” Tayla snarled.

“Actually, Tayla,” Blake said, turning to her, “We couldn't leave Jensen there. She had the box. It would've been stupid of us not to help her.”

“By the way...what's in the box?” Syla couldn't help but ask.

Blake fixed her with a smile.

“You'll see.”

Most of the Vigilantes were out doing their jobs for the day. Dropping by rival gangs, robbing gas stations, and generally creating havoc all over the streets of Harbinger. Syla didn't understand the way things worked here yet. In some ways, she saw the Vigilantes as a kind of animal pack, but in other ways, she just saw them as mischief-makers. Maybe a bit of both?

Some others were lounging about the warehouse. Playing cards, goofing off, and all around being complete idiots. Syla couldn't help a tiny smile.

These people are either really good actors on the streets, or completely insane. Maybe a little of both.

“Hey, Blake, Kadro, Tayla, wassup?” one of them asked. Syla recognized him as Cyrus (she didn't know his last name), another Breaking and Entering expert. Granted, he wasn't as skilled as Kadro was, but he was still good at it.

“Good, Cyrus.” Blake responded. Syla stopped and stared. She had never noticed it before, but...Cyrus looked an awful lot like Blake...

“Mission accomplished and all that, bro?” Cyrus questioned. He caught Syla's eye and grinned.

“And how're you? Syla, is it?”

“Um...fine.” Syla answered. She was trying not to blush at being caught staring.

“Jensen nearly got shot by an old guy!” Kadro told him. He was, as Syla learned, the “pet” of the Vigilantes. Like the younger brother of everyone, even Tayla treated him nicely.

“Really? Well, that's good to hear.” Cyrus said, giving Syla a wry smile.

“Why?” Syla asked.

“He said “nearly”, right?”

Blake laughed then tapped the cardboard box, which he had been holding to his chest like it was his lifeline.

“She was looking for this but refused to leave without it.” he said.

“What's in the box?” one of the other Vigilantes asked, noticing it.

“You'll see. When everyone gets back, you'll see.” Blake answered.

It took nearly two hours for all the scattered Vigilantes to reassemble in the huge warehouse. Syla, Kadro, and Cyrus were up on one of the higher balconies, where it was less crowded. They watched the scene below with interest, as the figure of Blake held up his precious box.

“My fellow Vigilantes, this box, this simple, cardboard box, holds inside one of the greatest achievements a Vigilant has ever made. As you all know, we have been warring with rival gangs such as the Red Knives, the Devil's Order, the Forsaken Angels, and of course, the Harbinger Hell-Raisers. But while we have been attacked by all four, and retaliated with all we've ever had, no gang has ever held a single hope to ending the fighting and earning a new life on the streets of this hell...”

Well, he's certainly dramatic, Syla thought, I mean, why is he so excited over a stupid box? Just open it and get this over with, Azero.

“And we have our newest Vigilant, Syla Jensen, to thank.” Blake said, gesturing Syla from her place on the balcony.

Among the half-hearted, uncertain cheers that were sent her way, Blake took out his pocket knife and started cutting the tape that sealed the box slowly, reverently, almost.

When the seal was broken and the tape removed, Blake turned the box up and let its contents drop out onto his hand in a puff of dark brown dust...

It was a book.

A small, dusty, leather-bound book.

Syla couldn't believe it. And neither could many of the Vigilantes.

She had risked her life for a stupid book?

“Now, I know what you are all thinking. 'It's just a book? Why is he so excited about a book?'” Blake said. He opened the book, waving his hand in front of his nose to clear away the dust before continuing, “This is no ordinary book. This is an exact copy of the plans of Harbinger city. Every road, every alley, every disused subway tunnel, all mapped out precisely on these pages. It is also a history book; a complete record of the building of the city all the way up to the day the city was finished and dubbed “Harbinger”.”

He allowed this information to sink in before going on.

“Do you see? We can use this knowledge to our advantage. Just think of all the hidden pathways the Knives, the Order, the Angels, and the Hell-Raisers are completely unaware of. The hidden pathways now at our disposal. We can finally win this war, Vigilantes. Win this war and regain the right to a decent life. The right stolen from us from those insufferable Hell-Raisers! Because of Syla, we now have the one thing all of the other gangs don't: strategy.” Blake was finished now. He tucked the book under one arm and raised a hand to Syla.

The crowd cheered. Now they knew what all the excitement was about. They cheered and cheered until their voices were hoarse. Until they couldn't cheer anymore.

“Amazing, Syla!” Kadro exclaimed, heartily pounding her on the back, “You found the Annals of Harbinger! Amazing!”

Cyrus smiled and laughed.

“Awesome, Syla. Awesome work!” he said.

And at that, Syla couldn't help but smile.

Author's Note

Chapter 3! Yaaaay. Okay, I know it's a stupid title but. Oh well. And wow, Blake is certainly dramatic when he want's to be, eh? xD

Reviews

[Mary Evans]

The feedback I have for you:

The second paragraph is kind of repetitious I’d suggest reworking it.

“he wasn't as skilled as Kadro was,” no need of was.

“excited about a book?…. He opened the book,” repetition.

Otherwise same remarks I made last time. Transition + environment description needed. Overall the story’s progressing quite nice and seems more and more interesting. Keep up the good work.