Chapter 21: What to do

Leif gritted his teeth together, grinding them together in frustration. He stuck his hands in his pockets, looking for the one thing that could most likely calm him down. When his finger finally touched it, he pulled it out.

A box of Lucky Strike cigarettes. Now, Leif had quit smoking a long time ago, but he never failed to keep a box with him just in case his nerves couldn’t be settled.

“It’s rare that I find you smoking, Commander.”

Leif was startled and quickly turned around to see who had disturbed him.

“Chastel,” Leif sighed in relief. He put a cigarette in his mouth and lit it, turning his back to Chastel and focusing on the view once again. The city from the balcony was lovely, even though it belonged to the ugliest creatures Leif knew.

“Is something bothering you, Commander?” Chastel questioned, studying the view from beside his Commander.

Leif looked at Chastel as if saying, “Are you seriously askin’ me that?”

Chastel bowed his head, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. “Right… Of course something is bothering you. After all, you did witness first hand that Kaiden Volante is-”

“Don’t say it,” Leif ordered, blowing out a puff of smoke. Leif shook his head in frustration, then continued to smoke the cigarette between his fingers.

“Sorry, Commander Wyrick,” Chastel said, politely. “I didn’t mean to speak out of term.”

“How’s Commander Volante?” Leif asked, changing the subject quickly before he slugged the poor boy.

Chastel glanced to Leif, seeing his Commander stiff and serious as ever. In all the years he had known Leif Wyrick, never once had he called a friend by their last name or military title; unless  he was in a bad mood or deeply staid about his job. Not that he never was to begin with.

“She hasn’t shown her fast since you two had returned,” Chastel answered, frowning and putting his hands behind his back. “I’m not really surprised, to speak honestly.”

“Just give her some time,” Leif said. “Commander Volante won’t let this affect her judgment on anythin’. She just needs some time to process everythin’.”

“And what about you, Commander?” Leif glanced to Chastel to see the young operative looking at him coolly, yet having that slight bothered look in his eyes. “Learning that Kaiden Volante is being controlled by the METASOCIETY and learning that he killed your best friend, are you sure you aren’t as affected as Commander Volante?”

Leif was silent, still looking at Chastel calmly. After seeing his best friend saluting and wearing the enemy’s uniform, Leif didn’t know what to think. He couldn’t say he wasn’t affected, but Phoenix was more affected than he.

Leif blew out another cloud of dark smoke and looked toward the city in front of him again. “Have any idea what our next move should be?”

Chastel didn’t expect Leif to answer him, but he had hoped, that even in the slightest, Leif would get some of that weight off of his shoulders.

“Aren’t you supposed to know that, Commander Wyrick?” Chastel replied.

“Chastel.”

Chastel chuckled at the strict tone his name was spoken with, but like it implied, he stopped his sarcasm. “I suggest we go after Kaiden Volante, Sir.”

“I was thinking the same thing,” Leif said, giving a small smirk. Leif took the cigarette from his mouth and ground it in the ashtray that was conveniently placed there. “Tell the others we’re leaving first thing in the morning and heading to Kenmor City.”

“How do you suppose we get there, Commander?” Chastel questioned just as Leif began leaving.

“Leave that up to me.” Leif waved back over his shoulder and disappeared behind the velvet curtains.

As Leif made his way down the hall, back towards the hotel room. The sounds sort of reminded him of his apartment back home in Shattered City. The sounds of TVs playing commercials loudly; the sound of music pounding against the walls; and the many echoes of people snoring. There were those few sirens and shouting from outside, but they left as soon as they came.

Leif turned a corner, continuing to walk down the crimson hallway. He stepped to the side, avoiding the couple that were making-out in the hall in front of their hotel room, or so Leif thought it was their hotel room.

After seeing that, Leif found himself wondering, what had ever happened to that girl Cole told him to date? He had went on one date with her, then never saw her again. He knew it wouldn’t work out, but he thought he could at least try.

Just as Leif that the predilection thoughts couldn’t get worse, he heard strange noises coming from one of the nearby hotel rooms. He knew the sound were actually light moans and the gentle squeaks from old bed springs. Of course, how would Leif know this? Because, he was sad to say, that his apartment had very thin walls (sort of like the hotel he was currently in), and the couple above him didn’t seem to get any sleep during the night. After the sun went down, that’s when they started.

“Oh, Calvin!” a female voice said within. After that, Leif ignored every other noise that was heard and continued to walk, briskly, down the hall where he hoped to forget that ever happened.