Chapter Two: The Deal 1Ace and Vanessa arrive at an old run-down warehouse across town. Ace steps out of the limo first, and offers his hand to Vanessa, which of course, she accepts. He pulls her out of the car swiftly, but gently. She steps in front of him and turns her face to his.2
"We're here," she says, gesturing to the warehouse.3
"What is 'here' exactly?" Ace asks, staring at her.4
"This is where my boss does his business," Vanessa replies.5
"Oh," Ace says, glancing at the warehouse. "Well, shall we go in?"6
"But of course," she says, taking his hand and leading him towards the warehouse.7
When they reach the top floor of the warehouse, Vanessa pulls Ace into a room that's extremely dark. 'Oh great, what now?' Ace thinks to himself. All of a sudden, Vanessa stops in her tracks and bows her head.8
"I have brought the one you asked for," she says softly.9
"Good," says a voice from the opposite side of the room. "You're dismissed, Vanessa."10
"Thank you, boss," she mutters, backing out of the room.11
Ace just stands there, staring into the darkness. He feels a set of eyes staring back at him, making his skin crawl.12
"Ace," the voice says again, "please sit."13
Ace did as he was commanded and walked forward. He looked at two red arm chairs and took a seat in one. He turned to face where the voice was coming from.14
"You're the one who sent for me, I assume?" he asked in a business-like voice.15
"Naturally," the voice said again. "If I hadn't, I'd be asking Vanessa why she'd brought you into my office."16
By the sound of the voice, Ace would have thought that it was a woman talking to him, but he knew better than to assume things before he knew anything.17
"Well Ace," the voice continues, "word on the street is that you're a great thief."18
"Well, that's what they say," Ace admits, "but I don't know if it's true."19
"Are you telling me," the voice says, "that my sources are wrong?"20
"No," Ace says, "but I wouldn't classify myself as a great thief."21
A flame appears to a cigarette, revealing the face of a young woman with dark brown hair and green eyes. She stares at him with a smirk on her face.22
"If you don't classify yourself as a great thief, then what do you classify yourself as?" she asks.23
"Well, truth be told, I don't really know."24
"Oh well, I'll stick to the word from my informant."25
"Alright, but I have just one question."26
"Go ahead, Ace."27
"What exactly is it that you want me to do?"28
"Well, Ace, it's not nearly simple as that... I need you to help me locate and gather ancient artifacts."29
"Artifacts?"30
"Yes, Ace. Artifacts. Ancient relics of the old world believed to have powers of the gods."31
"And you want me to steal-?"32
"Not just steal, Ace. Locate them. Find them. Recover them and bring them to me."33
"Shouldn't you get an archaeologist for this?"34
"Well, Ace, we've thought about that, and it's more complex than it seems. Some of the artifacts have already been found and are in possession of collectors and scientists."35
"And you want me to gather all of them?"36
"Yes, Ace. Find and gather all of them, and bring them to me."37
"I don't see what's in it for me."38
"Anything you desire. A wish, money, you name it."39
"Sounds promising. Will you help me with this task?"40
"If you agree to work for me, yes."41
"First, I must know... What's your name?"42
"You can just call me Kat, Ace."43
"When do I start, Kat?"44
"Right now."45
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