The Fires of Hephaestus by Kyle West

Author:Kyle West [West, Kyle]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ragnarok Press

18

They entered the open door, finding about a hundred chairs lined up in ten rows, all facing a very antiquated projector screen. The four of them took up seats in the back corner and waited.

Over the next couple of hours, people filed in. Men, mostly, thin and malnourished with the look of the Undercity on them, and others that were healthier with more meat on their bones. In all cases, they avoided eye contact, and picked a seat that was as far from the others as possible. There were only a few women—three, by Lucian’s count. One of them gave Serah a strange look as she filed in.

“If I had your looks, I’d be dancing at Candy’s.”

“Nobody asked you,” Serah retorted.

The woman smirked and sat down two rows ahead.

Soon, the room was filled with cigarette smoke, and smoke from other substances besides. Some of the men talked in low voices, men who probably knew each other from previous contracts. But for the most part, it was quiet.

The clock went past 18:00, and still, the foreman hadn’t showed up. He eventually did, about forty minutes late, and his ruddy cheeks, red eyes, and lumbering walk telling Lucian he was three sheets to the wind, or maybe even four sheets. He had a thick walrus mustache, droopy eyes, and a foul disposition. Behind him marched four more men, all wearing black riot gear, face masks, with shock batons on their belts.

“This looks promising,” Serah said.

“Who said that?” he barked, his eyes looking for the source of the voice.

Serah looked as if she wanted to say more, but Lucian put a hand on her arm, restraining her.

He stood on the podium and looked at the crowd. He scowled a bit, as if he didn’t like what he saw.

“I’m Foreman Holloway, and for the next three months, you are my slaves. I tell you to do something, you do it, or else you’ll get a shock from my electro whip.” He touched the weapon at his side. “My men have full authorization to use their batons on anyone who doesn’t follow orders. Mark my words, you’ll see us use them before tonight’s done. We clear on that?”

From the chorus of “yes sirs,” Lucian assumed that was the right answer, so he responded in kind.

Holloway nodded to a tough beside him, who pressed a button on a remote control. Immediately, a corporate movie started playing on the screen as the lights dimmed, projecting the logo of the company.

“XVA Staffing Professionals,” came a placid, female voice. “Where staffing is our profession.”

Serah snickered, and immediately a guard came to their row and flashed a light in her direction.

“Rotting hell,” she said. “Cut that out.”

“Step over here, ma’am.”

“She meant nothing by it,” Lucian said.

“Trying to be a hero, huh? You, over here.” The tough was already brandishing his shock baton.

Lucian did not want to have to deal with this. But before he could do anything, he noticed a telltale violet blaze in the eyes behind the man’s riot mask.

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