by Aaron Frale
“So, why are you here?” Azerius said.
“I’m looking for a man named Hector Gonzalez. I have sources that say he ended up here.”
“Well, I don’t know who that is. If you aren’t going to take me in, then you can just leave me alone.”
“Oh no, I didn’t say I wouldn’t take you in. The cultists may not pay money for you, but it can’t hurt doing them a favor. Say what you want about them, but they reward loyalty.”
Azerius’ heart would have sunk if it hadn’t been in so much pain.
They smiled and said, “Relax, I didn’t say I would take you in either, at least so long as you are helpful.”
“What do you want from me?”
“Now we are talking. I want you to help me find Hector Gonzalez.”
“I told you. I don’t know who that is. How am I supposed to find him if I don’t know who you are talking about?”
“True, but you do know one of his known associates. A kid named Jon Xiong.”
“I’ve been trying to find that guy for months, but I haven’t had any luck. He probably got picked up by the cultists.”
“My sources say otherwise,” they smiled and patted him on the back. “Now, are you going to tell me everything you know about Jon, or are we going to take a trip to visit a certain High Priest?”
Azerius sighed and said, “I don’t have a choice, do I?”
“I’m not sure you know how coercion works.”
“Can we at least get out of the open? I won’t try to run. I promise.”
They made an exaggerated sigh and said, “I guess. Hey, you know what? I’m hungry. What is considered food in this nowheresville? Maybe we should talk about this over lunch.”
“They have these amazing things called burgers.”
“Great; you’re buying.”
Azerius turned back to his car to retrieve his scrambler. It was going to be a long day, but in an odd twist, he really didn’t mind. One of the things that had excited him the most about discovering Jon was that it was somebody to talk to. The Chrysler person might be dangling him over the sacrificial pit, but at least he’d be able to tell them things no one else would ever believe. His isolation was at an end.
Notes
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