City of Darkness

by D P Wright

  She continued smiling, knelt down beside where Kessler was slumped and placed a hand on his bandaged arm, “Like I said, God watches over those who fight for him.”

  “Humph,” Kessler sighed. He opened and closed his eyes as he tried to clear his blurred vision. Looking down at his chest he could see that his shirt was soaked in blood.

  “You were lucky that Macy got enough from your com. Any later and we would not be having this conversation. Your wounds from the fire had opened up.” Doc looked down at his white synthleather longcoat and with his gloved hands tried to brush away the brown sludge, “This damn rain is even filthier than usual this far down,” Doc took a long, deep breath from his inhaler and closed his eyes as he enjoyed the hit, “it is quite simply lethal.”

  “I ran out of Ox, I thought I had enough,” he patted down the pockets in his coat, looking for his cigar. Once lit, he drew long puffs, savouring every minute of the delightfully heady smoke.

  “And that is certainly not going to do you any good.”

  Ignoring the doctor, Kessler continued, “Where are we?” He looked around. A lamp sat on Doc’s bag provided light revealing a large, dusty space with a high ceiling.

  “You happened to crash your car into the wall of this warehouse, or whatever this place was. Doesn’t seem to have been used in some time”

  “Damn. Will she drive again?”

  “That old rust bucket of yours looks in bad shape, worse than you.”

  “Hey careful what you’re calling a rust bucket, we have been through a lot together.” He put his head in his hands thinking about his loss, “She is a classic.”

  Bethany again placed her hand on his arm, “Tell us what happened.” Her touch was gentle, her face creased with concern.

  Kessler looked away from Bethany’s comforting stare. This close to her he could smell the fragrant scent of Macy’s soap on her skin, its strong floral tones cutting through the chemical odour of the rain. It reminded him of home. He took a couple of puffs on his cigar before speaking, “To begin with I thought your uncle was killed by the Council. It’s common knowledge that they hate any religion other than their own and then there was the trouble he was having with the local group of Corps Boys…”

  “Yes. Before service they would surround the church and taunt people as they came to commune with God. Pushing, shoving and cursing at us. Sometimes windows were broken but nothing like this. Did they kill him?” Her nails dug into Kessler urging him to continue.

  Kessler prised her grip from his arm as he thought carefully on his next few words. It would be easy to tell her they did it. He could take her credits and try to piece together his life. The lantern flickered and the light danced around them as he stared into her green eyes. Moments passed in silence. She bit her bottom lip, like she always did when she was nervous, and waited. Kessler shook his head slowly, “Anybody messing with Council profits is looking for trouble and your uncle’s booze business would have certainly got their attention. The Corps Boys are the only ones allowed by the Council to push their booze down these parts, nobody else, and looking at your uncle’s records he was doing pretty well, raking in a fine amount of credits.”

  “All for the upkeep of the church.”

  Kessler continued, “Then there was the presence of the DPD at St John’s and the fire. All seemed to point to Council involvement.”

  “Yes, go on.” Bethany leaned forward, waving away the cigar smoke.

  “I spoke to Bishop Sansom,” Bethany nodded in recognition of the name, “and he certainly believed they were to blame. But he was wrong, it was something much bigger than that.” He took another draw from his cigar and after a few moments released long tendrils of smoke that he watched swirl into the ether. He raised his arm, testing the state of his injury, “Doc, you have done wonders, you really have.”

  “Really it’s the Prinax. It’s truly remarkable.” Doc spoke in hushed tones, his long spindly fingers stroking his small, neat beard, deep in thought.

  “Mr Kessler, please, I beg you, continue.” Bethany urged him on.

  “I’ve just been chatting with a friend of yours, from St John’s. Judecca was his name.”

  “Brother Glaxon? Here? He’s alive?” Bethany’s face lit up at the thought.

  “Your uncle, in his work with the local skin labs and his attempts to get the chem heads off their gear, came across a new sim and those that made it did not appreciate his snooping around. They used the young priest, Judecca, to get to him.” Bethany took a sharp intake of breath and Kessler continued, “The usual story, combine a weak will with a grudge to bear and they had an addict who would do anything they asked if it meant getting more chem. In this case it’s a particularly nasty one called Lux.” Kessler looked away from Beth’s trembling form and paused before continuing, “I found empty caps of the stuff all over your uncle’s study and the skin lab, where he was taken, told me that he was full of it when he died.” Bethany let out a stifled cry and shook her head as Doc prepared a syringe. “He wasn’t using the stuff, if that’s what you’re thinking, it was some sick message left by whomever is pushing the chem,” he paused as images from his nightmare returned to haunt him, “as were the words ‘Lux Ferre’ on his desk. I also found it hacked into Judecca’s door.” Kessler rummaged around his coat pocket for his view finder and switched it on to reveal the flickering image of the phrase. Doc dropped the syringe he was filling as he jumped up with a start and cursed to himself. Kessler looked away from the green holographics and rubbed his eyes, “Some type of calling card, or whatever, I guess.”

  “I don’t understand. Judecca was using this chem? I don’t believe you. He was a good priest. Sure, he struggled with the strict rules my uncle expected him to obey, but he was a caring man of God.”

  “Chems do not discriminate, Miss Turner. Everyone is vulnerable to their lure.” Kessler’s eyes briefly met Doc’s before returning to Bethany. “They convinced him to let them into the church where they killed your uncle. All it took was the promise of more sim.”

  “I can’t believe it. I have to speak to him.” She got up from where she was knelt beside Kessler, raised her hood over her head and pulled her coat tightly around her, ready to leave.

  “He’s dead. I told you Miss Turner, he was a chem head. This new stuff kills those that use it. He was not the priest you used to know, his mind was completely gone, a complete whack job. He stuck me with a blade for destroying his substantial stash. I must be getting old to have not seen that coming. Anyway, I blasted him. He was lucky it was a quick death because that Lux he was taking kills you from the inside, it’s not pretty. I did him a favour.” Kessler winced in pain as he reached down into his coat pocket and gave Bethany Judecca’s blood-stained silver cross.

  Bethany’s eyes widened as she took the cross in her hands, “This was my uncle’s.” She sobbed loudly as she continued to speak, “And poor, good natured Brother Rothery? Did he say what happened to him?”

  “Yes. He was taken, I don’t know where.” Bethany, head in hands, wailed as she took in the information. Kessler returned his attention to the doctor, “Doc, did you get anything back on that sample?”

  “Nothing I could trace. It had the usual concoction of carthadric chemicals to pump the heart faster, to get the stuff into the blood as quickly as possible. Nothing out of the ordinary.”

  “Nothing at all? I’ve seen first-hand what this filth does to people, there must be something in it?”

  “No, well there was something strange but it has no relation to the chem’s effects.”

  “What?”

  “From the residue left in the cap my findings told me that the constituent ingredients weighed twice as much as they should. It was strange but there must be some explanation, I accounted for each ingredient. Perhaps my equipment was not aligned properly, I don’t know.”

  “You look tired.” Kessler noticed that Doc had deep shadows under his bespectacled eyes.

  “I am not sleeping well o
f late. Work, you know how it is?”

  “Yea. This lack of sleep seems to be catching. Does anybody ever sleep in this damned city?”

  Bethany took a breath from her Ox inhaler. “So it’s confirmed then. I’ve lost everyone I’ve ever loved, my family gone.” A coldness hung on each word as she continued, “Brother Glaxon left God’s House for that of the Devil’s. God’s justice, Mr Kessler.”

  Doc Galloway approached the detective, the syringe now loaded with medicine, “A cocktail of my own making, Kes, just to help you recover and give you some energy.”

  “I like your cocktails, Doc. Work away.” He rolled up his sleeve and the medicine was quickly administered.

  “I have been told those who killed your uncle can be found in a place called Acheron, below us, all the way down in Downtown 5.” The medicine coursed up his veins like fire, delivering energy and vitality to his broken body. He breathed quickly as he braced himself against the chem as it took hold of him, “I don’t know what you will do with that information but what I do know is that there’s nothing left for me to do. I’ve concluded our contract Miss Turner, I’ve found out who killed your uncle and why.” Kessler looked away from her expectant eyes and stared down at his feet. He did not know why but despite the success of his investigation he felt the pang of guilt deep down. “So we now need to talk about my fee.”

  “Of course,” she reached into a bag that was by her feet and took from it a large purse that clinked with the sound of creds. She stared silently at the bag for a fleeting moment then threw it at Kessler.

  The detective looked at the silver purse. The light from the lamp made its delicate cloth glisten and he could clearly make out the bars of credits through the thin material. Everyone was silent as Kessler stared at it, his thoughts dark with concern. He was sure that Bethany did not have much more to live on, if any at all. How was she going to survive in this city by herself? He shook such thoughts from his mind. He needed the creds to pay off Little Chi and he had Macy to look after. It was not enough but maybe he could cut a deal. Maybe. He noticed that his hands were playing with the caps of Lux he still had in his pocket. When did he pick those up? Why did he have them? He shook his head again, he had his own demons to battle. Life on Dis was tough, everyone had their problems. He leant forward and peered inside the bag. “Seems a little light.”

  “One thousand two hundred credits. You’ve done well, Mr Kessler, but have yet to bring my uncle’s killers to justice. I felt half is a fair price for the service given so far.”

  “Judecca is lying in his apartment with his head splattered all over the floor. Like you said, your god’s justice.”

  “Yes but he did not kill my uncle.”

  “It ends here. There is no way of finding those Dregs or chemheads, whoever they are.”

  “You said those that make this poison come from Downtown 5.”

  Kessler laughed, “It’s impossible. Even if you could make it down that far, I have heard stories the air is so bad, so toxic, that even to move around in it is death. Only corporates are allowed that deep.” Kessler pulled himself up, wincing as his injuries protested and spoke to Doc, “How did you get from Midtown to here?”

  “My vehicle.” Doc Galloway was packed and ready to go. “You will have to take it easy Kes but you should be fine if you apply the Prinax cream once every day. Remember to be frugal with the amount, it should last you a couple of days but once it’s done there’s no more.”

  Kessler’s attention returned to Bethany, “We can drop you off in Midtown, I would recommend Eden Inc. I’m sure the Bishop would be happy to help you.” His mind was racing. Without the cred to pay off Little Chi he needed to get Macy and hide somewhere safe. Fast.”

  “Forget it. God’s work has not been finished. I intend to make my way to Downtown 5 and administer our Lord’s justice myself.”

  “Listen, you won’t stand a chance. If you think this deep is bad then D5 will be a whole lot worse. I hear that strange dangers lurk down there and if the air doesn’t kill you then the Councilmen surely will.”

  “Then come with me, my uncle’s work remains unfinished. That chem still eats away at the city.”

  “Well I don’t owe Dis anything. It has given me nothing but misery.”

  “Then what of the good souls living within it?” Bethany stepped closer to the detective, “There are still good people living here.”

  “I have my own problems and I don’t need to add to them. I already have the Council breathing down my neck, for light’s sake, I nearly killed myself getting away from them. I’ve done my time in Council prisons and I don’t intend to go back. My life isn’t much but it is my life,” Kessler spoke quietly. He continued to stare at his feet. “I found out who killed your uncle and where to find them. We are done here.” He looked up at the doctor who met his stare only briefly before turning away and pretending to be busy adjusting the collar on his coat and slicking his long white hair back before donning his hood.

  “God has brought us together for a reason. We need to continue my uncle’s work and stop this evil from spreading throughout the city. I have known since we were saved back at St John’s that God was keeping us alive. Kept you alive by providing ointment to heal your wounds.”

  “Miss Turner, God had nothing to do with saving us back at the church. A six inch thick stone coffin and a large dose of luck were the only things that kept us from being toast.”

  Bethany shook her head in disagreement, her fists clenched and waving passionately with each and every word. “There’s a war going on throughout Dis, Mr Kessler, between good and evil and right now evil is winning. Look all around us, darkness smothers this city and the Devil lurks in every shadow. My uncle knew this was happening, knew the dangers but still fought for us, for the goodness that he believed was inside us despite the relentless sin trying to tempt us at every turn.” She thumped her chest with her fist and looked at both Kessler and Doc Galloway. “We live in a world where the best lack all conviction and the worst are full of a passionate intensity. Humanity is falling apart and someone needs to do something about it.”

  “You have the wrong guy, you don’t know me. I’m no hero.” Kessler glanced up at the doctor, “I’ve,” he paused in brief thought, “I’ve seen things, done things that are questionable, that no man can come back from.” He closed his eyes and turned his face away from the pleading, shimmering green pools that looked up at him.

  “In Him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.”

  “Save your preaching for someone who’s worth it. Doc grab your bag, let’s get out of here. This air stinks.” He took a couple of deep breaths from his medivent, “Here take some Ox,” he threw it at Bethany and stood up on his feet, taking a few moments to get his balance.

  “Ok, if fighting for what’s right doesn’t appeal to you then how about cash. You’re a businessman aren’t you?” Her voice stammered and reached a high pitch that threatened to break into another sob.

  “You have no money, and besides, you couldn’t afford to pay what it would cost to reach that deep. It’s three districts below this and then some, hardly any air.”

  “My mother’s ring is worth more than enough.”

  Kessler took the ring from his pocket and looked rather sheepishly at Bethany. “Sorry, I forgot I had it. It helped me get into Eden Inc and speak to Bishop Sansom.” He held the sparkling ring in his large bloody hand, his gaze fixed on the diamonds which danced in the light. “It really is beautiful. I haven’t seen diamonds before.” He held the ring up to the light of the lamp, his eyes wide in awe, “It really is something.”

  “It’s yours if you take me down to Acheron, help me put a stop to this chem and to those that make it.”

  “You mean kill them.”

  “An eye for an eye, Mr Kessler.”

  He looked again at the jewels as they glistened in the light. His thoughts turned to the possibilities tha
t amount of cred would bring. Little Chi would be a distant memory and he could leave his toxic low existence in M5 behind for the cleaner air further up town. “It’s your mother’s, all you have left of her.”

  “She is looking down on us from heaven willing me to complete God’s work. For what other reason would the Lord have allowed me to retrieve it from my uncle’s desk? It allowed you access to Eden Inc.” Kessler nodded and she continued, “And now it allows our mission to continue.”

  Kessler looked over at the doctor who stood muttering to himself before meeting his stare, “Now Kes, I’ve seen that look before. You’re in no condition to venture anywhere, never mind down to D5. It’s ridiculous. Impossible.”

  “I know someone who travelled that far down city. Father Zachery went down there years ago to spread God’s message and find out more about the old world, the time before the Council when the Lord’s words were as free and as pure as the air from the heavens.” Her eyes were closed as she pictured the impossible images of the past, and the beginnings of a smile turned the edges of her mouth. “It is possible.”

  Kessler took one more look at the shimmering diamonds and then back at Bethany, her eyes now filled with hope and the images of a better world. This world, this city was all about survival and this pay cheque would give him more than just the ability to endure the daily grind. There was just no way he could turn that opportunity down and he knew it. The detective sighed, “What if we travel all the way down to Acheron and can’t find these guys?”

  “We are in God’s hands now. He will guide us. Take us there and, whatever happens, you will still keep the ring.”

  “Ok. It’s a deal. We travel to Acheron and take a look around.” He held up the ring, took one long draw from what remained of the cigar, dropped it on the floor and stamped out the dying embers.

  “Well, I’m terribly sorry for interrupting this insanity but I really must be getting back to my lab. I really don’t know how they’re coping without me. When I left Midtown to cater to your needs we were extremely busy.” He pointed a finger at Kessler, “They really were struggling. I must get back.” The doctor was standing at the ready with his large bag in his hands and hood up.