“So, no details about your work, huh?” Emily quipped as they both left the courthouse, reentering the gray world of destroyed rubble that was the dreary outside of the undercity.

“You know full well why I didn’t want to talk about it. I’m not proud of the work I did for Wright, but I had to do something.” Zach sniped back, wanting to shut down the conversation quickly.

The problem was that Emily didn’t know why he didn’t want to talk about it. She had a pretty good idea, sure, but despite all the years that had passed, Zach had never let slip so much as a hint as to what Wright had forced him to do while in his employ. The only telling detail she ever gleaned was from Zach’s desperate insistence on never mentioning the affair. Whatever it was, it hadn’t been good.

None of those facts made Emily feel any better about Zach going to work for Princip, especially since they had no idea who he was compared to Wright. Not even Zach had ever heard of him, and he always kept his ear close to the ground. It was possible that he was fine, but Zach and Emily hadn’t made it this long by trusting others. No one got to power through kindness, not here and not anymore.

“One of these days, I’m going to get you to tell me.” Emily responded, but Zach just shook his head and strode off and away from the building. She followed hurriedly after him, not really knowing where he was going but understanding that he wouldn’t talk; at least not right now.

They found themselves drifting some ways away from the courthouse, taking turn after turn until Zach finally stopped himself in front of a heap of rubble that Emily assumed had once been a house. Conspicuously, he checked over his shoulders scanning for any of the spectral vagrants scattered throughout the shattered remnants of the city. Seeing that there weren’t any, he nodded to the rubble.

“Welcome home.” He nodded, with a grin.

Emily frowned, looking at it. It looked much like every other pile of rubble in the city, with the exception of a small alcove that only upon close inspection was evident through the rock. It seemed the building had collapsed in just the right way, to create a makeshift dwelling for someone with just enough determination to be able to squeeze into. For Zach it would be a tight fit, but Emily was just small enough to fit with relatively little difficulty.

Forcing her way into the tiny space, where Emily assumed they would be staying at least for now, she couldn’t help but look the place up and down.

“Looks fantastic.” Emily smirked, trying hard to conceal the feelings of dissatisfaction that bubbled up inside her. “It could use decorations, though. Are we going to be able to put a ‘visitors not welcome’ mat at the front? You know, just to give it that homey touch.”

“I think that would go perfectly with the cheery decor.” Zach snickered as he crawled into the space as well. It was a tight squeeze. “Though, I do think it could definitely use a better paint job. What do you think of gunmetal gray instead of slate?”

“Yeah, that would be great.” Emily agreed, nodding fervently around her before letting out a long drawn out sigh. Letting her head drop she suddenly flung her head up as tears began welling up in her eyes. “Why here, Zach? I’m sure there are plenty of actually intact places we could stay. We have money, it might not be much, but it’s gotta be better than here. This place doesn’t even have a bathroom.”

Curling up against her, Zach gently wrapped his arms around her.

“I know this isn’t great.” He whispered to her as he held her. “But it won’t be long. Just until we’ve got a plan.”

“How do you expect that? We don’t know who those men were or what they wanted. We could be stuck here for the rest of our lives.”

“Well, it’s my job to make sure that doesn’t happen.” Zach responded, in the most comforting tone he could muster. “Which means that I need you to sit tight here and have a little bit of faith in me for once. At least until we’re out of this mess. OK?”

“OK.” Emily sighed.

“Good. Try and stay put, we’ll have to work out how we’re going to maneuver this place without being any more conspicuous than we already have been, but until then I have to go back and talk to Princip. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

With that, Zach crawled back out of the space, leaving Emily completely alone in the cramped and dreary space. Curling up tightly into a ball, she began to cry, thick heavy tears rolling down her face and splattering on the ground around her. She continued to sob uncontrollably for what felt like an hour when she finally drifted off to sleep and into not-so-peaceful dreams.

Zach witnessed none of those things, as he made his way back to the courthouse. He took his time on his short journey, giving himself ample time to think and ponder the area around him. The place was a wreck, and it seemed the spirit of everyone there hadn’t just broken but completely shattered. Deep down he wanted to help them, but he knew that he couldn't. His obligations were to Emily, and that meant that he needed to keep his mind on the task at hand.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

Wright, the man who’d previously run this undercity, had been a cunning and conniving man. With each interaction Zach had previously had with him, he came across as though he had only looked after the denizens of the undercity as a matter of necessity to further his power and goals. As heartless of a concept as that was, Zach still understood that Wright thought for his people.

He didn’t know this Princip character, but deep in his gut he could feel that he wasn’t the same. Where were the crews to clear the devastation, or the people to clothe those in need. Everything looked abandoned while everyone was left to their own devices, which to Zach seemed to consist of nothing but wallowing in despair and misery.

Such thoughts didn’t make Zach any more eager about his approaching audience with the shadowy Princip, but he held his head up high as he strode into the courthouse. He was immediately met by the man in the suit, who stood at the entrance, his eyes glued to a pocket watch he gripped firmly in one hand.

“If it isn’t Mr. Strongman. I’ve been expecting you.” He impatiently snipped as soon as Zach laid eyes on him. “We’re running a tight schedule at the moment, so if you’d please follow me, I’ll guide you directly to Princip’s office.”

Without giving any time for Zach to respond, the man turned sharply on his heels; leading the way back toward the central courtroom. From there the two men passed straight through, finding themselves in front of the door that presumably had once led to the judge’s chambers.

It was a plain thing, with no markings or engravings. It looked solid enough, not that it really mattered much to Zach. Few things that looked sturdy actually were to him.

Without so much as a word, the suited man pushed the door open; motioning for Zach to pass through. Just as Zach obeyed, the door slammed firmly shut. The judge’s chambers consisted of nothing more than a cramped office. The majority of which was filled by a large, solid desk ornately carved of expensive marble. Clearly whoever had previously inhabited the place had a taste for luxury. It made Zach cringe inside when he compared that to the poverty of those who dwelt outside in the city. Most of them probably couldn’t even imagine such decadence.

Sitting behind the desk sat a narrow man with dark hair swept to one side and an intensely sour expression twisted onto his face. He wore a silk suit and pored over documents that were strewn out in front of him. He only glanced up for a moment from them to see who’d entered his sanctuary. Zach immediately disliked the man.

“Mr. Princip, I assume?” Zach said with a note of barely concealed disdain as he approached the desk.

“Yes.” The man drawled in return, refusing to look back up from the paperwork in front of him. He had a smooth voice, like soft silk, though it had just a touch of imperiousness to it. “I assume that you’re the strongman I was informed of earlier today, the one looking for work.”

“Yes sir.”

“And, pray tell would you like in return your services, Mr…?” He paused looking at Zach inquisitively.

“Zach. Just Zach.” Zach returned, keeping his voice as neutral as possible. “I don’t need anything fancy, I just need a little money and some protection.”

“Money is easy.” Princip responded. “We have numerous operations topside that ensure we’ll never be short of funds. That, and Wright was quite frugal during his tenure as dear leader of this city. Protection, on the other hand, is a trickier matter. No doubt, you’ve seen the state of this city. Few people survived the attack, and what few resources we have are limited.”

“So why don’t you reallocate some of your other resources to help rebuild.” Zach suggested with a slight edge to his voice.

“Mr. Zach, you’re a guest here, so don’t presume to be able to tell me what to do.” Princip snapped back. “You have no idea what sort of a tenuous position we’re in here. Wright, in all of his glorious wisdom, not only destroyed everything he worked so hard to build, but he also angered some very powerful people. Powerful people who will do anything to get their way. People that neither you nor me want to mess with.”

“So you’re nothing but a puppet.” Zach spat with open vitriol. “All you’re doing is whatever these people want.”

“And so will you, if you want anything from me. Otherwise, you can feel free to take your leave. Unless you’d rather I forced you and that girl you’re with, out of here. I have little patience for men with a moral code beyond mere pragmatism, and I can tell that you’re one of those people.” Princip paused for a moment, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “Still, I could have some use for you, and so might my…partners. So, if you’re willing to obey, then I’ll fulfill your requests. Otherwise, leave before I’m forced to make you.”

With his ultimatum finished, Princip slowly picked up a pen that lay on his desk and began writing on one of the forms in front of him. He hadn’t lifted his gaze from them once during the entire exchange.

Zach, for his part, was boiling with rage, but he had to admit that Princip was right. They couldn’t afford to be cast off to the wolves. Leaning up against the desk and lowering his head submissively, Zach spoke, “Fine. What do I need to do?”

Princip, looking up and meeting Zach’s downcast gaze, paused for a moment before responding.

“Nothing.” He responded at last, a dramatic air to his tone. “At least, not right now. I know that you’ve found yourself a place. Go there for the time being. I’ll assign a few of my remaining men to discreetly watch over the place. They’ll protect you and the girl as long as you do as you’re told. In exchange I trust that you’ll make your services worthwhile. After all, every asset is valuable these days.”

“Thank you, sir.” Zach replied, straightening. “I won’t disappoint.”

“I’m sure you won’t.” Princip replied. “If what you say is true and you lent your services to Wright, then I’m sure you’ll more than make up for the loss of personnel. I may not have liked Wright when he was alive, but I have to give the man credit. He knew people.”

“I certainly hope so.” Zach muttered, as he turned and walked out the door.