image [https://i.imgur.com/aRfvk7w.png]
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Fii slipped back into the clinic and headed to her room to remove her equipment, stuffing the pieces into a black gym bag. Once she was dressed in her usual attire, she padded back out through the clinic's rear entrance and headed toward the Neon Alley.
She walked casually along the streets, blending in with the crowd. Nobody gave her a second glance as she wove through the throng, approaching the entrance to the Neon Alley. She glanced up at the colorful array of neon signs hanging above the alleyway, flashing and flickering in the gloom. Despite the late hour, the atmosphere remained lively and energetic.
Then, she made her way past the large group of people congregating near the entrance and rounded the corner, entering the alley proper. The buildings here were pressed together tightly, narrow passageways branching off at various points, leading to smaller marketplaces and nooks where vendors peddled their wares.
Fii weaved her way through the bustling crowd, keeping an eye out for anything suspicious. A pair of men staggered past, laughing boisterously as they slung their arms around each other's shoulders. Another man lurked in a dark alcove, talking in hushed tones with a hooded figure, a cigarette smoldering between his fingers.
As she approached a booth selling handmade jewelry, a hand reached out from the crowd, wrapping around her arm. She reacted instinctively, pivoting and bringing her free elbow up sharply, making contact with her assailant's sternum. There was a sharp gasp as the grip on her arm loosened.
She spun to face the offender, her hand balling into a fist. "Back off!" she spat, ready to strike.
The man who'd grabbed her staggered back, wheezing. "Relax...was gonna ask..." he coughed, massaging his chest, "if you're interested in some good weed...just a joint or two..." He winced as he straightened up, giving her a forced smile.
Fii blinked, her fist unclenching as she relaxed her stance. "Oh...uh...not right now."
The man gave her a toothy grin. "Come on, sweetheart...won't be able to offer you this discount later...best stuff on the market, I guarantee it." He winked at her, pulling out a small plastic package filled with rolled joints.
She shook her head, glancing away awkwardly. "I'm fine, thanks."
The dealer chuckled, tucking the package back in his pocket. "Suit yourself, kid." He turned and sauntered away, disappearing into the crowd.
Fii stared after the man for a moment, before continuing on her path. She moved cautiously now, keeping her guard up.
The last thing she wanted to deal with tonight was getting mugged or solicited for drugs. She was confident she'd be able to sniff out some useful intel from the locals, and her instincts usually weren't wrong. But if she really wanted to find out what was going on, there was only one person she could turn to: Lyria.
Fii began asking around, striking up conversations with a few street vendors, performers, and locals. It wasn't hard; she wasn't exactly shy, and her charm, albeit goofy, often made folks more receptive to talking. She had a knack for getting people to open up, and she'd learned to use that to her advantage.
It only took a few moments for her to discover that Lyria was having a small get-together with some friends at her place near the end of the alley. Fii thanked the vendor and tossed a Tink to a street performer before heading over, hoping to catch the party in full swing.
She knew where Lyria lived, but she also knew it wasn't a good idea to approach the dancer without permission. The woman wasn't a regular partier, as far as Fii understood, but she did dabble in the nightlife, and she loved the Neon Alley. It made sense for her to reside nearby, and she often hung around the street performers to socialize. That's how they met, after all.
It should be fine. Lyria was nice to her, so barging in uninvited shouldn't be a big deal. Or at least, Fii hoped.
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The small apartment building looked like many of the others in the area, run-down and dilapidated, but inside was a different story. Fii had only visited Lyria's place once before, but it seemed the woman had made some improvements since then. Instead of the damp, moldy space she remembered, the interior was surprisingly cozy.
Warm lighting bathed the main room in a soft, yellow glow, and the air smelled faintly of incense and spices. A couch and several beanbags occupied the center of the room, surrounded by plush pillows. Music played from a vintage-looking record player, and there was a small kitchenette off to the side, complete with a stove and a sink.
A small group of people lounged around, chatting and laughing amongst themselves. Several of them were drinking and smoking, but nobody seemed too far gone, thank goodness. She didn't want to intrude on an out-of-control bash, after all.
"Well, well, if it isn't my favorite little acrobat! How ya doing, slumshine?" Lyria beamed, emerging from a side room. "Fii! It's been a while. I thought you'd forgotten about little old me." She draped a lanky arm over the Fii's shoulder, pulling her into a side hug.
Fii stiffened at first but quickly relaxed, melting into the embrace. "Hey, I've been busy, you know? Just got a lot going on. How're things?" She awkwardly patted Lyria's forearm as they walked over to the group, who all greeted her with warm smiles.
"Oh, you know, just chasin' the neon in my little shimmer in the puddle. Trying to enjoy myself before I turn into a dried-up old hag." Lyria laughed, a hearty, booming sound. "Come on, relax and sit down. You want a drink?" she asked, motioning to the kitchen.
Fii shook her head, declining politely. "Ah, thanks, but I don't really drink much." She scanned the group, counting a total of seven people in total. "Sorry to drop in, by the way. I was just looking for some info, and I figured you'd be able to help me out."
She looked around at the faces in the room. Many of them seemed familiar, probably regulars at the Neon Alley. But there were a few unfamiliar ones, too, probably acquaintances and friends of the group.
After pouring herself a drink, Lyria took a sip and waved a hand dismissively. "Eh, you're not interrupting anything important. Besides, I always got time for you. What's up? Want me to help spread the word about one of your gigs?" She grinned.
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Fii's eyes lit up. "Uh, no, that's not...but if you wanna—"
"I'm kidding, Fii, relax." Lyria chuckled, squeezing Fii's shoulder reassuringly. "Seriously though, whatcha need? Spill it. I got ears everywhere, y'know." She sat down on the couch, gesturing for Fii to join her.
One of the people sitting on the couch, a handsome man with a neatly trimmed beard, perked up. "So, who's this? A friend of yours, Lyr?" He tilted his head, scrutinizing her. "You don't look like anyone I've seen around here before."
Fii smiled weakly, shrugging. "Name's Fii. Just a street performer and odd jobber around these parts."
"Yup, that's her, and yes, she's my little friend." Lyria wrapped an arm around Fii's shoulders and squeezed tightly. "Don't let the adorable face fool you—this one's a real hard worker and a feisty one. Now, shhh, we're talking here, babe." She shot him a playful wink.
Fii blushed slightly at the compliment, shifting in her seat.
Another person, a petite woman with glasses, leaned forward curiously. "Hmm, interesting. So, what brings you here, Fii? Are you part of Lyr's crew or something? Because, like, if you're looking for a job, we could probably hook you up with something. Lyr's tight with a lot of the local vendors."
Fii shook her head again, running a hand through her hair. "No, that's not what I'm here for, but...thank you." She gave them all a nervous smile.
Lyria tsked. "Seriously, chill. She's fine; we go way back. So, Fii, whatcha need?" The other guests quickly fell silent, seemingly content to listen as she and Lyria conversed.
Fii made a mental note to return the favor later, somehow, before speaking up. "So, I found this guy overdosing in an alley tonight. Didn't look like the usual drugs or alcohol, but he was high as a kite. Passed out, seizing and everything. Shaking so hard he dropped a syringe. It was empty. Anyway, I brought him to the clinic, but..." She lowered her voice a bit, leaning in to whisper. "Has there been any echoes in the alley about a new drug? Something big, or different, maybe?"
Lyria hummed thoughtfully, taking another sip of her drink as she leaned back on the couch. "Y'know, now that you mention it...been hearing some rumors for a while. Like whispers. There's a new thing going around, supposedly. Dealers call it 'Shiver' or some such. Said to make you feel real good, like flying, but when it wears off, you crash hard. Like a fucking rock."
Shiver? Sounded a bit ridiculous. Fii frowned, arching a brow. "Oh? Never heard of that name. Doesn't seem like the usual stuff that circulates around here. Usually, the new stuff goes straight to the metropolis. But not the slums."
"Exactly, which is why it's all kinds of suspect," Lyria explained. "Somebody's trying to get people hooked on something nasty." She cast a worried glance at her friends, who shared similar looks of concern.
The bearded man on the couch sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Great, more problems. Isn't the Neon Alley shady enough as is?"
The woman wearing glasses rested her chin on her hands. "Makes sense, though. The more addicts, the more money to be made, and the less competition from the usual gangs. Seems like somebody's trying to clean house." She sipped from her mug, frowning deeply.
Another woman on the other side of the couch scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Well, who cares? We're not users, and we're certainly not addicts. I say let the freaks and gangs destroy themselves for all I care. Less trouble for us." She folded her arms defiantly.
"Cool motive, still murder," the bearded man said with a wry smirk. "Not to be a jerk, but I'd rather not die because some asshole decided to poison my high." He glared at the woman. "Also, rude. Don't lump us in with those bottom-feeders."
"Hear there's been some nasty side-effects, too," Lyria continued, ignoring the other two. "People losing their minds, going psycho, y'know? Talkin' crazy, violent-like. Then, bam, they go catatonic and just keel over like dead bugs."
"One guy told me he had this buddy who'd been using, and then, just like that, he turned on his dealer and killed him. Straight-up tore the poor bastard apart. No joke." Lyria clicked her tongue and made a slashing motion across her throat. "Lost his marbles and offed him. Bonkers, I'm telling ya. It's dangerous shit, whatever it is."
Fii blinked, slightly taken aback. The fact that Lyria was even telling her all this was surprising enough. "Sounds really bad. Does anyone know where they're getting it from, who's supplying it?" Fii asked, crossing her arms over her chest. "Or at least, who's dealing it?"
Lyria shrugged, setting her empty glass on the table. "Don't know yet. All I know is it's still in the rumor stages, so it's only hitting the streets in small amounts, but people are going wild for it. It's bad news, though. You stick to performing, girl. This isn't something you wanna mess around with." Her tone was light but held an unmistakable edge of warning.
Fii nodded solemnly. "Got it. Don't touch the crazy juice. Good to know. I just hate seeing people hurt, or worse. Doesn't feel right, y'know? Would be nice if we had someone around to make it all go away."
Lyria flashed a toothy grin and slapped Fii's thigh playfully. "Don't worry, cutie. If you haven't heard already, we've got a superhero in town. Been taking out gangbangers and thugs, keeping the peace and all that." She tapped the side of her nose knowingly. "I bet you she'll be all over this 'Shiver' business in no time. Probably knows more than us lowlifes by now."
Fii allowed herself a small smirk, gazing at her feet. "Yeah, you're probably right. Thanks, though." She raised her head and smiled brightly at Lyria. "And you're not a lowlife. You're one of the nicest people I know. The friendliest, too. If you ever need anything, you know I'm happy to help, right? I owe you, for a lot."
"Aw, sweet talker." Lyria giggled, stretching her arms and wrapping them around Fii's neck, pulling her into a tight hug as she straddled her lap. "You've always been so adorable. Such a cutie."
She ran her fingers through Fii's hair, scratching lightly at her scalp as she whispered, "You know, you've grown up so nicely. My, my, you've got quite the figure, too. Love the toned arms, babe." She nuzzled Fii's cheek, tracing her jawline with her nose as she purred, "Wouldn't mind spending some quality time with you, if you're interested. Just the two of us. Hmm? Or mabye...with others?" Lyria glanced at the group, who were already giving them approving looks.
Alert! Red alert! Code red!
Fii could feel her cheeks burning, and she swallowed hard. "Uhh..." she stammered, her voice cracking. "I, uh, I mean, I've gotta...I—uh—I'm not...I don't think..."
"Sheesh, Fii, don't leave me hanging, now," Lyria said with a soft giggle. "You're in the middle of a party, aren't you? Relax and enjoy yourself." She pecked Fii's forehead gently. "All work and no play makes for a dull girl, darling."
Fii let out a shaky laugh, trying her best to stay calm. "Right...well, um, I guess I could...stay for a little bit. Can't have fun if I'm nervous, though. And I've never done anything like this before, so..."
"Never? Never ever?" Lyria whispered, her lips brushing against Fii's ear. "We could start slow. Show you the ropes. Teach you how to breathe again." She nibbled the lobe tenderly and—
—that was all it took for Fii to suddenly lift Lyria off her lap and set the woman on the couch beside her.
Fii stood up, cleared her throat, and blurted out, "IhavetogoandIreallyshouldgetbacktoit. Thanksforthetalk. Bye!"
She scrambled for the door, her face beet red. As she sped away, she could hear the others laughing, but Lyria's laughter seemed louder than all the rest.
Once she was a few blocks away, she slowed to a normal walking pace, letting her heart rate and breathing settle. She cursed under her breath, trying to erase the embarrassment from her mind.
She had completely forgotten how forward Lyria could be sometimes. She was a sweet person, sure, but...man. The woman never minced words when she was flirting, and she didn't seem to care whether anyone else was in the room or not. It wasn't as if Fii disliked her, but she certainly wasn't expecting to get hit on like that—and in front of strangers!
She pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed, her shoulders slumping. "Note to self: Next time, practice saying 'no.' Definitely need to learn that..." she muttered glumly as she headed back to the clinic.
At least she managed to get some useful information, and in such a short amount of time, too.
Looks like she'd have to give Virgil a heads-up about this new drug. This "Shiver" stuff sounded really, really bad, and the sooner they investigated, the better.