Part one
Chapter 4: A Lead and a Dance
James and Maya stood frozen, processing the information the mysterious man had just given them. The Shadow, a secret organization, might be behind Sarah's disappearance. Maya's eyes widened as the reality of the situation hit her. She felt a wave of stress wash over her, and her voice trembled. "I need a drink."
James nodded, concern etched on his face. "I'll get you one." But Maya was already moving towards the bar, her heels clicking on the floor. James followed her, his eyes never leaving her face. As they waited for the bartender to serve them, James placed a reassuring hand on Maya's shoulder. "We'll find Sarah, Maya. I promise."
Maya took a deep breath, letting the music and the lights of the club wash over her. She felt a sense of calm wash over her as James's hand remained on her shoulder. The bartender handed her a drink, and she took a sip, the liquid burning down her throat.
As they stood there, James suggested, "Hey, why don't we dance? It might take our minds off things." Maya nodded, and James took her hand, leading her onto the dance floor. The music enveloped them, and they lost themselves in the rhythm.
As they danced, James's eyes locked onto Maya's, and he felt a spark of attraction. Maya, too, felt a flutter in her chest, but she pushed the feeling aside, focusing on the task at hand. They danced for what felt like hours, the music and the lights blurring together.
Finally, they decided to call it a night, leaving the club and stepping out into the cool night air. As they walked away from the club, the mysterious man caught up with them, his voice low and urgent. "Hey, I forgot to tell you something."
James turned to him, his eyes narrowing. "What is it? And by the way, I don't think we've been formally introduced. What's your name?" The man hesitated for a moment before responding, "My name is Alex."
Maya's eyes locked onto Alex's, her mind racing. "What else do you know, Alex?" Alex hesitated before speaking. "The Shadow meets every day at a place they call 'the box.' But today, they didn't show up. Obviously, they're plotting something."
James's eyes narrowed, his mind racing. "What else do you know?" Alex hesitated before speaking. "If you want to find them, you need to find one of their selling plots. They sell drugs, and if you pose as a buyer, you might be able to get in."
Maya's eyes widened, a plan forming in her mind. "Let's do it." James nodded, his face set in determination. "We'll find them, Maya. And we'll get Sarah back."
part two:
Maya and James sat at James's kitchen table, pooling their money together. They needed to look the part if they were going to pose as buyers from the Shadow.
"Okay, so we have enough money for a decent amount of...whatever it is they're selling," James said, counting out the bills.
Maya nodded, her eyes scanning the room. "Now we just need to look the part." She stood up, heading for James's bedroom. "I saw some of your old clothes in the closet. Let's see if we can't dress you down a bit."
James chuckled, following her into the bedroom. "You want me to look shady?"
Maya nodded, rummaging through the closet. "The shadier the better." She tossed him a black leather jacket. "Put this on."
James slipped on the jacket, adjusting the fit. Maya handed him a pair of ripped jeans and a faded t-shirt. James raised an eyebrow but put them on anyway.
When they were both dressed, Maya turned to James, her eyes scanning his outfit. James did the same, his eyes locking onto Maya's. "You look...beautiful," he said, his voice low.
Maya's cheeks flushed, and she looked away, trying to composed herself. "Thanks...you too," she stammered, trying to sound casual. The tension between them was palpable, but Maya tried to focus on the task at hand.
They grabbed the address Alex had given them and headed out the door. The address led them to a pet center, of all places. Maya raised an eyebrow as they walked in. "A pet center? Really?"
James shrugged. "I guess the Shadow likes animals."
They approached the counter, where a bored-looking man sat staring at his phone. "Welcome to Pet Palace," he drawled. "What can I help you with?"
Maya took a deep breath, trying to sound confident. "We're here to see...the Drug Man."
The man's expression changed in an instant, his eyes narrowing. He stared at them for a long moment before nodding curtly. "Follow me."
He led them to a door in the back of the store, unlocking it with a key. "Go ahead," he said, stepping aside.
Maya and James exchanged a nervous glance before stepping through the door. What they found on the other side would change everything.