Sight: A Verse Thriller, стр. 12
“We were hoping you could tell us.
Last thing we knew we were riding in the taxi.
Then we wake up here
To the sounds of wood burning and houses blasting.
We gotta hurry and figure out what's causing it!”
I look to the town
It burns of blue
My stomach drops
Surely, she wouldn't be such a fool?
“I'm going to find Leigh!” I call, rushing out
Last thing I hear is Tom asking “What about...?”
Blue flames are something to do with her and her blood
Stepping into the street, chaos burns and floods
My vision foggy but not as much as before
I can see a slight trail, but it strains my eyes, sore
I follow it, pushing through the pain
I've got to find her quick
Before the next move of this game
Somehow they're involved, my brother and the other
Don't ask me how
I just have a feeling
Like indigestion
And it has me reeling
What the hell are they up to?
What does Death have planned?
It has to have something to do with the man
The thief going around
The one stealing the sins
Somehow he's the key
He's how they intend to win
Sifting my way through wreckage and flame
I hear someone call my name “Nate!”
Dave, hobbling through the street
Hacking and wheezing – Like a goat he bleats
“Dave? What the hell?” I call to him
“We had an appointment!” He snaps at me
“The town's kinda burning in case you couldn't see.”
“I know that!” His tone heavy and dark
“I believe Traf is guilty in some part.”
“Traf? Why?”
“That Sin has brought more trouble than needed,
Probably because it's magic is seeded...”
“Seeded in what?” I ask
“It's mixed in the scuffs between the Trolls and Goblins.
They're gluttony and greed.
I ask that you remove it from here
Before the town bleeds.”
“Well, let's go.”
As he leads the way
All roads lead to the Sin
That's easy enough to claim
Something still bugs me
The blue flame and Leigh
What's the connection?
What's the game?
Finally, we arrive at a makeshift stall
There stands a troll, easily ten foot tall
“You might've warned me he was a troll.” I whisper to
Dave
“Didn't I?” He asks confused
“Oh well, at least act brave.
Those items we discussed,” He addresses the troll
“We'd like to take them off your hands.
You know, to lessen the toll?”
“You think,” Traf booms “I'll give them up to you?
Do you realize how much they're worth?”
“Yes,” I chime in “More than you do.”
“What's this, Dave?
You brought an errand boy?
Get out of my face. This place is burning
And they aren't toys.
I'm hitting the road.
They'll fetch me an easy price.”
“Well,” I say “I tried asking nice.”
I pull out my watch
Hold it up like a badge
“By authority of the Organization
You are here by ordered to relinquish your claim!
Do it now!
I'm not playing games!”
“You brought an O.D.?!” Traf booms in rage
“You little snitch!
Damn you Dave!
I'll make sure the whole black market knows your name!
You won't do business with anyone ever again!”
“No!” Dave calls “I didn't...
You betrayed me, Nate!
Damn it all! Just great!” Without another word, Dave
hobbles away
I turn back to Traf
Who is trying to escape
Before I can even take a step
A blue blast of flame nails him in his chest
Stumbling back
He's off balance
As another blast hits him
Forming a callus
Shaking the ground, he crumbles unconscious
I look back and see
A hooded man
His face hidden and dauntless
As he looks to me
More flames strike like a match
Surrounding and caging me
Locked in a patch
Of dried ground, but the flames don't spread
They're elegant, controlled
As the man sifts through Traf's garments
Then the hat on his head
At last pulling out what looks to be ashes of the dead
Embrazened with a rune
Which should activate an effect
But with one finger, his flames have it vexed
He takes the urn and walks away
As I can only watch, trapped by the flames
Trial 11: Debt of the dead
A drizzling rain begins to pour
But the flames surrounding me burn even more
As up runs Leigh
Her face dark
She dissipates the flames
With her hands arched
Suddenly, she approaches me swift
Grabs me by the collar
And has me pinned
“Who was he?” She asks
“What did he say?!”
Looking deep in her eyes
All I can think is to save
“This has got you torn up inside, doesn't it?”
She steps back and looks away
“Blue flames,” She begins “Are unique to my family.
For one of them to...
It pains me.
I will not rest until they're arrested.
Or until they're dead and bested.”
Suddenly Traf begins to groan
Saying simply one word “Vito.”
I sigh heavy
There's only one I know
With ties to the black market
Off to Italy we go
Finally, the burning town dies out
Leaving nothing but wreckage
Charred and brown
Tom comes stumbling up
With our luggage in tow
Three backpacks filled with food and clothes
“A Currier came and dropped these by.”
His tone frustrated and dry
“Nice to know Jewl's looking out.” I say
“And the Sin?” Tom's face looking colorless – Grey
“Gone.” I reply “But we do have a lead.”
“Then what are we waiting for, let's leave.”
“First things first.” I step to the stall
“I believe this is mine.” My words directed at Traf
As I pull out a box in a bag
“This'll come in handy.”
“What is it?” Tom asks
“It's a T.O.A.D..” I smile “It used to belong to Jack.”
“Are you sure we can trust it?” Tom's question sincere
But he doesn't make an effort to hide his