(Originally written Wednesday, October 29, 2003)
Chapter IX:
(Alright, so check this out: I've got this assignment due by Friday, and I REALLY need to work on it. So if I'm not around too much, that's why - sorry. I'll still keep this thing going every day though, because some people just won't be able to wait me out (your trip's gonna rock, Moll'!). So yes, let's get on with it...)
The black van shone in the beams of moonlight that found its way through the clouds. A low hum permeated the area from a combination of moving water, sea birds and industrial machinery. The van came around the side of the oil refinery and backed into a loading dock. There, the coated men got out - a woman, angry but obedient, got out with them.
'Mel was taken to a small office room in the upper levels of the refinery. The room was relatively clean, all things considering, implying that one way or another the building was still very much in use. She turned to face her captors.
"So what happens to me now?" she asked them.
"Not our call," answered one. "We're just doin' our part of the work."
"You know," she said, cocking her head slightly, "there are other types of work out there... less dangerous work... less illegal..." The two men smiled.
"Nice try lady, we'll give you that," the second Pi said. 'Mel huffed.
"Would it be too much to ask for a quick bathroom break, then?"
After being taken to an empty room down the hall intended for matters not including the one at hand, 'Mel searched around vainly for any points of escape. All she could see was dirty, faded walls; all she could hear was the wind and the shuffling feet of the man outside the door. Dejected, all she could do was look around the room for any sort of concave object to keep at least some form of civility to her current barbarism.
"You people are sick, you know," 'Mel told the Pi as he escorted her back to the office.
"No, we're not sick," he said back to her, "we're just professional. This ain't a movie, missy. We don't have any sort of grand scheme or any European leadership to look to. We just want to get paid and be on with our lives."
"Yeah, but..."
"And if you don't mind, I'm not really the talkative type... and really, you shouldn't be either." 'Mel sighed again, wondering what could possibly happen next.
It was another hour before she heard footsteps followed by a female voice outside the door - it was a voice she knew all too well...
"Hello Cara'," the tall, professional looking woman said as she opened the door, "and how is my dear sister doing?"
"A hell of a lot better than how you'll be doing soon enough, Kar'," 'Mel returned, smiling acidly; Kar' returned the smile.
"Spirited as always, I guess," Kar' said as she walked towards her elder sister.
"Bitching like usual, I observe," 'Mel shot back - Kar's smile melted away. "I don't even get it... why are you so upset about this whole thing? Last time I checked, it was pretty normal for eldest kids to inherit things."
"Oh yeah, because we were such a normal family, right?" 'Mel smirked.
"I guess the fact that I actually studied the business to prepare for it all is besides the point, huh?" Kar' remained cold, silent. "And what are you complaining about? You own the old estate!"
"Because you didn't want it!"
"Because I wasn't able to support it!"
"So therefore you just passed it off to me, huh?"
"Hello? You got the entire estate?"
"I never asked for your pity!"
"Maybe if you weren't so pitiful..." The reverberation of sound ricocheted around the small room as Kar' steadied her trembling hand and 'Mel took her fingers away from her cheek.
"Better?" Kar' asked with nothing but spite in her eyes - 'Mel mirrored the sentiment. "Good. Now Cara', I'm sure you already met the scarred guy, so I don't think I need to explain to you what could happen if you were to not agree to my terms..." 'Mel looked through the window in the door and saw the afore-mentioned Pi's back, seeming larger than ever before.
"Kar', clearly you're doing well enough for yourself," Mel said, "I mean, these guys don't exactly seem like the thriftiest bunch you could have found." Kar' turned and started walking towards the desk in the room.
"Oh, I didn't pay them,"
"... what?"
"No, you see," Kar' said as she opened a drawer, "this is a deal. They help me get my company, and I become a front for their activities. It's win-win." 'Mel 'pshhed' her.
"And this is why mom and dad gave the company to me..." Kar' ignored the remark and handed 'Mel a pen and a folder of papers.
"I suggest you start filling those out before he has to start persuading you to..."
Kar' left the room and closed the door. 'Mel looked through the window in the door again and saw her sister giving directions to the man - they were almost word-for-word for what she herself was told. She was about to toss the papers on the ground when she heard a clamour from the lower level.
"Karmel!" a Pi shouted up.
"What is it?" Karmel asked.
"A couple of the positions never checked in!"
"What?!"
