“ This is the place , I ’ m telling you !” Felix replies hotly . In his pudgy hands lies a tablet , currently emitting a low blue light in the dark van .
“ Excuse us if we don ’ t trust you , you led us to the wrong place three times in the last week ,” Mir comments from the driver ’ s seat . Sol lets out a small chuckle at the offended look on Felix ’ s face .
Felix opens his mouth to let out a quick retort , but Sol suddenly makes a “ shhh ” sound and peers around . He slips on his mask , which falls over his head to fit him perfectly . Mir and Felix follow his lead , immediately turning the trio into three unidentifiable figures .
Deep inside the fruit store , a large crash sounds , immediately followed by a terse moment of silence . Pointing at the store , Sol pulls open the sliding door of the van and his lithe figure steps gently onto the pavement . Felix joins him a moment later , and after a quick glance in Sol ’ s direction , Mir , driving the van , silently speeds away to guard the backdoor .
“ Come on ,” Sol jerks his head toward the door of the fruit store and starts to step toward it , freezing at every suspicious sound . Felix grunts and walks to the locked front doors , fits a small round device onto the lock , and lets it do its work . A second later , the lock clicks open and Felix tries to push the door open . It doesn ’ t budge . “ It says pull , you idiot ,” Sol hisses and , pulling the door open , steps into a large store filled with stacks and stacks of apples , oranges , and bananas . The back of the room splits into two dark hallways . “ I ’ ll go this way ,” Sol hisses and points his gun towards the left hallway . Felix nods and soundlessly , the two separate .
The lights are turned off , but the rising sun shining through the windows provides just barely enough light for Sol to find his way around . Large cement walls rise from the ground , with small crates and boxes filled with what Sol supposes are more fruit leaning against them . The smell of fresh peaches waft across the long hallway , and Sol pauses to sniff the air . Peaches . Yum . The hallway gently slopes down toward a basement . Pausing suspiciously at the bend , Sol sticks his head out to check if there is anybody in the room below . A lone light-bulb floods the room with a yellow light , and in the corner are the silhouettes of two figures – one small and thin , the other large and round . Then , Felix ’ s unmistakable voice reaches Sol ’ s ears . “ Do you need any help ?” Sol rushes forward to see Felix kneeling down so that he is at eye level with a young girl . Her dark hair glows under the bulb , and her skin glows ghostly pale compared to Felix ’ s tanned body . She looks frail and almost pitiful , standing there in a small pink dress and a basket carried on one arm .
Felix looks over the girl ’ s shoulder to see Sol in his mask , and his face breaks into a large , relieved smile at the sight of his best friend and leader .
The girl notices Felix ’ s straying eyes and turns her body , curious as to what he is looking at . With a start , Sol realizes that her eyes are the deepest , darkest black that he has ever seen , and her full lips are coloured the gruesomely dark red shade of blood .
“ Sir ! Would you like some apples ?” she offers Sol the small wicker basket hanging around her arm – in it lies three beautifully shaped , bright red apples .
There is something off about her , but Sol can ’ t quite place his finger on it . Felix looks very comfortable helping her , kneeling there on the ground . As if noticing Sol ’ s suspicion , the girl smiles even wider , showing her pearly white teeth .
“ Come , get some apples .” The girl inches closer to Sol , and her words seem to ricochet through the large circular room . Felix starts to stand , looking a little alarmed . Sol takes a step back , reaching for his gun . “ I said , take an apple !” the girl screeches and , as if making a split second decision , turns to launch herself at Felix . A knife appears in her hand as she leaps towards the older male , intent on killing him .
Felix screams ( a surprisingly high-pitched scream for a man his size ) and backs up against the wall . Sol stumbles back and slings his gun off his shoulder and onto his hands , firing it in quick succession . The girl slumps on the floor at Felix ’ s feet , and with great effort , turns her head to look back at Sol .
“ He will find you ,” the girl promises from the floor . “ And when he does , he will bury you alive !” Her blood-drenched dress smears against the cement floor , painting a crimson smile with the oozing red liquid .
“ Who ?” Felix steps forward bravely despite his shaking legs , weapon in hand . “ Who is going to find us ?” The girl just bares her teeth in a cold smile .
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