The Scarlet Widow

Mavis and Knox were ushered out of Madam Scarlets office and back into the main room. She felt kind of excited, getting a new job, even if it was a bit of a crude one. It helped she did the same thing in her previous life and enjoyed dishing out punishments to people who deserved it.

"Well, since your part of the crew now, lets get you in some gear! And something else to wear that’s not, tan." He eyed her tunic in distaste before striding off towards another door. "First stop is our little store house where we keep extra gear." He walked over to a set of double doors and flung them open.

Mavis followed him quickly, pulling at her tunic. It had grown on her but, it would be nice to have some actual clothes to change into instead of wearing the same thing all the time. Knox stepped aside and revealed a massive walk in closet, lined with arm bracers to vests and cloaks. "Oh wow..." She exclaimed as she stepped in.

"Try on anything you like! Being in the guild has it perks you know. High quality gear for every occasion, even fine clothes for disguises in case our target is at a fancy party." He watched her child like expression as she looked through the gear hanging and the ones in bins on the other side. "And if you want to try it on to see what you look like, just shut the doors."

"Okay!" Mavis replied as she set the items down and grabbed some black pants that seemed to be covered with pockets and straps. She looked over at Knox. "I think I will try them on. Just to make sure they will fit." she grabbed the doors handles she pulled them closed. "No peeking!" She snickered a little.

"Don't worry Mavis, I won't." Knox shook his head as he stood patiently outside the doors. In a few moments she opened the doors again and cleared her throat.

"What do you think?" She asked him as he turned around.

Knox raised his eyebrows as he looked over her. She had on a tight black top that came up to her throat. It had leather on the sides for more protection and connected in the middle of her back like a corset. A hooded cloak that came up to her shins nestled behind her. The pants she had on hugged her legs enough to move around, with a thick belt to keep them up when items are in the pockets. "I had some trouble tying the back." She told him as she grabbed her arm.

"yo- It looks amazing. Fits pretty well on you." He cleared his throat. "Turn around, I'll help you." Mavis nodded her head and turned around, unhooking the cloak and holding in her arms.

Knox stepped up and untied her poor attempt and tightened the strings. "Let me know if its too tight." He looked up and paused. He hadn't noticed it before but there was a deep violet tattoo on her back, just between her shoulder blades in the shape of wings. Without thinking, her touched her back making her shiver. He felt a strange spark from them and frowned.

"What wrong Knox?" Mavis asked as she looked over her shoulder at him.

"When did you get this tattoo?" He asked her as he tied to the back of it off.

"What?" She had to pause before realizing what he was talking about. "Oh you mean the wings? I'm not sure. I noticed it too when I was changing. Maybe when I first got here." She shrugged as she turned around when he stepped back.

"That's possible. I was just curious is all." He smiled at her. "Anyway, Let's get you some normal clothes! I know a great place."

Like that, the subject was changed and they were off again. They went through another teleporter and wandered through the streets until they came to a small clothing shop hidden amongst bigger shops. It wasn't busy in the least bit. The man who owned it looked rather gruff and unpleasant. He'd only grunted in response to any questions. He pulled out a pile of clothes in relative size to Mavis and handed the bundle to her before taking the funds Knox set on the counter and disappeared behind the counter. He came back again and held out a folded piece of paper to Knox. He took it before gesturing to Mavis to follow.

"Whats that?" She asked she held the clothes in her arms.

"A message from our fearless leader." He opened it up and read the contents. After wards he crumpled it up and put it in his pocket. "Looks like we have our first mission."

"We? You mean I'm coming too?" She asked

"Yep! I'm surprised she didn't give you a task sooner honestly. Usually she has something immediately for new recruits to do." He looked at her and her new wardrobe and snickered. "First lets get you back so you can put away your new clothes. Sadly you'll have to wait until you get back to try them all on."

"Yeah that would be nice. My arms are already cramping up." she grimaced as she followed behind him briskly. "What kind of mission is it?"

"Well, its both a recon and active mission. apparently there are some strange noises coming from below in the sewers. But anyone who goes to investigate it hasn't come back. Well alive anyway."

"Woah... sounds like some kind of monster maybe? I haven't been here that long to know if there are usually cases like this."

"Usually, no. Its a first I've received a task like this. Normally nothing can get past the guardians and into the city" He went silent for a few minutes as they made their way to Mavis's home.

"Well, If they couldn't come from the walls, maybe they dug under them? The guardians aren't posted on every spot of the wall." And idea hit her like a brick." Maybe they came from the irrigation systems under the city?"

"I dont know. But we won't know until we see it for ourselves."

It didn't take much longer to her house. There she dumped everything in her room and hurried back out, excited to start her first mission here. Luckily she still wore the gear she had picked out before so she really didn't need anything else with her at this point. But that made her pause as she walked down the stairs to Knox who was waiting patiently for her.

“Do you think I will need a weapon? I didn’t get one while we were in the Guilds quarters.” She hopped the last step as she looked up at him. He looked regal, standing there with his shoulder length dark hair pulled back into a little ponytail.

He blinked at her before shaking his head. “No. The message said you are to only watch and understand the methods we use before jumping into action. Plus, I’m not even going to be fighting either. Just recon.” He gestured for her to follow him as he started walking away.

“Even for a possible monster?” Mavis asked him as she met his stride.

“Of course. It could be just some people pulling a prank on others. Wouldn’t be the first time that’s happened.”

“Really? I guess that could be the case” She trailed off before going silent. Not much else to ask him.

They walked in moderate silence as they passed by more residences before ending up in the large market place that was bustling with shop keepers and customers. The smell of fresh cooked meats and stews filled the air along with sweet fragrances from perfume shops. It was almost overwhelming as the loud chatter and sounds swirled around Mavis’s head. She couldn’t go two feet without either being knocked over or knocking into someone else. Gritting her teeth she reached out and grabbed Knox’s arm. He looked over at her, smirking at the overwhelmed expression on her face. Taking his arm, her wrapped it around her shoulders as he led them on the other side of the large area.

“I know, it can be a little much sometimes, even for me. But you’ll get used to it.” He told her, nearly shouting so she could hear him.

She nearly laughed but kept her comment until they were free of the crowds. “I highly doubt it.” She paused before looking back at the hustle and bustle. “Where is the entrance to the sewers anyway?”

“Right here.” Knox told her as he stopped just in front of a small stone building with a wooden door. It was nestled just in between two large buildings.

“Seriously? It looks more like an outhouse.” She commented as she pushed his arm away.

He chuckled as he stepped forward and pulled open the door by its rusty knob. A set of spiral stairs wound downwards into darkness. “Sometimes looks can be deceiving my dear. Now come on. Time for some recon!” He grinned in enthusiasm as he started down the steps.

Mavis grimaced as she followed after him. As they descended into the dark below, the wall mount lit up with a little light so they could see where they stepped. “How far is it down?”

“It’s not that far down.” He kept a hand on the wall as they went, noticing how the moister gathered the further they went.

“How do you know? Do you have another hideout in the sewers I don’t know about?” She asked with a smile on her face.

“Na. Me and a few people I had made friends with here would come down here and mess around, graffiti and scream out our frustrations.” He told her.

“Oh? And how long ago was that?”

Knox stopped walking and went silent. Mavis noticed he had tensed up at her question. “It was a long time ago.” He left it at that and she didn’t ask him further. What in the world could make someone who jokes around a lot, upset?

They reached the bottom steps and into more dimly lit corridors with a steep dip-down with waste and water flowing to the Right. Already they could tell something was off. The walls had deep gouges in them leaving rubble and dirt scattered on the ground. Knox crouched down just in case and moved slowly.

“Something very big did this.” He observed out loud.

“But what could be this big to do this?” Mavis asked him as she ran her hand along one of the lacerations.

“I don’t know. Not something we want to face right now that’s for sure.” He told her as he kept going. He got to an intersection with four bridges. He peered around a corner and froze.

There was something massive down one of the tunnels but with the dim lighting it was hard to tell exactly what it was. It had strange glowing violet veins running up its side poking through what fur it had on its body. Massive, clawed feet scrapped the ground under it as it had its head in the waste-water sifting for something to eat.

Mavis looked over to where he was staring and put a hand over her mouth to stifle a gasp. She eyed it with curiosity before leaning close to him. “It kind of, looks like a massive mole. I can’t see any eyes.”

Right after she spoke in a whisper, it raised its head and six glowing eyes opened up and looked over at them both. It opened its massive teeth filled maw and screamed an ear piercing soul that rattled their heads in an uncomfortable manner.

“Run!” Knox told her as he pushed her.

Mavis watched as the monster rush after them. “Shit!” She cursed as she turned on her heels and ran after Knox. She could hear it behind them screech again as it rounded the corner of the tunnel and scrap and claw its way after them. Making the mistake of turning around to see it, she looked into its violet eyes and felt, a strange pull. Tearing herself away she scurried through the small door way and up the stairs.

“Come on Mavis!” Knox shouted back at her as they went up the spiral stairs.

“I’m right behind you!” She told him as she refused to look back again. All she knew was that it was screeching at them and slamming against the small opening.

The two stumbled and fell out of the door and into the sun lit market place again before slamming the door. Knox stood up and panted, taking a moment to look back at the door, half expecting that thing to come bursting through. “What the hell was that!?” He exclaimed.

Mavis sat there and shook her head. “I don’t know. I’ve never seen anything like that, even in the lands outside the city.” She stood up shakily and brushed her hair from her face. “What do we tell Madam Scarlet?” She asked him.

“I don’t know. We didn’t get much info from that besides that there are huge monsters down there.” He shook his head. “I need a shower..”

Mavis nodded her head. “And a drink.”