wizardhuntingwright:
â⊠Right. Getting back to businessâŠ
ââWho is spreading rumors about youââŠ? Iâm sure, as a journalist, you understand that everyone has some information about them floating out there. Itâs just a matter of finding it⊠and reading between the lines.â
Will looked deeply into Estrellitaâs eyes as she stared back at him, the two seeming to have some sort of intimate conversation outside the need of vocal communication or body language, as he rubbed the side of her face.
â⊠Excuse me. My work isnât official, as youâve probably guessed. You can rest easy knowing that I donât have much interest in your personal affairs⊠but I did have some questions about where you come from.
It was a routine list of questions, and Will rattled them off as if he had recited them a thousand times before. âWhat kind of world do you come from?â âDo you have any clues as to why the scientists kidnapped you?â âHave you seen anyone else from your origin world?â âDo they know anything?â âWhat was the last memory you had before you were taken?â âWhat was the first thing you witnessed when you arrived at Hive City?â
Then, after he got the formalities out of the way, Willard went into more detail. His interest wasnât just in where Asher had come from or why he was kidnapped⊠if it was, he wouldnât have picked him out, exclusively.
âSo⊠you were a journalistâŠ? Then, tell me, what was your first impression of this place? ⊠Do you have any suspicions as to the real intentions of the HiveâŠ?â
An artificial city, constructed on highly advanced technology, designated around manipulation, deceit, and experimentation conducted by a shadowy puppet organization on its citizens for reasons unknown.
What was Asherâs opinion on thatâŠ?
Intriguing. Still a little bit suspicious, but intriguing all the same. âI canât say Iâm a stranger to working in an unofficial capacity myself. Very well.â
He answered all of Willardâs routine questions. Heâs a journalist, not an investigator, but the questions are familiar, or perhaps the act of exchanging questions and answers is. In any case, his replies were sincere but brief. He didnât trust this detective Wright much, despite Estrellita having warmed up to him unusually quickly, but that was her instinct for gravitating towards whoever was likely to provide attention and affection at work.
âAs for why Iâm here...I still have no idea. It could be the same reason you were taken. It could be different. Our benevolent overlords have certainly not been very forthcoming in that regard.â
When Willardâs questions became more pointed, Asher looked away. Estrellitaâs gaze darted back at him, as though she had sensed the subtle shift in the tone of the conversation.
âI was, though I didnât realize I had a reputation in this city.âÂ
He looked back at Willard with renewed wariness, then slowly rose to have a seat on the couch. He gestured for Willard to do the same, if he wanted.
Asher crossed his legs and sat back, arms folded. âI donât like this place. Didnât, from the moment we appeared here. It isnât just that itâs different--thereâs something off. Besides the feeling of being watched all the damn time, of course.â
He didnât say how much Hive City sometimes reminds him of Cloudbank. He didnât say that heâs seen this before, that heâs been this before: the watcher, the keeper. Someone has to keep watch, donât they? Someone has to intervene when things donât go as they should--
Asher frowned and was quiet for what was probably a suspiciously long time, and when he returned to the conversation, his expression was closed and hard. No sense in dwelling on all that right now. He had all the time in the world to dwell.
âAs for their intentions, I believe I know about as much as you, unless you know something I donât.â A pause. âWhy are you asking me all these things? Are you--â
The scientists had said they would be watching. For all Asher knew, they could be listening right now, but after a moment, he decides he doesnât care. âAre you going after them? To get to the bottom of this?â













