Heidi always heard about meetings between the Fingers. How they could end in complete bloodshed. She always heard about the high ranking members of other Fingers, how even one of them was comparable to top Fixer material; this included Eve, the man who taught her everything she knew about fighting with a blade. This also most likely included Francisca over there, who she knew little about other than that the Thumb had access to a lot of guns and bullets, a rarity in the City.

  That being said and despite all her expectations, this meeting was turning out to be really boring. Until it was over, no one could leave; the Thumb and Index had cut off the entrances so there was no leaving even if you wanted to.

  All and all, it was a whole lot of diplomacy and less fighting like she was expecting. Who can keep what, what will they be willing to purge or hand over to the other, how are they feeling towards the three who aren’t attending and how to respond to their absense. Maybe that was for the best that the other three didn’t show up, a meeting between all five of the Fingers would be far too volatile for this tiny little spot of the Backstreets.

  “So… Francisca, was it?” Eve said, looming down at the Capo in front of him. If anyone was allowed to treat a member of The Thumb with little respect and get away with it, it was someone like Eve. Not just because his title commanded respect, but because he could fight them if they decided to go on the offensive. “You were the one who requested this meeting, yes? Invited the Index and the Index alone. Why not the Middle or Pinkie? If I didn’t know better, I’d think you had a soft spot for little ol’ me.” Eve chuckled, while his disciples stayed completely deadpan.

  Heidi, while she wasn’t showing it, was trembling in her metaphorical boots.

  “Watch your language, machine!” One of the Thumb members spoke up

  “Soldato!” Francisca shouted to him. “You watch your tongue instead. He may be our enemy, but he is still a Proxy of the Index and deserves respect.”

  “…Yes, ma’am, punish me as you see fit.” the Soldato said, stepping back. Heidi watched as three of his allies escorted him out of the meeting area.

  Heidi knew all about the Thumb and how they held respect above all else. Many Syndicates had some form of honor among them. Evil as they may be, many of them still followed the unspoken rules of the Backstreets. The Thumb took this concept to the most logical extreme. Was that better or worse than the unknowable and often alien views and rules of the Index? Heidi couldn’t say for sure, but having grown up with it, she much preferred the latter.

  “Haha, it is quite alright,” Eve said, watching the man be escorted off. “I only take offense to being called a machine. I am human, through and through… but let’s continue our discussion, now that there are no more interruptions, yes?”

  Heidi breathed a sigh of relief that the situation didn’t escalate too much. She looked over to the people who were with Eve, his 4 disciples as he called them. Each of them dressed in the typical uniform of the Index, but each wore a unique golden mask.

  A mask with a built in hood, with a single cyclopic eye hole: Wiseman. He was also the one disciple who was closest to Eve. Often speaking in his place. They were probably bound to be a Proxy themselves in the near future.

  A mask that was mostly smooth, other than a pair of jaws that looked to clamp on the wearer’s head, from the chin up: Rogue. They were the newest member, so Heidi didn’t know much about them beyond their mask.

  A mask that depicted a pair of horns on the side of their head, with the eyeholes of it being a series of horizontal slits: Baron. The oldest member of the four. Heidi heard rumors that they were a former member of The Middle, but those were just that: Rumors.

  A mask resembling a large bulbous helmet, with a pair of antenna just on the forehead: Glare. Heidi knew nothing about them either, not because of them being new, but because not once had she seen them without the mask or even heard them speak.

  Eve, meanwhile… Well, he’s a Proxy, the strongest and most dangerous of the Index. If he wanted to, he could kill everyone in this area and everyone in the local spot of the Backstreets. If the Prescript demanded it, he could do it, with no hesitation. “This brings us to the last point on the list.” Eve said, as Wiseman handed him a photo. “What I thought at first that the Ring was making a move on the Nest. Turns out I was wrong. They were merely letting one of their dogs off the leash… Wiseman, explain.”

  The photos were of a silver haired man, dressed in a suit. It looked like he had leaves and various plant life in his hair.

  “He is refers to himself as Fionnlagh. The leader of the Syndicate ‘Ghillie Dhu.’” Wiseman explained in Eve’s stead. “But it doesn’t appear he has any desire to take any territory. So for the time being, he is a non-issue.”

  Francisca, as she was poured a glass of wine, slowly nodded. “So this will continue to be a battle between us.” She took a sip of the wine, before suddenly gagging on it. The man pouring the wine suddenly began fearing for his life.

  “Between us and the Middle perhaps. I’ve seen a subsidiary of theirs not too far from here. But it is too soon to say anything.” Eve nodded. “However, that being said, you too would agree that this Ghillie Dhu is out of line? Going outside The Ring’s territory to do his own little personal project? I believe he will cause problems down the line if he’s allowed to fester here. The Ring, well, they’ll surely follow after him.”

  “…And if they don’t?” Francisca asked.

  “Why ask such questions? When has the Thumb ever not jumped to conclusions? When has the Thumb ever not taken the most extreme measures over the most minor offenses? I get you and the Middle confused in that regard. Why aren’t you allies?” People were beginning to back up and rush for cover.

  “You’re trying my patience, Proxy.” Francisca said. “When the ceasefire ends, I’ll come for your head first and foremost.”

  Ceasefire?

  Heidi soon realized something that she should’ve been focusing on when this started: She could use this for information gathering. “Permission to speak.”

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  “Permission granted.” Eve said. “You look confused… Ah, yes, the Fixer life has left you out of the loop.”

  Heidi took a second’s pause, before speaking up.

  “I’ve been told that this general area, due to its proximity to the Nest, isn’t owned by any of the Fingers. What’s so important about it?” She asked, still looking at the photo of Fionnlagh. Along with pictures of him, there were a few other; a pair of people wearing gas masks, more people in suits, and those familiar looking human-shaped trees. Heidi watched each and every word she said, she knew she could say just about anything around the Index members, but she had to be careful not to offend any of the Thumb.

  Which is why her heart sank as Francisca was the first to answer her questions. “Hm, at least for a Fixer, you know a thing or two about knowing when to speak. I will let your ignorance slide.” Well, at least there’s some good news… Francisca continued. “W Corp’s Nest is on the verge of collapse on the moment. Ever since the fall of L Corp, who provided energy, and the Library risking leaking their Singularity, their precious little Nest will fall within our lifetime’s.

  “That is if any of us don’t die tonight.” Eve chuckled, causing Francisca to tighten her grip on her cane. If this was anywhere else, she would’ve went for his life. “You can probably guess what this means, Heidi? If the Nest collapses then…”

  Heidi’s eye widened, putting her hand to her chin, “…The whole territory is going to become a land grab for every Syndicate in the area.” That’s how the City operated. It happened with L Corp just recently. It doesn’t matter how protected the Nest is, the moment it falls, then you’re on your own, might as well be living in the Backstreets at that point.

  “Smart girl.” Eve nodded. “So it is settled, Capo Francisca… First, we shall wait for the removal of our little Ring problem. Second, we shall wait for the collapse of the Nest. Then we can go back to how things were. Til then, we shall continue the ceasefire in District 23.” He held his thin metal hand out to her.

  To which Francisca took, much to her chagrin. “But, as soon as the ceasefire ends…”

  “…We shall be at all out war.” Eve nodded, his tone jovial.

  But as they parted, Francisca looked at her wine. “You, Fixer.” She asked Heidi, who froze in her seat. “Taste this wine and tell me what you think?”

  Heidi hated wine. But, refusing an offer from a Thumb Capo meant death. So she took the wine glass, and took a sip, before gagging. This taste… She preferred cheap grocery store beer… Not this fancy pants wine.

  “Describe the taste…” Francisca said.

  “Um… It’s very sour… With, notes of… Um… Bitter grapes?” She said, completely improvising, going entirely off of what she saw in TV shows and what little she knew about wine tasting. “It is a bit warm with aftertaste of trees?” She stared Francisca in the eye. Yeah… She was screwed. Her head was going to be delivered to Emilio in a box.

  But, instead, Francisca nodded. “I couldn’t agree more.” She looked to the man who poured the wine for her. “You provided this wine, yes?”

  The man slowly nodded.

  “Good. Kill him.” She ordered the men with her.

  “W-wait! Hold on! What’d I do-” Before the man could protest further, he was gunned down by the red clad Thumb members. No hesitation. Just murder. His perforated corpse fell to the ground.

  “I was told this market has access to all kinds of food and drink, the stuff you could only get in a Finger affiliated area or in a Nest. I requested some quality wine. But instead I received this… This wine is but a cheap market brand wine. I’d sooner cut my own tongue out than drink this wine again. She said as she stood up. “See you on the battlefield, Index.”

  There it was, that trademark Finger insanity. But, the insanity wasn’t over yet. She saw one of the disciples, Rogue this time, take out a familiar yellow piece of paper.

  “Ah, you have a Prescript, Rogue?” Baron asked. He read it. “Ah I see… Very well, I will assist you, if you allow.”

  “The Prescript says nothing about receiving help.” Rogue said. “Doesn’t say whether I can or can’t use any.”

  “Then the rest of us will help. Might as well do things efficiently, no?” Baron said, joy in his voice, as Glare nodded. All four of the disciples drew their weapons. “I am a bit hungry, my own prescript disallows me to eat for the rest of the week.”

  Before Heidi could bare witness to what was about to happen, Eve motioned to her. “Come,” he said, walk with me. Take your friend, lest she get caught in the cross fire.”

  Heidi nodded, silently agreeing. Even if she wanted to stop them, there is no way she could succeed. This was about survival, not being a hero.

  Lying there on the table, Rogue’s prescript was as follows: If the Capo at the meeting mentions wine, cut the left arm off every worker at the market with brown hair and right arm off everyone with blonde hair.

  Heidi followed Eve out of the Red Market, as screams echoed throughout. Oliver followed behind her. Was this why she left? She never knew if things would descend into violence as easily as this. She didn’t know for certain, but one thing she also knew was that she didn’t like making choices for herself either.

  “I’m surprised, honestly. That things ended peacefully.” Eve said. His white cloak remained pristine and vibrant no matter how bloody and violent the area around him was. Even when blood splashed on it, it would quickly go back to its normal white appearance. “But yes, I took you from the group, because I knew you weren’t going to join them. But, I also have something for you. I’m no messenger, but I can hand out Prescripts to my own Proselytes.” He reached into his robe and pulled out a piece of yellow paper. Another Prescript… He handed it over to Heidi, “Take it, Fives.” He said, referring to her as her alias when she was under him.

  Reflexively, she took the Prescript from him. She only realized she was holding it when she was holding it. She audibly gasped as she read it. “I…”

  This Prescript. Why did the first prescript she received after all this time have to be something like this? Something that she by no means wanted to fulfill…

  “Is that going to be a problem? If you refuse, well, we can cut to the ending.” He said, moving behind her, putting his claw on her head, gently squeezing it. “This method is far easier. Easier for you, at least.”

  “Get off her!” Oliver suddenly shouted, running forward.

  Heidi, meanwhile, was completely frozen in place.

  “So loyal.” Eve said, looking to Oliver. “But, please, I don’t intended to kill either of you. As long as this one fulfills her Prescript. Even if we meet as enemies down the line, we will depart tonight on good terms.” He let go of Heidi’s head, every word he said, sounded like he was holding back laughter. “Unless, of course, you hate me enough to fight me now? Perhaps that is what the Prescript wants from all of us?”

  Oliver knew it, Heidi knew it. Neither of them could do anything about Eve. So, instead, Heidi asked, “Is there… A time limit?”

  “Now that you mention it. The Prescript doesn’t mention a time limit… That does complicate things, indeed. So, as your Proxy, I will say you have no time limit. But that sounds far too easy. Too much margin for error. So instead, how about your time limit is when I think you’re taking too long, how does that sound, Fives?”

  “Yes… Yes it’s fine…” Heidi said, squeezing her eye shut. Her right eye, her missing limbs, her ability to make her own decisions. All of these things are things taken away from her by Eve. Even now, as she still head the Prescript, she was going to have another thing taken from her. “I will go… Where the Prescript says.”

  “Wonderful.” Eve said, moving forward, leaving the Red Market. “Ah, by the way, I’ve been talking to some connections in W Corp. So we’re going to be seeing one another more and more. Take care.” Outside the market, more Index members were waiting. Then, like a monochrome army, they left, departing to wherever the Prescript pointing them to.

  Walking out of the market, Heidi’s head was bowed, sitting down on the ground. She needed a smoke and a drink after this.

  Oliver walked next to her, then in a tone of concern, her mask removed for once “Heidi…? What did it say?”

  To which, Heidi calmly responded, steeling herself once more. She stood up and looked to Oliver. “You’re better off not knowing.”