Moore For Less Investigations: The Kid

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Hollow Street was in one of the nice parts of Luimere. The closely packed homes all feature small yards with quaint flower beds. The frightening part is that it’s about three city blocks north of orc country. The view was nice though you had a clear view from the street to the Airship docks. Well as clear as it gets around here with the rain and all.

Many of the vessels, former sail boats converted to airships. A few of the new models featured smaller hulls as well as armor plating and weaponry. Air piracy had become a popular in recent years which required ship designers to add new means of protection.

The address on the paper led me to a seven story building at the end on the street. I crossed the small yard and checked the door. Luckily it was unlocked, I’d rather not have to break in or draw attention to myself.

I found the stairs and casually made my way to the third floor apartment B.I sniffed the air as entered the hallway. I could make the smells of tenant A’s dinner being burned chicken rices and broccoli. I could smell the scent of fresh cleaner coming from tenant C. From the nanny’s apartment I got nothing. That troubled me.

I checked the door. It was locked. I checked the hall left and right then applied a little strength as I turned the knob. I listened to the bolts break under the strain of the force I applied. I checked the hall once more. Something was really bugging me. I sniffed the air once more there was a faint familiar odor in the air. It was masked, muted but familiar.

I tapped a button on the strap of my goggles. The little gears turned and the lens changed to a shade of green. Lucy had enchanted the lenses for different purposes. Through the green lens I can actually see the unseen. I can see the gases in the air, the ghost in the shadows, and the monster in the closet. I looked around the hall once more.

And there it was, a figure crouched in the corner at the end of the hall. It sat there completely motionless absolutely silent. I didn’t allow my eyes to settle on the figure. I just looked around the hall then quickly opened the door. I rushed inside not taking in any of my surroundings. Only concerned with what was behind me.

I shut the door behind me took two steps back and drew Lucy. I rapidly popped the wheel ejected the rounds and loaded the inferno rounds. The bullets rattled on the hard wood floor. I cocked the hammer back and aimed at the door. The twin vials of liquid bubbled as the gun rapidly heated up. I was ready to feed whatever that figure was a ball a fire from the mouth of a dragon.

That’s when the orc that had been waiting in the room sucker punched me in the back of the head. I heard the pressurized steam release just as the charged fist sent me face first into the door. The door splintered from the impact and I felt blood run down my forehead. Lucy fell to the floor from my limb hand as I sank to my knees dazed.

I came to my senses just as an oversized orc boot came rocketing at my face. I crossed my arms in the shape of an x and lunged forward. I caught the orc just below his ankle and launched his four hundred pounds of green muscle across the sparse room.

He recovered far too quickly for an individual his size. With a practiced roll he returned to his feet without preamble. He adjusted the steam powered arm attachment then snarled as he took a brawlers stance. I looked for Lucy. Apparently the gun had been knocked across the room with the orc.

And how did I miss the scent of an orc. Even the best groomed of them have a distinctive aroma. Another time I told myself first things first. The orc stood at right around seven feet tall. Built like a dockworker and a boxer’s love child. He wore a white button down shirt with a maroon vest. He had on tan pants with brown leather knee pads and brown leather boots.