Chapter 531: Hide And Seek
As soon as they turned the corner, the young woman let go of Laz’s arm and turned on him.
"A water bottle is too small for my ass?"
"I was thinking like one of those insulated metallic ones... but you can think a plastic bottle if it makes you feel better..." Laz responded, not bothered in the least.
"You’re a fucking asshole," she glared at him.
"Who apparently calls you mommy and shits himself?"
"I don’t regret what I said and why are you not bothered by that? I fucking yelled it in front of everyone..."
"I’m not from around here so why would I care what some random people have to think about me?" Laz responded and began walking again, wanting to get away from both this crazy person and law enforcement.
"Just how big is your ego that you let this kind of stuff slide?"
"I’d show you but I would hate to get arrested for flashing a deadly weapon in public..."
"I just.... Would you stop running?"
"Would you stop following me?"
"I’m not following you. I’m headed this way too."
"Of course you are," Laz turned away and began walking again, not really heading anywhere but trying to remember where he saw the guy in the poster again..
"Blue hair... blue hair...? I mean... lots of people have blue hair if they were to dye it, right?"
"Where are you going?" The young woman asked, still following him.
"Somewhere," Laz replied nonchalantly.
"You... you’re like me, aren’t you?" She then said, a little more quiet that she had been talking.
"I’m not sure what you mean by like you? Afterall... there are quite a few differences from first glance," Laz said, half jokingly.
"You know what I mean..." She then said, stopping in front of Laz and not letting him move unless he went around her.
Laz knew what she meant in the same way he knew those guys wouldn’t pose a threat to her. She was an awakened, just like him. The only difference was the strength between the two of them. She could barely count as a condensation realm awakened while he was already realms above her. She could maybe crack a stone with her bare hands while he could destroy a building with a flick of his wrist.
She couldn’t sense the difference, hence why she was fearless in front of him in the same way that an ant wouldn’t fear a human since the human was so out of the realm of their understanding that it was impossible to comprehend.
Had she been stronger, she might have been able to sense the threat from him, but as it was, she was just barely able to tell that he gave off a vibe that felt familiar to her.
"You know that what you are saying could be very, very dangerous. Afterall... if you are what you’re claiming to be... well... you would be worth a lot of money to the right buyers...." Laz said, changing his face from one of indifference to one that he felt looked greedy and lustful.
Ironically, her expression didn’t change.
"Human traffickers aren’t exactly new to me. Neither is the lust of men. We moved to this country after my parents lost everything when they refused to go with the families wishes to sell me off. So your act is far from convincing," she said, still not moving.
"Bah... must just be because I have such a nice and kind looking face. No one will take me seriously," Laz said before stepping to the side to walk around her.
She immediately got back in his way.
"What? I mean what could you possibly want?" Laz said, feeling a bit frustrated that this woman wouldn’t leave him alone.
"My name is Amira."
"Yay for you?"
"When one gives their name, isn’t is customary to the other to give their own name?" The woman asked, looking straight into Laz’s eyes.
"Not if it wasn’t ask for. Just like if you were to throw yourself at me, I wouldn’t have to take you just because you want me to, right?"
"Truly you American men are all perverts," she spat, now frustrated herself.
"Thanks for the compliment. I shall reflect on my ways and repent. Good day!"
"HEY!? I’m not done with you," she said, again trying to stop him.
"Well I’m done with you."
"What’s your problem, huh?"
"What? I told you before that my girlfriends have forbid me from bring anyone else home with me, alright? I’m just trying to be a good boyfriend."
"You’re trying to be a good boyfriend to your ’girlfriends’ by what exactly? And how does a good boyfriend have more than one girlfriend?"
"They are all ok with each other. As long as they don’t mind, why should I? You know, you’re being somewhat judgmental right here."
"I’M BEING JUGDEMENTAL?" Amira yelled, getting angry.
Before she could go on though, Laz had stepped forward and wrapped his arm around her waist while another was placed over her mouth.
"MFFHHHH HFFFMMMMMM"
"Quiet," Laz said before jumping into a corner behind an old dumpster.
"DO YOU SEE THEM?"
"NOT HERE. KEEP LOOKING!"
Several armed and uniformed people suddenly ran past the street they had turned down. Seeing that there was no one in sight, they kept running.
"Hmm. Looks like our earlier encounter was discovered," Laz said, still holding Amira’s mouth.
She struggled for a bit before Laz eased up and let her go.
"Well. You’re in trouble now, aren’t you?" Laz said, although he wasn’t smiling.
"I’m in trouble? What about you, huh?"
"I don’t live here. I’m just passing through. What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas, right?" Laz replied with a grin.
"You’ve got to actually be able to leave first though. FUCK! Ok. I know a place. Come on," Amira said, grabbing Laz’s arm and dragging him further down the side street and along some back alleys. While Laz wasn’t particularly worried, he still followed along. Since he was already somewhat involved and that one clown had died because of him, he figured that he could at least make sure she got somewhere safe before heading to his supply point.
As for where they ended up, it was a tourist shop a few blocks away that sold all kinds of things including clothes. Running inside, Amira waved at the cashier before dragging Laz into the back and into the furthest dressing room. She then flipped a button and a wall came down, blocking out that portion of the store but leaving a window through which they could see through to the other side.
"What’s this?" Laz asked, wondering what he had walked into.
"Nothing big. Some of us know of this place and know we can hide here if we are ever being chased. Of course that’s based on the fact that we aren’t wanted for doing something illegal. They won’t rat us out, but once we leave, they will block us from coming in here again. Still, it’s better than being caught," Amira said, feeling the heat coming from Laz’s body. While this secret changing room had room for two people, it was still a cramped space.
Just as Amira wanted to push Laz away from her to get more space, they watched as several police came around the corner and started pushing open changing room doors. After a few screams and apologies, they had opened the last visible doors before turning and running out. Laz watched all this happen and wonder what he was missing.
"It’s a two way mirror," Amira said, guessing his thoughts.
"Ahh," Laz responded, wondering if they were free to leave.
"We will give them a bit before going out. I can’t believe they followed us this quickly.
"No clue," Laz said, shrugging his shoulders.
When they finally determined that the police had left in pursuit of them, Amira flipped a switch then pressed a button and the wall eased it’s way back into the ceiling.
Amira and Laz then made their way to the front of the store at which the same clerk was standing there, speaking into the phone.
Laz noticed her skin was a bit darker as well and she also looked like she had come from the same area of the world as Amira.
"Basma. I’m really sorry but we didn’t have a choice..." Amira said, but Basma cut her off.
"As per our rules, you’re no longer allowed to hide here. Sorry, Amira but rules are rules. I was just told you actually killed a normal human and though I tried arguing with them, they wouldn’t listen..."
"But... I..."
"It’s fine. I’m the one who killed him. Actually, he shot himself so it’s not like it’s really my fault. But either way, she didn’t break any of your rules or anything like that. So just call them back and tell them that, no worries."
"Sir. I’m not sure why you are trying to cover for Amira, but I’ve known her since she moved to town and she’s always been a bit of a trouble maker. While I am her friend, I can’t risk being without a job so please don’t make this any harder than it needs to be. Please? And Amira, I can’t believe you involved a normal human in this and even showed him this place. I have no idea how my bosses are going to react but they should be arriving any minute now to figure out how to deal with this. I just hope they don’t decide to close the whole place down just cause you showed him our secret..."
Just then two people in business suits entered the small tourist shop and walked over to the counter. Basma was about to start explaining when they bowed low to Laz and said,
"We welcome you sir. While we knew you were coming to the area, we thought you would show up at our main head quarters. Please forgive us for our team’s lack of manners," the female said while the man remained quiet.
"No problem. I was just telling this young miss here that I was at fault for the death and not Amira here. Well, to be fair, he fell on his gun and shot himself so once they figure that out, they will probably just drop the case since none of the others are dead," Laz said, giving them a quick explanation.
"Excellent sir. My companion here is a lawyer and he will be keeping an eye on things as they develop just to make sure everything is settled peacefully."
"You keep a lawyer on hand just in case?" Laz said, quite surprised.
"I am part of a team of lawyers working for the Hearn group sir," the man finally spoke, standing up straight at Laz’s insistence.
"Part of the requirements for doing business in this town sir," the female explained.
"Heh... Somehow I’m not surprised."
"Shall we get going sir? Our car is parked out front and is ready to take you to your lodgings for tonight."
"Sounds good. Ah... Let this girl tag alone. I’m interesting in speaking with her more. Also... I saw a picture of a guy with blue hair doing a performance. Can you get me whatever information on that you can find?"
"Of course sir. Not a problem." The woman in the business suit held the door open for Laz and invited him to follow her.
"Miss? If you would please?" The lawyer said, pointing to the door as well.
Shocked, Amira didn’t even think to say anything to the frozen Basma before she followed along as well.
