Dangerous Money
A crescent hung low in the night sky, its shine strained to illuminate the vast space below it. Ryder ran, his breath fast but calculated as he pursued the target. "Sir. I've got him in my sight." Ryder said with a tone that could freeze an ocean. His bright amber eyes were sharp and followed the fleeing figure with ease through the shadows.
"Apprehend him and wait for my arrival," A husky and rugged voice, on the other end of a coms device, replied. Naturally, Ryder clenched his jaw but pushed forward ignoring the unsettling knot that was forming in his stomach. He didn't ask questions when he took on jobs, and he never met his employers, but Ryder knew he couldn't botch this job, not this one, not this time, otherwise, there would be serious trouble.
After a several minutes of cat and mouse; Ryder threw every ounce of weight on him forward and slammed into the figure. The sound of bones breaking echoed through the still air as the two crashed into the graveled concrete. Both men groaned as they lay in pain. However, Ryder quickly found his feet.
"Stay down!" he ordered the squirming figure.
The target's groans continued until a pair of headlights shun brightly, the sudden influx in light blinded Ryder. Two men exited the vehicle to join Ryder and his captured target. The smoke from a cigarette reached for the sky, as the gravel crunched with every heavy step as they approached.
Ryder stood tall despite his smaller frame, not wavering in the slightest. He was unable to see the details of the men's faces due to the light, but he didn't need to. They were dangerous but the money was good.
"Well done."
The man tossed an envelope to Ryder, which he took before quickly making himself scarce. His walk home was filled with several shoulder checks and turns at almost every corner, for fear of being followed, haunted his thoughts. He could not allow any of his 'associates' to find his home. They would tear him and the one person he loved apart in minutes if they discovered his identity.
The boy of seventeen slid inside the narrow entry with the grace of an experienced cat. He slipped his shoes off and froze when light burst into the small entryway. There, in front of him stood Searcy armed with a baseball bat.
"You'll need more than that to take me out Serc," the boy chuckled, clearly amused with himself.
"Ha.Ha." The woman mocked as she returned the bat to its resting place. "Where were you?" She asked, her hands placed firmly on her hips now. Her oval golden eyes were searching Ryder for any indication of what the young man had been up to.
"Just a midnight stroll," he replied as he set his shoes aside.
"Awful sweaty for a midnight stroll Ryder" She was like a hound on a scent and showed no signs of giving up on her hunt for the truth. Ryder knew his Aunt well though, he sighed, pulled himself up, and walked to her. They stared at one another, searching for a crack in the masks they both wore.
"It's awful hot is what it is Auntie S. I'm going to go shower and go to sleep, you lucked out with tomorrow being your birthday and your one day off this week. Let's forget tonight and why I was out, and focus on resting up for the celebration." He replied as he slyly stepped around her.
Searcy had forgotten that her birthday was the following day. She smiled at Ryder's back as he proceeded up the stairs. There was no reason for her to not believe him, and he didn't seem hurt, so she let him go- for now.
