"Raising a gun at me?" With a sudden intake of breath, a malevolent green glow gleamed in the depths of her hooded eyes, she exhales a spray of sickly green mist that billowed forth from her parted lips. Enveloping the air around the girl in a sinister green fog, "There we go, much better." She smiled wickedly.

"What did you do to her?" The girl's figure, outlined by the subtle tinge of green, seemed suspended in a moment frozen in time. Her expression horrified. 

"She's paralyzed." The Rat Queen brushed away her midnight silk, long, straight hair. Each strand seemed to absorb and reflect whatever little light there is, creating ethereal highlights that accentuated her sharp features. "And having a nightmare."

"I think she's learned her lesson."

"I sure hope so." She approached the girl, freed the gun from her grip, and inhaled deeply. Sucking back the tinge of green from the girl in through her nose, and a shrill scream of terror echoed through the sewer as the girl recovered.

"What did you do to me?" The girl jumped away from the Rat Queen, perfectly flattened against the wall. "You-"

"Teaching you a lesson, you little brat." The Rat Queen stared.

"Your magic is impressive." I folded my arms across my chest, "But why live in the sewers?" I raised an eyebrow, and a chuckle escaped her lips. 

"Let me spill the cheese. I like rats more than humans." She shrugged, her hand tugged at her collar, and a giant rat peeked out from inside her tattered shirt. "They're all about drama." She stared at the girl again. "Rats, on the other paw...just cheese." Her attention returned to me.

"I can pay you a lot of cheese." I smiled.

"To do what?" She flourishes.

"Lots of different things, depending on circumstances." I leaned in close to her. "But Cheese guaranteed in all of them." I grin.

"To grace the world above with my presence once more, been a long time since my last sightseeing extravaganza." The rats squeak in excitement. "The queen accepts." She smiled.

"The Queen of Rags and Rats." The girl scoffed with crossed arms, her eyes widened as the Rat Queen stared, and she flattened herself into the wall in fear as the retinue of rats squeaks aggressively at her as well. "Can I have my gun back?" The Rat Queen hands it over.

"Francesca." The Rat Queen introduced herself.

"Grace." The girl replied.

"We should hurry to Red Lotus." I walked past them. "And text Anya."

"Already did." Elijah followed close behind me, our two new recruits flanked him. 

We reached the Red Lotus District, walked through poorly lit streets, past neon glow of signs hung on rundown and dillapidated building. The Lotus Tower stood tall at the center. Women dressed in a spectrum of styles litter the streets, masters of whispered suggestion and lingering touches looking for a big fat walking wallet in Nightclubs and louges. A world of pleasure on first glance.

But criminal organizations and gangs operate openly, be it gambling dens or illicit drug trade, with corrupt local law enforcement easily bribed, intimidated, or outgunned. A lawless district marked by frequent turf wars and power struggles among rival gangs and factions. With its own set of rules and social order enforced through street-level authority. 

We finally entered the Red Light area, where crimson lanterns cast a hot glow, to outsiders this place is but a place of unholy pleasure. To us, this is where stolen goods, contraband, and illegal services are openly traded. Home of the black market dealer, Cheng. 

A solitary red lantern, suspended in the air, burst in a fiery eruption of shattered glasses as a bullet pierced through. A shot that roared in the mix of exotic music from the distance, one does not simply walk in Red Lotus District without being possible collateral damage to random acts of violence or shoot out. "Liam!" I turn to the voice.

Yes, danger lurks in every corner of the District, but this was no random act of violence. Nor did we walk into a gang war, this man is here for me. Naked torso revealing cherry blossoms tatto on his chest, arms and back. Long black ponytail hair in a sharp dark tailored suit, classic and formal. Even with the sunglass covering his eyes, I know this man too well. Kenji had found me.