Chapter 82: Meg Is in Trouble
Meg hummed softly, tapping her chin as she compared two ridiculously oversized novelty mugs in the brightly lit gift shop. Fin’s birthday was just around the corner, and finding the perfect gag gift was crucial.
He needed cheering up, especially after that whole dungeon mess and his weird recovery. Maybe the one shaped like a grumpy cat? Yeah, that felt right.
She paid for the mug, tucked the brightly wrapped box under her arm, and pushed open the shop door, stepping out onto the busy afternoon sidewalk. The city hummed around her, a familiar symphony of traffic, chatter, and distant sirens.
Time to head home, maybe try cooking something that wouldn’t set off the smoke alarm tonight.
As she turned towards her usual bus stop, a flicker of movement caught her eye. Across the street, two men in dark, impeccably tailored suits stood watching the shop entrance. Their stillness amidst the surrounding bustle felt... wrong.
Meg frowned, her steps faltering. Probably just waiting for someone, she told herself, shaking off the sudden unease. She started walking again, picking up her pace slightly.
She glanced sideways down a narrow side street. Two more suits, leaning casually against a wall, their eyes tracking her movement.
Okay, not a coincidence. Her stomach tightened. Association? Guild politics? Whatever it was, it involved Fin, which meant it involved her.
She abruptly changed direction, ducking into the flow of pedestrians heading the opposite way, trying to blend in, heart starting to beat fast. She risked a quick look back. The first two suits were moving purposefully through the crowd, closing the distance.
Panic flared. She needed to get away, find somewhere crowded, call Fin—
Another suit stepped out directly in front of her, blocking her path. He wasn’t as bulky as the others, but his eyes were cold, flat. He held up a small device.