“From now on I shall take ownership of Omora. I will think of an appropriate request to ask of you when the time comes. I shall say once more that you cannot reject the request.”

That was what Eira had told Dalton this morning.

It was now lunch, and he had gone up to the roof of the building where he hoped he could be alone for a while to digest everything that happened to him.

The sky was sunny, it was a warm and calm day. Yet inside him was a storm of confusion and doubt.

Had Ozul told the truth?

Were they just human traffickers?

He had taken this job to get away from his family, but he was in a nest of corruption and insanity that drained upon him.

It was time to find another job. Somewhere where he wouldn’t suffer another day of this craziness. If he had a choice, he would resign today, but he had bills to pay. He just signed a lease for an apartment, he had bills to pay, and he had no savings. Not the best situation to be in at all.

Maya would disapprove if he quit without a second job in place. She would also be unhappy to find that the lemon and lime tie she had given him was broken.

After finishing the coffee in his hand, he checked the time. His lunch break was almost over. The door opened just as Dalton was about to reach for the knob.

Ozul came out of the door looking like he was in a dour mood. It changed when he saw Dalton. His fake smile spread across his face like a caterpillar.

“Dalton.” His voice smooth as oil. Just as deadly as well. “So this is where you were? I haven’t seen you for a while. I just thought you might have…well…tried to run away before Eira put her favor in.”

His heart spiked.

“What would you make you think I left?” Dalton felt a bead of sweat drop from his cheek.

Ozul saw that, and his smile widened. “Nothing. Just a feeling, like the one you get from a scared little bunny surrounded by ravaging wolves.” He patted his cheek. “You look scared…you wouldn’t be thinking of running away and leaving me alone to take the brunt of Eira’s inane request?”

Dalton turned away. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Ozul bent to his side in a ninety-degree angle to meet Dalton square in the eyes. “We’re buddies right? We share the burden. Let me tell you, I won’t accept you escaping on your own. Eira hates me so she will give me something terrible, but she doesn’t hate you yet, and she will give mercy to you.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Is that really all you can say? You sound like a broken record.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Ozul narrowed his eyes. “Is that so? Fine, I’ll go ahead and drop it, but if you do…” His lips parted. Darkness emanated from his threat. “I will drag you down with me!”

Dalton stopped as Ozul was about to leave.

“Wait!”

The dark suited man stopped.

“Were you telling the truth about what you said earlier? That this is a human smuggling scheme?”

“So, that’s what you meant.” Ozul looked up in the sky. “I see. I see.” He took in a deep breath and turned with his normal smile. “I was lying.”

Then he left.

#

Eira called him over when he came back from lunch.

“I’ve decided that we will be switching your supervisor. Ozul has not done his job relatively well.”

Dalton held his breath. Hope swelling within him like a balloon. “Really?”

“Yes, from now on your supervisor will be him.”

She gestured to the sleeping man. The man that he had been told was his boss. The boss that he had never seen awake once since he started here a week ago. Eira kicked his desk, and he woke up with a gasp.

“What?”

“You’re in charge of training him.”

Eira went back to her desk without saying another word and continued her work on her computer.

Malcolm stretched his arms, giving a big yawn, and then scratched his beard. He gave Dalton a look over.

“I’m getting lunch. I guess you’re coming with me.”