Black Market Merchant

Hanna had been told by Benny what Lisa’s finalized plan was for them after arriving back at the Weather’s home. She was filled with anticipation and a little fear upon hearing it. She would have told the other girls if not for Benny’s warning that, for their safety, they should not be involved. Reluctantly she had to agree, it was her own problem. Even if they wanted to help, it was her burden to carry. That night she could hardly sleep. She was just too nervous and angry.

This was the crux of her thoughts that revolved anxiously around in her mind. "I am excited that Lisa is going to help me, but if only I was stronger, I would do it myself! How would I avenge my parents though? There were so many people in the gangs base. I feel stupid for thinking of using Mr. Weather’s pistol now. There has still got to be something I can do to get back at those murderers!"

Shifting restlessly around under her bed sheets, Hanna couldn’t get comfortable. The Weather’s had put her into the guest bedroom and the mattress was much to stiff for her liking. She missed her old bed, her old room, but most of all her parents.

Hanna missed them so much! Even the slightest thought of them ached her chest and she felt like crying herself into a puddle, but the tears just wouldn’t come. The cause was that she was equally as angry. Angry that the gangsters responsible were living carefree lives and that she was powerless to do anything about it. Tossing the sheets above her head to try and drown her scrambled thoughts, Hanna tried to get some sleep.

…

The next week went by slowly for everyone. Lisa and Sadie worked on gathering food and supplies from the area. Additionally, they continued to block up the two gates leading into the dam’s property. It took three days for Lisa to find and move an astounding amount of metal and cars to achieve this.

Zane had spent most of his time resting. His wounds hadn't succumbed major to infection, which was a miracle in itself. If Dilly's attack had gone any deeper, cut his organs or if Zane had soaked longer in the river any longer; there would have been very great chance he would not be this well off or even alive.

After watching Boss Lisa fight that huge Fighter and seeing the electricity, Zane knew that she really wasn't all talk. She was strong and smart, things he knew he needed to become.

"Why on earth does she want me to work for her? Aside from doing everything Garret wanted me to do and making the others do it, I really don't have many skills." Zane wondered while lying on his mattress and staring aimlessly at the ceiling. "She doesn't even know who I am. I sure don't know what she intends for me to do either.”

Then a thought popped in him mind. "If she wants me to fight as a subordinate of hers and puts me up against the Black Rats, what would I do?" Zane shook his head. "No, she doesn't seem like she's that foolish to try something like that. What is she planning?"

It had been two days since the fight with Golem and Lisa was nearly finishing with the "blockade" blocking the gates to the dam’s property. Zane decided that being cramped up in the office was much too boring and wanted to see how much she had finished. He sat up in bed and grunted softly. Though the area around his cuts were reddish, it didn't look all that bad. He patted the fresh gauss that had been wrapped around his torso.

"Whatever was in the medicine that the Boss put on me is really good." Zane thought to himself. "I wonder where she got something so valuable out here and why waste it on me?"

Zane got up slowly and headed for the door. He had ensured Lisa that he wouldn't leave and as long as he never left the fenced in area, and she said he could leave the room by himself. He really did intend to stay here, so there was no reason for him to lie.

When he got out of the building, he saw Lisa pulling one car on top of another! He watched her as she slowly wiggled the one car onto the other. She looked completely unnatural, pulling a car around like it was nothing was not something a normal human should be capable of! Once she finished pulling the car up, Zane saw her stand up and wipe the sweat from her brow. She only had on just her faded black skintight suit top and a pair of red mid-high thigh shorts, along with her heavy looking combat boots. Her long black hair was tied up in a simple ponytail and it was swinging gently in the afternoon breeze.

Zane couldn't help but admit, that even though Boss Lisa was kind of intimidating, her looks were not bad at all. Just as he was thinking this, Lisa looked his way. He quickly averted his gaze and pretended to be looking for a place to sit and rest.

Quickly, but carefully, sitting down against the buildings wall, Zane hoped that she wasn't coming his way. Out of the corner of his sight, unfortunately, he saw that she was coming his way.

"Zane, good timing." Lisa called out to him. "I was going to take a break. There's some things I need to talk to you about."

Zane looked up at the tall woman as she arrived next to him. Keeping a passive, almost shy look, he asked, "What do you need to know?"

Lisa grabbed a rusting metal oil drum and sat down on it to the right of Zane. "About you, the Black Rats and the other side of the river."

"Oh, ok." Zane replied and he shifted nervously. Just because he was going to apparently be working for her, he had no intentions of betraying the Black Rats so easily.

"So, first off, Zane, let's talk about you. Do you have a last name?" Lisa asked.

"Walters, Zane Walters. Why do you need to know that?" Zane questioned.

"No reason, just curious." Lisa said shrugging. "So, you’re a lieutenant for the Black Rats. I take it that you're fairly skilled in a fight to be a lieutenant, but from that wound, maybe not to good. How did you reach that position in the gang?"

Though the way she casually took a jab at his lack of skill hurt, Zane held his tongue and replied trying not to sound defensive. "I earned it and I am good at fighting. The guy I fought was just bigger and not tired out, that's all. My gang boss, Garret, recognizes that I am good at doing what he wanted done."

"Hmm, Garret is your boss." Lisa mumbled. "Just remember, you work for me now, not him. Eventually he’s going to be a nobody anyway. So how did you get that wound?"

Zane knew that she was fishing for information, but for what, he really didn't know. It's not like she was going to try and take on the gang or anything, that was just dumb for one person to try and do. So, he decided to indulge her. "I was fighting another man named Dilly. He was a huge man, just like Golem that you fought. He said he was a Mountain Match Fighter, whatever that means."

"Oh, so you fought someone actually strong then. Guess you’re not all that weak if you survived him." Lisa replied as she whipped at the sweat on her brow again.

"You know him?" Zane asked a bit worried.

"No, but if he's a Mountain League Match Fighter then he's actually got some skill. I'm technically ranked lower than he is." Lisa replied shaking her head. "Anyway, why were you fighting him?"

"Ranked lower than Dilly? But they fought about with nearly the same intensity." Zane thought to himself. Then he replied to Lisa. "Well, you see there is this new group that call themselves the East River Militia. They revolted against us Black Rats, guess they got tired of being controlled by us or something. Anyway, Dilly was on their side. He was driving a big Mech and destroyed my entire group of guys that I was leading. He got out and fought me when I tried to escape in the river. That's how I ended up here."

"I knew it. There was a battle over there. The birds never lie." Lisa said thoughtfully looking towards the eastern river shore. Then to herself, "What’s a Mech? There is still so much about the future I don't know. Bet it's a machine of some kind similar to the ones I fought at the military base."

"So, I take it that you all lost then?" Lisa asked looking back at Zane.

"I-I think so." Zane said with a sigh. "Though we had better weapons and numbers, we were no match for their Mechs."

"Interesting. Well, I hope everything you told me is true." Lisa said standing up. "I need some water. Stay here and keep resting. It's a nice day today."

With saying that Lisa left to go find the pot of boiled water Sadie had put inside. Leaving Zane alone, again. He sat there for a while and just enjoyed the cool breeze blowing across the parking lot. He was actually starting to doze off when Lisa returned.

She plopped back down onto the oil drum and then tapped his leg with her foot. "Hey wake up!"

Zane grudgingly opened an eye. "What? I was nearly asleep."

"No time for that." Lisa said taking a swig of water out of a metal coffee mug she found. "I am going to explain your first job for me. It's kind of important, so pay attention."

Zane opened his eyes and sat up some. Finally, he was going to learn of her intentions.

Lisa cleared her throat and continued. "As you know my fight with Golem will be taking place at the Mad Dogs Arena in a few days. I need you and Benny, that guy you met earlier, to do some betting for me. You see, I need money, badly. I want you two to bet the money I give you on me. But don't just bet with one person, do it with as many people as you can. Just pretend that you have more money than you really do and exaggerate that they have no chance beating your bet on me."

"I guess I can try to do that." Zane said slightly relieved it wasn't something too hard. "But what if they want to see the money or have someone hold it? I won't be able to get others to bet against me. That's what happens when we gangsters betted against each other."

"Just move on to the next sucker." Lisa said giving a shrug. "There will be plenty of chances. Oh, but if security or a guy named Xander messes with you, cut your losses and don't bet any extra. I want to keep things on the down low, you understand?"

"Ya, I got you." Zane replied.

"Good. If you can earn me a good amount, I might let you have some." Lisa said giving a smile. "Now that's just the first thing I want you to do. The other thing you need to do is watch carefully that little girl red headed girl you saw earlier, Hanna. She is coming with us into the Arena too. Nothing is to happen to her." Lisa's voice was serious sounding and Zane nodded reassuringly. "If you see anyone messing with her you must stop them. At least long enough for me to get there. If you fail to do that, you are going to suffer. Badly."

The look in Lisa's gray eyes sent a shiver into Zane's core. She was dead serious. "I understand Boss. I will watch her carefully."

"I hope you do." Lisa said getting up again. "Other than that, enjoy the Arena. That place is really big and it honestly impressive. I doubt your side of the river has anything like it. Well back to work. I should be able to finish by tonight. No one is going to be getting in here easily now!" Lisa turned to leave and go back to building the blockade.

Zane nodded to Lisa as she left and could only wonder as to what made that Arena so impressive to Lisa. After all Lisa didn't seem like someone that was easy to impress. However, he only had to wait a few more days to find out.