Godfire: The Split Soul-Chapter 161: A Morning Gone Wrong

Why is Black not answering his device?"

Jinx stood by the front of Black’s gate, the cold metal of the railing pressing against her palms, tapping her heels on the cracked asphalt, waiting for a reply.

The morning air smelled faintly of gasoline and damp earth, and a light breeze tugged at her white hair.

"Has he forgotten I told him I will be coming over?" she asked, dissatisfaction knotting her stomach. Her breath misted in the cool air.

"Okay, if he’s not coming out in two minutes, I’m leaving for work." She folded her arms on her chest, feeling the rough texture of her jacket against her skin, then tilted herself slightly.

"Three. Two. One. Fine, I’m leaving."

Just as she turned toward her Jeep, the door she had walked away from swung open with a sharp creak.

"So you’re inside and—" she paused, staring at the faces of the broad-shouldered guys standing in the sunlit space, sweat glinting on their foreheads under the warm morning light.

"Uhm..." she cleared her throat, the rasp echoing slightly against the concrete walls, neared them, then smiled, forcing warmth she didn’t feel.

"Please, is Black around?"

The three men standing by the doorframe exchanged shocked glances, the metallic scent of the room mixing with the faint aroma of cologne, then back at the white-haired lady.

One guy wearing a blue singlet moved forward, his shadow stretching over her. "And you’re?"

"I’m Jinx, a friend—" She paused, noticing another lady exiting from the main building’s door, laughing heartily, the sound sharp and brash against the quiet hum of the morning.

’So it’s true.’ Jinx gritted her teeth, inhaling sharply the acrid mix of sweat and perfume.

"Never mind." She dismissed the guy, the gravel crunching under her heels as she walked back to her Jeep and slid onto the leather seat.

"I never thought he would be this crazy in womanizing." She slammed her palms hard against the steering wheel, the rubber imprinting on her skin.

"I have to maintain my composure. He’s not the only man on earth." She boosted her spirit, the engine rumbling beneath her like a growling animal as she started it.

Jinx drove out of Black’s compound at such high speed that she barely noticed the smell of exhaust from nearby vehicles mingling with the morning dew.

"Wait, did I just pass the entrance?" she raised her leg slightly, the leather of her shoe pressing against the pedal, feeling disgusted as the wind whipped past her cheeks, then executed a 360 on the moving highway, the asphalt humming under her tires, cars buzzing around her like startled insects.

"Hey lady, are you mad!"

"Fuck you, bitch! You nearly caused an accident."

"Watch where you’re going, lady!"

"Have you lost your mind?!"

Taunts of insults slammed into her ears like hail on a tin roof.

"Sorry, sorry, sorry," Jinx rolled her side mirror down, the metal cold against her palm, apologizing without stopping.

She stepped on the accelerator again, the engine roaring, and this time moved as if she was in charge of death itself.

Many small vehicles skidded aside as the Jeep surged past them, the tires crunching gravel at the roadside.

Even when the traffic light meant vehicles were to stop, Jinx drove through, almost clipping a small girl walking beside a lady chewing gum, the girl’s hair brushing against the bitter chill of the morning wind.

"WTF!" Kate cursed under her breath, the icy air stinging her cheeks, grabbing the little girl and jumping onto the other side of the road in a flash.

"Who the fuck wants to end my life in this cold morning?" Kate’s face reddened, the chill burning her skin, as she threw curses at the Jeep, leaves torn from the trees swirling around them.

"Ewww..." she squeezed her nose, noticing blood seeping from the little girl’s nose. "I will leave you alone in the house next time, before someone comes and tells me I have been maltreating my sister’s daughter."

She placed the little girl on the cold pavement, pulling out a white handkerchief, its fabric rough against her fingers, and rubbed it on the girl’s face, dabbing at the sticky warmth of the blood.

"Aunty... what is that smell?" the little girl squirmed, the sharp tang of metal and smoke hitting her nose.

"Fuck off..." Kate snapped, pulling the handkerchief so sharply that the tip cut the girl’s palm, the sting sharp and immediate.

"Hope he won’t keep long like he did the other time." Kate murmured, staring at Jonny Sins’ image on her phone, the screen warm under her fingertips.

After a few tense minutes, Jonny appeared, the fabric of his tight jogging outfit brushing against his skin, the faint smell of sweat rising as he walked toward them. "You’re early. Let’s go then."

Kate and the little girl followed Jonny, the faint click of their shoes on the stone walkway echoing, until they stopped in front of a large building, the sun reflecting off the bold letters of "Ault Movie Industry," the paint slightly chipped, smelling faintly of industrial cleaners and waxed floors.

"Are you sure the small girl won’t be fantasizing about what she had been watching you do with me and the other guys?" Jonny asked, curiosity evident in the creak of his leather shoes.

"Nah..." Kate answered, brushing her palms on Jonny’s chest, feeling the warmth of his skin. "Should I even care if she would? After all, she’s not my child."

She shifted her gaze from Jonny, glanced at the girl, then back. "I’m sure my dead sister will be celebrating with her when she starts fantasizing that adult stuff."

"What work did you say your sister was doing before she met her tragic death?" Jonny asked, the faint tang of remorse in his voice.

"Ohh... didn’t I tell you?" Kate moved two steps back, lifted the girl, the weight firm in her arms, and positioned her so Jonny could see her dull blue eyes, the morning light reflecting off them.

"Maybe you will remember the face of the mother. She used to be a worker at this place," Kate said, laughing inwardly, the sound echoing softly off the walls.

"Are you kidding?" Jonny asked, his eyes sparkling, a faint scent of cologne mixing with the leather of his shoes. "Wait, don’t tell me she got this kid from this job?"

"Where else do you think this child comes from?" Kate teased.

"No! That can’t be possible. That lady was barren even on the first day she joined this company."

"Ohhh, I see..." Kate paused, staring at the broad-shouldered guys entering the building, their footsteps heavy on the polished floor.

"Do they also work here?"

"Yeah, those two are now learning how to do the work. But the first one..." Jonny paused, a grim grin on his face, the leather of his jacket creaking.

"That’s the main boss of the industry. He fucks like a beast."

"You mean he can go more rounds? Rounds you haven’t even gone before?"

"Yeah... I know you like to explore more rounds. But I promise you will die when he finds his way with you."

A short laughter burst between them, echoing off the walls, before they entered the building, the metallic clang of the door lingering in the air.

...

"I’m late today too," Jinx said, stopping at the front of the news production factory, the asphalt hot under her tires.

She drove slowly toward the parking lot, the faint smell of dust and oil filling the air, occupied her spot, then exited.

She grabbed her envelopes, their rough paper scratching her fingers, dashed into the elevator, pressing the 10th button.

"At least this will take me to my office faster than the stairs." She closed her eyes, the mechanical hum vibrating through her bones, lancing her eardrum.

After a minute, as the elevator climbed, the light flickered and died, the darkness thick and suffocating. "What’s happening?" she asked, feeling the tremor of the now-death cage shake her body.

In a blink, the cart stopped shaking, then continued upward, the faint scent of ozone and machinery filling the air.

Reaching the top, Jinx stepped into a room with tables turned upside down, sheets scattered, the mirrors fractured, shards reflecting light like jagged teeth.

The cold metallic tang of broken glass stung her nose.