Tenebris Renasci: A World of Magic and Gunpowder

Ben smacked the floor with a hard thud, his eyes wide as he suddenly saw the ceiling.

"Huwag!" The wind was knocking out of Ben's lungs, his eyes darting towards Antoinette, confusion and disorientation flashing in his eyes. 

"I gave you an order!" Antoinette hissed at Ben as her hand tightened around his throat. "I didn't ask for your talk back, I asked for compliance."

Ben quietly stared up at Antoinette as his face began to redden, his mind racing with thoughts as his heart raced. 

He had never seen Antoinette snap before, not to this extent. 

She was always calm, maybe threatening under the surface, but you'd never see it, not with how she carried herself.

Seeing Antoinette like this, her eyes burning with such an overwhelming powerful intensity, sent a shiver down his spine. 

Antoinette's expression remained cold and intense, her eyes piercing deeply into his and she knelt over him. "This isn't about you, so drop your pride and contain your attitude." She said, her voice barely above a whisper as she leaned closer, keeping Ben pinned on the floor.

"You follow my orders, you do what I say, and you will not disobey me again…"

Antoinette then released Ben's neck with a forceful push of her hand. "…or there won't be a next time."

As Antoinette rose from the floor, Ben's mind spun, torn between humiliation and fear. 

"Get up." She said coldly, turning her back towards Ben, "and follow your orders."

There was anger and frustration building within him, gnawing and the irritation of being put in his place. 

But something told him that tempting fate again… 

would be akin to suicide.

Tanya looked down at Ben, watching quietly as he rose from the floor. She knew better than to intervene, but that didn't stop her curiosity.

Most pathfinders wouldn't dare cross her, she was not only well renowned and respected, but she was also the right-hand aide of Lady béatrice.

So that idea that someone would cross her, especially a squad sergeant, was unfathomable.

Ben walked up towards Tanya, rubbing his neck as he averted his gaze. "Come on…" he said softly, "let's get this over with."

His tone was deflated, and his shoulders slumped.

Tanya sighed as she leaned towards the basement door and opened it. "After you," Tanya replied.

Ben nodded, before wordlessly heading down the stairs, the sound of wood creaking on his way down.

As he disappeared downstairs, Tanya turned to look at Antoinette who silently stood before her desk.

She was looking down at her trembling hand, her eyes flickering with a hint of something deep. 

Tanya had no doubt that it was either fear or uncertainty. 

"Something wrong sergeant?" Antoinette asked while continuously looking down at her hand, her tone soft.

Tanya shook her head as she moved downstairs. "No ma'am." She replied, closing the door behind herself.

Joining Ben downstairs, Tanya was getting with Ben quietly studying the suspect, his arms crossed while his eyes were narrowed.

The suspect was tightly tied to a wooden chair, with bloodied, wrinkled, and torn clothes.

His hair was long, brown and unkempt.

His eyes were a dull gray, and he was slumped over in his seat, mumbling to himself repeatedly.

But besides the suspect, the basement was essentially empty, illuminated only by a simple lightbulb.

"He's been quiet since we caught him." Tanya informed Ben as she stood beside him, "I couldn't get a word out of him."

Ben nodded slowly, "I can see that." He replied, his tone sharp, "but I'm not even sure this is the guy…" he then turned to Tanya, "Where'd you find him?"

Tanya raised an eyebrow, was she being accused, or was Ben licking his wounds?

"We first found him in a tavern well known for criminal activity, we entered with a full squad, asked around about Alexander, and within a minute this guy just started sprinting." She explained.

"So you chased him?" Ben asked.

Tanya nodded. "Obviously." She replied sarcastically. 

Ben pressed his lips together. "Hmm."

"What?"

"Nothing," Ben replied, "have you attended a CIC in the academy?"

Tanya shook her head, "Nope, I never planned on being a copper."

Ben nodded, before looking back at the mumbling suspect. 

"What's your name?" Ben asked.

The suspect remained silent. 

Ben took a step closer, his eyes looking down on the man who was slumped in the chair. 

His appearance and constant mumbling made it hard to get a clear reading on him, he could either be traumatized or playing them like a fiddle.

"Where are you from?" Ben asked, "There are only two kinds of people who come to the colonies, settlers and criminals."

Ben crouched, meeting the eye level of the suspect. "Which are you?" He asked, his tone quiet yet forceful.

The man didn't respond, just as Ben had anticipated, but his eyes did flicker with something unreadable.

"There's nothing wrong with being a criminal." Ben continued, "Providing illegal substances, moving goods, all of that is perfectly healthy for a civilized society."

The suspect again, remained silent. 

Ben continued, "But when you involve the innocent, children especially, that crosses a line, a boundary that's against nature and society in every aspect." Ben's voice lowered, a dark edge creeping into it.

The suspect stopped mumbling, his eyes flickering with a flash of panic. 

Ben immediately narrowed his eyes upon the suspect's reaction.

He's aware of the situation and was most certainly faking his part. 

"I guess it doesn't take much pressure to crack this nut." Ben said in an irritated tone, "Stop playing like an idiot, and tell me where Alexander is."

The suspect began to mumble again, this time his breathing was faster and his eyes closed tightly. 

Ben took a deep breath, "All alright, I'm done talking." Ben rose from his knees as he rolled his sleeves.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Tanya asked, "he's barely alive as is."

"And who's fault is that?" Ben replied as his eyes hardened, "smacking someone with a rifle isn't exactly playing by the rules."

Tanya paused briefly, before shrugging her shoulders. "Fair enough." She replied, "But if you kill him, that's our only led gone."

"If he dies, I'll use his corpse to find Alexander," Ben replied, his patience worn thin and anger from his altercation with Antoinette boiling over.