Chapter 1 - The Labyrinth Lobby
The cold marble of the municipal transit lobby bit into Arthur’s spine as Officer Miller slammed him against the structural pillar. The heavy bronze columns of the grand hall seemed to echo the sudden violence, amplifying the sound of scuffing boots against polished stone. Arthur, frail beneath his weathered brown leather jacket and tan shirt, let out a soft exhale. His white beard brushed against the cold leather of his collar as Miller gripped him tighter, the heavy utility belt jangling with the movement.
“You think I wouldn’t notice a thief like you?” Miller snarled, his large frame pressing Arthur further into the pillar.
Arthur did not flinch. His pale blue eyes remained steady, watching the veins throb along Miller’s thick neck. “You always were too loud for your own good, Miller,” Arthur said, his voice a gravelly whisper.
“Shut your mouth, old man!” Miller spat, leaning in close enough for Arthur to smell the stale coffee on his breath. “I’ve watched you slip through three different security checkpoints today. You’re carrying stolen municipal transit access chips, and I’m going to tear that jacket right off your back to prove it.”
“Try it,” Arthur murmured, tilting his head just slightly. “Try reaching for the silver pin, officer. See what happens when your fingers cross the threshold.”
Miller’s grip tightened until his knuckles turned white. “Don’t play games with me. You’re a common pickpocket riding on borrowed time in this city.”
“I am not riding on time, Miller. Time is riding on me,” Arthur replied, his expression entirely devoid of fear.
Down on the lapel of the brown leather jacket, the silver animal pin caught the harsh fluorescent overhead lighting. The green eyes embedded in the metal began to pulse. A faint hum vibrated through the air, shifting the ambient temperature of the lobby downward by several degrees. Miller’s face tightened into an expression of pure, unadulterated rage, his jaw clenched so hard a muscle twitched violently in his cheek.
“Hand over the bag, old man, or I swear I’ll break your arm right here,” Miller growled, his eyes fixed on the silver trinket.
The green eyes on the pin flashed brilliantly, casting an emerald hue across Miller’s contorted face. The officer’s eyes suddenly widened in stark, paralyzing horror. The color drained completely from his skin as he gasped for air, his chest seizing as if struck by an invisible blow.
“Hah...” Miller choked out, stumbling backward and releasing Arthur’s collar entirely.
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Arthur calmly straightened his jacket, brushing a speck of dust off his lapel while Miller collapsed onto his knees, staring in absolute terror at the floor.
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