On the Flipside

The room is filled with a few desks. Almost all of the desk, has stacks of document and paperwork stacked on top of them.

On the center desk with the window behind it, sat a man leaning against the chair, sipping a glass of whiskey in his right hand.

He’s wearing a grey colored suit, black overcoat, black bowler hat with red stripe, and black boots.

The man wore a shield-shaped badge that’s silver in color on the left side of his chest. ‘Cherrington National Detective Agency’ is inscribed on it.

Deep in thought with his legs crossed, he reads away the reports that he’s holding in his left hand. The door then opened, causing his concentration to break.

Two person entered the room. A woman with a long, curly reddish-orange hair. And a blonde well built man.

They’re wearing tunics made of blue wool that has a yellow cuffs and collar, alongside a black pair of gloves.

Their trousers are dark in color with a red stripe running down on each side. Complete with a pair of brown leather boots and a white cloak.

They are also geared with a shashka and Colt 1851 tucked on the holsters on their left hip.

“What a cramped and messy office this is.”

Said the woman, as she puts her right hand on her hip and lifted the hood of her cloak with her left.

“Sorry about that. Please, take a seat. We’re still waiting for the other party to arrive.”

“Drinking while on the job?”

She asked, while she sat down on the chair that’s not hit by sunlight

“As long as there are results and the job is done, I don’t see a problem with it.”

“You Americans really are a piece of work.” She said, crossing her arms.

The man then chuckled as he replied with a smirk.

“Sure. What about you? Heard that you guys were having some trouble doing your jobs.”

She then clicked her tongue.

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

Crossing her legs, she continued.

“If you don’t have anything important to discuss, we’re just going to leave. We don’t have the time to be your drinking buddies.”

“Patience. We’re still waiting for them. I do apologise for their tardiness.”

He then put down the paper reports and the glass of whiskey.

“So, what do you think of America? Enjoying your stay here so far?”

“Nothing to write home about, this place is a shit hole.”

“You act as if Europe is any better.”

“Have you been to Europe?”

“No, I haven’t.”

“Exactly. So, who is it that we’re waiting for?” She asked.

The man then replied with a grin on his face.

“Let’s just say they’re a bunch of rowdy boys.”

The door then busted open violently.

“Speaking of the devil. Here they are.”

Three men entered the room. All of them dressed up like the typical cowboy. However, their rough and uncouth appearances made them look more like outlaws.

“Holy smoke boys! It seems like manner and etiquette is not in your vocabulary. Thought they were lying when they said you guys were a bunch of savages, looks like the rumours were true.”

“They look more like a bunch of barbarians with guns to me,” She said.

The trio are equipped with firearms.

The leader in particular, has a revolver on each side. Winchester 1873 and L.C. Smith double barrel shotgun Q7 were slinged on his back. He’s armed to the teeth.

“I don’t know who you guys are, but you two in particular sure love to run your mouth huh? Keep at it and I’ll make sure you guys eat lead by the end of this.” He said, threatening the two.

The man with the bowler hat then calmed the room down.

“Simmer down will ya’. Apologies for my comments. Now that everybody’s here, let’s begin the meeting. My name is John Wind, a regional director here.

“Around two weeks or so ago, I heard a commotion happened at the city of Plum Fool. The sighting of a vampire and a wanted outlaw were seen at the same night.”

He said, while he uncrosssed is legs.

“I heard about it. I’ve already sent someone to track her down.” She said.

“I see. So that’s why there are only you two here, when I was told there were three.”

“Vampire? So they are real after all. But that got nothing to do with us. Then what about this certain outlaw you mentioned?”

John then leaned forward. With his hands in front if his face interlacing, he spoke sternly.

“Lucky for you, he’s an ex-member of the Scorched. By matching the description we squeezed from Timmy, another member we caught a while back, and my men’s testimony.

“He’s none other than Marshall Mallow. A skilled gunslinger and Scorched’s second in command. He was also seen to joined forces with the vampire.”

The uncouth man then replied.

“About damn time he showed up, you don't know how long I've been waiting for this day to come.”

“I knew you would be interested.”

John then leaned back in his chair.

“Now for the reason on why I called you all here. Miss Ekaterina Nelli, captain of the Vanquishers.

“And Mister Leon Mitch, leader of the bounty hunter gang known as the Mud Boys. I have a business offer for you guys.”

Clearing his throat, he continued.

“I myself has a lot on my plate. Our clients are rich people who got robbed and the government itself. And they’re hard to please. With this, I suggest we work together.”

The atmosphere of the office suddenly became tense, as the parties involved began to listen in anticipation.

“Miss Ekaterina, I will give you guys our fastest horses and whatever supplies you need until you killed all the vampires here. The sooner you slay them, the sooner you’ll leave this shit hole and back to Europe right?

“And Mister Leon, I will double the bounty that’s on Marshall’s head. However, you have to bring him alive. If he’s dead, then so is the deal. Got it partner?”

Leon then replied.

“Sure thing feller. But do we really have to work with these idiots? I mean, just look at their outfits.”

“Like you knew the least bit about them. You guys probably eat dirts and sleep in a barn next to a cow’s manure.”

The other two then chimed in.

“Boss, this woman pisses me off.”

“She’s so damn annoying.”

One of them then drew their gun and aimed it at Ekaterina. Unfazed, she simply grinned, followed by the swift movement of the man on her side.

He drew his shashka and it’s suddenly up against their throat. He then spoke menacingly.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”

“Brock, stop it! You’re scaring the guy.” She said jokingly.

Leon then swoop in.

“Lower your gun Chris. You too Rick, stop being so easily provoked.”

The situation then calmed down a bit, as the parties took a step back and agreed on an unspoken ceasefire.

Witnessing such tumult, John sighed.

“Lord have mercy.”

“I’m curious, what do you get from all of this? Why is this Marshall guy so important to you?” Asked Ekaterina.

“In our agency, making the clients happy is our priority. Recently, a new outlaw gang has been causing mayhem left and right making lots of people angry. They called themselves the Grimmer.

“Intel has it that the leader is the same guy as the Scorched. Since Marshall was his right hand man, he probably know where he would hide. With this, I hoped the problem of blood sucking monsters and gunslinging outlaws will end in a single strike.”

Nodding, she replied.

“I see. Quite the proposal you have here.”

“Well then, I assumed that all of you agreed to it," John replied with a smirk.

“Bring him alive right? Well then, we’ll be in our merry way. We’re going to do it ourselves, we don’t need these guys help,” Said Leon.

“Are you sure? Have you ever faced a vampire before?”

“No. But knowing they can’t walk under the sun is good enough. Beside, we faced outlaws in greater number before. So two aren’t a problem.”

“Quality over quantity, John said he’s a skilled one. Plus, you don’t know how terrifying vampires are.”

“Thankfully I’m just as skilled. They might be terrifying, but that won’t scare me.”

They then took their leave, once again busted the door open.

“You think Sveinn can take care of it before they do?” Asked Brock.

“Who knows. That kid sure is full of spirit, but he’s too naive. Typical of new recruit. If my intuition is correct, this vampire is a handful one.”

“You knew her?”

“Who knows. I could be wrong and misremembered some stuffs.”

John then spoke while he got up.

“Tell me when you’re going to depart. That way we can fetch the horses for you.”

“We’re going tomorrow night. I’ll write down the stuffs we need and give it to you tomorrow morning.”

“We’ll bring the horses and supplies in the afternoon then.”

“Let’s go Brock, I have strategies to discuss.”

They then took their leave. Leaving only John in the office.

“Guess I’ll do my part then.”

He then left the room.

With the room empty, it’s now devoid of life. However, the office is anything but ordinary. An uneasy alliance was formed here.

As it once became a place where three parties, each with different motives once have a meeting. Plotting to take down a loose vampire and a roaming outlaw.