We find ourselves in the alleys of the Slums, shadows surrounding most of our vision. What is illuminated are a pair of people. One is a woman, screaming in despair.
“Help, help!”
The other, a gruff man leers in with a malevolent grin, hands outreaching to her.
“You know what this was gonna be toots. You made the deal, and now you gotta pay the pri-”
The sound of metal moving through the air greets the two as a large metal shield slams hard into the side of the man’s head. He stumbles, putting him directly into position of a kick to the skull. While he falls, we see Captain Arcadia step out, grabbing the shield off the ground and checking with the woman.
“Are you alright ma’am?”
She looks with a face full of relief as she takes his hand, getting back up onto her feet.
“I am now, thanks to you. I got myself in a bad deal. He seemed so nice when we talked, and I took him up on the offer. I never thought it would get this bad, get me here”
Captain Arcadia nods, checking to make sure she had no injuries as he speaks.
“It’s a more common mistake than anyone can make. You get buttered up by the sweet talk of someone, who leads you on with a baited hook so sweet you can’t help but take. And for those first few moments it’s almost worth it. But then that dark side emerges, and you find yourself cornered. Scared, helpless.”
He shakes his head for a moment as he looks back at the unconscious man.
“Those who make deals to screw over the exploited are twisted devils wrapped in an old familiar smile. Monsters hidden in plain sight.”
Marching over to the unconscious man, Captain Arcadia slaps a pair of cuffs on the assailant. Turning back, he looks back to the woman.
“Do you need me to make sure you get home alright?
“No, no. I’m good. Thank you Captain Arcadia!” she says, before returning back to the well lit paths and vanishes from his sight. Captain Arcadia turns back his focus to the unconscious brute beneath his feet.
“Everyone has something that they’re willing to pay. But there’s one things deal brokers like you or that Morningstar fella don’t get. Sometimes the price isn’t something for barter, but the cost of doing what’s right.”
“Folks like me won’t pay for their dreams. No, we work for them. Taking the easy way isn’t something we’d ever think of doing, and reject those kinds of deals you’d offer. Because the best things in life aren’t the easy ways, but doing the hard work to truly earn them.”
His face is swallowed by shadow as he leans down, whispering into the man’s ear with malice yet unseen.
“Arcadia doesn’t have space for parasites like you.”
Picking up the unconscious, cuffed man, Captain Arcadia slings him over his shoulder and makes his way towards the nearest police station.