Unclassified; Zero and Still Standing

Yesu walked into Ells’ Tavern.

The first thing she felt was the comforting embrace of warmth.

She hadn’t been cold outside but the temperature difference was notable.

The second thing that got her were the lights.

They were small and decorative but their yellowish glow made the room look even warmer and festive.

The third thing was the smell which came at her with an overwhelming force.

Yesu immediately concluded the alcohol here was definitely stronger than the ones back at her District.

Whoever had lured her here was certainly not dumb enough to think she would actually believe Millie was staying in a place like this.

Although...

There was a slight probability, given the family history.

But Millie’s mum would never allow it.

Yesu quickly scanned the place. Almost all the tables were occupied.

Men sat across from each other, drowning bottles upon bottles of beer.

Most accompanied their drinks with cigarettes, producing enough smoke to choke.

Some betted over games of cards.

There was a poker table at one end. A few people had gathered there, placing more bets.

There were stacks and stacks of cash piled on tables.

The music sounded louder than it did from outside.

The busboy, a child no more than fourteen, cleaned after the rowdy men.

Everyone was talking, arguing and laughing all at once. Making smoke filled room disorienting.

Yesu wondered how she was going to find her mystery caller in this jungle.

She coughed and made her way to the counter.

Suddenly—

A hush fell over the room.

All eyes followed the lone girl in their midst, casually strolling to the front like this was a coffee shop.

Yesu noticed the silence but didn’t bother finding out the cause.

She simply walked on.

Completely obvious of the numerous red eyed men staring at her with open interest.

She finally reached the counter annd leaned over.

"Hey," she called out gently.

The bartender, who possessed the complete attributes of a seasoned gangster, had been watching her from the moment she walked in.

A frown now clouded his face.

"What are you doing here?" He snapped.

"I’m looking for someone." Yesu said, then her brows furrowed. "Although, I’m not quite sure who it is."

The bartender crossed both arms across his muscular chest, flexing his heavily tattooed biceps.

"Leave." He said.

Yesu leaned even closer.

"Hear me out for a sec, will you?"

Her eyes were so transparent, the bartender’s shoulders relaxed involuntarily.

His gaze flickered across the smoke filled room. The men had slowly resumed their activities but the noise was minimal.

It was obvious they were all listening.

"You have two minutes." He said to Yesu, lowering his voice a little.

Yesu gave him a friendly smile.

The bartender’s sharp gaze softened on seeing it.

"That’s fine." She said.

Then, without breaking eye contact, she began trailing a finger along the edges of the counter in habit.

"Is there any chance, someone named Millie dropped by?"

The reaction was immediate.

The bartender went stiff.

"She said to meet her here." Yesu continued. "Do you perhaps know anything about that?"

The bartender stared at her for a few seconds before letting out a cough.

He rubbed a hand across his nose.

"Upstairs."

He jerked his head to the left.

Yesu followed the gesture.

There was a small, wooden staircase a good distance away from the counter.

Right past the card games and the poker table.

"Third floor." The bartender added.

Yesu pushed herself off the counter.

"Thanks." She said.

Without a second glance, she began her journey to the stairs.

The eyes followed her once more.

Yesu quickened her pace. The bartender had responded after hearing about Millie.

Did that mean Millie was indeed here?

She effortlessly wove through the tables, not bothering to look around. Her focus was solely on the stairs.

The stares were getting more intense.

The bus boy tripped over a fallen bottle and crashed to the ground, breaking more glass.

Yet no one paid him any attention.

Yesu made it to the poker table. The stairs were already within range.

But just as she walked past—

A hand shot out from behind and caught her right hand, closing around the wrist.

And held on tight.

"Hey, girlie."

She turned.

A sturdy looking man was looking down at her with a lopsided smile.

Before she could say anything in reply, he pulled her closer.

Yesu recoiled.

The man didn’t let go. He leaned even closer, bringing his face to hers.

"Fancy meeting a little lady such a yourself—"

POW.

The man’s head snapped sideways.

His fingers released her wrist.

For the briefest instant he simply... vanished from where he’d been standing.

Then he crashed across the poker table.

He crashed onto the poker table.

Towards the end, which was a few meters away.

The crash sent some stacks of cash on a table nearby fluttering into the air.

It poured down like rain.

A few gasps erupted through the room.

Yesu’s left hand was still clenched in a fist.

She stared at it unbelievably, slowly rotating it this way and that.

"Whoa." She mumbled.

She definitely wasn’t left-handed. Even her right hand wasn’t particularly good at sending punches.

And yet the man had been sent flying.

No one said anything for a moment.

Then one of the men burst out laughing. Others followed.

And one by one, they returned to business.

Yesu quickly made for the stairs.

She caught a glimpse of someone helping up the man she had beaten before the floor disappeared beneath her.

***

Yesu emerged onto the third floor.

Her short journey up the stairs had been awkward as she kept running into people making out.

And all she could say was,

"Sorry."

"Excuse me."

"Pardon."

Yesu now knew for certain that Millie was not here and had never been.

But the bartender had responded to her name.

So there was definitely something at play.

She had to find out what all this madness was about.

The corridor was empty.

There were four doors in total. All closed shut.

Yesu stared at them and sighed.

"Do I have to?" She muttered.

Then without another thought, she went to the first door.

Knock-knock.

A lean looking man opened.

"Hello." Yesu began. "I wanted to—"

He groaned in irritation and slammed the door in her face.

Yesu frowned.

"Rude."

She moved on to the next.

The sounds coming from behind the doors made her grin mischievously.

She resisted the urge to knock and moved on to the third.

Knock-knock.

No response.

She knocked again, louder.

Still nothing.

Yesu let out a breath and went to the last door.

She tried treating it as just another closed door.

But it clearly wasn’t.

Behind it held one of two things. A revelation and a dead end.

Another dead end.

Yesu raised her hand and slowly brought it to the wooden frame.

The door opened before her hand could reach.

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