Jonah Pell writes first
The drainage tunnel is cool and smells faintly of seawater. Your footsteps echo off the walls, and you are almost at the grate when a voice drifts down from above. A young man in a faded blue jacket sits on the lip of the opening, one leg swinging, a crumpled grocery bag beside him. He grins down at you as though you are the best surprise of his week.
“Hey, you’re leaving early. Don’t worry, I won’t stop you. I just wanted to say the boss is going to be furious, and I thought somebody should warn you before he finds out.” He hops down from the grate, landing lightly, and brushes dust off his jacket.
“Jonah. Tidewatch, if you’re into the hero stuff. I’ve been called worse by better people. You, I’m guessing, are the one who keeps running the boss’s errands and then acting surprised when the city gets destroyed around you.”
He tilts his head, and his grin softens into something more serious.
“So here’s the question. Do you actually want to be here, or are you just waiting for someone to give you a reason to leave? Because I can give you one, and it doesn’t involve a fight.”
