"To those who bother to read, I'm still contemplating on publishing the whole thing, and I would like your most honest comments. Get as 'Simon'(AGT) as you'd like. I can handle it. 💪"
- Ravenizcul

******

I heard rustles and a soft whimper ahead. Then a gunshot, followed by a scream. I ran toward the alley where they came from, my boots splashed the small puddles on the street. I stopped at the entrance of the alleyway.

I snorted.

"Owen Thompson. " I rested one hand on my waist. "You still hang around these parts?"

"Oh wow. Greetings, M'lady Nicole. I just came by to pick something up... " He smirked that ominous, sadistic smirk of his.

I squinted into the darkness to locate where the whimpers were coming from...

"Cheryl?"

She was in a corner, huddled in the far corner. Her clothes were ripped at some places, her hair was ragged, her face was dirty. She had various cuts here and there too.

"Nicole, help me. I only came out here to-"

"Shut up your pretty little mouth!" Owen yelled.

She shuddered violently, losing her voice.

He folded his arms, and leaned a shoulder on the wall. His icy blue eyes moved from her to me. A gaze that could pin any girl down.

But sorry, I wasn't any girl.

"Long time no see, Nicki. And honestly... I kinda missed you."

"Right," I drawled, rolling my eyes

"You look good. Better even. As always," He brushed white hair behind his ear.

"That's sweet and all, but I don't really have time for compliments right now. Also, what the heck? You can't torture Cheryl."

"Why not? I found her, fair and square." He shrugged.

"She's important to a friend of mine. Don't touch her."

"Oh, a friend? Who is it? "

I sighed, "Just let her be."

"You wouldn't care if it was just any friend, Nicki, I know you. So, I guess Shaun must still be around."

"Does it matter Owen?"

"Wait... he likes this girl? That gives me all the more reason to do what I want."

"After all this time, I thought you'd gotten over-"

"I haven't gotten over anything, Nicki." He pushed away from the wall and took heavy steps toward me, until he was standing incredibly close. I could feel his warm breaths on my face. There was a look in his eyes I'd seen before. A look of desire that mixed with the danger in them. "Who are you with now?"

"Owen, I don't want this to get messy."

"I heard you dumped Jason too. No update since that. I need to be sure."

"Owen-" he grabbed my waist and kissed me. His arms wound around me and pulled me closer, squeezed my arms between us. My hands laid on his chest. His tongue intruded my mouth and touched mine.

I raised my knee to kick him but he dodged. The second he did, I summoned the strength in my arms and pushed him away. Then wiped my mouth with the back of my hand.

"You taste as divine as ever... " He licked his lips.

"I tried to be peaceful, Owen. But I guess this getting a bit messy won't hurt."

"Yeah, that fire. I've always loved that part of you. Come get the girl, Nicki-bae." He backed up into the shadows, darkness swallowed him as others emerged from it.

Two, three, five...

Eight in all. Me against eight. The heck?

"You got more followers?"

"Yeah." His disembodied voice came from the darkness. "I call them minions for my sake. It's pretty cool. Don't worry though, they won't hurt you. I just need them to bind you so you won't run away when I'm carrying you home. Wouldn't wanna bruise that glorious body."

Well that's useful information.

I heard a scream from Cheryl. "What are you doing to her?"

"Jealous?"

"You wish."

The guys were all shrouded in black clothes and masks. One of them carried a rope on his hands.

One lunged for me, I tripped him. He fell facedown on the ground. I smirked and pulled a dagger from my boot.

They all froze, eyes wide, then snapped back to focus.

I flipped the dagger in my hand and pointed the tip at them. "Dare you to come at me."

They did, and with the extra caution I predicted they'd take.

(Not much of a fighting scene, forgive me)

Kick, kick! Punch, punch! Uppercut, slice!
Not
I was lit with adrenaline.

Landed a roundhouse kick on the side of a head. Kneed a groin. Kicked a stomach...

Then they were all a bloody groaning pile on the floor. Clutching their bruised body parts.

"You are just splendid, you know that?" Owen's voice again.

I came close enough to see them. He was squatting next to an unconscious Cheryl, trailing a pocket knife along her neck and watching blood pool and trickle and flow.

The upper half of her dress was in shreds, barely concealing her cleavage. It seemed he'd already been there.

"You know, I can't help but blame you Nicki-bae, if you hadn't dumped me..." He gripped the knife harder. "Maybe this wouldn't have happened. We would all be living in peace and love.... but no. What are you up to nowadays anyway? I haven't heard from you in a while." He casually asked, staring at the blood as it dripped from the knife.

I folded my arms and glared at him.

"Hey, don't look at me like that, I'm just making conversation." He said with a soft laugh. Then he moved to the side, giving me way.

I took a jacket from my bag and put it around her. "Cheryl? Cheryl?" I called, gently patting her on the cheeks.

"She's unconscious. Weak, pathetic prey. "

"Don't talk like that!"

"She is. You know that, why are you... oh - Shaun. " He scratched his chin

I sighed.

"If you tell me, I won't bother her again,"

"Really?"

"Yeah. There are better victims out there."

Knowing him to be true to his word,
"They're dating. Been like, 5 years maybe."

"Two years?"

"I know."

"... Is it love or is she threatening him?"

"I think... maybe they are in love? I don't know."

He snorted. "I wonder what he sees in this bitch,"

I glared at him, and he dismissed it with a small shrug, then came toward us. "C'mon, I'll carry her to your place. "

"How generous of you," I teased.

"I know right? Seeing you does weird things to me. Scary, but can't be helped."

******
My apartment was a simple one. The highest storey in fact. It was hard making it upstairs, I had some neighbours weren't in deep sleep even in the middle of the night.

We got to the elevator and I pressed the button. When it slid open, there was Judith, the old woman from the fifth storey who really didn't like me. She claims my 'loud' workout music makes her cats go mad.
She gaped at the body in Owen's arms, but didn't even get a word out when i pressed the button again and gave her a smile and a small wave. The doors slid shut.

"Let's take the other elevator,"

Owen chuckled.

When Cheryl was finally on the couch, breathing, peaceful and oblivious, I looked up at him.

His gaze was travelling around, scanning the environment.
"So this is where you stay. Don't be surprised if I barge in someday."

"Well, I wouldn't be, 'cause you're welcome any day."

He looked back at me. "Don't you think I deserve a thank you for my services?"

"Thanks, Owen."

He folded his arms and looked to the side, sulking. "You know that won't satisfy-"

I leaned forward, kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you."

He was frozen.

"What? I stopped your heart or something?" I laughed softly.

"Oh no. You made it beat faster." He breathed out. "Way faster." He added in a whisper.

"You are crazy,"

"Hey," He stepped back, arms out. "Comes with the package."

I smiled.

"Alas, I must go," He said with a British accent. "You'll find me though, probably torturing another helpless victim..."

I shook my head in amusement.
He opened the door, "Au revoir, mon cherie. " He bowed and glided out.

"Au revoir, mon ami. "


© 2023 by Mizuki Shinji