177-

Near Boston

Dusk

Maybe it was a mistake to join the army. No, not maybe. No maybe in this thought. It was a bad idea. It didn't pay well, the food was horrible, the superiors were jerks, and no one liked you. Not to mention the fact that everyone seemed to want you dead or seriously wounded.

British soldier Kent Davis reflected his life decisions as he ran through the woods, trying to outpace his assailant.

She was a rebel female who was known as the Renegade, for she refused to submit to British authority. She heckled British troops and even kidnapped some according to rumor. More often than not, they were never seen again. No trace, no word, nothing. No wonder she had such a bad reputation.

Her age was impossible to guess, and nearly all of the details about her were rumors. Her attitude was said to be that of a cocky and sarcastic teenager. Yet at 6'2" she was taller than most in the British army. Taller than Kent, who measured 5'10" if he was being generous. Much to the 19 year old soldier's dismay, the Renegade was just as active during the day as she was at night. To make things worse, she was after him. What was even worse than that, he had lost his weapons in his mad dash to escape her.

His boots thumped against the tinder dry ground. He was trying desperately to stay ahead of the female. He didn't want to be another one of those soldiers who disappeared and never came back. Despite the horrible conditions in which he was forced to live, at least he was alive.

If only, he thought, I had not panicked at the tavern. I may have been able to avoid this situation.

He had been in the bar, alone, drinking some ale in a corner away from most of the other patrons. He had accumulated some off time and decided to get some alone time. He had no idea he'd been picked as a target.

As he ran, the scene played over again in his mind.

He sat there in the back, staring into his mug as he held it up to his lips. He was beginning to feel sleepy eager to get back to the fort and get a good night's sleep. Or maybe rent a room here. He didn't have to be back until tomorrow morning. Then, he felt someone staring at him. Glancing over the rim, he happened to meet the rebels's sharp amber gaze head on. He choked on his drink and spit a good deal back into the mug.

A sly, almost playful smirk appeared on the hooded female's face. She had three scars going across her mouth from right to left, giving her an especially sinister look. Her amber eyes seemed to gleam from under the hood.

A paralyzing fear locked up every muscle in Kent's body. Those eyes saw right through him and into his soul.

Her eyes darted left, towards the other patrons. She was no doubt looking for backup that Kent wished he had brought with him. Seeing nothing, she pushed herself up from her seat. Stepping around the table, the Renegade walked over. "Hey… got a minute, soldier boy?" Her voice was low and similar to a cat's purr.

Kent panicked. He sprang up from his seat, only to have his arm grabbed.

"What's the rush?" she snickered, holding tight.

Kent tugged with all his might but could not escape. The female was not only taller, but much stronger. He was shoved back into his chair.

"Now now, I just wanna talk. Stay a while, man." Her hands held tight to his shoulders and kept him seated.

Kent shivered under her stare. "What… What do you want from me?" he gasped.

She began to answer, but was briefly distracted by the door slamming open. Two soldiers rushed in, musket drawn.

"Leave Private Davis alone!"

"Get back, damned rebel!"

The Renegade snorted. "Tch. Rude much?" She did let go of Kent, however, and backed away.

The soldiers kept their guns aimed at the dangerous female. "Alright, rebel, you will-"

"Let me stop you right there," the Renegade spat, holding out a hand. "This is what's gonna happen. I'm going to take this one," she pointed at Kent, "And you two will stand aside. If you don't, things are gonna get real ugly real quick."

"Yeah right!" the soldier on the right sneered. He pulled the trigger.

But the Renegade was no longer there. She had ducked and shot towards them. They didn't have a chance to re-aim before she took on both at once.

Kent's heart sank. His fellow soldiers were losing, one already unmoving on the floor. The Renegade was just about to knock out the other one when Kent decided to make his escape.

The soldier fled the tavern. He forgot to grab his musket.

So here he was, running blind through a rapidly darkening forest with no weapon and no backup. Yep, he was seriously rethinking joining the British army.

Why me? I don't have anything of value! What could she want?! Kent thought. Then it hit him as he ran across a small creek turned red by the dying sun. The letters! Dear Lord, she's after the letters! I can't let her get them! If she does she'll kill me on the spot once she has them!

Panic and horror filled his veins. He tried to push himself to go faster, but he was rapidly running out of energy. Quite literally.

Kent began to gasp for breath. His heart hammered as it tried to keep his supply of blood flowing. He fought his way up the hill and ran past massive boulders. Glancing behind him, eyes wide and mouth open to draw in air, he saw that the Assassin had taken to the trees. She was rapidly gaining on him running through the trees with practiced ease. With a cry of fear and desperation, Kent tried again to speed up. This only caused himself to stumble just as he reached the top of a gully.

A deep stream flowed gently along over mossy rocks at the bottom. Unable to regain his balance in time, he fell and rolled down the steep incline. He cried out in pain as he tumbled over rocks, branches, and roots.

Reaching the bottom, he crashed into the stream with a splash. The water drenched his wool coat and everything else from the waist down.

Kent thanked his lucky stars he didn't knock his head against a rock. He'd have been knocked out cold and the Renegade would have gotten him for sure. He scrambled to his feet and began to prepare himself for the climb up. A dull pain from the fall shot through his shoulders, head, and back. He turned his eyes up towards the top of the gully. Kent stopped dead in his tracks, horrified by what he saw.

There, highlighted by the dying sun, stood the Renegade herself, the sun glinting off her flintlock pistol.

The weapon was aimed directly at Kent's face.

No!

Chapter one of the reboot! Hope y'all enjoy!