"Alone"

April 28

Kyrie

4:00pm (Dutch local time)

Amsterdam, The Netherlands


"Alright, I can do this. Focus Kyrie, focus." She took a deep breath as she trek along the destroyed avenue of the city alone. The sound of war is happening at the distance. She never knew whether she was on the fronlines on the Allied side or the demon one, but all she knows that she has to survive and keep moving until reaching any friendly that comes her way.

She hopes so.

It's been an hour since she began her quest alone. So far she encountered a few patrols but through her wits and her instincts, she manage to pass them without anymore problem. Her senses were all heighten as her body is in full alert for all threat. Her gloved hands grips her weapon tightly that she found them aching to let go but she refuses, one drop of guard in hostile place, she's dead.

Now she found herself at a market stall, or what she thought was once a farmer's market. The stalls around her were either destroyed or toppled. Fruits and vegetables laid everywhere. She took one of the apples on the basket that was on top on one of the tables, she inspected it, the fruit was still edible though no longer fresh. It will have to do, after all she hasn't eaten since they left London. She also forgot to bring MRE as well.

"Taste still good." She mumbled while she chews a mouthful of apples. Her stomach seems to growl in response.

Suddenly she heard something unusual followed by a low growl coming from her left side. She ducked immediately behind the stall and store the apple on one of her spare pockets, she'll eat them later.

"Darn it! talk about bad timing!" she cursed silently she readied her rifle at her arms and swallowed the rest of her apple. The demons seems to get closer as the noise became louder, she quickly crawled under the stall and careful made her way towards the other side. the growls and moans of the demons were heard behind her as she tries to get away as soon as she can. She estimated them to be around five or six, to many for her to handle alone.

She about to reach the end of the stall when she accidentally bumps the stall with the buttstock of her rifle. The vibration causes one of the apples fall to the ground it rolled towards the demons.

"Shit!" she cursed again. Normally she wouldn't not curse, not that she's a saint but cursing out, for her, makes her fell uncomfortable. She usually say puns instead rather than curse.

But now, thinking of the circumstance, she can curse up to the heavens if she wanted to.

No moment has passed and one of them began growling loudly as if he was giving orders. Kyrie could guess that they knew someone was here and they will find it. She quickly move as best as she could from under the stall. The demons spread out across the marketplace, searching high and low.

Upon reaching the end of the stall, she quickly ducked behind it and pray to every deity existed that she will not be discovered. She grips her rifle tightly and readied it for both close and distant combat. Her heart thumped faster in her chest that she thought it will explode. She was sweating badly and breathing quickly picked it pace. Despite herself, she tried to remain calm and control her breathing.

CRASH!

Pots and pans fell to the ground as one demon threw off his sights as he searches for the 'intruder' he found none, but it was only a matter of time. Kyrie knew he was close, and closing fast. The demon sensed her somehow as he prepared his scythe aiming for the end of the stall where she s located.

SLASH!

The sharp blade manage to split the corner of the stall in half, whoever took cover there would have been dead. But he found nothing but rather sliced fruits instead.

Kyrie already scrambled to her knees and ducked to the other stall while the demon is focused on his scythe. She was in luck for her location led to a nearby alleyway, she can crawl there to escape, though she has to be extremely quiet. Crawling by lined up wreckage stalls, Kyrie went on her way as slowly and quiet as she could. Every moment she stops and stay still praying that the demons will not find her. Her heart is thumping loudly on her chest that it already aches under the vest of her uniform.

After of what it seems like forever, she manage to reach the alleyway hid behind a dumpster to catch her breath; Sweat and dirt falling from her once clean and innocent face. Wiping them off, she stood up and head on her way, though she raised her guards up. gun in hand she scanned the alleyway ahead. Her hazelnut eyes no longer showed fear or innocence, heck she wasn't innocent anymore. She and Nero made love more than she could count. All that matters is that she has to be brave, after all she brought herself here and she can get herself out.

With luck, towing Nero with her.


Upon reaching the end of the alleyway, Kyrie sighed and face the direction were the sun was setting. Her gut is telling her that the direction of her destination was west. She tried her comlink to get anyone to know her position but she met with static

"They might be jamming us, or maybe the comms are down on purpose" she said to herself as she made her way on the bombed out avenue. Craters, cars and building debris were everywhere. She sighed, the way she sees this, is that this road is once beautiful, thinking of having a world tour with Nero is something popped into her mind since this whole thing began.

"RRRAAAGGGHH!" a demonic growl shook her head in shocked as she saw a demon suddenly jumped in front of her, quickly slashing the scythe at her.

She manage to dodge it nanoseconds away and she jumped to the side but knocked her off balance. Falling on her back, she tried to aim her rifle at the demon but it was fast enough to knock it off her hand before slamming the scythe directly to her head. She rolled to her left quickly and at the same time draws out her side arm and fired spread shots at demon's direction. A few bullets hits it's legs and feet making it growl in pain.

But to her advantage, her pistol jammed.

"SHIT!" she shouted as she tried to fix her pistol. Her mind is racing as it tells her to move herself before her enemy regains footing.

Too late.

The demon took hold of her arm and yanked her pistol away from her grasp. He then threw her to the ground. He was about to mangled her with his bare claws for he didn't bother using his scythe anymore. He underestimated her. Kyrie raised both of her arms in defence to prevent the demon from ever bringing itself close to her, its claws trying to reach her. Her mind is racing once more on what to do until an idea. She adjusted her right leg and sends it flying between the neither regions of the demon.

Immediately he cried in pain and went off her. It was her opening. She quickly drew out her combat knife from her vest and stabs the demon in the chest. Blood spewed out around her, she stabs it many times, but the demon is still alive and trying to resist her though weakened. She grunted in every stab she made home, rage and determination burned through her beautiful hazelnut eyes.

She pulled out her knife and slit the throat of the demon beneath, her then slammed the knife to its skull more blood poor out but she didn't care. She held down his head until it laid still, it's last breath was release and finally silence.

She was breathing hard and her eyes was wide in alert as adrenaline flow through her making everything feel light, her grip never left the hilt of her knife. After a moment she pulled her knife out, and then stood up. By then her hands began to shake suddenly before stopping as she heard more demonic growls from behind her. She spun around to see three demons approaching her. She narrowed her eyes as she eyed them down with anger. There was no way she can retrieve her rifle and her pistol at this rate, she steeled herself, if she's going to die now, she take at least two with her and this is for Nero.

Suddenly something hit the first demon which is in the middle. Blood spewed out from his head as he fell backwards. His companions growled in confusion before the one on the left was hit as well. His body spun around as he was hit at side of his head. The last demon hesitated before deciding to lunge at Kyrie. The young brunette readied herself.

ZZZIIIWW!

A bullet whistle passed her, it was close that she can feel the heat and the force; it made contact with the last demon, a hole between its two eyes.

With all the demons dead, Kyrie looked around to see if she could see the shooter. She found herself alone once more, wind decided to picked a little. As she picks up her weapons, her radioed comlink began to light up.

"From my point of view, I don't think you'll survive five seconds on those three" came a strong voice.

Kyrie was shocked a little from the voice, "Hello?"

"Hey, Your welcome" came a sarcastic reply.

"Where are you, I can't see you around, are you the one who shot them." she asked innocently, some things will never change; as she take cover inside a burned out bus by the side of the road.

"Is it obvious much?"

It was only then Kyrie noticed the characteristic of the voice, it was female yet carried a strong Russian accent. From her point of view, the person she was talking to sound intimidating.

"N-no" she meekly replied.

A moment passed.

"Listen do you see a church directly in front of you?"

"Yeah"

"Now I want you to go there. No questions ask." the caller said in a demanding Russian military tone.

"Alright"

"But if you want to survive, you have to listen to every instruction I say. I don't want any insubordination; otherwise, I'd rather shoot you or let you die in the hands of those bastards I'am clear?"

Kyrie gulped but answered immediately "Yes ma'am"

"No need to say that now go, stick to the left side of the street from there I can clearly see you. Don't worry, I'll be your eyes if any shows up just be ready" the voiced said, all can Kyrie can do is nod as she made her way behind the wrecked and burnt cars, weapons at ready.

After a moment she reached the first block. "STOP" the voice commanded.

Kyrie immediately stopped and crouch behind the corner of the building. Her camouflage of her outfit fits perfectly on the environment she is into. She lifted her weapon and scanned the surroundings. She was about to ask when the voice said:

"Don't move, a demon squad is heading your way, we'll have to let them pass since my priority is for you to survive this mess."

Kyrie wanted to say thanks but she remained quiet, because she's embarrassed and scared for being heard at the same time.

A moment later she heard the squad of at least six demons walking across the intersection. Kyrie saw them go passed her as she aimed her rifle at them. The voice immediately warned her with a Russian curse word.

"Don't you dare..."

"I won't" she whispered, praying that her caller hear that.

Soon the squad had cross the intersection and the area was clear again. the mysterious caller ordered her to move again.

"Alright stick to the side of the street, I'll watch your back so keep moving."

"Got it..."

She crawled through various wreckage on the street and jumped over big craters. Finally she is only two blocks away from the church. She smiled relieved but the caller ended her relief in a flash.

"STOP! Another patrol, wait for it to pass"

A patrol of seven demons were ahead of her. Kyrie went prone in a medium deep crater, her eyes scanning the demons, her rifle is aimed and ready to fire. But suddenly she notices something, she called in her caller.

"I don't think they are gonna move"

"That's what I thought. Hold on I'm thinking of something."

Kyrie looked again to the demons who seem to be just standing there or maybe they are talking to each other. She noticed that at least three of them were familiar to her. they were Scarecrows. She knows that these demons were soft compare to their regulars, but they are agile.

"Alright, I'll distract them once they left you move across and take cover on the white delivery truck ahead of you. Do you see it?"

Kyrie narrowed her eyes and saw an Ups delivery truck "Yeah, I see it."

"Get ready"

The young brunette readied her legs and adjusted her arms. she was eyeing the demons for a moment before setting her eyes on the truck. Then, out of the blue,

CLANK

A loud clanking noise echoed to her left, and immediately the demons growled went to it, they disappeared in the alleyway where the sound came from. Kyrie is about to stood up and make a break for it but there was a problem.

One of the Scarecrows stayed behind.

She instinctively pulled out her knife and went for a dash for the unsuspecting demon. A feet from him, she pounce on him with a knife stabbing his back. The demon growled in pain but it was not loud enough to be heard by his companions. Kyrie quickly went on top of him and slit his throat before he could really cry for help, dark blood and smoke ooze out. The hapless Scarecrow began to twitch then finally went limp. A moment later, his corpse dissolved.

Kyrie sheathed her knife and went for the truck, she crawled under it and took a glance back at where she came. The demons never came back.

"I gotta say, you got one nasty killing move." The voice said with a Russian remark that Kyrie knew it was positive.

"Thanks"

"You better keep moving, I can clearly see you with own eyes now."

Kyrie moved out of cover and continue trekking the street. Soon she reached the front doors of the church. It was lock.

"There is a small hold on the right side of the church from where you're standing crawl through it. You can't go pass the main doors anyway, it's bombed out. See you, I'll wait for you behind the altar."

"Okay" she replied as she made her way to side of the church and crawl through the small space that was made on the wall. She first thought she was not going to fit, but as she crawl she felt like she being squeeze. It's not she's fat, but the hold was a little small even for her. Once she's inside she dusted her self and picked up her rifle. Still lock and loaded, she held it securely in her hands.

As she reached behind the altar she suddenly felt cold as she felt a dreading force that was stalking her. Before her mind go blank, she felt a circular colt steel pressed against her left cheek, she tried to see it in the edge of peripheral vision but barely. At least she recognize it.

A gun barrel is pointed at her.

"Despite your guts a while a ago, you still going cold and dreaded." The female Russian voice said before removing her gun at her.

Kyrie turned to see the holder of the gun, which was a sniper rifle. A woman in her late twenties, her body is athletic and tone well. She wore a military jumpsuit with a utility, ammunition and other things attached to every part of her body. Two Russian made handguns are holstered to her waist. Kyrie thought that her outfit only exist in spy movies that she used to watch with Nero. She knew very well that this woman is a commando, a Russian Commando. The emblem of the Speznaz is engraved on her sleeves.

The Russian woman has a smirk on her face as she removed her red beret which has a red star with Soviet emblem in it. She fixed her brunette apple cut hair before putting back her beret. She then slung back her rifle to her shoulder and gave a snort at the amazed Kyrie.

"Got a name?" she asked, her voice was completely intimidating.

"Kyrie"

"Nice to meet you" she took Kyrie's free hand and shook it firmly, her tone became a little smug upon saying her next words "I'm Natasha Volkova"


Note: Natasha Volkova came from the RTS game Command & Conquer Red Alert 3