The Light at the End of the Tunnel
Chapter Seven: Shadow Dance
Dressed all in black and moving with stunning agility, she was shadow. Crossing the floor of the building with inhuman stealth and speed, she made it out of the large building quicker than would seem possible.
Her heart clenched in her chest as the sound of the gunfight ahead reached her sensitive ears. She quickly sent a prayer to whatever higher power was listening as she sped across the field in front of her, lost in a blur of movement. Without stopping or breaking her stride, as she neared her destination, she jumped. Powerful muscles propelled her to the top of the warehouse. She sailed through the air and all traces of her former self left her. There was only her, her prey, and the hunt. It was safer for her this way, taking a cue from her brother and doing away with all the phony sentimentality.
She landed gracefully on the roof of the building and pulled her body into a crouch. She crept to the ledge and peered over, watching the scene beneath her, thrilled by the hunt. Her eyes narrowed in on someone she knew; it wasn't who she was looking for, but the blonde three stories down was in trouble. A man was sneaking up behind her.
Threat. She lowered a slender hand to her ankle. A quick flash, the glint of the moon on cold steel, a flick of her wrist, and the man fell to the ground. He clutched at the handle that suddenly protruded from his throat, before going still and silent. The blonde, Brianna, turned to see who'd struck the fatal blow to her enemy. She could see no one. But she knew from experience, that just because you don't see them, doesn't mean they're not there. The slim figure on the roof was gone. She'd found her target, her prey.
Brianna wrapped her hand around the blade's handle, pulling it out of the fallen man's throat. Her eyes gleamed in recognition.
Brianna shook her head in wonder. Could it be? But if she were here, that would mean...oh god, she didn't want to dwell on what that might mean. But Brianna knew she wasn't imagining things. Shaken, she whispered, "Max?"
A beam of silver moonlight shone on two figures, engaged in a dance as old as time; the killing dance. The moonlight encircled them like a spotlight. It seemed as if the gods themselves were lighting the stage, intent on seeing the deadly game play out.
They wouldn't have to wait long.
Both men were tiring, their bodies broken and battered from the constant attacks each were launching. The attacks had slowed in frequency and power, but the determination fueling them never once wavered. Neither side wanted to lose; but there could be only one victor.
"494, you may as well give up now. You're tiring," Agent White said, smirking as the other man barely dodged his swinging fist.
"So are you," replied 494. His expression was the cold mask of a seasoned soldier as he delivered an expert kick to White's gut, knocking him back a few steps.
"I'm just getting started." White faced his opponent, taking a fighting stance. "And so is that human. I'm thinking he's just getting started as well with your precious 452.
Fueled by his white-hot rage, 494 sent a flurry of blows at his adversary, only a few actually hitting their mark. 494 attempted desperately to cling to the mentality he'd tried to keep in place. He was X5-494; a soldier, a killer. He was not Alec, a man with emotions, hate, and love. If he had nothing, he had nothing to lose.
His battle with himself was soon over with his enemy's next words.
"You know, that little pill will wear off before it's over. She'll know what's happening and will be powerless to stop it. If she wants you to live, she has to let it happen."
Alec, all traces of the calm and focused 494 gone, growled at White ferally, ready to attack.
"Or, at least that's what Cale will tell her. How broken will she be when she finds out that she went through with it and you died anyway? That she was fucking the man responsible while you were dying?" White did not plan on killing 494. He would be useful in drawing the other bane of his existence out without a fight; 452 would come for her lover. She would do exactly what White told her. Then they would both die.
Alec launched himself at the man, his only thoughts were of Max. This man was responsible for taking something from her that she could never get back. He was responsible for the deaths of so many of Alec's family. He deserved to die, and Alec was hell-bent on insuring that his death would be a painful one.
The two men tumbled to the ground, rolling over and over in a fight for dominance. Alec was gaining the upper hand, throwing connecting punches as they rolled. But the other man had one advantage.
A single gunshot rang out.
A woman screamed.
A man groaned.
And then there was silence. Deafening silence that seemed to bear down on the whole world.
Don't you just hate me?