Chapter 8 – Games

A/N: Yes I know, je suis terrible! Please forgive me. Thanks to my reviewers, I need that kick to remind me… at the moment I'm preparing A-level orals in French and German and suffice to say it's a little bit busy!

Crouching behind the dustbin, Ana heard…nothing. It was completely silent. The alley was deserted. Suddenly, she tensed as something brushed past her. Spinning around and suppressing the urge to scream in terror, she saw…

A cat. Feeling almost dizzy with relief, she almost laughed aloud. A plain, simple black cat. As the cat disappeared over through the entrance of the alley, she crouched back down behind the bin.

Ana felt the rhythm of her heart gradually slowing. Breathing evenly and attempting to think logically, she began to reason with herself. Her first thought was, What the hell am I doing here? Finding that she was completely unable to answer this question, she gradually came to the decision that she would get up from behind this rusting bin in some godforsaken alley in who knows where. She would get up, calmly. She would work out where she was, through clear-minded reasoning and logic. Then she would return home and go to bed. She had just gone for a run, that was all. Taking a deep breath and shifting her feet to rise, she froze again.

Her only warning was a flash of black, then, before Ana could escape, a woman sprinted into the alleyway before skidding to a halt. Quickly scanning the alleyway, she turned around and began slowly backing towards the wall at the end of the alley. Ana shrank back into the shadows. She could see the woman's chest rising and falling slightly, the only clue to her previous sprint. What was she waiting for? The walls surrounding them were far too high to climb, and the bricks were unnaturally smooth. The only way she could escape would be to climb onto the dustbin and try to reach the top of the wall. Even then it would be too high. Suddenly, the reality of the situation struck Ana. Her dustbin. Well, she was trapped now. All she could do was wait and hope.

Looking back at the stranger, Ana saw that the woman was wearing black trousers and a long black coat. Her skin was a rich brown, and her hair was twisted into strange coils on top of her head. So far, a vaguely dubious fashion sense but nothing wrong there. But she was wearing sunglasses. And it was winter, not to mention the middle of the night. But that wasn't what was bothering Ana.

Suddenly, Ana realised that the woman was glowing. It definitely wasn't the moonlight. No, she was glowing, that was the only word for it. All around her shimmered a faint haze of red. Blinking several times, Ana looked again, but the haze had not disappeared. This had to be a dream.

By now the woman was poised in what could only be described as a fighting stance, her hands resting near her hips. Somehow, Ana knew that this was a woman with a quick and decisive mind, a tough exterior and a heart of gold. She would protect a friend at great personal cost, but she knew when sense had to override. But who was she?

All Ana's senses tingled, as she slowly turned her head. A shadow blocked the entrance, silhouetted against the moonlight. It was a man, wearing a suit, and that was all she could see.

'Niobe. Nice to see you again.'

The voice was dry, mocking, smooth yet dripping with sarcasm. The woman inclined her head politely, her voice matching his in sarcasm.

'Mr Smith. So glad you could join me.'

Then the impossible happened.

Please review! I promise I will respond to each and every one. : )

It is short...the next part is partly written, but I had to separate it here.

x sky x