"Who…who are you?" Hornet asked, the question sticking to her throat.
The man smiled, the corners of his mouth curling up. He had black hair, black as a raven. His mask, which he now took off with a flourish, covered only half his face. It had a crooked nose, whose final result gave the man an eerie birdlike look. The mask had hidden his eyes, but now Hornet could see them clearly and she wished she hadn't.
They were deep eyes. Hornet could not distinguish the color from its dark depths. Were they a deep purple? Or the darkest of browns? Or the color of the depths of the sea? Anyone could lose themselves in those beautiful eyes. But not Hornet. Her will was strong enough to resist this man's eyes.
"My name is Scipio," Hornet heard the man saying.
He laughed, playfully.
"Um, oh, thank you…you know, for saving me," Hornet said with gratitude. Her voice was sticking to her throat again.
"Don't worry," Scipio said winking, "It happens to everybody."
Hornet felt a surge of anger and confusion. Was this man talking about her nearly being killed? Or was it her voice wavering out of control?
"I sent my friend to follow the boy, Conner, or whatever," Scipio remarked. Hornet heard a hint of boredom in his voice.
"Um, shouldn't you be following after him, now that you saved me?" Hornet questioned casually.
"Let's go then!" laughed Scipio and took her by the hand.
He is like a boy, the way he acts, thought Hornet. She let herself be led by this handsome stranger who talked as if he had known her like they were good friends.
"How old are you?" he asked, almost playfully.
"Sixteen."
Scipio seemed surprised.
"I'm nineteen, almost twenty."
Hornet was surprised, too.
"You're young, for your looks," she commented dryly.
She took her hand out of his and they walked side by side for awhile. Hornet realized she was both hungry and thirsty. Coincidentally, Scipio seemed to realize the same thing.
"Let's eat. I'm starving," he said, grinning.
Hornet looked at his handsome face, and like any other girl being smiled at by a handsome guy, she blushed. When she felt the color rise in her cheeks, she became furious at herself. She didn't even like this cocky stranger.
"No!" she angrily retorted.
They walked in silence. Hornet was starving and irritable with each passing step. The alleyways were a maze and she didn't have any idea where they were going.
"Okay, I'm hungry," she grumbled.
Scipio laughed. Hornet immediately regretted saying anything at all. They kept walking. Scipio kept chortling to himself. Hornet was about to explode.
Suddenly, without warning, dark shapes fell from the sky. They straightened forming a circle around Hornet and Scipio. Scipio drew Hornet closer to him, protecting her. Hornet gripped her satchel tightly, ready to use it as a weapon.
"Half-inferiai," muttered Scipio. "They are only slightly injected so that they aren't as mindless. Makes them useful for above-ground purposes. They look and act like regular humans."
Scipio was right. Hornet inspected them. They looked like regular humans, but the way they seemed so stiff and quiet gave them away.
"Innocent prey walking around in the dark? It seems we have another to add to our ranks," drawled a half-inferiai. This seemed like a well-rehearsed line.
He must say it dozens of times to whoever is their next victim, thought Hornet. Her mind raced. There seemed no way out.
"There's no use talking to them," Scipio hissed out of the corner of his mouth, "Their only trained to bring back unconscious victims."
He bawled up his fists and tensed. His eyes focused and lit with an unconscious light. He seemed alive in the face of danger. Hornet looked at him, wondering if he only felt alive when he fought.
"Okay, here's the plan," Hornet muttered to him. "See that small guy, off to the side. We attack him and run."
Scipio frowned. He wanted to fight, but reluctantly nodded.
"Now!"
They sprinted. Scipio swung his fists and Hornet lunged with her satchel. Fist and satchel met and Scipio found his hand bruised and tangled in the straps of Hornet's miniature backpack. He cursed and kicked out. The man fell and they both raced for freedom.
"Just your luck to try to be captured twice in one night," grimaced Scipio, his eyes luminescent and shining with the thrill of peril.
Hornet didn't answer and just ran faster. Scipio released his hand and felt it wincing. Hornet grabbed his arm and swerved into another corner. She tripped and they fell.
"Don't worry. They won't follow," gasped Scipio, "They're trained to catch people who will voluntarily go with them. We're safe."
They rested and Hornet led Scipio to the alleyway entrance.
"Let's get out of here," she moaned. "Now I'm tired and hungry."
-------
Salin got to his feet, wincing as he felt the lump on his head. That person, whoever it was, had a nerve to slam him over the head and get away with his entertainment.
Salin started to limp away. He dusted off his black jacket cursing.
"What a day," he griped.
He finally got to his car and noticed two people getting out of the other alleyway. It was that girl and someone was with her!
Salin glared at the man. He must have knocked me down, he thought savagely.
He regained his composure and got into the car. He noticed the note he had scribbled earlier. Hornet. He took deep breaths to calm himself down. He scrunched up the paper and threw it out the window. The two people had not noticed him. He rolled down the window.
"Want to get a bite? You can spend the night at my place!"
"Why you-! Have some shame! I'm a girl!"
"So?"
"Never mind. It's okay, I have a place I can stay."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes!"
Salin waited impatiently. He needed the man's name.
"Do you have any money for food, uh, Scipio?"
"You want my money?"
Slain rolled the window up satisfied. He scribbled down the name hastily in the little black booklet. His head was starting to throb. He started the engine and straightened, trying to look dignified. He punched the gas pedal with his foot and roared away. He smiled.
Vengeance was sweet.