I layed on my side on the lone couch pressed against the wall of the bare room I currently resided in. The feel of morning's cool breeze blew through the barely shaded window attached to the far wall infront of me. My half open eyes stared blankly at the dull blue sky, hearing the early birds chirping their morning songs. I shifted my attention to the floor where my alarm clock was, reading it as 6:12 am. I turned over on my back with my eyes towards the ceiling and sighed. Mornings were always the worst time of day because the need of services came in slowly.
"Joker...." I turned my head to look at the floor once more to gaze upon the communicator with Faith's voice. I lazily reached towards the small device, feeling the cold metal making contact with my fingers. I fully grasped it, bringing it up to place it inside my ear. I then pressed the button to make a response.
I yawned. "Yeah, what is it."
"I got a job for you if you're interested. They're willing to give up five grand for guaranteed on time delivery."
I nearly feel off the couch in surprise. "Five grand? That's twice as much as all my missions together from this week."
"I noticed. But, there is something you should know before you jump to decision making...."
"What is it?"
"The message I got specifically requested that you make the delivery...."
I rose an eyebrow. Hesitantly, I pressed the button again. "Me?.... As in they specifically asked that the runner named 'Joker' make their delivery?"
"Apparently so."
I paused for a moment, then responded while unconsciously shaking my head slightly. "That's impossible Faith. People aren't suppose to know the names of any runner."
"You're right, but somehow somehow your name leaked into the public. It's either that, or it's someone that just happens to know you."
I narrowed my eyes. 'Maybe it's that Symphony girl from that one night a few days ago...' "What's the name of the person?"
I heard Faith on the other side of the connection typing something on the computer. "It says that the name of the sender is unknown." I heard her type a little more. "Hm.... I can't hack into the computer that this e-mail was sent from...."
I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose. "Well.... what does this person want me to do?"
"They want you to be down at the docks by 7:00 am sharp with a package they've placed under a red BMW parked isolated in an alley two blocks from here."
I looked back at the clock that read 6:18 am. I sat up on the sofa and stood to my feet, heading towards the middle of the room. I pressed the button on the communicator once more. "Yeah, I'll take the job." I then jumped and grabbed the edge of the hole in the ceiling above my head and pulled myself up.
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I ran up to the side of the building and pressed my back against it. I cautiously peered around the building to see if there were any blues or people in sight. Seeing no one, I ran around the corner. I saw an alley coming up to my right. I peered inside and saw the red BMW. I walked over to the side of the car and went down on one knee. I looked under the car and saw a small file folder lying there on the ground. I grabbed and examined it. There was nothing written on the front of back of the folder, and there was a strange rectangular bulge in the middle of it. I then placed it in the messenger bag that rested at my side. I stood up to my feet and began to run to my next destination.
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I jumped off the rooftop and rolled upon contact with the ground. I stood tall, looking around to see were this mysterious client was. I pulled out a watch from my pocket, reading it as 7:00 am. "Heh, made it just in time." As I was about to put the watch back in my pocket, I heard a footstep behind me. I remained still. There was a long silent pause.
"Well now look what the cat dragged in. I didn't think you'd show yourself...."
I went wide eyed. That familiar voice sent a vibe of despair through my body, leaving me butterflies in my stomach. I slowly turned around to face the demon with narrowed eyes. "Kage...."
The man slowly made his way to me with his red eyes and grin on his face. We wore a dark red leather jacket over a black sleeveless shirt, and wore matching dark red leather pants with black combat boots. His black hair was slicked back, the little bangs he had across his forehead being red. "My.... my.... my.... Isn't this a bittersweet reunion...."
I kept my eyes on him as he approached. "What the hell do you want from me?...."
He chuckled and gave me a sarcastic sympathetic look. "What kind of greeting is that? After all, aren't you happy to see your dear old uncle once more? Ah, but nevermind that...." I clenched my teeth together tightly as he grew a twisted smile on his face. "I'm here because...." He pointed his white gloved hand at me. "I want to put you out of your misery!!!" With that he charged me, baring his K-9 teeth at me with eyes wide open and sinister smile on his face.
I narrowed my eyes and stood my ground, bringing my arms up to defend myself. He rammed completely into me, causing me to skid on my feet a few feet away. I then threw a punch in his direction only to be countered. He grabbed my fist and flipped me over his back. I landed on my feet and twisted myself around so that I could free my arm from him. I turned to face him only to be greeting by the sight of a metal life stealing device. Kage had pulled a revolver out, smiling the whole time I was sweating in fear.
"This, Joker, is it. You have nowhere to go." He let out a twisted laugh. "You, dear niece, are considered fucked."
I slightly narrowed my eyes. There was a pause for a while....
"Why...." I began. "Why did you set all of this up? And why do it only now?"
He let out a small chuckle. "In due time, my dear, you will learn...." He pulled the gun up into his view and examined it. "Now listen to me, and listen good my dear." He licked his lips and smiled his twisted smile, looking at the revolver. "I have two bullets in this baby, and as you would have already guessed, I ain't afraid to use them. I am going to keep pulling this trigger until one of the two bullets are fired." He took his other hand and spun the cartridge of the gun. "If it just so happens that the blank that I placed in here fires, I'll let you go for another day. But if the loaded bullet happens to fire...." He looked at me and chuckled. "You know what happens." The cartridge came to a stop and he pressed the gun against my chest. "I like to call this game...." He cocked the revolver. "Russian Roulette." He pulled the trigger, and a loud explosive sound echoed throughout the docks.
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As I was walking towards my apartment, I heard the sound of gunfire echo behind me. I stopped in my tracks and turned around, noting that the sound was coming from the docks. "What could be going on so early in the morning?...." I took one step forward, but then stopped myself before making another, debating whether I should really go investigate the strange noise. I decided to myself that whatever had happened, it wasn't any of my business. I knew that I should just turn back around and be on my way. I turned back to the direction of my apartment and took a few steps, but then something made me suddenly stop in my tracks. In the back of my mind, something was telling me that I should go now that I still have a chance. It was like something.... bad..... Something bad that was connected to me somehow was going down at the docks. I just had a feeling. I then turned around and made a run towards the docks, hoping with every vibe in my being that the feeling I had was entirely just my imagination.
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I ran up to one of the large trailer crates and pressed myself against it. I peered around the corner to see a tall man in dark red. I saw a gun with a small line of smoke emitting out of its barrel. He stood infront of another person on their knees, a small pool of blood that was gradually growing larger and larger. I moved my head a little more out of my hiding place to get a better view. The person on their knees was clutching their chest with their right hand, silently gasping for air. The person's head was hung low, the top of their head being the only thing exposed from the neck up. Their hair was jet black and up in a ponytail, and they wore a now blood stained white sleeved shirt; the right sleeve being ripped off, showing three.... long........ "It's Joker....." I whispered softly to myself. The man standing infront of her with the gun slowly turned his head to look over his shoulder, exposing only one of his evil red eyes to me. I saw this.... twisted and sick grin grow on his face.
"Well," he began, looking back at Joker while he placed the gun back in his jacket. "It appears as though our time together has been cut short. I really must get going...." He chuckled and walked around Joker, making his way to the water. He turned his head to look at me and smiled. Then he focused his attention to the water once more and began to ran. I narrowed my eyes. I moved around the trailer and began to chase him, running with everything I had.
"Stop right there!!" More and more distance between me and the mysterious man grew until he was already at the edge of the docks, staring and waiting for me to catch some ground. I stopped in my tracks after catching up to a good few feet away from him. "You have nowhere to go now, creep."
He gave his chilling smile once more. "My, isn't this cruel irony. That's technically what I said to my dear old niece over there before I shot her."
I rose an eyebrow. "Your.... niece?"
He chuckled. He rose his arms at his sides, palms facing me. With that, he let out a terrifying laugh, leaning backwards to fall into the ocean. I went wide eyed and ran over, but it was too late. I looked over the edge on which he stood on, peering into the ocean below. There was no sign of him anyway; there wasn't even any ripples in the water. I narrowed my eyes once more. "He got away...." I then turned around, seeing Joker laying on her stomach in her own blood. "Oh shit...." I ran over to her side, kneeling at her side. I flipped her over onto her back, laying her head on my lap. Her eyes were closed, and there were no signs of movement. "Joker.... Joker....." I gently shook her, but it was no good. A feeling of grief completely washed over me. I felt a tear start to form in my eye. I reached out to grab her hand that was resting on her chest were the wound was. I softly grasped it, gently squeezing. "I gotta help her..... I have too." I reached into my pocket and grabbed my phone.
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I walked into the living room to check up on Joker who lay unconscious on my couch. I sat on the chair next to her, sighing. I heard footsteps coming from the kitchen. I turned my head to look at the figure who was making their way to the door. "Hey," I called out. The man looked at me, hand on the door handle. "Thank you for helping me Atrics."
Atrics shrugged his shoulders and opened the door. "Anytime." With that he felt, leaving me alone to watch over the mysterious girl. I looked back at Joker, examining the area she was shot. The bullet was in the upper right area of her chest, missing her heart and lungs completely. She lost a lot of blood, but other than that, she would recover perfectly fine. I then looked at her white sleeved shirt that was draped over the arm rest of the sofa closest to her feet. It was drenched in blood, and worn out from constant use. I then blushed as I looked back at Joker's chest. She didn't have a shirt on, but her upper chest was wrapped up in gauze. I glanced lower to look at her stomach, which to my surprise was actually very toned out. I shook my head, telling myself to get my head out of the gutter.
I then looked at her face, examining her features once more. I noticed the cut on her right cheek from the night we met. I hesitated, but then slowly rose my hand up to it. I gently placed my hand on her cheek, using my thump to lightly trace the scabbed line. I realized that her face was much softer then it looked. I then smiled to myself when I realized how comfortable and peaceful she looked. I moved my hand from her face to her hand, grasping it in my hand softly. I unconsciously intertwined my fingers with hers, blushing a little more. I used my other hand to brush away part of her bangs, exposing her right eye that was hiding underneath it all.
Sorry if this chapter seemed weak. I'm trying my best. Hope you like it by far.