Tonight Limelda would show up a few blocks away from here, tonight I would kill her.
With her gone it'd be easier and Vanessa's initially destined death wouldn't occur.
Before leaving to take care of business I gave Vanessa a long drawn out kiss on the lips.
With both guns loaded and hidden underneath my jacket I walked passed the doorway, down the stairs to my jeep.
Things were going better than I could have dreamed with Vanessa, she didn't like violence and to keep things good I didn't tell her what I was going to do.
I drove over a mini bridge with a small river streaming underneath.
There were numerous rundown sky scrapers surrounding my jeep as I zoomed by, some people sat in corners with tattered clothes, they were probably poor because of the false war, and to top it off, everything was lit up by florescent lights.
Based on what happened the last time around, I knew her exact location, where her own jeep was parked.
Knowing she'd spot me if I drove too close, I parked the jeep in a back alley next to a dumpster.
I had my honor and normally I'd fight with it, but of course this wasn't normally, Limelda killed Vanessa in the time line a came from.
If anything is certain, it's someone who even hurt Vanessa in any parallel universe didn't elicit mercy from me.
My intent is to snipe Limelda down on the spot as I walk passed lowlifes hanging about in the late night streets.
Peering beyond the brick wall at the end of the alley I see the damn bitch speaking to someone on her radio.
Before striking I listen in on the conversation. She says a few things regarding me.
"So Madlax is dead?"
Hearing her shout that into the radio I feel relief, Enfant isn't likely to track me if I kill her now, right after she puts down the radio.
From my right holster, I pull out a gun, aim square at her head, smile then whisper under my breath.
"I was stupid not to kill you in the past ... since it's you who took away the only person I ever treasured. Well now I have a second chance and this time I'll pull this trigger."
Her fingers switched the radio off, she placed it on a seat to her right, next took a rifle then caressed it in a scary way.
My index finger as if mechanically moved then pulled the trigger.
Recoils fell to my feet, and then I felt something fast slide passed my nose, barely missing.
Shit I think as I realize somehow I missed.
Swallowing the remorseful rage plaguing me, I dash out straight in view where she can easily shoot and hit me -if I let her.
My eyes focus back to her jeep parked at the mud crossroads of the city, she isn't there, the car is empty.
I curse under my breath, stop and stand motionless like a target practice board then shout at the top of my lungs.
"Limelda are you afraid of me? Show yourself ... or at least try and kill me bitch!"
Nothing, not a hinge of a reply.
I know what she's doing, she's aiming the sniper riffle at me right now.
With a sigh I animate myself into action, dashing in snake-like zigzags towards the nearest building.
A door comes in view, I run up the short stack of stairs, swing the door open then proceed to the last floor leading to the roof.
I don't know how but she managed to shoot that shot just as I fired afterwards, she made her way into a building and up to the roof -this would be a face-off.
She had advantage at the moment, but I felt her movements behind a tool shed, I knew when she'd pull the trigger.
A slide of a finger is all it took.
I swung my body to the left and my head back.
The silver bullet flew passed me.
The only kinds of guns dangerous against me are a sniper very far away or a machine gun too close by.
I snapped into running mode, dashing in zigzag to the other side of the roof where I could get a clear aim.
As I fronted the shed I saw her aiming a gun similar to mine.
Instantly I stopped on the spot, aimed my guns and watched her eyes.
She smirked demoniacally then in an irritated bark said.
"I knew you weren't dead Madlax because I didn't kill you yet." - "Same here."
Arrogantly I remarked.
With eyes shut my aim is better, I closed them, stepped back and released the bullets.
My body hit the ground, I opened my eyelids to see one of my guns missing, and Limelda holding an arm as if it were wounded.
Using this short frame opportunity I fired two pointblank shots at her.
A sound escaped her lips, she laughed.
Unsure of what just happened I soared upwards whilst sliding back a few feet, looked straight, noticing Limelda standing there with that smirk growing wider.
This wasn't going well.
I expected her to be dead by now, yet she stood there with an arm bleeding and a red spot forming at the side of her thigh.
My shots weren't lethal, she is still in fighting condition, I thought as I aimed the gun in my left hand.
I heard her yell.
"Give up, you won't kill me with that."
Stupidly, my attention for a mere second went to the gun clasped in my hand.
Something was wrong, I felt a hard thrust against my gun, the forcefulness causing me to let go of the weapon.
I spun around as my gun flew passed me, bright yellow sparks washed off the gun as it collided with the concrete floor.
For that frame of time I was weaponless.
I edged to dive for the gun just as I heard nearing footsteps, and a dark voice saying.
"Don't move Madlax unless you want to end this quickly."
With a sigh I raised both hands over my head, stepped away from the gun then smiled at her.
She only smirked, positioned her arm, fired the gun.
At first nothing , I avoided the direct hit, however a sting in my left arm was grounds enough to know I got hit.
If I didn't do anything to save me, she'd kill me right now.
Thinking fast I backed away, towards the roof edge.
My choices were either to jump ten stories and hope for a miracle or let her shoot me.
I grinded my teeth as the arm injury ached harder.
It wasn't a shallow wound, I had no choice but to try my luck if I wanted to see Vanessa again.
I hit the metallic railing separating me and the distance below.
Limelda approached at a leisurely speed, with her gun never leaving the aim at my head.
With her aiming at my head I couldn't risk jumping over the ledge, she either had to fire a non-lethal shot or I had to distract her with meaningless conversation to buy a few free seconds during which I could hop over.
Composing my voice as much as possible with a stinging wound distracting me, I firmly asked.
"Why are you doing this to me?" - "Because I want to kill you Madlax, your mine."
I thought of something to say, seeing her near a distance of five feet from me, I inquired.
"Well before you kill me ... I want to know how you managed to avoid my bullets, I deserve to know!"
She stopped nearing me, backed away a giant step with her aim never once leaving.
Surprisingly she answered.
"I didn't avoid them, you wounded me twice, and the other shot pierced trough my whiskey bottle Madlax. Huh I have to admit you're a great shot but unfortunately for you I'm still alive and the one pointing a gun at you."
The fact I didn't lose my touch felt comforting, however I knew there wasn't much time left for me.
My legs raised up, with my hands I pushed off the rail towards Limelda.
Charge full force, she fell back hard against the ground.
I lay draped over the concrete to her side.
Acting on impulse, I rolled over towards her, my hands went for her neck attempting to drain the air out of her.
With one hand she clutched my injured arm, squeezing the blood out and penetrating it even deeper with her claws.
I screamed in dire agony whilst strangling her further.
The color in her face seemed to drain after a minute however her nails digging into my flesh was enough to tell me she's alive.
I stayed in that position for another 30 seconds feeling the infliction on my torn skin stopping.
I struggled to stand straight up, as I did, I looked around searching with my eyes to spot my guns.
Noticing one, I began to slowly walk my way towards it.
Halfway there a bristling sound caused me to tilt my head back in Limelda's direction.
Fear plagued me, she stood there alive.
Before I could dash my way to the gun or even speak, everything around me became hazy and began to fade.
I managed to get a glimpse of my wounded arm ... blood loss.
Yes here is the evil cliffhanger;)