"After her!" the blonde could hear the voices of her pursuers as she zigzagged through the crowded streets trying not to bump into someone. She could feel the blood running down her side, her breath coming in short ragged gasps as she willed herself to run faster.

She had to get away.

They must not catch her.

They…

BAM!

Uttering a curse under her breath she quickly jumped to her feet, ignoring the sharp pain that shot through her right leg. Narrowed, crimson-colored eyes met her own chocolate orbs.

"Sorry," she panted quickly, grabbing the small diskette that had fallen on the ground next to the entrance of an alley. The man she had collided into was observing her as she quickly looked over her shoulder.

"Spread out men." She heard a voice yell in the distance.

"Fuck." She muttered under breath before closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. It was dangerous, what she was about to do, but she had lost a lot of blood and she wasn't sure how much longer she could keep on running.

Magic was illegal in that world. She would most probably end up in getting tortured and killed if she was caught because there was no way in hell she was going to work for that bastard. She might end up getting tortured and killed anyways because of what she had just stolen but it all depended on if she was caught.

And getting caught was something she wanted to avoid at all costs. So without wasting another moment she murmured a small spell. A warm prickle ran down her spine as the magic did its work.

As she opened her eyes, her irises changed their color to a vivid emerald, her long knee-length blond hair morphed into shoulder length caramel tresses and her skin tone changed from pale to a light honey shade.

Her short skirt and t-shirt altered into dirty brown baggies and black long coat with a crimson halter top underneath. Quickly she shoved the disk into one of the pockets of her clothes and looked at the man who had silently been observing her small display.

She had no idea why she did it but what she did next was something that was what she had resigned herself to doing in her line of work. Even if it went completely against her nature. Maybe it was just her desperation to avoid capture that made her do it but she urgently turned to him.

"I'm really, really sorry but please just play along." She pleaded, not even giving him a chance to react as she pushed him into the alley wall. Not a second later she had crashed her lips against his.

"She can't have gotten very far."

"Please just help me out," She whispered urgently as she pulled away from him for a second to see his shocked face.

And then she was kissing him again.

"Oye! You two seen a blond girl run past here?" they heard a masculine voice question and the girl's body stiffened slightly, but she kept her eyes closed and her lips pressed against a complete stranger's. Her heart thundered in her chest. What if this guy ratted her out?

Hardly anyone would stand up against the government agents these days. This man was probably going to tell them and she was in no condition to fight them off.

Why hadn't she just run away after changing her appearance? These guys didn't know she had magic so they wouldn't have suspected a brunette when they were looking for a blonde.

She had hoped her long jacket would hide the blood that she was beginning to seep through her shirt once more. Even if by some off chance, the man didn't tell them, everything would be over the minute they noticed the blood. They would capture her and then she was going to die a slow and painful death.

She couldn't let them catch her. She would never work for him and the only other option was death.

That bastard used his magic to bind all magicians that were caught. Anyone who tried to fight his seal ended up dead. Their body destroyed by their own magic. Such was the nature of that seal. A perfect weapon to instill fear and control the masses.

But she didn't want to die. Not now.

Not when she had just managed to uncover another missing piece of the puzzle that was her past. That disk, it held the promise of providing her with answers.

She couldn't die before she learnt the truth. She could feel her magic buzzing beneath her skin. Excited at the prospect of an upcoming fight. It would do anything to protect its mistress. That much she knew.

As soon as she made up her mind to fight her way out of it all if need be something unexpected happened. The red-eyed man, that she had completely forgotten about in her moment of panic, responded to her kiss, threading one hand through her hair at the base of her neck pushing her closer for better access as he deepened the contact while his other hand moved possessively over her side, thankfully her uninjured one.

Shocked but not for long, the girl pressed up against him. Maybe she wouldn't have to fight her way out of this one after all. Now, if only that agent tapping his foot impatiently at the side walk would just leave.

"Come along, Roku," The agent's partner chuckled in a mildly amused manner. "I doubt these two would have noticed her anyways."

And as if to answer her silent prayer, a radioed message crackled with a slight static buzz. "Target has been spotted near Wester Walk Lane. Repeat, target spotted near Wester Walk Lane."

Dread released some of its hold from her heart. So her decoy had worked after all.

The girl let out a sigh of relief as she pulled away after the men had left. A pink flush powdering her cheeks as she stepped away from the man.

"Th-thank you," she bowed hastily, turning around to walk back outside into the crowded streets.

Before she could take two more steps, however, the world tilted sideways as someone put the lights out.

-0-

A/N: Yeah, so this is chapter one. What do you guys think? Good? Bad?

Should I continue? (Lol. I think a few people might kill me if I don't but I would still like to know the general response.)

Oh and small note for all those who are waiting for the Epilogue of Dead. Not to worry my dearies, I haven't forgotten about it at all. The story will be completed on Monday.

So until then,

Ja.