Chapter 2 – Basketball
Dinner had consisted of way too much food and a little awkward conversation. Kid had left Angel in an irritable mood from all his talk of the big party tomorrow and how everything had to be absolutely perfect. Gold Star had been edgier than usual and refused to even mention the mission she had just completed. Evan caught on to the tension between everyone, quickly suggesting a game of basketball was needed.
The six friends changed so their appearances wouldn't draw unwanted attention. People had a tendency to gawk and pester them with questions when they went out in public. It was also pretty late so they shouldn't have to worry about people on the streets.
Angel, Sid, and Sully were the first to arrive at the court. The court was surrounded by three graffiti filled brick walls and a chain link fence, and there were a few benches off to the side. Luckily for them the court was empty but that didn't keep a suspicious feeling from creeping across Angel's spine. She pulled her baseball cap lower completely concealing her eyes and stuffed her hands into her dark purple track jacket pockets.
Sid and Sully had taken the basketball and were passing it back and forth. They wore plain red tank tops and blue shorts looking like regular kids and acting that way too.
Gold Star ran up to Angel in a long sleeved blue shirt and plain black sweat pants. Her blonde hair hung loose around her shoulders. Riding herself completely of all stars that could identify her. Masa trailed behind her looking annoyed in her pants and t-shirt that did everything but make her look girly.
"Shall it be a game of girls against guys?" Gold Star asked loud enough for Sid and Sully to hear.
"That wouldn't be fair seeing as we always go easy on the girls." Evan called striding through the opening in the fence. He wore a plain black shirt, black and green plaid shorts, and a white bandana flattening his spiky hair.
"The normal teams then? Masa asked.
"Can Sid and I switch?" Sully glanced at Gold Star with fearful eyes. During the last game, Gold Star had tackled Sully and gave him a bloody nose. She claimed it had been an accident but he wasn't too sure.
"Fine by me," Sid replied.
They divided into two teams of three. Sid, Evan, and Masa on one team while Angel, Sully, and Gold Star made up team two. Their games were usually friendly and the scores were hard to keep track of when Sid and Sully argued over the rules. All in all playing basketball was one of the few ways the six friends relieved the stress put on them by others.
Gold Star passed the ball to Angel. She caught it and began dribbling to the net to score a basket. In the corner of her eye she saw a figure approaching. She stopped dead in her tracks her eyes focusing on the dark silhouette of a hooded figure across the street. The basketball bounced away from Angel and she didn't seem to notice of care. She now knew exactly where that uneasy feeling had come from.
"What's wrong?" Evan stopped beside her, his eyes lingering over to the place she stared at. The hooded person froze in place then slowly turned and ran in the direction it had come.
"Sid! Sully! Weapon form now!" Angel screamed catching her weapons and sprinting toward the hooded person.
"Masa!" Gold Star yelled grabbing the chain scythe as she tore after Angel.
Evan sighed and ran for a back alley to head the suspect in question off.
Black robes fluttered behind the person running toward the edge of Death City. Angel took aim letting off a few shots at the man's feet. Somehow, he dodged them countering with a handful of smoke bombs thrown behind him. Angel closed her eyes against the burst of smoke relying solely on her hearing to guide her through the streets after the man. She focused on the footsteps firing more bullets that the person easily avoided. Gold Star didn't even flinch as the smoke consumed everything around her. She flung one of her scythes after the man only to have it deflected with a sharp clang. This guy wasn't going to make it easy for them.
At the end of the street Evan stood leaning against the wall under the perfect cover of shadows he was easy to miss. The black hooded man was running straight for Evan while beating away Gold Star and Angel's attacks. Evan waited until the man turned around giving him the perfect opening. He slipped out of the shadows plowing straight into the man. The man fell to the ground Evan transformed one arm into a scythe blade lowering it across the man's neck
Angel slid to a stop kneeling beside Evan. Gold Star remained standing and holding her weapon at the ready just in case the hooded man decided to break free.
"Who are you?" Angle asked yanking off the man's hood.
His brown eyes bulged as he bit down on something inside his mouth. The man's body relaxed and his limbs fell limply by his sides.
"Did he just—" Sid gulped.
"Yes," Sully said.
"What was all that about?" Masa asked to no one in particular.
Gold Star stared at the man her stomach sinking. Evan looked up at the night sky his heart hardening. Angel gripped her weapons tighter her gut telling her something was really wrong.
Someone was tracking them.
Someone very dangerous.