Chapter VIII: How'd You Go So Long Without a Fight?
Covered in black from head to toe, a switchblade in the right pocket of a hoodie, lips firmly pressed together, eyes intently watching the labelled security car outside, Juliet Collier remembers being the queen of hide and seek as a child, and for that she is grateful. From her place along the side of the shed, she fingers the weapon in her pocket. Self-defense and martial arts classes were the only training she had ever received, and she hoped more than anything nothing would happen on this night.
Movement caught the corner of her eye, an unmarked van had rolled up next to the labelled security car, seemingly exchanging words.
"He's serious? I thought we were waiting till tomorrow?"
"He got intel that somebody else had their eye on the kid, he wants him now. You guys can go, we have it from here."
The original car slowly pulled away from the curb, and the unmarked van took its place, a burly man stepping out, followed by a stocky woman.
'Oh, what the fuck?'
Juliet's finger nimbly slid the blade open, crouching slowly towards the house.
"Keep an eye out." The woman stuck a key in the door and snuck inside, footsteps becoming quiet as soon as she crossed the threshold
So much for "Keep watch".
The burly man turned towards the street, and left Juliet analyzing her plan of attack. His bulletproof vest covered up the easiest spots to stab, however, his neck was left open.
'1,2,3'
The blade plunged into his jugular and blood ran down the sides of her hand. Gross.
Quickly pulling out the blade to dodge the man's hand coming up to hold his neck, Juliet delivered another blow to his armpit, slicing open to axillary artery. More blood spurted out, coating her hoodie in thick, dark liquid. The man fell, and she pulled his body into the corner, knocking his head into the bricks.
Muffled cries caught her attention, worry creeping in, she had no idea how she'd fight without hurting the little boy.
Sure enough, the woman stepped out, dragging the child behind her, duct tape covering his mouth. Looking down at the bleeding out man at her feet, Juliet picked up the baton and stepped out, knife in one hand, baton in the other.
"Run, kid."
The little boy pulled as hard as he could, breaking free and running into his home, shutting and locking the door behind him.
"Assassin," the woman growled, pulling out a knife of her own. She ran at Juliet and slammed her shoulder into Juliet's rib, taking her knife and slitting through the soft fabric of Juliet's hoodie, warm blood trickling from her shoulder. Dropping her switchblade, Juliet swung, hitting the side of the Abstergo agent's knee, causing her left side to drop. Juliet tempted fate by dropping the baton like a baseball bat, reclaiming the fallen switchblade in order to plunge it into the sagging hip.
The woman regathered herself and kneed Juliet's face, causing her to fall backwards. An Abstergo logo fell in front of her face, the woman's foot was readying to attack. Juliet tugged, pulling the woman down to her right, and the switchblade was driven into the closest unprotected skin, and then again in a similar spot. Crying out in pain, Juliet delivered the final blow with her wounded arm.
It was silent, all the commotion and bloodshed felt far away as the stars looked down upon Long Island Sound. After a moment, Juliet's fingers dug out the pager Mr. Doche had given her.
0999
Send help.
She couldn't stand.
She woke up in a warehouse, an older woman staring down at her.
"How are you feeling darling? You had to get seven stitches."
Juliet groaned in pain, hoping that was answer enough.
"The little boy is okay, the family is going to an undisclosed location so this won't happen again." Well, that's one good thing.
"I'm surprised you went this long without a fight." Mr. Doche stood off to the side, an envelope in hand. "Here's the payment, we're glad you made it."
"Twas a scratch." A brilliant time to quote Monty Python, when she is laying down on a hospital bed with thread keeping her shoulders from bleeding out.
"You did well, Darlene here will watch over you until it's safe to go home. The lack of return from their test subjects and kidnappers has the Templars on high alert, it's not safe out for us."
"How come these motherfuckers get to walk around in broad daylight and shit, and I have to go to a warehouse to prevent exsanguination?"
"We work in the dark to serve the light. I have arranged you to receive extensive combat training, your skills were barely enough to keep you safe, let alone the child. Get some more rest, when you are well, your training will begin."
Juliet nodded meekly, eyes shutting already under the the soft white light. Her last thought wondering how she would sleep on her preferred side with stitches.