ii: All the Stars are Closer
It happened one night, not too long ago. The raven that perched itself on a tree branch looked down at the crowd. Watching as people crowded together in a city filled with toxic air and loud sirens of machines built by man- not even a century ago.
Time has changed for the raven. Many long years that passed by, like the wind in the Southern mountains of longs past. There was something dark within the air this night that would change the course of one's fate. A destiny bond that has been linked together of two souls that have never met. Though, fate has many ways of conjuring the long forgotten and taken back what was supposed to be a destiny fulfilled.
The raven spread its wings open. The cool nights breeze blowing through her black feathers. The people below her, unaware of the old raven perched upon the tree branch. Something small; insignificant to their daily lives. Never paying attention to the many signs of what the old ancient ones have long spoken of. Their history lost in time. Forgotten, because men never want to know the truth.
The raven took flight into the night.
Let fate take hold onto the one whom it has come for. The dark of night cast shadows that lingered. They always watching. They always were nearby. Those who could see them knew who what they were; who they once were. People who lived once before and now where nothing more than guides. Shadows who wore the robes, with the hood over their head. The tip- much like that of an eagle's beak.
Beneath their sleeve, a weapon. Something ancient.
The raven flew high into the sky. The moon just above in the heavens, making her black feathers glisten like morning dew. Her master now calls for her return, for the journey has now begun.
The raven was the messenger of god.
There was a hum of bustling energy. Many were excited for tonight's event. Drinks were flowing from one cup to another. People were dressed for the occasion, as if they were going to be somewhere where the attire was a suit and tie. Money was flowing, much like the drinks. There was a wager from the highest bidder on the winner. People have always crowded around such events in the chance to see blood. The chance for a live show where they could the most primal of instincts, disguised as a civilized event.
A life for a life.
Winner takes all.
"You sure this is the one we are to retrieve?" His voice was low. It might have been hard to hear since the crowd in the arena was alive with excitement. They were all there for tonight's entertainment. Bets were placed in the booths. The music was blaring from the speakers and the voices of chatter of others, waiting for the fight to start. Many had put in good money for a show. They would be sorely disappointed if anything stops the fun.
The main attraction was something of a Cinderella story, but there was no prince. Her name was being passed around as if she were already a prized fighter. Her story was already being told through the lips of liquor and cigarette smoke. Red lips of busty women and suited up men wanted to catch a glimpse of the woman that would be their entertainment tonight.
She was said to be a pretty young thing. Her body better suited to fight her opponents with fast moves and hard kicks. No one has seen her train nor know her secret techniques. Unfortunately, her moves have caught eyes of those who have been searching.
They had spent the better part of a year trying to find her. Luck favors the bold in some cases. Rumor had it that a woman was fighting in the underground for money. No one knew her name at the time. No one knew where she came from. One night- amateur night oddly enough- she began to beat down opponent after opponent. The way she moved was graceful and familiar to those who knew those techniques.
The enemy had found her.
She was undefeated and offered a spot to become a top fighter. Poor woman fell into their trap.
"You doubt them? Her DNA is in the system. It took them long to find a match, but this is her. Her DNA matches another's. She also has an impressive deployment file." He looked over his shoulder. The heavy noise of the music changing genres to heighten the mood of excitement and brutality. They wanted blood.
They only wanted cruelty.
No regards to the sanctity of life. What was considered sacred to all of humanity. It was the reason why they even had free will. Considered to be the most highly intelligent of the many great animals. Believing themselves to be gods in their own rights.
Cruelty is the reason why wars are won.
Markus has heard the stories about US troops sending boots to Egypt. One particular unit was sent overseas for an escort mission and to be security. She was one of the few women to be trained as a guard for this special case. The mission was to find Bayek's tomb, but the government had no idea what lay beyond the sand. The Templar's manipulated documents and sent a decoy to lure them in. Unfortunately, the mission had failed. The decoy was killed by an outside source. No trace of who killed the decoy.
What was left of the man was a body without damage.
An untrained eye would not see the puncture.
"How are we going to retrieve her? She has much skill under her belt. Even though she does not know it, assassin blood runs deep in her. Her fighting skills are like that of the brotherhood." His partner was worried that they would fail the mission. It would be their necks on the line. Success was the Templar code. To retrieve the target by any means, necessarily had to go unnoticed.
"You don't think I know this, Paul? You worry too much for your own good." Markus could see the impatience his partner was holding. They had days, weeks even, to prepare for this. It was not easy as the money had to be within their grasps. They negotiated a good sum of money with free advertisements and announces. All the money would go to the fighter- if she won.
They said she was undefeated. Her fighting was ruthless and blood had been spilled.
Markus was the more cautious of both of them. He always did things by the book and if something were to be out of place, Markus would see it as a failure.
"I mean, there are too many people. Is it necessary to cause a commotion? People can die." Paul looked around to see if any ears were listening. This was a live event that would be seen around the world. Big leagues are keeping their eyes upon the fight.
"It is a necessary evil that lives be taken. How else are we to send a message to those damned assassins? Besides, a big pay is on our way once we retrieve her." Paul could see the grin upon Markus's face. Money. That is all what this is about. There was no care for innocent lives and how it could ruin their chances of survival. All he cared about was the big paycheck waiting for them.
"Let's get her and get out without many deaths, please." Paul pleaded.
"Whatever." Both men walked into the arena where they were seated up front. Within the hour, the attack would happen. None would be the wiser as to who it was behind the plot. The news would go haywire into conspiracy of who was behind the attack. Terrorists? The government? There were many scapegoats around and the easiest would be the enemy America was at war with.
The shadows were warning her.
No Role Modelz blared against her headphones. She made a fist to see how tight her wraps were as the arena was booming with chants and adrenaline. Her eyes looked to her entourage surrounding her. They could hear the excitement of the crowd as tonight's fight was going to be a spectacle. She fought for more than one year in underground clubs. Earning respect amongst the vagabonds that- at first- did not accept her. She shown her worth as a street kid growing up in foster care.
Her memory of the past did not affect her will and strength to fight. That is all she's been doing since her parents were murdered. When she turned eighteen, she had outgrown the system. With nowhere to go, she decided to join the military. At least she would have a job that paid and a place to stay. She went overseas and saw combat in the remote places. Unfortunately, one mission had cost her everything.
She lost everything in just the blink of an eye.
Her heart and soul broke into a million pieces. A part of the woman she had become in just a short period of time, had become hollow. Hardened by the turmoil of war.
She stood to her feet and looked to the mirror that was slightly slanted against some lockers. The smell of the changing room was foul with many bodies going in and out. She was of average height with muscles that were ready to fight. Her hair braided tightly to her scalp. She held many scars from past fights. Some wins and mostly losses.
"You ready?" She did not hear the voice of her mentor talking to her. She was too focused on the beat and of the songs meaning. Before every fight, she would make sure to get pumped up. Her opponents were some of the most talented people out there in the ring. She was excited to fight some of the very best.
She pulled out one headphone as she could see the irritation upon her mentors face. "Let's get this show on the road."
The crowd was pumping with electricity. The lights shining bright with different colors. She could feel the crowd chanting her name. Her heart was pounding hard and a smile was upon her face. The announcer was a ecstatic, charismatic man with a voice dripping in honey. He made the crowd go silent for a moment, before the lights turned off. The feeling around the arena was tense.
For twenty-five grand, she agreed to go into the arena. If she won the fight, she would get the money. But everything comes with a cost. If she lost the fight, she would only get one grand and her name would be dragged through the mud. This was her chance to show those who doubted her why she was called the gladiator.
She took in a deep breath before all chaos erupted. The crowd screamed in terror with gunshots echoing around her. She did not know she was in danger. She did not know that there were others searching for her. All she knew at that moment was that she needed to stay calm.
The sounds of shots blaring through the arena was a cause for concern. There were going to be heavy causalities. Going into a panic state would bring the numbers up. Instead, she kept her focus on the noise coming from weapons and those behind her.
"Find safety and stay low and quiet." She said.
But it was not enough. She felt a sharp pain going through her shoulder. The pain had coarse its way through her body, as her blood spilled to the floor. The very breath had been knocked out of her lungs. Gunshot. Screaming. Pain.
Her mind had processed she was in danger. Her life was threatened by something unseen. The memories that have haunted her had come back tenfold. People were running in a blur that their figures had slowed and the motion of the earth seemed unreal.
The pain. The unbearable pain within her body. She has felt this pain before in a place far away. Her knees hit the floor hard. Her eyes tried to fight away the images that rushed back. The shadows that followed her stood in a circle around her. Looking at Dakota without faces, but she could feel their eyes on her. It was all too much to bear within and her world went black.
Dakota.
