A Spy's Home---Book 2: Wounds, Both Old and New

Chapter 12

Zylina's Point of View

I stood across the street from the hospital building; it didn't seem like anyone was inside, but the Academy is good at being invisible. I had the baseball cap Rory had given me on our first mission, and it hid my sharp green eyes from passerbyers. I went to the nearest crosswalk and went to the other side of the street to have a closer inspection of the building.

I went into the alley in between the hospital and the next door building, which was not so busy-store. There was a truck, it just took me a while to find it because it was parked in a motel parking lot on the road behind the hospital. "They're trying to hide their tracks from one of their own. Not so clever." I mumbled to myself.

I didn't see it wise to stick around, because I would probably draw attention to myself if I stayed, so I turned around to make my way back to the motel room. Suddenly, however, I felt the hairs prick up on the back of my neck, and I knew there was someone on my tail; although, I didn't know if it was an agent or just a mugger.

I quickened my pace, and only took a glance back; unfortunately, that quick glance over my shoulder wasn't enough for me to identify my stalker. This is just like the day Rory came to get me, all over again, except this time I definitely know it's not Rory. I turned the corner, and ducked behind a dumpster.

Clomping footsteps sounded directly in front of my hiding spot, and I held my breath, and stayed completely still. My follower came into view, but he was wearing a hoodie and a bandana over his face; At least I knew it's not the Academy, they never wear anything to hide their face.

I searched through my pockets, and I felt the bandana from the first mission. I didn't know when I put it in my pocket, but I was grateful that I did. I pulled it out, and tied it around my mouth and nose, before pulling my hat down a little lower. "How could I lose such an easy target?" I heard the mugger ask himself. I internally laughed at him; he thought I was an easy target? He was in for a big surprise.

I crept around the bin, and poked my head from behind and saw that my opponent's back was turned. I backed away from the dumpster, stood up straight, and said, "You didn't lose me. I'm right here." The mugger turned around, and I could see his eyes go wide.

He pulled out a knife out, and he said, "You think you're sneaky? You won't be able to get away from me that easily." I rolled my eyes, which ticked him off, and the mugger lunged at my swinging the knife widely. I dodged every swing, and landed a good hard kick to his knee.

Whoever he was staggered back, but he recovered quickly and unexpectedly lunged at me and the hilt of the knife hit my left wrist and knocked my cuff right off. It rolled to the dumpster. "Crap!" I exclaimed, losing focus, which was a terrible mistake because the next thing I know I'm pinned against the wall and my bandana was ripped off my face.

The mugger held the knife back, and I could tell he was about to end my life right then and there. I jumped up, and brought my legs out planting a hard double kick to his gut. He let go of me and fell to the ground; I hit the ground pretty hard, and it took me a while to regain my thoughts. Once I had regained my composure, I looked around for my cuff, and snatched it off the ground. It had some scuff marks, but it was overall okay. I attached it to my wrist again, and faced forward more determined and focused.

"Listen, buddy, I don't have time for this. I've had a pretty rough week, and as you can see I have nothing of value, and I'm a fighter as you can possibly tell. Long story short, I'm not worth it." I told him, as we rotated around each other. My bandana dangled around my neck, but I didn't think I should bother putting it over my mouth again.

"If you have nothing of value, missy, then why did you try so hard to get that bracelet back?" the mugger questioned. Before I could answer the question, he came at me with a predictable, rashful attack. I made a swift movement, dodged the attack, grabbed him by the back of his neck, and pushed him into the wall.

He fell onto the sidewalk unconscious, and for a small second, I was scared that I may have killed him. I quickly checked his pulse, thankfully he was alive, and took the knife before putting it into the dumpster. I then walked out of the alley way, casually, like nothing happened.

As I walked down the sidewalk, and crossed the street, I kept asking myself the same question; "I called that mugger rash, but am I being rash doing this mission alone?" I took off my bandana and placed it in my pocket again, this question weighing down my mind.

 TBC...