A Little Song Bird

Not All Shadows Are Alike

August 3, 2019

8:00 am, Algeria

Fuck running. Why do they always run?

Dancing bears, painted wings

My footfalls echo loudly in the warehouse and Saints' paws make faint thuds beside me, as I sprint down the dark hall after my target. Some sleazy gun runner in Algeria got on the radar in a bad way, resulting in my lovely presence.

Things I almost remember

And... the pretty price tag along with it.

And a song someone sings

Flinging myself around a corner, I see his back disappear around another.

Once upon a December

Damn this fucker is fast.

Someone holds me safe and warm

My humming fills the halls as we run, songs help keep me balanced on ops, they always have. Tonight my brain has stubbornly stuck with the soundtrack from Anastasia.

Horses prance through a silver storm

"Once upon a december," is on its third loop, when he's in my line of sight. With dexterity only decades of training can bring, I fling smoke grenades down the hall in front of my target.

Figures dancing gracefully, Across my memory

Then, gripping my favorite knives, and flinging myself onto his back, he stumbles. Using his body I flip around him, throwing him down and landing on my feet.

Someone holds me safe and warm

Saint ducks as they explode.

Horses prance through a silver storm

He cusres loudly, which only prompts me to sing softly. It's my signature... all who know of me know just how fucked they are when I actually sing.

"Figures dancing gracefully, Across my memory."

Catching his shadow in the smoke, I launch myself on his back, without dropping my haunting rendition.

"Far away, long ago."

Jamming my knees into his back he falls to the ground and he's disoriented enough that my weight holds him down.

"Glowing dim as an ember."

Just long enough to drive a blade into his shoulder and hold another against his throat.

"Things my heart used to kn-"

Then a ringing sounds from my back pocket, abruptly cutting me off mid chorus. Dropping my hand from the blade in the man's back I snatched my phone, glancing briefly at the screen, I answer it and press the knife harder against his throat. Breaking skin from the sound of his pathetic whimper.