Dazai x OC ~ Sayonara (Bungou Stray Dogs)

Chapter 15

Uncomprehendingly, the third hooded figure gazed, bewildered, at the body a few steps ahead of her, lying in its own blood.

The head of the medical sector and all-powerful Mafia executive, Nora, had simply committed suicide right in front of her, after having given them so much trouble and, above all, after having blustered so much.

She let a mocking giggle escape her, as she watched the blonde lying on her side, eyes closed and face relaxed, with a small puddle of blood beneath her slowly growing.

She was no longer moving, and even the movements of her ribcage, which should have accompanied her every breath, had vanished.

But was she dead yet? The filthy mobster was known to be relatively tough, although the little information she had been given remained very evasive.

To put it simply, no one seemed to know about Nora's potential ability, except most certainly the other executives and the Mafia boss.

The hooded figure moved cautiously towards the blonde, unable to believe that things had ended so easily.

At least relatively easily. For, though she did not dare look in their direction, she knew that her two comrades had not been so lucky.

"Your sacrifices will not be in vain. I promise," she whispered, without addressing anyone in particular.

As she thought about the excellent news she would be able to report to her own hierarchy, she felt her heart swell with joy and pride.

She would receive a reward commensurate with her actions, that was certain. With a knife in one hand, ready to strike back if the mobster miraculously rise to her feet, the figure came to crouch beside the blood-covered blonde, the toes of her boots wading through the red liquid that was slowly accumulating on the ground.

Then, with feverish fingers, she placed two fingers against the blonde's neck, on the side that had not been cut by the knife, to check her victim's heartbeat.

Her fingers barely had time to graze the mobster's skin before a sudden movement made her step back, brandishing her weapon instinctively.

Her fallen adversary was clearly not dead yet, as she had found the strength to grab her hand, the one not holding the knife. The figure hidden behind her black cloak let a cry of astonishment escape her, feeling Nora's icy hand encircle her wrist with a strength she had never thought possible for someone at death's door.

She was about to thrust her knife into her enemy's face, before meeting the latter's gaze.

She was smiling at her, a smile that sent a chill down her spine; her blue pupils darkened by her half-closed eyelids.

"What took you so long?" the blonde spoke in a calm voice that contrasted with her dark expression. "I almost died before I could send you to your grave."

The figure, who had no idea what the blonde was talking about, felt terror rise inside her, but was finally able to regain the use of her hand.

Without knowing why, a fraction of a second later, she heard the clink of her knife hitting the ground.

The next instant, she collapsed right next to her target, letting out a strangled cry, a mixture of surprise and pain.

She instinctively put her hands to her neck, not immediately realizing that blood was now flowing from her own body, from a wound that had not been there a few seconds earlier.

Tears blurring her vision, the coughing woman on the ground nevertheless managed to catch a glimpse of her target quietly rising to her feet. The roles had been reversed in the space of a heartbeat.