Revenge

The intruders

"Yelena please"

I look over as Kate runs up to me, arms full of candy. "Kate, we're supposed to be shopping for groceries, not diabetes."

"I know, just hear me out." She holds up a bag "skittles."

"Skittles?"

"Yes, skittles."

"That's your whole argument?" I reach for some green onions and add it to our cart.

"No, arguments drive us apart. I want to bring us closer together, and I feel like the only way to do that is by the power of..." she holds up the bag of skittles again, giving it a shake.

I roll my eyes "fine, but go put the rest back."

She gives me a peck on the cheek, eyes sparkling "Thank you!"

I take the bag of candy from her and set it in the cart, watching fondly as my girlfriend skips back to the candy aisle. Glancing down at my shopping list, I see that we only need to grab bread, milk, apples, and cold cereal before we're done shopping. I wheel the cart into the dairy section, shivering slightly as the cold hits my exposed skin. Kate joins me a minute later, as I'm headed to where the bread is kept.

"Why don't you go pick out some cold cereal, I'll get the fruit, then we'll meet by checkout?"

"That's smart" Kate says, turning around and disappearing down another aisle.

I find the fruit and select a few apples, heading over to the checkout afterwards. My favorite brunette is already there waiting for me, and I nod in appreciation as she adds a box of fruit loops to our cart. Together we pay, and exit the store into the warm evening air. Outside, we join the flow of rush hour madness, bags of groceries in one hand, my other interlaced with Kate's. As we walk home we swing by the dog park and pick up our two very happy pups.

"Hey Lena?"

I glance over at Kate "Yes?"

"I know we just bought a bunch of stuff to make dinners this week, but tonight I kinda just want fruit loops."

"We can have fruit loops"

She grins and does a fist pump "Want to play some card games and eat skittles tonight?"

We both stop in front of our apartment building and I smile at the archer "That sounds like the perfect evening!"

"Um, slight problem" Kate says, digging through her pockets. "I think my key fell out at the store."

"It's okay, I'll go through the window."

I start to head around back, but Kate stops me. "Can I do it?"

"Of course you can," I encourage "Just like we practiced."

She nods and sprints around the corner, leaving me with the groceries and the dogs. I gather up the bags and the three of us head into the lobby. I sigh in content as we enter the elevator, looking forward to dinner and a quiet evening. We stop on the fifth floor and the metal door slides open with a squeak.

I step out first with the dogs trailing behind me. We start down the hallway to the right, passing several apartments before we reach our own. I wait several minutes for Kate to unlock the door, assuming that she's having a hard time getting the window open, but then I hear a crash and my heart skips a beat in my chest.

Both Lucky and Fanny start growling, sensing the alert energy washing over me. I hear a cry of pain followed by another crashing sound, and a cold hand grips my heart. My body kicks into action and I discard the groceries on the floor and drop the leashes. I extend my leg and swiftly kick the door down, wood splintering in all directions.