We Do What We Want

Strange Encounters...

1/3/1467

"Alex, these are your targets for tonight." A woman's voice echoed through the luxurious office as a stack of files lay on the polished desk. "They are within the human world. They had a daughter, but her whereabouts are unknown." A man, seated next to the woman, motioned for the girl in front of the desk to glance at the files. The girl, Alex, took the documents and carefully absorbed every detail.

"Hm... a couple with issues between them," Alex muttered to herself before putting the files down and standing up. "Understood. I shall be back before midnight. Take care, Mother and Father."

The woman and man nodded. "See you soon, Alexandra."

With that, Alexandra made her way to the armory. She entered, walking straight to the pistols, ensuring each was fully loaded before placing them in her hip holster. Next, she turned to the dagger collection, scanning them for the perfect blade for the job. Once her dagger of choice was selected and sheathed in her vest and pocket, Alex gave herself a quick glance in the large mirror. She paused, listening intently as her sensitive ears caught the faintest sound within range. It was time to move.

——————

The night was serene. The moon hung high, casting her glow across the darkened sky. Stars twinkled, and the city below buzzed with activity—horse-drawn carriages clattered on cobblestone streets, and citizens hurried home for the night.

On a rooftop, a portal opened, and Alex stepped through, landing gracefully on solid ground. The portal vanished behind her. She brushed off imaginary dust from her outfit, mentally mapping out her targets' location.

'Two blocks from here, turn right, and it is the house at the end of the street.'

Without wasting time, Alex took off, leaping from rooftop to rooftop, her movements silent and swift. The wind brushed through her hair as she effortlessly traversed the city. In moments, she reached her destination, landing softly on her target's roof. Crouching low, she glanced toward the chimney—no smoke. The house was empty. Alex let out a quiet sigh and descended into the backyard, landing lightly on her feet. She crouched low, staying hidden in the shadows, her breathing calm and measured. Unsheathing her dagger, Alex approached the back door, ready to pick the lock when—

"It's not locked... just come inside!"

A female voice, eerily hypnotic, echoed from within. Alex blinked. No one was supposed to be there. She tensed, gripping her weapon tighter. Something was off.

"You don't want to come inside? I made mac and cheese!" The voice grew closer.

'Not human. I am too quiet for any human to detect,' Alex thought, backing away slowly, keeping her presence concealed.

The backyard door creaked open. A young woman stepped outside, wings tucked behind her back, and a mask covered half of her face. She scanned the area, failing to spot Alex, and sighed.

"Wow, you're really good at hiding! We could play a game of hide and seek!"

Alex observed her from the shadows, mentally taking notes.

'She is from my world. Masked...and clearly unstable.'

The woman, oblivious to Alex's presence, continued walking into the yard. "If I find you, we can play another game—'Tell Me Your Deepest Secrets!' Or I could kill you... but then I'd be lonely." Her voice dripped with disturbing excitement.

Alex's eyes narrowed as she spotted a rock across the yard. With a small flick of her telekinesis, she sent the rock hurtling against the house with a loud—

BASH!

The girl's head snapped in the direction of the noise. "Are you over there?!" She unfurled her wings, flying towards the sound.

With her opponent distracted, Alex sprang into action. She charged silently, grabbing the back of the girl's neck, yanking her close, and wrapping an arm around her throat. "You have one minute to tell me where the people here have gone, or your wings will no longer be attached to your body." Alex's voice was cold, her dagger poised at the girl's heart.

The masked woman struggled to breathe, but instead of fear, she giggled. "When was the last time you bathed? You smell like sweat... and dead animals."

Suddenly, the girl jabbed her elbow into Alex's stomach, causing her to loosen her grip. Alex shoved her away, regaining her stance. The masked woman soared a few feet into the air, cackling madly. "Oh, and I'm not telling you shit!"

Alex's eyes hardened. Without hesitation, she drew her gun and fired, striking the girl's wings with pinpoint accuracy. "Then fall."

The girl's eyes widened in shock. With a pained yelp, she plummeted to the ground, landing with a THUD. Gritting her teeth, she glanced at her bloodied wings. "Damn it!" She stumbled to her feet, panic rising in her voice. "Wowie! I enjoyed our game, but I think it's time for me to go!" Desperate, she sprinted for the house.

Alex reached out with her power, halting the girl's escape and slamming her to the ground. "No." She stalked toward the trembling woman. "Tell me where the people are."

The woman, her wings bleeding heavily, wheezed as she struggled for air. "Why does it matter to you!?" She forced out a strained laugh, but it was clear she was in pain.

"Worthless," Alex muttered, aiming her gun at the girl's head. She was ready to pull the trigger when footsteps approached from behind.

"If you're trying to kill her, that's not how you do it. And even if you could, I wouldn't let you."

Alex turned, her telekinesis still pinning the girl down. A man with pink hair and bandages over his left eye stepped into view. His gaze was sharp, sizing her up.

"I could've handled myself, you dipshit!" The winged girl snapped, wincing in pain.

The man shot her an unimpressed look. "Mhm, and look where that got you."

Without hesitation, Alex hurled her dagger at him. His eyes widened in panic, and he barely ducked in time to avoid it. She charged, ready to strike, but before she could reach him, the girl—now identified as "Smiley"—pounced on her back. Alex was forced to the ground, struggling against the bloodied arms wrapped around her neck. Smiley's teeth sank into Alex's neck, tearing flesh.

"SMILEY, DON'T!" The man's voice cut through the chaos.

For a moment, everything froze. Then Smiley ripped a chunk of flesh from Alex's neck. Gritting her teeth through the pain, Alex used her telekinesis to lift Smiley and slam her into a nearby fence. The girl went limp, knocked unconscious by the impact.

"Stop it!" The man ran over to check on Smiley, his face etched with concern. She was still breathing. He looked up at Alex, now aiming a pistol at him. "I don't know what the hell is happening or who the hell you are, but this isn't your place." His voice was stern.

Alex glared at him before summoning a portal behind her. "...Keep your eyes peeled, human," she said coldly, stepping backward into the swirling vortex. The portal closed, leaving the man alone with the unconscious Smiley.

——————

Back in her quarters, Alex collapsed onto the floor, clutching her bleeding neck. She staggered to the bathroom, leaving a trail of blood in her wake. Staring at her reflection in the mirror, she scoffed, disgusted by her own weakness.

"Pathetic of me."