Raven Eye Records

Ch. 1: Lethal Task Marks

I didn't see the first one coming. Just the sharp rustle of fabric cutting through the air before a shadow darted across the alley.

"Keep running!"

Rune's voice snapped me out of it, but my legs had already moved on instinct. Heart pounding, I dashed down the narrow street, sneakers slamming against wet concrete.

Behind me, the sound of heavy thuds on the floor and walls echoed, like arachnids coming straight out of a nightmare. I dared a glance over my shoulder—grave mistake.

Black masks. Void eye sockets. Black hoods. Skin fully covered.

They were closer.

"Keep moving!" Luna's voice, harsh and breathless, urged me forward. But there was no need to tell me twice.

I pushed harder, lungs burning as the figures closed in, gliding unnaturally between the buildings, like they weren't even touching the ground. One jumped onto a fire escape, leaping from wall to wall, keeping pace above us.

If only I had devoted all my time to learn Vew...!

"What do they want anyway?" I gasped, even though I already knew the answer.

Then the gunshot. The high-pitched crack tore the air, and I flinched as a bullet slammed into the ground just inches from my legs, sending dust and chips flying.

"Seriously?!" I gasped, ducking instantly. My heart was a thunderstorm in my chest now. Rune yanked me forward before I could even process it.

"Do something!" Remon yelled, miniscule tears pouring out of her eyes on edge.

I pulled out my last resort; a smoke grenade. As I pull the pin, my fingers shake uncontrollably, giving me several responses of metal ringing back and forth.

Frustated, I firmed my grasp, releasing the hook, and hurled it at the figures behind us, killing their line of sight. Seizing the chance, we jolted around a corner upon detonation with blood, sweat, and tears.

It didn't matter if we trip and fall, we just knew we have to outmaneuver them.

We shouldn't have gone to the adoption center.

Now, it was too late to turn back.

- - -

I should've been used to running by now thanks to my P.E classes. Trouble had this way of following me around, like glue, ever since I was a kid in Andromeda City.

Back then, it was dodging detentions, skipping classes, and pulling stupid shenanigans with my friends. Now? It was dodging bullets and outrunning death's crows.

I'm Mitch Rhionna, 16-part-time misfit, full-time Miss Wit. I live in Lynxville and go to Lynx High Academy, said to hold the best and the brightest wits, Heirs, and Mysts-excluding me.

Unlike everyone else in Fallentin-our universe-I never had the same knack for Vim and Vew, which you could equate to energy and magic.

With that said, I used to think the city was the craziest place to live because the streets are as unpredictable as the people, but that was before this happened.

Before they happened.

- - -

"I'm out of stuff!" I shouted, informing the others about my utility shortage, agitation vibrating at the back of my throat.

"Targets locked on sight!" yelled the first figure, the alpha, in a low, male voice to a radio transceiver.

"Initiate Bird Cage. 1D. 2D. 3D! Detain 18-1-22-5-14 at all cost!" The receiver replied, also male in voice, the statics disrupting their connection.

A single figure lagged behind, while two pairs scurried up the walls with a hideous, graceful agility. Four more formed a tight, diamond-like formation with the alpha at the front, like a coordinated pack of wolves.

I was taken aback, puzzled by their sudden movements. "What are they doing now?!"

The alpha briefly raised their hand in the air before pointing it forward, signaling a devastating assault of flames, lightning, and a shower of submachine gun bullets that drilled dusts and flicked chips of concrete near our footing.

Before that, we were reaching for our foldable ballistic shields from our utility belt. Luna, Remon, and I were able to trigger the assembly function, automatically unfolding the shield into a fully-fledged protection.

A shot of dopamine coursed through our lips, but what we didn't know was that one of us had a different shot. Rune gasped in shock, the trauma of the bullet shooting like a bullet train from his crimson shoulder.

"RUNE!!!" Luna and I shouted, our voice urgent and breathless. I pulled him under my shield, continuing to push him forward regardless of the gunshot.

"Bite me!" Luna shouted, harsh and raspy. "They're like spiders in their webs!"

Rune instantly figured out something about what Luna's meaningless simile. "The walls and the air!" he exclaimed.

Huh? What does-

Without wasting a second, he scooped me onto his shoulders, positioning me so that I was facing the incoming predators biting our tail, my right arm draped across his neck for support.

"Drop me and I'll break your neck!" I gasped, bracing for whatever was coming next before Rune launched up in the air with a dense concentration of pale energy in his legs; clearly, it was Vew.

Luna and Remon split up on either sides of the alley, using deft gusts of air to lift off the ground and dash along the walls, dodging projectiles. Remon's reaction was delayed, almost brutally shot by a hair as she stumbles and falls.

Rune reacted in a flash, pulling her back to her feet while they continued their desperate dash as Remon's low cries echoes in the alley. "MOMMY!!!"

"We have to at least reach Unilav Street for our checkpoint!" I shouted, my breath ragged and shallow.

Just then, a figure caught up and grabbed Luna by the shoulder. Without missing a beat, Luna twisted with a fluid grace, her leg snapping out to strike its ribcage and send it crashing to the ground.

Holy waffles! That military training did a lot on her bad side!

Rune's sharp eyes darted behind them, spotting a lone figure slowing down. Confused by the strange change of pace, he shook it off as he accents its illuminating, crimson tattoos were visibly spread all over the neck and hands. He then put me down without losing momentum.

"Five o'clock!" he shouted, his voice laced with urgency.