Recollection

twelve | Leo

Rj Pasin — Life Force (SLOWED + REVERB)

The rain was falling harder now, the soft patter turning into a steady downpour that washed the city streets clean, but it couldn't scrub away the filth I was hunting. From the rooftop, I watched the three men huddled beneath the cover of a dilapidated awning. The rain muffled their voices, but I didn't need to hear them to know they were Flynn's men. The way they moved, the tension in their shoulders–like they were expecting trouble but had no idea it was already stalking them.

It was about damn time we hunted some perverts.

I agree you were getting a little cranky on me.

I felt as if Indigo rolled her eyes. I shared the excitement. I was giddy because of it.

I let the cold seep into my bones, let it sharpen my focus. There were no second chances in this. One mistake, and you're the one bleeding out in an alley. I was better than that. I'd learned from the best. More importantly, I'd learned from pain. Flynn had made sure of that. I touched the hilt of my dagger, my fingers steady as I watched them from the shadows. They wouldn't see me coming until it was too late.

The first man broke off from the group, his footsteps splashing through the puddles as he walked toward the back entrance of a building. Alone. Perfect. I moved swiftly, dropping from the roof in a fluid motion, my boots landing silently on the wet pavement. He never even knew I was there until my arm snaked around his neck. I dragged him into the darkness, clamping a hand over his mouth before he could scream.

"Shh," I whispered in his ear, my voice icy. "You won't need to scream where you're going."

His body went limp as the blade slid across his throat, quick and clean. Blood spilled out in a hot rush, staining my gloves as I lowered him gently to the ground. One down. The others wouldn't be as easy, but that was fine by me. I wasn't looking for easy.

I stalked back toward the remaining two. One of them leaned against the wall, lighting a cigarette, oblivious. His friend was fidgeting, looking around nervously, but his gaze never rose high enough to catch me. I circled them like a wolf, waiting for the perfect moment. When the cigarette smoker flicked the ash and turned away from his friend, I struck.

My knee crashed into his back, sending him face-first into the wall. His skull cracked against the brick with a sickening thud, but I didn't stop. I grabbed his wrist, twisting it until I heard the bone snap. His scream echoed through the alley, finally alerting the last man, but I was already on him. He reached for his gun, fumbling with the holster, but I kicked it out of his hand. The weapon clattered to the ground, and I slammed my fist into his nose. Blood spurted, and he staggered back, eyes wide with terror.

"You should've run," I growled, yanking him by the collar and slamming him against the wall. "But now it's too late." Knocking him out cold.

"Come at the alley at the back of the café" I called in the earpiece and Drystan with Cassian appeared minutes later with an SUV to load the hostages. They were followed by a blue minivan. The clean-up crew.