Ricky and Daniel were walking down what once used to be a busy street in New York that night. The street was now full of small shops. It was one of the few places where humanity still lived.
"So who is this person you wanted to recruit?" Daniel asked.
What the group was trying to do wasn't any ordinary scam. They knew that even with the four of them, they wouldn't survive two minutes in the bank. Rick had been keeping an eye open on a reliable doctor by Karen's request. Karen was helpful, but she was not trained in the medical field.
"Why exactly have we been coming back up here for the past three days?" Daniel asked again.
Ricky just shushed him and motioned Daniel to follow him up the fire escape next to a rusty building.
"Don't move, don't say anything, and don't do anything." Ricky warned.
The boys ducked and watched patiently for the possible recruit
"Look, I don't think this person is actually going to -"
Daniel was interrupted by a faint clicking of boots against the pavement of the street.
It was a young woman. Most likely in her mid-twenties, it seemed. She had a rare combination of dark, wavy hair and green eyes. Her hair was in a clean braid that lay perfectly on her back. She wore a simple white shirt and black pants but, she carried with her a bone white coat in her arm. She also carried a large black backpack with her. The boys had seen her and a few others walking down this route for the past three days.
Suddenly, there was a faint sound on the opposite side of where the boys were watching the woman. She didn't even flinch at the suspicious noise. She kept walking, passing the alleyway. Her face remained expressionless.
Two men emerged from the ally, silently watching the woman. Unaware of their presence, she kept walking. Daniel started to get up when Ricky stopped him.
"What are you -?"
"Just watch her, for now."
The men reached to grab the girls arm when she caught on first. Twisting the wrist, she landed a blow straight into the man's chest with her elbow. Without even thinking, she ducked as the other man threw punches above her. She swept her leg from underneath, sending one on the ground.
She reached into her boot pulling out what at first seemed like a knife but, unfolded into a sleek, long sword. Dropping her coat and backpack, the woman fell into a basic sword stance. The men reached for her but, she easily stepped aside, sending a long clean stroke on her sword on the man's back. Crimson blood soaked the man's back as he cried out in pain. As usual, no one even bat an eye.
The man fell to the ground and the woman turned to the other, expressionless. He stood still as a stone as the woman brought up her katana next to his neck, faintly biting into his skin. A bead of blood trickled down onto his shoulder. He was stunned by the paralysation of his partner by a girl.
"Anything I can help you with, sir?" she asked softly.
The man ran as fast as he could in the other direction. The woman folded her sword back and stuffed it in her boot. She picked up her coat and threw her backpack over her shoulder and walked away, still, expressionless, like nothing had happened.
The boys watched wide eyed up in the fire escape.
"So... what do you think?" Rick asked.
"How the hell do plan on actually recruiting her without getting stabbed in the process?" Daniel asked, genuinely curious.
Rick flashed his partner a smile. "Hope for the best?"
Rick and Daniel quietly followed the woman back to a garden in a nearby park. She turned a corner and vanished.
Where is she going? Rick thought to himself
Suddenly, something appeared behind boys. The woman grabbed Rick by the shoulder and wrist. She twists his arm behind his back and shoved him onto the floor. Her grip on his arm was firm.
"Move an inch and I will shatter your friend's arm into a million pieces." She warned Daniel. "Why were you following me? Why haven't you attacked me yet?"
Daniel backed away with his hands raised in surrender. "We have an offer for you."
"I'm not for hire. Although, I can see why you would need some help. I'm sure all of New York heard you 'sneaking' up on me. Why wouldn't you just confront me like normal people? Whose genius idea was it to spy on me, anyway?"
"Take a guess."
"Hey! It seemed like a good idea at the time..." Rick explained as his voice slowly got quieter.
"Whatever you want from me, I'm not interested. I don't work in the crime sectors and I don't kill." she stated firmly.
"No, just fatally wound."
"Well, I do what I have to do to stay alive. This isn't exactly the city it used to be."
"So it seems."
"Can I please stand up now? I promise I won't hurt you." Ricky asked politely.
The woman scoffed as she released Rick.
"So, you got a name?" Daniel asked casually.
"You first."
Daniel thought to himself for a moment "No, I don't."
"I guess that makes two of us."
"You know, it would seem that you should have enough money to get an apartment in one of the fancier sectors of the city. You know, being a doctor and all."
The woman laughed. "How cute. You think it's that easy? No, it takes connections to get up there. You have to be either famous or a lying politician to have any fake sense of security in this hellhole."
"Glad we're on the same page. Our offer deals with a chance to make this situation fairer to the common people."
"What do you mean?"
"If you come with us, we can talk this over in more detail"
"How stupid do you think I am?"
"Relax. If we were to hurt or blackmail you, don't you think we would do that already? You tell me, what do you think we are going to do, exactly?
YOU ARE READING
Without Silver Lining
AçãoCassie was Daniel’s whole world. She was stabbed by an unknown face. That night Daniel made Cassie a promise, he would find the person who killed her and they would pay. Three years later, Daniel is trying to play hero for his city, cleaning up the...
