Veil of Shadows

Chapter 17. Ghost of A Chance

Pro stumbled back a pace in shock. "Who are you?" She asked, instinctively moving into a defensive position. The figure laughed softly and replied "Wraith, wither hybrid, master mercenary."

Drawing her sword, Pro held the blade between her and Wraith. Wraith was quickly closing the distance between them. Pro watched as twin daggers appeared in the wither hybrid's hands.

"You will answer my questions truthfully, or die on the spot. Choose wisely."

In answer, Pro swung the sword in a deadly overhead arc...which Wraith easily caught and deflected with her daggers, spinning on her heel and kicking Pro in the face. Pro's head snapped back on impact.

Wraith grinned slightly and repeated "Answer me truthfully, or die on the spot." Pro's head was still spinning from the kick, and she growled "Fine. What do you want to know?"

"I want to know everything you know about the Hero Squad." Upon hearing those words, Pro's head immediately cleared, and she lunged for Wraith, this time taking care to go for a stabbing attack.

Wraith took a step back and crossed the daggers, easily stopping the blade in its tracks. Pro yanked on the sword, but it was caught fast. Wraith chuckled and said "Stubborn. Just like your friend."

"What do you mean?" Pro inquired, her voice dangerously quiet. Wraith smirked and replied "Your friend Ranger. She's either dead, or close to it." Pro's vision turned foggy red with rage.

"WHAT DID YOU DO TO HER?" Pro roared, and Wraith answered, amused "I did nothing. I was trying to fulfill my job. She simply got in the way of my dagger."

Wraith kept talking, but nothing mattered after Pro heard the word 'dagger.' The entire world was blocked out, leaving only the beating of her heart and Wraith. The weight of the sword suddenly felt light as a feather.

With an inhuman roar that would have woken the dead, Pro launched herself at Wraith, not bothering with the graceful strokes and parries she had been taught. This was not the time for fancy footwork.

Wraith fell back at first under Pro's one-warrior army, but then slowly began to push the slime hybrid back. Wraith's daggers were like shadows themselves, flickering and deadly.

The battle was extremely one-sided. No matter for years of training, Pro couldn't manage to break through Wraith's guard. For a few moments, they met each other stroke for stroke.

Wraith smirked. "A renegade runaway, are you?" Pro looked at her, shocked. "Oh yes, I know everything about your past." Wraith continued, distracting Pro long enough to have a clear shot.

Pro felt a sharp pain on the side of her neck and reached up, pulling her hand away to find it bloody. There was no trace of amusement in Wraith's eyes now. "I gave you the chance to cooperate. Now you will die."

Jumping backward, Pro managed to avoid a death strike. Wraith stalked toward her and said "In honor of your friend, I think I'll put a dagger in your heart. What do you think of that?"

Not replying, Pro glared at her, trying to think up a viable plan before something really bad happened. She was not the best at spur of the moment decisions.

Wraith began to speak again, and Pro's blood turned to ice.

"Of course! Why haven't I thought of this before?" Wraith said, laughing softly to herself. Then, the wither hybrid vanished. Pro looked around wildly, trying to figure out where she had gone.

A hand grabbed her arm, and Wraith teleported back to her hideout.