Cloudy Days

Chapter 3.3

He reloaded, holstered his sniper rifle and went to the back of another vent where he hid a tool box. He opened it and took the grappling hook gun he kept just in case. There would be guards down below. Aiming at him. 

He felt lucky that there was still one more bomb left. He flung it down below and fired the grappling hook at the opposite building. The explosion came and dived below, reaching the first floor of the building. 

There were some kids watching television. They were far enough from any of the shards. Qualo looked at them bluntly as they looked at him with excitement.

"Are you a super hero?" One of the two asked

"Well... You could say so" He shrugged

"Move out men!" came from outside at the bottom floor.

"Well I got to go kids. Stay safe, listen to your parents, and... you know good things."

"Can we break the window like you do Mr. Superhero?"

"Umm... sure why not."

Qualo raised the window he burst through and placed himself outside.

"Can we do what you're doing now Mr. Superhero?"

"When your eighteen you can."

Qualo positioned his feet on top of a stone lining while hugging the wall. He looked down below him. The ground was too far for a safe landing. He looked to his right and saw a ladder. He balanced himself with the wall as he moved cautiously toward the ladder. 

Only about half his foot was on the lining and the wall was too smooth to hold on to anything. He signed with relief and satisfaction as he reached the ladder and quietly placed himself on it. He crouched and saw a few men still at the bottom of the building. 

He straightened himself, checking his magazine clip. Only four bullets left. It wouldn't work. The other pistol didn't have any and his sniper rifle wasn't an option now.

He just stood there, formulating a plot to get himself out of here. If only I had a distraction. Qualo kept pondering on his plots until his luck finally came. 

A window broke at the other end of the apartment building and a large piece of furniture fell down to the ground with smash. Causing it spread apart and disperse into splinters of wood.

I see that my fans love me. Qualo treaded lightly down the stairs once all the guards went to the broken table. After that he ran as far as he could out of the vicinity. He tossed and turned around corners and alleys ways to make sure no snipers can catch up to him.

 As a sniper himself he should know how to dodge one. He paused at an alley way, panting and catching his breath with large gulps of air. Maybe I should have been chased by attack dogs too. He then sat on the ground to regain his strength a bit faster. 

He ran across 25 buildings from his apartment. From that distance they surely won't know where he is now. He heard a few steps coming his way. He looked up to see a woman... with blond hair.

 He halted his panting and stood up. She still had her blank expression on her face but it was still beautiful. Qualo wasn't sure what to do at the moment. It seemed as if time must've halted in its place.

"Now Mr. Qualo, we can do this the easy way, or the hard way. Pick which ever you like, it won't matter as much"

"Fight to death I guess?" He said ambiguously.

"No Mr. Qualo, you're far too valuable at the moment for that."

"So you want to lure my brother to get him too."

"I suppose so."

"Well alright then, I just want to give you one last remark before we start."

"And what would that be Mr. Qualo?"

"You are absolutely gorgeous"

She let out a small smile and raised an eyebrow.

"Your compliment won't make me go any easier on you Mr. Qualo"

Qualo was always had the stony personality of the two but at times he could show a softer side for a change.

She positioned herself and raised her arms and hands in a sort as they do in martial arts. Qualo was still weary from his running and frightful at what might happen now. Judging from before when Yarso failed attempt to catch her she is incredibly fast and has great endurance and with her mastery over one of the martial arts tips the odds to her favor.

Qualo forgot how many bullets he exactly has left in his pistol, but he can remember that it was less than 4. The odds were against him and he will probably lose, but it's better than doing nothing and submitting. His stony personality at least gave him some perks. As soon as Qualo grabbed the handle of his pistol the woman charged at him, and kept her arms behind her just like shinobi do.

He fired his pistol but not even a single one hit her. She kept moving left, right, or even jumping to dodge each one. He then threw his pistol at her and failed miserably at even getting it close to her. Qualo got his sniper out as his last resort but it was a bust. Half way in she got him to the ground in mere seconds, she didn't even give him time to retaliate. As he fell to the ground she twisted his left hand, and he yelled from the pain.

"You said you wanted the hard way didn't you Mr. Qualo?"

Shethen released her clenched fist at his face and all went black.