Rivals: The Killjoys vs. The Youngbloods

10. Breaking Point

The park was alive with the sounds of children screaming as they played and the warnings of worried mothers as they told their kids not to run or climb so high.

Courtney stuck out like a sore thumb in her splatter painted white crop top, high-waisted shorts, and heels.

She got quite a few nasty looks as she made her way around the jungle gym, heels clicking quickly against the concrete. It's not like she actually gave a damn though.

A young mother zipped up her three year old daughter's windbreaker.

"Ok Missy." The mother smiled and kissed her daughter's forehead. "What do we do to mean boys?"

Artemis, informally known as Missy, lightly pushed her mom's shoulders and frowned.

"Good." The mother praised and fixed her daughter's hair. "And what do we say to mean strangers?"

"Don't touch me. My mommy can kill people." Artemis repeated, her lisp distorting her words slightly.

"Good job." She grinned and turned her daughter around. "Go play."

Courtney watched the entire exchange with amused eyes. "She looks just like you."

"Courtney." The mother said, looking at the blonde with distaste. "How'd you find us? I covered my tracks."

"Not well enough." Courtney sat down on the bench beside her. "Hello Foxes."

"Foxes" looked away. "I don't go by that name anymore."

Courtney leaned back and crossed her legs. "What should I call you then?"

"Louisa Allen." She answered tersely and looked down at her chipped nail polish.

Courtney grinned. "Louisa. Pretty name."

Louisa turned to Courtney suddenly. "Why are you here? I doubt you just want to check up on me."

"You're right, I didn't." Courtney said plainly. "I need your help."

Louisa shook her head. "I'm done with that stuff. I have a life now, a daughter."

Courtney looked towards the play structure where little Artemis played with a group of younger kids.

Louisa stared lovingly at her daughter. "That life I used to live is way too dangerous for her."

"But don't you want to give her a better life than the one she has now?" Courtney asked. "Don't you want to give her everything she needs?"

Ever since the Resistance burned to ashes, Louisa had fallen on some hard times. There wasn't much work for an assassin, especially an assassin that didn't want to kill.

"Why should I trust you again?" Louisa asked, still watching Artemis. "You promised us riches and glory and we ended up with nothing."

Courtney sighed, exasperated. "We won't fail this time, because I have help and a better plan. I can assure you that in a couple months we will overthrow BL/ind and we will run this city."

"Strong words for a woman who's organization crumbled effortlessly at the hands of four men." Louisa quipped.

"I wouldn't worry about them, they're too busy fighting their own war at the moment." Courtney rolled her eyes. "They won't be bothering us anytime soon."

The offer seemed way too good to be true to Louisa.

"And you're saying all I have to do is join your team?" She narrowed her eyes skeptically. "No membership fee?"

Courtney held up a finger. "Actually, I have an assignment for you. The date has been set, the person has been chosen." She smiled at Louisa. "All you have to do is pull the trigger."