Re:trct

Chapter two

"I am here to collect you," The grey eyed man said to Erin who could not help but snort in reply. Amused and scared by all the people now chasing after her but knowing quite well that they would not hurt her if they wished to collect the money.

"Please come with me calmly. I killed them as a sign of peace...I kid. It was for my entertainment." He nodded his head in the direction of the bodies.

Erin calm down. He's just trying to intimidate you.

Erin ran forward with the intent to kill the man, putting all her faith in the years of hand-to-hand combat training she had received from State. She was not willing to admit defeat nor did she care much for the power the man might have. Before she could so much as leave a scratch, the plank of wood was on the ground and so was she. Yet the man still stood at his original position.

"I can't kill you. So I won't fight you. Plus you seem awfully weak. Did you rely that much on the pills from State? Why don't you use your Modifications? Come on. Make this a bit more interesting. I'm starting to feel insulted as to why they would send me after you. How were you once a Commander?," The man questioned with a confused look.

Erin attempted to relax. Fighting the man seemed useless. Getting off the ground and dusting herself off, Erin looked at the man in a new light. She came up with a plan. She decided to stand and wait for him to approach. He sighed and with movements Erin could not have been able to register had it not been for the years of training he was behind her, lifting her hair to get a look at the back of her neck.

"Seal 1? Isn't that unfortunate?"

The man let go of her making her fall back.

"Come on you shouldn't be much of a hassle."

Erin approached the man whose eyes were fixed on her questioningly probably wondering why she was cooperating. In one swift motion she cut her left wrist with a small piece of wood letting blood rush out.

"What are..."

Catching him off guard she jumped onto him and passed the black card she had gotten over the back of his neck, knocking him out.

"What I do is none of your business."

Erin checked the man's pockets for cards but was surprised to find none. Pulling the gun off the man and holding it in her right arm she began to jog the rest of the way, reaching a clearing with a vintage looking black car parked. Slowly, she approached the car and aimed the gun at the individual in the driver's seat. It was a lady smoking a cigarette. Her greying hair in curls shaping her face.

"Don't shoot me. It won't do you any good. My spirit would haunt ya for the rest of your being... Just kidding. All I do is fortune telling, but I am serious about you not shooting me unless you don't want my protection, Erin," she said all this  talking to Erin through the side mirror with a look of mild interest and a slightly raised lip showing her amusement.

Erin studied her for a short moment considering her options. She had heard of Fortune Tellers before but not many people knew much about them, her included. The mystery they are led to fear in people's hearts hence many avoided them.

"Fine just get me out of here lady."

She nodded her head in the direction of the back seat. Erin jumped in with the gun she had stolen held close.

"You may call me Madam Hesse," the older woman stated as she started the car and began to drive away, "My house is up ahead but don't worry. I have plenty of security. I usually drive out here to get away from it. It gets a bit stuffy and boring."

Madam Hesse took a long drag from her cigarette, before throwing it out the window.

"Would you like a free reading?"she asked smiling at Erin through the rearview mirror.

"I don't particularly want to hear any worse news than what I'm going through, so I think I'll pass but thanks." Erin had began to feel light headed from the bleeding wound she had not hardened despite her healing ability having returned.

Madam Hesse laughed, shaking her head.

They pulled up to a large estate, leaving Erin to wonder how it could ever get stuffy in a house as big as the one in front of her.

Getting out of the car, the gun now strapped on her back, a man dressed in a black suit and a head full of white hair, opened for them the door.

The butler, Erin said to herself.

"Remy, this is my guest Erin she'll be staying with us for sometime. Erin this is Remy, my butler," Madam Hesse introduced.

The old man gave Erin a strange look for just a second before it was replaced with a polite smile. Madam Hesse ordered for tea, sending the man in the direction of what Erin presumed to be the kitchen.

"You should harden that unless you'd like to bleed out," Madam Hesse said, finally acknowledging the bleeding. Erin had began to wobble with every step.

Erin turned away and did as she'd been told, feeling a bit silly for not having done it sooner.

They walked until they reached an open area with a small table with four chairs. The area was filled with flowers beautifully arranged all around. Madam Hesse watched as Erin admired the flowers.

"My daughter-in-law did all this," she waved a finger around. The old man walked in with two cups of tea on a tray with some scones.

"It looks lovely,"Erin said.

"Remy, where is the little flower girl?"

"She's in the library, Madam."

"Do call her over."

"Yes, Madam." He left the room.

After a brief moment of silence, Madam Hesse turned to face Erin,"So all these people searching for you..."

The girl from the previous night ran into the area, looking a bit out of breath, her attention immediately turning to Erin.

 °

Kaydo woke up to nothing but darkness.

She must have used a blind card on me. She used a fucking card on me. No one has used one on me since I was eighteen.

Kaydo got up from the uncomfortable position he'd fallen into after getting knocked out by the strange girl. He concentrated on trying to locate the girl using his other Modifications but failed miserably.

Letting out a frustrated sigh, Kaydo concentrated on at least finding his weapon and feeling awfully annoyed he could not kill the girl.

"She took it with her."

Kaydo turned his head to where the voice was coming from. He didn't need to see her to know who it was. He could easily picture the slim girl with a short light green hair and knives strapped to her thighs and waist.

"Helena...You let her go, huh?"

"I was too tickled to even think of getting her. Though I could have sworn you said you did not require my assistance, seeing as how you are the best bounty hunter there is. You do remember she is a former Commander?" Helena said as she tried to hold back a laugh.

"She caught me off guard. I wouldn't say she beat me. There was no fight involved. But come on, you saw her. She was shaking with fear."

"The girl outsmarted you."

"She doesn't use her Modifications. It shouldn't be too difficult to capture her."

"You'd rather use your guns than use your Modifications too."

"That's cause I don't need 'em. Come on. Which way did she go?" Kaydo said sighing," and how long does this card last?"