Deadly Beauty

Chapter 4

The soft thud of my paws and hiss of my breath bring the soldier out and allow me to shove the depression and desperation out of my mind. I run for miles and miles and it only takes me minutes, I couldn't help but want it to last longer than it did. I shifted back at the entrance and walked in. The girl who gives case files scurries toward me and hands me a folder, all without making eye contact. I nod in thanks and head to the weapons room to gear up.

Entering the familiar room feel like entering my 2nd room. The smell of oil and sweat is pungent and comforting. Heading over to my section I slip on my skin tight body amour and strapped in 3 knifes into holsters on the legs of my suit along with two guns on my outside thighs. Two swords find their way into the scabbard on my back. I grab a bow to and tuck arrows into another pouch on my back. Extra ammo for my guns is wrapped around my waist and boots are slipped onto my feet, knives slipped into them for good measure. I french braid my dark hair tightly and put on my hooded black cape. Flipping up my hood I leave the weapon room and take on the rigid walk of a soldier my whole mentality switched from sadness and pity to grim determination.

Flipping open my assignment I see one simple sentence and a blueprint: take back naval base. Surprisingly not the hardest assignment i've had but it still won't be easy. I decide on taking a jet simply because I can and head to the airstrip. Stepping into my favorite jet which I nicknamed Sly is when I feel comfortable again. I grew up flying jets and flying was second nature at this point. Going to the controls I put on the headpiece and start the engines.

"Headquarters this is agent 451 requesting permission for take off for top secret mission from the top of HQ" I repeat the words I've said a thousand times before and get the same response

"Agent 451 you have the all clear"

I took off at the all clear. The jet an extension of my body and as the wheels left the ground I felt a small bit of freedom. I could leave right now, escape and never come back. But I won't, the Government has too much leverage on me; my parents and now Hudson. So i'll stay in the military and play the good soldier until my three years are up.

I hide out on the top of the hill and notch my first arrow. With a quick pull and release my arrow is sent flying through the air hitting its target straight on. The man falls to the ground and his partner runs to his side. I notch a 2nd arrow and let it fly, seconds later two men are on the ground and I push the guilt down. This mission has no time for the scared little girl that I usually am so I bring out my soldier and wrap my guilt up for later.

I take quick, careful steps to the fallen men and drag them to the bushes. Coming back out I start heading around the building but I run straight into a soldier. His face flashes with surprise but he quickly recovers and sends out a punch that's powerful but sloppy. I dodge it and grab his arm before he can retract it. Twisting until I hear a crack I then turn my back to him and in a quick motion use my weight to throw him over my shoulder on to the ground. He lands with a thump and his face gets introduced to the bottom of my boot. Making sure he's just unconscious I get up and walk not even three feet before another soldier steps around a corner. So that's how this mission is gonna go. He's well trained and strategic but so am I. Our fight turns into a deadly dance. He punches I block, he kicks I duck. I sweep his feet out from under him and jump up twisting my body to gain momentum for a kick that I deliver straight to his face which knocks him out cold. Before I knock the soldier unconscious though he manages to stab me with a small thin blade. I pull out the blade and mutter some very unladylike words under my breath. It's not too deep so I decide to leave it be for now and i'll deal with it once the missions over. Standing up I almost cry out in exasperation; there, standing in front of me, is a boy with barely 17 with shaky hands holding a gun.

"This really is not my lucky day" I mutter to myself.

Pulling back my hood I watch as the boys face turns to shock and then painful surprise when he see's my fist flying at his face. It only takes one hit to make him crumble, but I catch him before he falls and lay him down gently. Prying the gun out of his hands I empty the chamber and throw the bullets into the bushes. Putting the cold weapon against his chest I give him a pat on the shoulder before I make my way for one last perimeter scan. The scan takes barely any time and the only sounds are the crunch of gravel under my feet and my shallow breaths.

With nobody else in sight I head into the base. It's silent and dead, the hallways are pitch black. I check around every corner and check my back every 5 seconds. The dagger wound is bleeding quite a bit but it doesn't hurt that much so it'll just need some stitches. I memorized the layout of the base so I make it to the security room quickly and find it empty just like the rest of the base. I do a once over of the room just to be sure, checking all the doors and finding nothing. Satisfied, I sit down on the chair and scroll through the security footage. I set it back a couple hours and see nothing unusual. I sit there for maybe a half an hour looking through boring footage of empty halls and guards marching around the outside with zero formation that I think i'm going to fall asleep until I get far enough into it to see a group of guys moving out of the building. I sit up and watch as it goes backwards, I see them retrace their steps into the kitchen where they set a bomb.

"Shit" I mumble right before my world explodes in flames.