rr (ON HOLD)

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Ruby set her alarm for eleven that night.
As the clock beeped, she groaned and shut it up. Already wearing her Spectrum suit under her pajamas, she quietly opened her bedroom window, and scaled down the ivy, and began heading for the Scarlet Pagoda.
She got there by eleven thirty five, and waited patiently for Kaina to arrive.
Twenty minutes later, she did.
"You're late," called Ruby.
"Yeah well, I got caught up in something. Turns out my employer didn't like me double-crossing him," Kaina gave a shrug. "He shouldn't have double-crossed me in the first place."
Ruby stared at the girl closely and spotted a gash on her arm, and a long drip of blood on her face. She gave a gasp and asked, somewhat nervously,
"Did your employer do that to you?" Ruby's throat suddenly felt dry. "Is your employer - the Count?"
Kaina nodded, seemingly pleased. "Oh, bravo, Ms Redfort, quick thinker as always. And yes, he's my employer. Did he do that to me? Ah, well, he told another dear associate to brawl me, but yes, I suppose he did, in someways."
Ruby felt disgusted inside, although not all too surprised. The Count really cared for no-one.
"So, uh, what happened between you two?"
"Ah, nothing much. He just said the deal was off. Very annoying. So I told him I wouldn't do the rest," she wiped a patch of blood from her face. "I planned to stay somewhere else. Not even on the second day, but the first, he found me and threatened me, by note, would you imagine. You know, Redfort, you ought to be glad you work for Spectrum. The Count's a real hard boss, not to mention unfair."
For once, Ruby didn't know what to respond, so she thought quickly.
"Why'd you ask to meet me here?"
A flash of geniune pleasure came across Kaina's face.
"Oh yes! I'd nearly forgotten, imagine that. Then I'd really be dead," she gave a laugh. "Ms Redfort, I wouldn't have done this tonight if it wasn't for that delightful letter, so please, accept my apologies."
She held up a gun.
Ruby looked around for escape, but there was no time, as Kaina shot a tranquilizer dart at Ruby.
Two burly men appeared from the shadows.
"Take her to where you're supposed to. I'm off. Tell him to never contact me again. He's too tetchy, I must say I do agree with Lorelei on that," Kaina called, as she walked off.
One called back, in a rough voice,
"The master told us to tell you you gotta return to him because he knows where you are and he knows your fears."
Kaina smiled.
"Who's to say he isn't here right now, keeping an eye on things?"
The footsteps of Italian leather-soled shoes could be heard. A tall thin man walked through the garden entrance. He clapped his hands.
"Bravo, Kaina."
The girl narrowed her eyes and took a few steps back.
"So it really is true, what Spectrum say; wherever I am, you are. How insulting. Get out of my way," she hissed. "I'm not working for you again."
The Count gave her a look, which was mixed with amusement and interest.
"What made you think there was a deal, sweet child?"
"Don't call me that. You forced me into this, deal or no deal. So let me go on my way. I don't need you to survive."
The Count's face hardened.
"As I stated once, I employed you out of a matter of kindness. You'll get payed for this," he took a step closer to Kaina. "But I can make you, anytime, anywhere, work for me, and I do not have to pay you."
The Count seemed to become calm again, and he waved his hand with a flourish.
"I admit, there was a deal once, dear thing, but I changed my mind. I don't do deals with children anymore, not since Casey Morgan."
"Just get the hell out of my way," snarled Kaina angrily. "I don't have time for your mindgames."
She looked around. They were alone. The men had gone, Ruby unconscious with them. She thought for one second about shooting him, or shooting herself even. The Count seemed to read her mind.
He pulled out his own gun.
"Drop your gun, please, Kaina." His voice was calm and even but there was an edge to it now.
She did, reluctantly.
"You're more reliable than Lorelei. That's why I decided to do a deal with you. She failed once, the stupid girl. You should always check for any life-saving gadgets," the Count gave a smile. "But enough about the past. We have the Redfort girl, now all we have to do is lure a code-breaker."
"You," Kaina corrected. "You, Lorelei, whoever. But not me. I really should be on my way." She tried to walk past him, but the Count blocked her path.
"I really rather you didn't," he said, smile fading. Though his voice was calm and unnervingly quiet, there was anger in those awful black eyes of his. "You see, Kaina, I'm afraid I still need you for something. And until then," the Count held up a gun. "If you won't go easily, we can make this difficult. Dealer's choice."
Her pulse was racing, as was her mind.
Could she outrun him? Well, define your meaning of outrun. She was faster than a criminal mastermind in his fifties, no doubt, but he was a genius. He'd catch up with her one way or another.
Unless.
No.
Hell no.
Kaina took a few steps back.
"You see, I was talking to Lorelei a few days ago, I really do understand her now - it's much nicer to work for yourself alone - you get a bit more freedom. Very relaxing, you know?" she was struggling to keep her voice calm. She mis-timed this, and she'd be dead. Literally. "Which is why I think it's best if I took the long way back. Difficulty is fun."
And she ran, up the wall, as he fired his gun and she literally missed being hit, and back-flipped onto the Scarlet Pagoda.
"I still got it, man," she called. "Hell, I should become a Spectrum agent. Haha, imagine double-crossing you like that."
The Count looked up at her from the ground and, lifting his arm, fired a bullet.
"I'm not in the mood to play games with children who think they are above themselves, girl. You don't want to find yourself dead on your feet," he shouted.
On the rooftop, Kaina dodged the bullet with ease.
"What happens when you're all outta bullets?" she asked. "You know, why am I wasting my time talking to a madman who likes to think he's very much the Grim Reaper? I've got better things to do."
And with that, the teenager ran like she never did before, across the rooftops, and as far away from the Count as possible.

Just outside the Double Donut...

... Hitch stared up in confusion at the rooftops of Twinford. Did he just see a kid running on top of them? Boy, he sure hoped it wasn't Ruby again, otherwise she'd be in big trouble.
Oh well, he reasoned, Blacker was right. Need more sugar otherwise I'll go delusional.