G U N S H O T

Chapter One

      The ringing of impacts and heavy breathing was all she could hear, her tanned skin littered with splotchy black and blue rings, sweat forming on her brow as her vision blurred. Staggering to a standing position, her lungs gave out after a gloved fist struck her ribs, her legs buckling once again as she fell to the cold, padded floor. Fist raised to strike again, a commanding shout echoed in the ring,

   "Rodriguez! Enough!" The rough voice bellowed, the owner walking to the barriers and stepping through. The fist lowered, backing away to the other side of the ring. "Lyra, stand." He commanded, the female's view still blurred, one eye tightly shut due to the purple swelling surrounding the feature. She weakly grasped onto the ropes, trying to get up, only for a blow to be inflicted to her hand, Lyra releasing her grip in pain. "Lyra, stand." The cold edge to his voice caused the female to sigh, placing a bandaged hand in front of her, and shakily bringing her damaged body to a standing position, her stature swaying to stay in place. Her healthy eye gazed upon the authoritative figure, Alexei Petrov, the head of this hellhole.

   This hellhole being I.C.E - Institution of Controlled Execution - a place where anyone, from petty criminals to ordinary people, are built and beaten into ruthless hitmen.

   "...what do you want?" she hissed, her eye narrowed as she took deep breaths to recover. The older man glared at her, his wrinkled brow furrowing as he crossed his muscular arms.

   "That's always the deal with you, isn't it, devushka?" he spoke disapprovingly, "You have another mission, the information has been sent to your room." Alexei clenched his jaw,

   "Are you serious?! The last mission I was on almost killed me, and I'm barely making it through rounds! I wasn't even rewarded so I had to kill four more people than I was meant to, do you know how much that pissed me--"

   A calloused hand smacked her back to her senses, her head whipping to the side as she fell once again, mouth dribbling with the blood she spat out. "What is this insubordination, suka? I am in charge of you and whatever you do, you cannot say 'no' to an order I have given!" Alexei growled, hands forming tight fists, teeth bared, revealing a shining silver tooth, "You have a week to heal, and six months for this mission, and you better savour it, as it is your last." He exited the ring, leaving the confused, beaten woman behind.

   "...mudak." she cursed, her previous opponent offering a hand to help her stand. Lyra gratefully took the hand of the taller male, "Thanks, Carlos." she rolled her 'eyes' sarcastically, chuckling at his offended look, honey brown eyes widened in faux exasperation.

   "And what did you expect me to do? Go easy on you?" He smirked, "I don't pull punches for anyone, even you." The tanned male exposed his other hand, which was holding an ice pack, "However, due to my loving nature, I got you this while Mr. Petrov was reprimanding you." Lyra acted to retrieve the item, but Carlos pulled his hand away, "let me." She sighed, letting the teasing other hold the glacial item to her bruises, especially the nastily growing one around her eye.

   "You're such... a piece of shit." Lyra laughed, trying to get ahold of the item, only for Carlos to grasp her wrist with a shake of his head.

"Tut tut, I said let me." He chuckled at Lyra's defeated expression, "so... this is going to be your... last mission?" He sighed, eyebrows raised, "can't imagine this place without you, to be honest, it'll be so boring." Carlos laughed dryly.

"Aw? Is big, tough Carwos gonna miss me?" Lyra teased, in a mocking tone,

"Ha-ha." He deadpanned, a genuine smile sneaking to his lips, "very funny, Lyra. Yes." He paused for a moment. "I won't be able to beat your ass in a sparring match ever again."