Red Queen Fan Fiction - Red Huntress

Chapter 8

Diana didn't tell the Scarlet Guard what she'd done. She only slowly grasped it herself, how reckless and stupid she'd been. It had taken her until she stood in her bathroom and got rid of her clothes to realize the dangers she'd ignored by returning to the dorm via the streets where she'd seen watchmen before, people who could've found the body and followed Diana home.

She spent a week in shock. It was like she was finally able to become Tina Fields, because Tina would've never done what Diana had done. Tina could smile vapidly and hide Diana for good.

Did she want to be that person?

She couldn't remember the face of the witness or of person she'd killed, like her mind had erased it although she must've stared at the dying woman for a minute. Left was only the monster advancing on her, a pale face and hair dark from the rain, threatening to kill her.

Was that even true

But Diana had defeated the monster and deep down, she was proud of it, of herself. The Red girl beating a Silver.

Did that make her a monster?

But to think of it like that was the only way to banish her nightmares.

She looked for reports that contained information on the dead Silver. For the Guard, she told herself, when in truth, she just had to know.

The Silvers kept the death a quiet affair and searching a bit deeper, she found out why. It seemed the woman had been a watch officer ordered to follow and control Red gangs, and had been suspected of getting "too close" with them.

Was that what had happened? "Another customer", the Silver had said. And the boy she'd assaulted, who had this powder ... drugs? Had the Silver been involved in the selling, or been herself an addict? Or had the boy wanted her to look like one? Diana could only find and read so much.

Soon, the Guard asked her to research about planned raids on Red gangs, and Diana tried to link the points. No public announcements, but secret raids by Silver officers. From former inquiries, she knew the Scarlet Guard worked with Red gangs, in Trial at least, who the Guard wished to protect from the worst. Diana passed on the intelligence she got, although devoid of her personal knowledge. Still, she deluded herself into thinking at least she kept more people from harm.

She only endured the last weeks of the internship, not caring about the impression she gave, maintaining enough of an appearance to not draw further attention. She didn't share breaks with her colleagues and sneaked into the archives whenever she could.

Besides passing on intelligence, she was similarly distant to her Guard contacts. Thus, she was only half surprised when after her final day at the office, someone already expected for her at the dorm, telling her to move out.

Diana needed a few seconds too much to recognize the same operative who'd brought her to Trial. Her hair was longer and a dark red now, and she wore makeup and an attire that changed her demeanour significantly as she sat on Diana's bed. Her fine clothes were plain for a Silver, but elegant for a Red.

"No need for an advance notice?" said Diana to hide her mistake, recovering her bile.

The woman shrugged. "You aren't here on vacation," she said sharply and Diana flinched.

Certainly didn't feel like one, she thought, but was now sure it was definitely the same person.

The operative didn't seem to notice, pointing at a bag she'd already started to pack. "Get those finished," said she, rose from the bed and bent towards Diana's ear. "You want to be home in time, don't you, Farley?"