The Girl in the Cloak

A First

"Little one!"

"Where did that come from?"

"Little one listen."

"Who is talking?"

"Litten one I need you to pay attention, we don't have much time."

"WHO ARE YOU?"

The cloak quickly wrapped around the girl's mouth shutting her up. A warmth passed through her body. It didn't make sense, but she knew who it was now. The cloak was speaking to her? Through her? It didn't matter. What mattered was it was talking. She had never heard of something like this happening. Not even in the stories from Torikk and Fa.

"Little one I know this might be confusing, but please I need you to move they are coming."

The girl looked up at the men around the table. Three were now coming straight for her while the two more, as well as the one she wanted, was running away.

"I can't let him get away."

"Then let us fight."

The cloak wrapped itself around both of her arms. To the girl's pleasant surprise the end of the cloak formed two sharp jagged claws on both hands. Every fighting lesson Torikk ever gave her came flooding back to her, and this time she actually had claws too. Leaning low to the ground she rushed in at the three men. With all the power she had she raised up at the last second, lifting her right claws up and through the bottom jaw of the first man. The blood squirted out from the new gaping holes, dying her white hair pink. Faster than she could think about what to do next she spun right throwing her left arm out. The back of the claws, just as jagged as the other side, ripped through the second man's face. Blood splashed against the racks to the left. The girl saw the third man pause. That was all the time she needed. Jumping on him she drove the claws deep into his eyes, flicking them off as she returned to her low leaning run. Only a matter of seconds had passed and she could see where the other three were running. They split up as they reached the pier they were at. It didn't matter to the girl. She only wanted the one man. She honestly felt bad now that she thought about the fact that she just killed, for the first time, she killed three men.

"Little one, I'm sorry but we will deal with that later."

"Your right." she wiped the fresh tears from her eyes and returned her gaze to the prize. Tonight she would find out where she was from. She would find her family again. A few deaths were worth it. Were they? It didn't matter now. The cloak went back to its original form. Flying in the wind she still felt the connection to the cloak. Somehow it felt natural to her. Seeing how populated the pier as she pulled the hood up. Her now red-stained hair stuck out just a bit. It waved in the wind. Finally, she was close to her target. The cloak started to writhe with the anger she felt building up. She knew she couldn't strike first. She needed answers. Jumping forward she pounced on him.

She had him in her hands. The moment was finally here. Pulling him in close by his collar to where her nose almost touched his she whispered.

"Where am I from"

"What are you talking about. You're crazy."

She shook the man and asked clearer.

"I know you traffic kids so where am I from. I was told you're the biggest trafficker in the area. You have to know."

He looked at her in the dim candlelight.

"I can't see your face"

She dragged him into a brighter spot close to the candlelit street light.

"Now tell me!"

"You're too old."

The response caught her off guard. She shook her head. Shook him and repeated.

"TELL ME!"

"I did. You're too old."

The girl looked deep into his eyes confused.

"I don't think he is telling a lie little one."

She shook her head again

"Explain to me now!"

"How many years have you been alive girl? Seventeen? Eighteen?"

The girl nodded she was seventeen years old.

"I started trafficking fifteen years ago. You're too old to be one of mine."