The Seven Deadly Sinners

Prologue

 My left knee wobbled, threatening to buckle beneath me as I rounded a grungy corner store. Gods, now was really not the time for that. I wanted time to rest but I simply couldn't. I didn't have the luxury of stopping. If anything, I should be pushing harder.

I tried to listen, my heavy breath making that difficult. Could I still hear footsteps behind me? I couldn't quite tell. I wasn't willing to risk the half-second it would take to turn around and check. 

However, I was willing to glance wistfully at my favorite bakery as I flew by it. I would have to steal a few donuts tonight before they threw them out. The old crock that baked the donuts wouldn't give them to me when I asked nicely. Even though he was only going to throw them out! He must be on Santa's naughty list. Because of his apparent rudeness, my methods of obtaining the goodies had become quite...inventive over the years. I mean, who gave him the right to just toss out sugared goodness when there were plenty of starving individuals in this god-forsaken town? Like I said, rude.

My thoughts wandered as I continued to run. There were no shouts behind me, it's safe to assume that the beefcake behind me was finally losing steam. Hopefully. I definitely was. But I was so close, only a few more streets until I could make it free. They told me the van would be there at 3:45:00 sharp and would leave at exactly 3:46:30. I had to make it in time. It was only 3:42:00 but I was getting nervous that if the man chasing me pounced, I would be late. Always better to be safe than sorry.

With a huff of annoyance, I reached for my belt, cocked my gun and turned around. Still running, of course, didn't want to upset the little Boss. Hah, I was right. He had definitely gotten farther behind me than when this chase first started. Amateur. The man looked shocked but without a second thought, I took aim and pulled the trigger. Twice.

Hell yes. Rath could fuck right off, I was definitely a better shot than him. The tower of muscle grunted and fell down. Incapacitated. Beautifully, if I do say so myself. One shot to the shoulder and one to the thigh. With a gleeful laugh, I turned back around, shoved my belt back into its holster, and pushed myself even harder.

I finally rounded the last corner and saw the sketchy black van. I rolled my eyes a little bit, the little Boss loved to be cliche. I looked down at my watch, 3:46:20, I felt a vicious little grin pull my mouth up. I counted down the seconds and that little Bastard didn't disappoint. Exactly on the mark, the engine started and the van started to reverse. Dick.

Once I got within range, I jumped on the hood of the car and pounded the window.

"Unlock the door you dumbass" I shouted through the windshield. The driver just looked at me, looked down at his watch, and shook his head no.

"You're late. Too late" I could barely hear that slimy voice from the backseat but I would know it even when it was thrown in with a snake pit. Mr. Lydile Bramahan. The one that paid me in cash and made sure to do it quickly. I couldn't stand the dude, he wanted to be a Bond villain so badly and it was going to result in him fucking up my business. His oiled down hair that started a little bit too far back on his forehead to hide his age. The squinted eyes that barely had any white in them. His flabby cheeks that hung with wrinkles and highlighted his ugly little frown that was always pulled down disdainfully.

"Ah, of course, I'm the issue. It's always me, isn't it? I'm late, understandable, I'm late. You absolute fuckface, you're not stealing my cash again." While repeating what he had said (adding my own little flair, of course), I pulled my gun out once again.

Firing quickly, I put four shots in the windshield. I made a beautiful shape that Fibonacci himself would be proud of and promptly stomped the center of it until it shattered completely. The car had begun weaving quite sporadically but I couldn't care less, I wanted my payment. The driver couldn't handle a few bullet holes? Was all the hired help today amateurs? I hopped through the shards of the window and sat daintily on the console of the car. I smiled at the behemoth in the backseat.