Write to Rank 2: Shadow City Under Fire

Round 2: "Dead or Alive, You're Coming With Me."

Glass shattered as the two crashed through the window and fell two stories to the pavement below. People scattered out of the way, humans and demi-humans alike. One of the busiest neighborhoods of Shadow City, Nebula Row was no stranger to violent spectacle. The two men tussled despite their obvious wounds.

Einherjar Lancer Ember watched from the broken window. Her partner, Scott, fought with the suspect in the street. The Lancers received a call from dispatch of a strange man trespassing on private property. Ember and Scott found the man inside an office building used by the Vanguard, Einherjar, and Chromehogs. The location was off limits to anyone without security clearance due to the sensitive materials stored within. Ember wasn't surprised to find the intruder trying to access one of the computer terminals.

Scott demanded to see identification and the man stepped back from the terminal. The man was a half-elf wearing an oily tunic and cowl. He'd glared at the Einherjar Lancers, his face undulated like boiling water. With a smirk, he took off running. They'd cornered him in an upstairs office, identifying themselves as Einherjar, Shadow City police, and told him he was under arrest. Again, a smirk and a shrug. Scott had tried to cuff him and...

The intruder swept Scott's legs out from under him and rolled to his feet. Taking a boxer's stance, he circled. Why didn't he run? Ember's sixth sense flared, something wasn't right.

Scott swore and got to his feet, angrily brushing his red hair out of his eyes. He sized up his opponent and drew his baton. He reached up to his cheek and yanked a shard of bloody glass from her face.

"Oh, I definitely owe you for that," Scott snarled. "In the name of Lady Shadow, you are under arrest."

Ember looked out of the window, gauging the drop. She shook her head and bolted for the door. She couldn't help from the second floor, but she hated losing sight of them as she ran through the building. Her thoughts raced as the halls and doors swept past in a blur. Thanks to angel blood from her mother's side of the family, Ember could sense approaching tragedy in the same way some elves could sense a coming storm. Not only was Scott in danger, but everyone she knew.

Death was coming to Shadow City on flaming wings

The vision was clear as day. Flames descended from the sky. Corpses lined the streets. Everything the people of Shadow City held dear crashing down all around them. She glimpsed a dark star crashing towards the earth.

Ember burst through the front door and onto the street. Scott swung his baton and the intruder ducked under, moving in and driving his elbow into Scott's throat. The man followed with a series of jabs and hooks and Scott fell to the ground.

"Scott!"

The strange half-elf turned with a smirk on his lips. He shrugged and slowly backed away, his hands spread out to his sides. Taunting.

Ember unfurled her shock whips with a wicked whip-crack.

"I am Einherjar Lancer Ember Korb. In the name of Lady Shadow, dead or alive you're coming with me."