Why sleep at all? Jeff and Jane the Killers

Burning Inside

    Jane glided through the night, speeding and silkily jumping from tree to tree, slick and silent. Making her way to the dimly lit house, hardly breathing at all, she padded through the tall grass, squelching with the sound of fresh rain pouring ahead of her, though she didn't even notice it.

         The sound of eighties music was blasting through, though, ending the tranquility of the moment. She could hear a creaking voice singing along with it, terrible. Wincing, she pulls on a black face mask and creeps in.

         Seduce or outright murder? She decided that she'd rather end it quickly because her birth control meds were running out, and she wouldn't want to sleep with a disgustingly slimy person like this guy, since she could already envision what he looked like.

       Grabbing her bag of a raven feather and bone bow, in tow with iron arrows, fast as bullets, she tucked them behind herself in a back strap, and slid the bow into her right hand, walking to where the lights were on, a bright window in the farthest upper east of the mansion.

      Looking up, she grabbed a rope from the back of her bag and threw it up, where a thick hook wrapped around the steep ledge, automatically digging in and holding tight, courtesy of the ingenious technology she'd acquired.

    Hauling herself up, she steadily began to climb as fast as a spider on its web, and already was unlatching the hook, tucking the rope back inside her backpack. Balancing on the window, she quietly glid to the side, looking in.

      Middle-aged guy, twisting around a gun and listening to rock through the radio. Why wasn't she surprised? Quite typical of her victims. Most likely got too old and lazy after so many feats, got married, divorced, and lived a pretty shitty life though he pretended not to know it, growing up a potbelly and drinking to hide the pain inside.

      But everyone had their own pain. And...so did she. Knowing this would be swift, she moved her hand around, unlatching the window, a trick she'd learned from countless attempts, and softly opened it, slinking her body like a snake, and dipping into a shadowy area, still unseen.

      Busy listening to his music, her victim didn't even notice her as she crept beside him, hiding behind his couch. She was about to plunge her arrow tip in and skewer his brains...

     When the house burst into flames. Literally.  She let out a low hiss. How in the world did she find him?! The fires...after three years, and she still remembered. Stopping clearly, she fell to the ground, almost in a paralysis, remembering the heat and pain.

     And it wasn't just her that noticed. The man jumped up, letting out a yelp and running from the searing fire, already licking towards her, heady and desperate for contact. Frozen, she almost forgot that she needed to run when her skin started to burn slightly.

     So, she did. Jane jumped up and ran as fast as her legs could carry her. Mission abandoned, this was not worth getting burned alive-again. Jane leapt towards the window, her rope already flying out as the fiery tundra raced towards her.

      But when she did, someone stopped her with a meaty hand. No, no, no, the man growled and shouted over the waves of heat, "Give me your rope girl, and I'll let you live." Live? So he still thought that he was brave and strong enough to beat a girl.

       "Actually, if I were you, I'd rather take the long way," she prettily answered back, swinging the rope down, and kicking him back into the fire without hesitation. Falling slowly down the rope, something chilled her blood cold.

      There were flashing lights of red and blue, people standing outside with weapons raised right at her, ready to meet their mark. Midswing and frozen once more, she lifted herself, closing her coal eyes at the thought of the bullets piercing her skin..

      No way out, pounded in her skull. She would either get captured or killed. Which would she pick? Did Jane actually like her life? Why were these people here for her? How had they tracked her?

       She was already lowering herself down, hands up, when a rocket of fire burst out the window and hit a nearby pine tree, quickly licking and spreading down its new, fresh feast. Everyone turned their heads, shouting, and giving her the perfect chance to escape-so she did.

        Jane ran, head whipping back and forth, breathing heavily as the shouts followed her, ducking around the burning house, knowing the forest was tightly filled with people who were out for her blood.

     She was running and running through the maze of flames, leaping through the fallen eaves of fire, just ready to get out, to get beyond and to the other side of the forest where hopefully she wouldn't be followed-and hide for her life.

      Jane was faced with another blockade, this time one she couldn't jump over without a bit of help. Thinking swiftly, she decided that sending her rope out would work. Winding it around in the air, gaining speed in seconds, she sent it flying to the nearest tree, winding around a steady branch.

      She took a deep breath, hoisting herself back. Then, she ran and jumped up onto the tree, pulling it out again as she slipped down towards the fire, too close, and throwing it again.

    Please...the rope almost went in slow motion as it wrapped around another tree's branch, but it was safe and tied. Swinging over, she hooked the other side of the rope back to the tree she was currently standing on and began to slowly climb over the rope, so close to the fire...

       Hold, hold, she thought with every crawl towards the next tree, hearing the footsteps of others trailing her. Faster.

      They were almost here...she moved faster, crawling against the rope, the fire now right below her. Looking back at the tree, Jane glanced to the further clearing. She was close enough now, right?

      Taking a chance, she crawled her limbs back, preparing to spring. Like a cat, she sprung up and made a leap for it, flying through the air. Lurching over, she closed her eyes, as she hit the earth with a thud, jarring her chin and jaw, scraping her knees.

    Head pounding, Jane stood back up, watching in horror as her rope made a scratching sound, breaking in half and collapsing into the fires.

     "Shi-" Jane uttered, balling up her fist. But, she still needed to run, so she turned back around, ready to make another run for it before anyone caught up to her...

     "Go to sleep," someone whispered behind her, and she felt a jab on her head, before she slumped and everything went dark.