The coins scattered in multiple directions.
“Now you done it,” the leader looked up with his bruised and bloodied face. He used his hand as a cloth to wipe off the red smear.
My blade revolved in my fingers as I used Knife Tricks to hold the steel steady. Lyle brandished his revolver while holding his shortsword. The other gang members held their weapons closer. They were no stranger to violence.
The familiar autumn breeze brushed by; still as we all were.
Lyle sprinted in, I leaped towards the gang member. The coins clattered on the ground as we picked up speed.
The gang leader bore down his cudgel, I sidestepped out of the way. My senses acted up, that''s when my instinct took hold. I ducked down.
A machete whizzed past overhead, past my ears.
My breathing quickened as my pupils dilated. My claws retracted. I looked at the man. Cheekbones was the one who held the machete. I repositioned my knife in reverse.
Bandana held a pistol, nestled firmly in his hands. He steadied his aim.
Cheekbones swung with abandon. I stabbed the thug’s arm to meet his attack. My blade left a wide scar. Cheekbones clutched on his arm while he receded back behind the gang leader.
I rolled onto the ground. Bullets pelted the ground as Bandana took pot shots.
Lyle fought his own battles. A mobster guarded with a club, yet Lyle’s blade overpowered the wood. His sword splintered the hoodlum’s weapon, to the point where Lyle made a shallow cut. The gangster dropped to the ground.
Another mobster ran towards Lyle.
*Bang!*
The operative shot the gangster without looking in his direction. The ruffian toppled down. There was no time to ponder if he was still breathing.
Not an ounce of anima do they share.
“Shit!” A gangster yelled. “They’re the real deal. The rat tricked us!” Panack struck half of the gang members. The other half glared at the vagrant, “Yes, this is the rat’s fault,” another mobster said.
The vagrant slammed his foot into a thug’s ankle before they could catch him.
The vagrant kneeled over, “Sorry, but this one is done playing your games. Have good luck with your precious… fates!” Like that, the vagrant ran off, unseen as he was before.
I refocused my attention back onto the three stooges. They were as still as the other gang members. They were the powerhouses, and Lyle picked off the stranglers, and those stranglers were close by.
I dashed towards the nearest mobster. His eyes widened as I sank my knife into the thug’s leg. I felt a tingle in the back of my head. I looked back to the bandana, he pointed his gun at me.
A club swung at me from behind. My body pivoted as I grabbed onto the arm of the would-be attacker. I used the momentum to flip over the brute. A bullet went off, it tore through the attacker’s shoulder.
“They’re pickin’ us off!” the gang leader yelled. “Gather here, and fight together.”
Yet the warning fell on deaf ears.
Lyle and I destroyed their morale. The group scattered in multiple directions, the leader included, bandana and cheekbones also ran away with him.
I looked in the direction where they escaped. We fought for far too long, so they’re probably long gone. Catching them now was an impossible task, I sighed.
Just when I thought that fate hadn''t screwed me over enough.
I checked for corpses when they were still breathing. Some injuries, but they’ll live. The previous bile in my throat washed away.
All was still, except for Lyle and my twitching tail. A body twitched and raised from the corner of my eye. The body was animated, like strings attached to a puppet. I watched as the man stumbled for a weapon in a sea of bodies.
Lyle put away his revolver with delicate fingers. He faced his back at the man.
“Stay down, you should accept your defeat with grace,” Lyle said.
The man shuffled on. Lyle threw his sword on the ground, he was unarmed.
“I tried giving you a chance. Now I see that you don’t even have that much honour. You vile scum are all the same,” he said.
This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.
The gangster charged at Lyle with a simple knife. Lyle swung his arm as the knife struck out. He grabbed onto the man’s arm and twisted out of some sadistic pleasure. The knife went out of the man’s grip.
Lyle threw the thug onto the ground with his other hand. “All. you. had. to. do. was. stay. Down!” The operative brought his fist down with each word.
“Lyle, stop!” I yelled. “You want to kill him?”
“Why would I do that? The world would be a better place without them.”
People trickled in to watch from the sidelines. People who carried guns, lowered as they were; The Neighborhood Watch. They were waiting for how this was going to play out, seemingly in inaction. Lyle tugged on the man’s shirt with his bloodied hand. I jerked at the operative’s arm. He put up little resistance, I lacked the strength.
“Lyle, are you killing him?” I asked again. “Do you see his face? He’s just a kid, younger than us.”
“He’s not a kid,” Lyle said. “He’s a criminal. They tried to kill us. He ran at me with a knife, they''re not good people.”
“They are only human, Lyle. Humans who made mistakes. We made mistakes before, I made decisions that I am not proud of. Who are you to play judge, jury, and executioner? You''re no different yourself, Lyle. You see that constraint of yours every day you wake up in the mirror?”
The operative slammed the kid on the ground, “you’re making a big mistake,” Lyle said. “Fine, if you won’t tie up loose ends, that’s on you. And ask your vigilante friends what they do with criminals.”
“You are right — I am not tying up loose ends. That is because I am not wrapping my problems away with bloodied hands. There might be a psychopath who deserves what they get, and I admit that, but every one warrants a chance. Not the blood covered in your hands.”
He raised his shortsword from the ground, “Suit yourself, catboy. You’ll learn at some point. Not today, not tomorrow, but you haven’t seen the worst humanity has to offer. And when it does, I’ll be there, here as always.”
Lyle pushed a neighbourhood watch aside as he was leaving. The member jerked towards Lyle before a hand stopped the watch.
“Friend of yours?” A woman asked. She displayed her armour with pride, a shine and sparkle that the rest of The neighbourhood Watch had no access to.
“More like an unfortunate partner-for-life,” I replied.
“Sad to hear,” she extended her hand. “I’m Sofia, leader of this platoon they call the watch.”
“I’m—”
“Mekiko O’ Zaar, a 3rd class Imperial operative.”
I took good care not to scratch her with my nails while I shook her hand. “You know somewhat about me, although that was already public information.”
“You can say that’s true. You are a person of interest. You met my grandma on multiple occasions after all.”
Wait, there’s only one person who fits that description, “You’re talking about old lady Carmen, she has a granddaughter?”
“Of course she hasn’t mentioned me, that sounds just like her,” Sofia laughed. “How bout you come with us? Come for a little chat?
I rubbed my chin while I glanced at the direction where Lyle left.
Know what? Screw him, “Alright, I can’t say that the granddaughter of Carmen would be a bad person — Where are we gathering?”
“Nothin’ too fancy, a warm place with some hot tea for starters.”
Anyplace better than here.
— — —
We huddled around the fireplace. The wood crackled as it gave off a scent, of burnt pine.
The other watch cozied beside us, they chatted as they laughed. Metlle clammered as a man rearranged his rifle for a routine cleaning.
I watched as the tea leaves darkened the water. I resisted the urge to rub my temples. The steam raised to my face, an earthly scent. As I stared, and studied, the teacup looked rather knockable near the table.
I pushed the cup to the middle of the table, as to stop my instincts before they happened. Sofia noticed my behaviour.
Something here is very wrong.
Being here was to relax, to rest. Yet I am tired; not in the way of insomnia, but in the way if I stopped now, there''ll be nothing.
The emotions from the battle wore me down. I listened while Sofia prattled on about The Neighborhood Watch, How they dish out their form of vigilante justice, the streets they protect in Snakewater. They are all noble causes, however—
“So, Mekiko, whaddya think of our little group?” The watch leader asked.
I scooped another teaspoon into my concoction of a drink, “hmm?”
“I asked you what you think about The Neighborhood Watch,” she repeated.
“I think they are fine,” I swirled more sugar in my pot.
“Come on,” she bumped my shoulder. “That''s not an answer.
I rested my teaspoon on the table, my plate clinked, “Alright, you want me to tell you what you like to hear, or what I actually think?”
“Pardon, you have something wrong with The Neighbourhood Watch?” She asked. The ebb and flow of conversation died down. The wood blistered over the fire.
“Not in particular,” I replied. “Nothing I said implied any disdain for your cause.” I tapped on the table.
“Then what do you hate about us?”
My ears twitched, “hate, hate is a strong word. I am hurt by the fact that you brought me here for your personal gain. What would Carmen say if she heard you?”
“Don’t you bring my grandmother’s name into this!” The table slammed, tea spilled over the floor. “I brought ya here out of my goodwill, away from the mayhem that happened outside.
“No, you picked out an IMPERIAL operative while they were at their lowest, had an ulterior motive the entire way; and I fell for your false sincerity. You told stories about honourable causes, thought of me as the weakest link. You''re no different than everyone else in Snakewater with an agenda,” I growled.
The room stilled. Not a noise left Sofia’s mouth.
“I’m done here,” I got up from my chair.