The Joker and the Thief in the night

[Olive Tome]

Underneath the dark grey clouds that covered the night sky was the now quiet city of London. Most have fallen asleep by the time the clock tower rung eleven o’clock. Almost eerily so, rain began to pour down as the clock hand touched eleven. The tower could be seen from most sides of the city, including the dock where nothing good was happening. Especially a young redheaded woman.

As the dock workers were setting into the Inns and taverns for the night getting a belly full of mead and trying their luck with the tavern wenches, the young redhead walked in the darkness by the warehouses. Grey eyes sternly looking for something elusive. She had been out since the moon had risen and the sun said farewell until dawn. A dawn that, to a hunter, may never come if they were not careful, but Evelyn was. She needed to be as it was hard to collect money if she was dead.

However, first Evelyn had to find the beast. Then she would have to kill it.

Taking things one breath at a time, she had noticed a broken window soon after ducking into an alley between two warehouses. Evelyn smiled at her great fortune as further inspection showed a wet brownish-red liquid that could only be the beast’s blood. Poking her head inside the broken window, the woman peered into the darkness while straining her ears for any evidence of nefarious play.

Drip. Drip. Drip.

The sounds of rain coming through a crack presumably in the ceiling were all she heard at first. Evelyn grabbed a short box and kicked it over to the window and propped herself up on it to look through the window better. Again she listened for any sounds.

Drip. Smash.

Just as the sound of a box breaking was heard, Evelyn used her bracer to clear the remaining glass off the window before climbing through as quick as a fox. As her leather padded boots hit the ground, less subtle sounds were heard from the beast. The monster heard her and was on the other side of the warehouse. It was on the move again as was the redheaded hunter who gripped her axe tightly and yanked it out of its holster. A moment to steady her breath and then she was off into the darkness of the warehouse in hopes to catch the mysterious beast in a corner.


---------
Ninja

 

[Ninja]

20 minutes earlier...

He sat quietly in the inky blackness of night, only occasionally and with the utmost silence would he stretch out within the confines of his crate. Isaac ran his leather gloved hand gently along the rim of the little flap to his left, feeling the rough wooden surface as he traced the inside edge. He thought back to the briefing the order had given him and of the particular creature they suspected, a serpent of the depths. A shudder passes through him at the thought of tackling another beast like it again, he looked down involuntarily eyeing up his silk shirt tucked beneath his leather coat. The last one made such a mess he thought to himself as his hand freezes mid-way through tracing the wood.

The sound was subtle, a slight change to the water as it ebbed and sploshed against the dockside wall, the wind was calm but there was an undeniable change upon the waves. His eyes closed, his finger relaxing as his senses all focused upon the sound of a wet slithering noise sliding across the stone someway to his left. The sound became more distant as his finger once more returned to the wooden edge, a quick trace up and around followed by a gentle click as he worked the catch loose.

He rolled free from his wooden prison, his legs coming around behind him to whip him up and to his feet quickly. His eyes focused in the darkness, having already adapted to the night from his pitch black box he wasted no time spotting the thick wet slimy trail. He moved fast and with precision, each footstep coming down gently and silently as he worked his way to where the trail slid behind a warehouse into a tight alley. Isaac paused his back against the wall beside the entrance, he peered once quickly around the corner taking in all he could observe before moving his head back against the wall.

Odd Isaac thought, the beast was coiled up against the back wall of the alley, sat within the T-Junction at the end. Yet its focus was not on him as he had expected, its snake like tongue had been flicking out tasting the air down the alley to the right as if the creature was hunting something else. Isaac thought about his options carefully, he knew where he wanted the beast and it was certainly not to the right for that lay out of the dockyard and into the streets beyond. He reached into his coat, quietly pulling the throwing blade he waited for a moment, upon hearing the beast tongue once more flick out he shot around the corner throwing the single blade in a smooth motion as he spun around to land against the opposite wall, his back once more pressed against it. The blade soared merrily along until it sliced precisely into the creatures tongue burying itself deep inside, the beast howled with a low pitched thunderous roar before launching itself to the left and deeper into the warehouses.

Isaac was quick to keep up, travelling along the dockside he listened to the sound of the beast careening through the alleyways, smashing its way through boxes and junk before the sound of breaking glass then silence. He slows, briefly closing his eyes to access a map in his mind, his hand tracing gently over the brick wall of the warehouse to his right before he pauses. His fingers spread along the wall for just a moment before he spins towards it and presses his back hard against the wall. He can sense the beasts terror now just beyond the brickwork, it's afraid he thinks to himself as he slowly pulls the pocket watch from his upper coat pocket. He watches as the seconds tick towards the 11pm mark planning his next move, "as long as I keep the creature from water" he thinks to himself, the seconds edging closer to 11pm "then this shouldn’t be too hard". In the distance the chimes billow announcing the arrival of the eleventh hour as Isaac lets out a disappointing sigh as the first raindrop splashes against the watches glass.

Yet none of this compared to the amazement and shock he felt at the sound of breaking glass somewhere on the other side of the warehouse followed by the sudden shifting of the creature he had lured into his trap. His head leaned back in despair as he realised his visions of an easy controlled kill were slipping away

 

[Olive Tome]

The darkness enclosed around Evelyn as she moved silently down the cramped hallways of boxed and crates. Any sounds the creature made had ceased but she knew it did not leave the warehouse. The heavy axe held firm in her pale hand as she peered through the cracks between all the boxes. The girl had hopes of seeing the creature before it had seen her. However, nothing as of yet showed the creature. The hunter had managed to see a glimpse of it as she was walking through the docks earlier that night.

A snake of some sorts by the fact the only thing she saw of it was a rather large tail. Wishes of a wolf-less night were answered and given in return was a snake which was not any easier to hunt. Alas, Evelyn was grateful for a hunt. Rent was due in three days.

A step down a new aisle led to a faint squishing sound under her foot instead of the soft clunk of leather hitting wood. The small ginger hairs on the back of her neck stood as she lifted her foot and looked down at a puddle. A puddle that stretched all the way down the aisle until there was nothing but a black void. As Evelyn knelt down, the tips of her fingers touched the unknown liquid. The texture was wet and slimy, most likely a mixture of water and it’s natural lubricant. Not usual for a snake as they were not slimy. Not the ones Evelyn held as a child. It became more unusually as the hunter lifting her fingers back into her peripheral she could see it was translucent and had a faint odour of fish.

Rotting fish.

That's gross, Evelyn thought as she lifted herself off of her knee and wiped her hand on the nearest box before once again travelling down the hall. Now, she had a trial to follow. There was no hope in hell she would allow the beast to escape her clutches that night. While the void had no sounds it changed. A loud groan was heard. Soft, yet echoey as it became clear the beast was also on the hunt. Did it see her? No, it would have lunged if it did sense her location.

Yet, fortunately looking between the boxes at the right time gave Evelyn a gift. The contorted face of the snake was seen through the crack. The dark made it hard to define the finer detailed of the beast, but no doubt it had rough looking scales that appeared to be greenish grey in colour. Mostly to match the murky waters it presumably lived in. Thankfully it was not in the water and it had not seen her. However, the wild flicking of the tongue proved it was looking for something. At least, that was what she thought before she saw something lodged into the tongue. Something else was after it, the redhead thought sourly. The last thing she needed was someone else swooping in to take the kill. She had seen it first and was tracking it for an hour. It was her’s and no way in hell or heaven would she allow someone take it from her.

Slowly, she made her way around the corner to be in the same aisle as the snake who, unfortunately, now saw her. Muscles tensed up as Evelyn held the axe tightly bracing for a fight. Instead, the beast turned and slithered away back into the dark night.

Evelyn huffed before chasing after the large snake in a desperate attempt to not lose sight of it once again. Her mind could not handle the thought of losing it. Yet, when it broke another window, Evelyn felt discouraged for a moment. It would be hard to chase the beast down if it made it to the waters.


------
Ninja

 

[Ninja]

Isaac pushed himself off from the wall letting out a slight sigh as he stepped into the now pouring rain, he cursed the skies for a moment as if the darkness itself had betrayed him before looking out across the dockside. The warehouse he now stood beside and the one he had intended to stalk the serpent in ran north, it's large encompassing walls featureless and void of all windows. slowly Isaac began to walk along the wall his eyes closed as he visualized the many isles and passages within the warehouse itself.

Many hours earlier he had walked along the same route the serpent was now slithering down, he had done so memorizing the route whilst also placing little dried bags of the same fluid the creature now secreted. This Isaac knew, would lead the creature falsely, it would smell the path of it's own kind, know there would be safety where its brethren lay, but no safety would come to the serpent this night for he had meticulously planned its demise.

Smash

The sound of glass breaking was Isaac's cue to pick up the pace to a slightly more brisk walk, he knew now that it had crashed through the window on the back wall of the warehouse, this led to an enclosed alley leading back away from the docks itself, twisting and winding around several more warehouses before opening into the wharf at the end. Here, enclosed on all sides Isaac had planned to confront the serpent, to trap the creature in the cellars below before removing the creature from this world.

But, someone or something has also now entered the fray.

He pondered this thought for a moment as he rounded the corner, he began climbing the metal stairs that led to the catwalk above the enclosed alley, his hands sliding over the rain soaked railings as he continued his thought.

It had certainly picked up the scent of something or someone in the alley before.

He reached the top of the stair well and began carefully walking along the center of the cat walk slowly to avoid being seen below. He heard the serpent beneath him, slithering furiously along the narrow passage, tracking it's movements by sound alone rather than risk leaning over to see it.

and unless the order were mistaken and there are two serpents.

He paused, mid thought contemplating if the order could be wrong on such matters before continuing his original thoughts.

or

He paused once more, this time to the subtle and muffled sound of glass crunching slightly where the serpent had smashed through the window into the alley below. Isaac paused mid stride, his breath held as he tried to focus his hearing, someone was trying awfully hard to remain deathly quiet. He tilted his head impressed as the slight sound vanished without a trace somewhere below him.

or, another wishes to hunt this creature. . .

 

[Olive Tome]

Rain began to enter where the window was once broken. The window was a foot above her head with broken glass on both sides. Unusually since the glass should have all been on the other side but not uncommon based on how a snake moves it could have pushed some glass in while slithering. The beast was starting to be a pain in Evelyn’s ass and killing it was starting to sound more pleasurable hand the money behind the kill.

Quick like a bunny, Evelyn put her axe in the holster and moved over towards the window. With a heavy breath, she jumped up with her arms stretched to grab the window. Pale fingers gripped the window sill, sharp pain was felt as her fingers touched the glass. However, that did not deter the young hunter to let go. Instead, she pulled herself up through the window and put her foot up on the sill to help support herself. One look at her fingers showed crimson on them. She would have to clean the wound later. She jumped down on the other side into an enclosed alley. Her feet hitting the shattered glass below with a crunch.

That was when she heard something above her. A foot step? The snake on the catwalk above?

Neither sounded pleasing which made Evelyn duck down into the shadows. Rain hit her cheeks as grey eyes stared at the catwalk above looking for anything that was standing above. Yet, just like her, it appeared to stop. Maybe it was her imagination after all. A part of her wanted to climb on top of a crate to get a better look at what was above, but that would have been a fool’s mistake. Especially if it was whatever attacked the creature earlier.

Evelyn may not be the only one not willing to share. Best to stay out of their eye sight until she could kill the beast and get out.

The axe was taken out of the holster again as the redhead turned back towards the enclosed alley. Her right hand gripped the handle tightly as she shuffled as quiet as possible down the alley. Her attention was split towards the beast and whatever was above. The brick wall acted as a comfort knowing nothing could attack her from behind. Yet, just as she felt a slight bit comforted something happened to make her lose that feeling entirely.

The ugly beast of a snake made its return. It had nowhere to go and it sure as hell looked pissed off. Evelyn could not tell if it was looking at her or something else, but she sure hoped it would go after anything but her. It would make for a decent distraction - unless she was the distraction.

 

[Ninja]

Seconds passed as Isaac waited on the catwalk above, patiently, he knew that if he had heard the noise, as elusive and silent as it was, that the serpent most certainly had. He reached up gently and once more looked at his pocket watch, raindrops beating down against it as he watched the seconds tick by. A handful of those same seconds later and hissing roar erupted from a little further off along the passage, marking the return as Isaac predicted of the serpent below.

Who ever you are.

Isaac thought to himself.

Let us hope for both our sakes, you can take a hint.

In a single swift motion, he replaced his pocket watch while simultaneously removing a small glass bulb, gripping it loosely in his free hand. The serpent roared once more, preparing to strike it's victim below but Isaac wasted no time, one foot mounting the slippery railing and the second pushing himself off, launching him in a gentle spiral towards the rooftop ledge opposite. As his body rotated mid air, he saw the serpent lunging itself towards a red-haired woman below him, stood as if prepared to confront the creature, it took only a moment longer for Isaac to toss the glass capsule into the alley below.

As the capsule fell to the alley below, Isaac twisted his body mid-air, his right foot coming out before him just as he reached the rooftop ledge. He allowed his leg to compress under his weight before forcing himself off it once more into the air, a slight pirouetting motion as he falls back towards the catwalk. He twisted himself as he cleared the rail and landed both feet before him, boots gripped hard against the drenched metalwork, almost at the same instant so too did the capsule land in the alley below.

The capsule shattered itself against the floor, landing precisely between the lunging serpent and the red-haired woman. The concoction the capsule had held within now began to quickly fill the void between the woman and the creature, and for the briefest point in time a green tinted cloud hung like a wall between them. That was, however, until a single spontaneous spark rapidly ignited into a fireball spreading across the alley and stretching up unto the catwalk above.

The serpent still mid way through it's lunge now found itself flailing head first into this fiery fireball, flames green in tint from the chemicals, lashing up around its mouth and eyes. Within an instant it was recoiling itself furiously, screeching in pain and howling viciously at the catwalk above. Isaac by now had already set off at a gentle running pace, rounding the corner and heading off towards the wharf building up in the distance.

I really don't have time to deal with part time hunters

Isaac shook his head in annoyance, hoping the woman had learnt her lesson as he began to pick up the pace. He could hear the serpent smashing its way with infuriated rage through the alley just below him, throwing itself occasionally up towards the catwalk as it chased the sound of running footsteps above it.

Keep coming you foul creature, just a little further. . .

 

[Olive Tome]

Within seconds Evelyn had an idea. Once the creature would inevitably lunge towards her, she would get out of the way so it would hit its head against the brick behind her. That would have given sufficient time to get an axe buried deep into the head of the beast. It was the best case scenario and she was almost glad when it decided she was the target as lunged.

Instead, sounds came from above as the mysterious person made themselves known by vaulting to the other catwalk and tossed something towards her and the beast. The capsule hit the ground of the alley and quickly filled with what the redhead assumed was gas. Panic filled her as she backed away silently as the snake lunged still. Then the fiery explosion came in the form of green fire which the monster could not dodge. Evelyn had to close her eyes from the horrible brightness. She would have enjoyed the sight if it were not in a desperate situation.

A man was then seen on the catwalk which made Evelyn groan as she watched the hunter run down the catwalk with the snake chasing them. Just what she needed. Another man thinking a woman can’t be a decent hunter and has to swoop in the steal the kill. Her eyes narrowed as she took in a deep breath before chasing after the beast.

No way in hell will I let you take my kill, bastard.

The beast was acting erratic now, less predictable than before thanks to the glory hog attacking. It moved from one side of the alley to the other and then up into the catwalk and as fast as it took for the best to get up there it was back on the ground once more. It would make the job harder than Evelyn wanted, but it gave her a good chance now. It was after him and paid no attention to her which could give her a great opening.

The beast hissed in anger as it started to swiftly move back up into the catwalk, trying to get at the male hunter. As it lunged towards him it bit into the metal bar of the catwalk instead of him. In anger, it started to shake the catwalk violently as the beast freed its massive jaws from the now dented metal. It was that moment that allowed the red-haired hunter to catch up with a smirk on her face. Gripping the axe, Evelyn gave a loud grunt as she jumped up in a short distance and swing the axe right into the beast’s back.

It cried in pain as the axe slid down the back cutting into it thanks to the gravity and Evelyn’s body mass. Blood began to ooze out from the cut and some even sprayed onto her face. Evelyn took a single second to admire the handy work as her feet hit the ground again. The wound would not kill the beast but would have caused some damage.

It also got the beast’s attention back on her and not the man. Which was a bonus in her eyes.

The snake hissed s it turned back towards her. As quick as she was catching up to the beast, Evelyn turned around and started to head back in the direction she came from. The sound of the snake slithering after her while hissing in anger could be heard. Grey eyes were dead set on the window she used to get out into the alley was her new goal. Now she would want to go back in and lure the snake inside and away from any exits it could take.

Evelyn could only hope the glory hog would not ruin her plan once more.

 

[Ninja]

Isaac slowed his pace at the sound of the commotion behind him a second later and he was sliding to a halt along the slippery metal catwalk. He paused, a look of despair flashing across his face as he stood staring down the metal path, his eyes fixated on the wharf building where his trap for the creature now lay useless, it’s tall fortress like walls rising up just in the distance as if to mock him.

Okay… I guess we do this the hard way then.

He reached out and gripped the rain soaked rail tightly, a single slow exhale slipped from his lips in the form of a heavy sigh before leaning over just in time to see the tail end of the serpent flicking away back down the alley from where it came. His hand still gripped he pushed himself over the rail, using his momentum to vault himself towards the wall running parallel as he fell, his hand letting go before immediately reaching out to grab the drain pipe running down it. Within seconds he was sliding down the wall, pushing himself off at the last moment before launching himself into a run. His eyes focus on the now distant serpent, watching in horror as a much smaller infant version wriggles free and drops from the wound as the mother whips itself around the corner up ahead and out of sight.

Great… The orders really not going to like this.

Both his hands disappear into his jacket as he continues his run, he watches as the infant, now itself moving quickly, wriggles towards one of the drainage holes running along the length of the alley, similar smaller trails already leading off into the hole. He sighs once more as the much smaller creature disappears into the hole as he approaches, hands now emerging from his coat before tossing a capsule into several of them. The entire ground appears to shake as fireballs blast from each of the holes, filling the alley behind him as he rounds the corner in a smoke and flames.

The creature now lay just before him, itself still chasing the woman just in front of it, in a smooth seamless motion Isaac dodges below its swinging tail, his foot coming out before him, stepping up onto a rapidly approaching pile of debris to then launch himself cartwheeling over the creatures back. As he flips legs now flinging through the air, he tosses a much smaller metal capsule into the creatures wound, before it immediately bursts into crackling, sparking flames on contact with the oozing liquid. The wound now cauterised as the flames melt and sear the flesh, the serpent rears its head up in pain, almost reaching the catwalk above, with another seamless movement he lands on the other side of the creature before flicking a small spear like hook up into the serpents face, the barbs digging deep under its throat as he swings across the front of it using the hanging rope, picking up speed as the serpents own motions fling him around. His legs come out together impacting the wall, his hands gripping tightly to the rope and hook now buried in the creatures throat, a single motion more and he was looping up flung high in an arc by the creatures motion, a second hook emerges from under his coat attached to the other free end of the rope before he quickly latches it round the rail. The creature now hooked hard against the metal reinforced catwalk above, he grabs out at the tightening rope as it flails itself around trying to get free the motion propelling him through the air before sliding down the wall on the opposite side of the alley.

The whole motion took merely a second or two to occur but as the red haired woman turned to witness it Isaac was already on her, using the momentum he’d gained from the creature and pushing off the wall to launch himself at her. All she had time to witness was the beast flinging around in the background as he impacted her hard, tossing both her and himself through the smashed window, both of them coming to land on the floor several feet from each other in the warehouse beyond the alley.

 

[Olive Tome]

Lungs burned as Evelyn ran down the alley. The beast following closely as Evelyn picked up the pace. Everything around her felt like a blur with only the beast and herself as the only things present. At least, until she heard more noises that were not coming from the beast and remembered the dreaded hunter was still around. He must not have been pleased with the fact the beast was now after her instead of himself. Serves him right.

Hearing the closeness of the unpleasant piercing screech of the beast behind her, Evelyn quickly ducked and rolled out of the way. Just then the snake lunged into the spot where Evelyn was prior to rolling. With her back pressed against the rough bricks of the warehouse, Evelyn watched with a smirk as the beast reared and screeched louder in apparent frustration and went up into the catwalk quickly. For just a second, the redhead looked at the beast in its hideous eyes before bolting back down the alley. The window just within sight. The beast followed closely trying to put pace her.

As Evelyn made it to the window to jumped up onto a thick wooden crate, the rain started to drop faster and harder than before. The huntress looked back at the snake which was in the processes of being tied to the wall by the other hunter. The acrobatic stunts would have been impressive if it was not against her target. Yet, there was no time to admire the sight since as soon as she saw it she could feel something rough hit her in the center. The weight was heavy and sent her flying backwards with the weight on her. Everything became a blur as she went backwards through the broken window. Evelyn tucked her chin into her chest to aid in lessening head injuries - a trick her father taught her. They must have been in the air for seconds before Evelyn felt herself hit the cement ground roughly and slid into a stop. The air was knocked right out of her lungs as she laid there.

The landing was enough to cause massive amounts of pain in her back as she laid on the ground catching her breath. She wiggled her body parts slowly to make sure they were not broken or damaged before propping herself up with her right arm. Using her left hand she wiped the wet strands of red hair from her face. Grey eyes scanned the room until she found the culprit for what caused her to go flying through the window. Him, Evelyn thought as she stood back up.

That bastard is trying to kill me! Selfish prick.

Picking up her axe with a grunt from back pain, her eyes locked onto the mystery hunter. Many things she wanted to say but it was not the time. She needed that beast’s head. “Next time you want to steal someone’s kill, don’t try to kill the hunter you psycho,” Evelyn grumbled before turning her back to the hunter.

“Now back the fuck off. I need this.” Evelyn took a step and felt pain shoot up her leg. It did not stop her as she kept walking back to the window. I need this, I need this for you, father.

 

[Ninja]

Isaac lifted himself from the floor slowly, his eyes fixated on the young woman as he did so. His eyes quickly darted between her and the axe as she got herself up and reached for it, he studied her body language as she did so seeing how she held her weight slightly to one side.

"She's hurting slightly, not enough to stop her though" he thinks to himself as he slowly stands and dusts himself off.

His hand reaches slowly behind his back, subtle movements as he twists his body to hide the motion.

"I cannot as you so eloquently put it, fuck off"

His hand now behind his back grips the crossbow, his thumb unlatching it as he pulls it free.

"But I cannot allow you to cause more damage than you have already done this night"

In a fluid motion he brings the crossbow to bare letting loose a single bolt aimed to cross her path as a warning, before burying itself in the window frame just in front of her.

 

[Olive Tome]

Evelyn stopped when she saw the bolt bury itself into the wooden frame of the window. Thoughts raced as to why she had become the target. Either the man was insane, thought she was a monster, or didn't care who he killed.

Fine, you want to play this silly game.

Taking a deep breath, the redheaded hunter turned to face her adversary. Wincing a little as she did so as pain shot up her leg. "This kill that important to you?" She spoke lowly while gripping her axe tighter. This hunter was a threat. Range weaponry, explosives and who knew what else. Evelyn would have to be careful.

Taking a step close, grey eyes watched carefully for any movements. She needed to het closer.

"If it is I am sorry for your luck because it is mine."

 

[Ninja]

He takes a moment to study this woman before him, her small size framed neatly by her long flowing red hair reaching down to her waist. His focus dances around taking in her small, slender shape, the slight roughness of her hand as it grips the axe beside her. He allows his vision to settle on her face, only now taking in her beauty and youth.

"I mean you no harm"

He holds his hands up a little, his eyes darting to the crossbow as he realises he is still holding it pointing towards her.

"But you know not what you have gotten yourself involved in*

He drops his guard a little, his hand going back behind his back to replace the crossbow, while his spare hand lowers to rest upon the hilt of his blade.

"You have already caused considerable problems for me this night, my lady, it is time now for you to leave"

He takes a little bow, his hand sliding off the hilt of his blade before moving himself casually towards the window while giving her a passing glance.

"I will take my leave of you now, go home and be safe, this is not the place for a woman of such beauty"

 

[Olive Tome]

As the man put the crossbow away Evelyn relaxed silently and put her axe away. If he was not going to kill her than no sense to attack. Yet, she still would not allow him to take what was rightfully hers.

She looked over the man in front of her. A well defined face, eyes that held an indetermined feeling, well muscled body and was taller than her, but than who wasn't. He would be considered hansome by most. Even Evelyn thought so.

Until he opened his mouth anyways. The cute ones alway ruin it when they talk.

A frown crossed her face as she watched his hand leave the tilt of the sword. He then walked passed her and what he said next upset her to no end. Evelyn had been right; he was one of those men.

Turning to face him, Evelyn contempated on what to do next. No way would she let him get away with it. Especially after that comment. That pissed her off enough that she wished to bury an axe in his crotch to teach him not to judge a woman. Actually, a part of that didn't sound like a half bad idea.

"Alas, you are correct. No place for a lady." A grin appeared on her face. Walking closer to him from behind with a slight limp. Evelyn only had one shot. If she missed no doubt it would make her look like a fool. If she did it, well, it would be halarious and give her a head start to the window. Always go for the cheap shots.

Running to close the distance between them Evelyn grunted as she kicked, aiming for between his legs.

 

[Ninja]

Isaac had had always had an uncanny ability to read body language, subtle little acts that betray ones emotion without them being aware. But subtle acts alone are often not enough to give a full picture. For that Isaac had learnt that a much stronger emotion must be thrown into the mix and anger was one of the strongest emotions of all.

And so whilst her speed and agression were impressive, it came as no suprise as she kicked out towards him. His hands were already free and placed by his sides in preparation and now as she lunged at him they came down crossing just as they intersected with her leg.

"I certainly respect your commitment"

His palms grip her ankle tightly as his arms flex taking in the motion of her kick before stopping it short.

"But you must stop, I do not have time for this"

The serpent can be heard thrashing and roaring in the alleyway the sound of its tailing impact against the warehouse wall billowing outside. Isaac, unphased by the sound outside, now drops to one knee whilst simultaneously pushing hard against her ankle. The motion of pushing and twisting moving through his hands and into her ankle and leg.

 

[Olive Tome]

“Time? You are the one truly wasting it for the both of us!”

Evelyn grimaced slightly as he held her foot. The man was good, she could admit that much to herself and certainly, he was no rookie. Not that it was the first thing that came to her mind when she saw him. He looked professional like he had been doing this for years. That was the worst part. Those righteous bastards.

As he pushed and turned her ankle, Evelyn turned into the twist to lessen the pain and to gather momentum. Evelyn wanted to be able to escape his grasp and it certainly was a trick she never used in a long time. As Evelyn turned quickly, she kicked up with her other leg to increase the momentum. Hands touching the ground to stabilise herself during the twist. She continued to move until she was able to pull her legs close to her chest and out of the hunter’s hands. With a grunt, Evelyn finished it off with a roll back onto her feet with her back to him. The Huntress almost missing her mark with the landing.

Pain shot up her leg again as her feet touched the floor. She would have to get it looked at once she got out of this mess.

“Why is this so important to you that you would waste time to get me out of the way?” Turning to side glance the man, Evelyn began to slowly rise from her crouched position. “For the good of mankind?” Evelyn mocked as she pivoted on her feet to face him. “To load your already fat pockets with more gold? More for you and less for those who need it?” She sneered as her hands dusted off her pants.

Evelyn walked towards him trying to hide the limp in her step as it showed weakness. “Now you either let me fight the beast and die of my own accord, or you incapacitate me. Because I won’t stop because you demand it.” She spoke as she rested her hand on the handle of her axe, waiting for his move.

 

[Ninja]

Isaac glances out towards the alleyway, the sound of the struggling serpent intensifies as dust and debris begin falling from the rafters above, shaken loose by the creatures tail pounding against the wall. He looks back towards the woman a little wrinkle of a frown flashing across his face in reaction to her mankind comment, he tilts his head a little to study her face again, full of youth yet subtle almost hidden scars showing a lifetime battles.

All those scars and yet here she still stands, she clearly has the passion and the skills. He ponders for a moment as she continues speaking, all the time watching her lips with fascination, while continuing to think to himself. And yet she tries so hard to hide those same scars, perhaps trying to live a life of two worlds. His thoughts are interrupted by the sudden realisation of her question, his eyes glancing to her hand as it sits upon the hilt of her axe before returning his gaze upon her own eyes trying to read what he can about her.

"I have no need for trinkets of gold or riches and as you have stated they clearly mean more to you"

He reaches slowly with one hand into his coat, while the other hand raises to appear less threatening, his hand returns holding a small purse giving it a little shake so she can hear the coin within.

"If it's simply riches you seek you may take this"

He throws the purse at her feet, holding both hands up slightly to again appear less threatening, he glances once more to the alleyway as the serpents roars intensify threatening to break loose at any moment. His left hand points towards the very same alley as he continues.

"That creature, is not your typical monster, it is a dark serpent released from the depths of hell, it must be contained first and then burnt to ash to prevent any of its young leaking from it's body and escaping"

Isaac pauses for a moment, tilting his head slightly to view her eyes more clearly, letting his words sink in slowly before pointing his hand to the coin at her feet

"Please, take the coin and leave before you cause anymore damage this night"

 

[Olive Tome]

The beast roaring and raving outside grew as the two stood at a stand still inside the warehouse. Eyes narrowed as the man reached into his pocket. Her hand gripped tightly onto the handle waiting for the man’s next unpredictable move, and unpredictable it was. Pouting her lips as she heard the sound of coins being bounced inside the pouch. The man was attempting to buy her off with an undetermined amount of money. Yet it had sounded like a considerable amount. The beast could give her considerably more money. However, if what the man said was true, then she was ill-equipped to burn the creature to ash. Money may be important but what use was it if dozens of those things get free into the water.

And Evelyn certainly was a reasonable woman in regards to money. She would have to true the bastard’s word.

Reaching down to pick up the coin purse, Evelyn never took her eyes off the man. Before she could say anything they were interrupted by a loud bang against the side of the warehouse that created a rumbled that vibrated the room. A screech pierced the air as the creature slithered it’s broken, the battered body through the window. It hissed as it laid its eyes on the pair of them. Its body slowly coiled as it watched for any movement. Evelyn slowly picked up the coin purse and put it in her back pocket quietly. It would appear, money or not, the redhead would have to stay for the fight at least until she could escape. Then it would be his problem as it so desperately wanted to play hero.

The beast must have noticed her movement as it recoiled and lunged at her. The beast was fast yet Evelyn still managed to roll out of the beast’s way. Her hand reached for the dagger in her right boot and unsheathed it. The Huntress was ready for a round two with the beast, but the beast thought otherwise.

It disappeared behind the aisles of crates before making its way back from the top. Eyes dead set on the man as it lunged towards him.

 

[Ninja]

He stood fast as the serpent launched it's strike from high above, fangs glistening, it's jaw spread wide to feast upon it's victim yet Isaac had other plans. With a singular fluid motion he dropped to one knee, rolling forward and under the creatures body as it arced over him, it's head impacting the now bare concrete where he once stood. Quickly rolling back to his feat Isaac leaped up, his foot contacting on the edge of a large crate before leaping once more curving back over the serpent as its long body continued its curve.

His hand emerge from under his coat as he falls upon it's back, small daggers curved in design now bury themselves into the serpents thick scaley hide. His boots dig in as he clings to the creatures back, as it wraps itself around a wooden roof supporting pillar, its tail smashing right through it as splinters explode in every direction. But Isaac continues to grip the blades hard, riding the creature as it whips and coils itself furiously, trying to toss the man free from it's back.

What happened next seemed to occur almost all at once as Isaac, still riding the serpent, became accutely aware of several things simultaneously. Firstly the serpent now began flinging itself towards the woman who, with dagger and axe both drawn, now stood directly in it's path. Secondly the wooden pillar directly behind her and now overcome by the weight of the roof above, was crumbling and splintering as the roof beam above began to cave in directly above her. Isaac could see in an instant the disaster that was about to occur.

Only a second passed before his reactions kicked in, yanking hard on the blades he leapt forward, thrusting himself towards the serpents head as it plunged towards her. His hand gripped the hilt of his blade, unsheathing it before plunging it deep into the eye of the serpent. The creatures head yanked to the left, spinning Isaac free as it roared in agony immediately followed by it's entire body coiling up in pain, pearcing screaching filling the air as it throws itself through the now crumbling wall back into the alleyway beyond. At the same moment Isaac had used the momentum to propel himself into the woman once more, twisting his body at the last moment to grab her as gently as he could before rolling her under him.

The whole event had lasted for a handful of seconds and as the building debris now lay scattered around them, he felt a sense of relief as she moved under him. That was until a strange warm, oozing sensation began to spread across his side. A sudden fear for the womans health making him roll to free her from his protective embrace, almost immediately the pain shoots across his body forcing him to reach down, feeling the splinter driven through him like a spear. Yet despite the crucifying pain all he could think out loud in the moment was.

"This shirt was expensive..."

 

[Olive Tome]

Before Evelyn could even react to what was going on around her, she felt a force push against her as she crashed backwards into the ground. Vibration and sounds of everything collapsed around her could be heard. The sound made her ears hurt but not as much as her face ached from landing on it not once but twice in less than an hour. The strangest part of it all was a pressure on top of her. Something was holding her down, and as she opened her eyes she could tell what it was. It was not an object but the hunter from earlier. He appeared to have a habit of forcing women off their feet. However, the huntress was grateful that he saved her life, not that she liked admitting that to herself.

Inhaling deeply, Evelyn began to wiggle underneath the man trying to prop herself up on her elbows. Thankfully, he must have gotten the hint as he moved off of her. Crimson caught her eye as the man rolled off of her. The look of pain crossed his face and Evelyn got onto her knees to examine the wound. It would appear he would survive providing it did not get infected. Seeing him injured like that almost made Evelyn want to help fix his wound and get him to safety.

However, the bloody man had to open his fat mouth and ruin it. “A shirt? You really worried about a stupid shirt?” Evelyn whispered with an aggressive tone as her eyes caught sight of the beast freeing itself from the rubble.

The beast flicked its tongue out to catch their scents. Evelyn gulped as she reached down beside her to grab the axe. Her other arm wrapped around the man’s torso being careful not to put pressure on the wooden piece impaling the hunter’s side. With a small grunt, Evelyn dragged the man away from the rubble and beast. It would do neither of them any good with an injured man out in the open like that. The serpent caught wind of them just as Evelyn got the man behind another beam. With a deep breath, Evelyn looked over at him. “Like it or not we are both in this dreaded mess now.”

Peaking around the pillar, she saw the beast making its way towards them. Evelyn silently cursed herself for getting stuck in the mess. “Look, you said we have to burn it to ash, yes? What else is there that I should know because you are certainly in no position to dodge the beast.”

 

[Ninja]

Isaac had watched her as she'd carefully peaked around the pillar, finding himself admiring the curves of her body from behind, the red locks of hair flowing down to her waist. He had allowed himself a brief moment to enjoy the view until the pain had struck him once more.

But now as she whispers to him, a serious worried look spreading across her face he cant help but feel a lingering sense that she reminds him of someone he knew long ago. He reaches inside the leather coat once more, pushing it to one side with his free hand whilst his other remained holding the wound. Flicking open a small pocket on the utility holster nestled under the coat he takes out the remaining glass capsule before placing it in her hand.

"Take this"

He places the capsule gently in her hand, closing her fingers around it before briefly keeping his hand around hers.

"Lead it to the wharf, keep it in the pit and burn it"

He stops and listens as the serpent now close by can still be heard roaring in pain.

"Use this to ignite the barrels above once you've dropped them, and try not to get yourself killed you owe me a new shirt"

 

[Olive Tome]

As he grabbed her hand, Evelyn looked down as she felt the comforting warmth of his hand as he closed her hand over a capsule. A similar one to what he used earlier from an appearance perspective. It would appear for the time being they have put their differences aside to tackle the beast. The same creature they were fighting over earlier. The entire mess was more complicated than it should have been, yet at least she would have a decent shot at killing it now.

Evelyn listened intently to the mystery hunter’s words and nodded making special note of barrels, pit, and wharf building. That was before she rolled her eyes at his shirt comment. This man certainly had messed up priorities. “I owe you nothing but getting you out alive,” she whispered before turning away from him. Her hand slipped the capsule into her pocket.

With a deep breath, Evelyn raised from her kneeling position and stepped away from the beam and hit it with the edge of her axe gently. The scrapping of the axe against metal caught the beast’s attention. Evelyn then put her axe back into her holster before dashing off towards the window with hopes the beast would not sniff out the man instead of following her as that could have lead into disaster. Maybe God was on her side for once, as the beast did in chase her instead of him. Hissing and screeching in pain as the sword was still impaled in its eye.

Evelyn had no time to carefully get through the window, so she jumped up and lifted herself through it with both arms and went out head first. With a grunt, she landed on the broken glass below and rolled away. Pain seared through her upper right arm as she did so, Evelyn would have to see her friend afterwards to get that looked at along with her leg and fingers.

If she survived.

 

[Ninja]

Isaac places his hand behind his back, feeling down to his side where the splintered and gone right through, he'd been reluctant to show the woman how bad it really was for fear she would ask more questions than he cared to answer. But now both she and the serpent had now left leaving him alone, he still feared for her safety but for now he had another issue to solve.

He begins to feel around the debris beside him picking up a suitable lump of wood and placing it upon his lap. Now with one hand still pressed against the wound he reaches into a pouch and pulls out two bullets also placing them upon his lap before tearing, with gritted teeth and regret two strips of fabric from the bottom of his shirt.

This is going to hurt. He thinks to himself as he leans forward, inserting the wooden lump in his mouth before placing his hand on the back of the splinter, blood begins oozing through his fingertips as he grips it, taking a moment to take a deep breath before biting down hard on the wood. He pushes hard while pulling it free with his other hand, the wood in his mouth beginning to crumble as muffled screams of pain echo through the remains of the warehouse as the splinter, oozing blood, slides free. He feels himself beginning to slip out of consciousness before single concentrated thought snaps him back to reality.

Must close the wound.

Grabbing both bullets, gripping the lead within his teeth, he twists the tops free from their shells before spitting them out. He quickly tips the powder within them into the wound, again the pain threatening to push him unconscious, but his hands now fumbling once more under the leather coat, grabbing at the flint tool hidden within. He bites down on what little wood remains in his mouth, no longer caring whether he bites his tongue or not, with a sudden flash he lights the powder and as the pain finally becomes unbearable he allows his mind to drift away into unconsciousness thought.

Meanwhile the serpent was now smashing it's way with renewed anger and determination through the alleyway, no longer compelled to just escape it would make this prey pay.

The creature rebounded against the brickwork as the woman, much smaller and agile rounded the sharp corner with much greater ease. Yet the Serpent would not slow down, would not stop until it's prey was taken, it closed the distance quickly even as she continued before lunging from behind, jaw opened wide, fangs like razors glistening as they fell towards her.

 

[Olive Tome]

Evelyn ran as fast as possible with the beast closing the distance between them. Not once did she dare look back but the sound was more than evident enough of it getting closer. The Wharf building had come into view and quickened her pace. She needed to get to that building before something happened and she would not be able to destroy the beast. Getting closer to the building, that was when hell started to break loose.

The beast lunged at her and Evelyn turned to face the beast as it attacked. There was no time to dodge the incoming attack, not in the cramped alley. The creature came closer and closer as she drew a knife out of the holster on her waist. The redheaded woman braced herself as it came just a foot from getting her, then she struck the beast with a determination to survive and see the dawn.

Plunging the knife deep into the snout of the beast, it began to roar and hiss loudly. The Huntress’ ears began to ring from the close proximity of the piercing sound. The Serpent lowered its head to the ground as it tried to rub the dagger out, causing it to push the dagger in more. That was when grey eyes saw the blade sticking from its eye. No doubt the man would want it back. It was a ballsy move on her end, but with a quick yank, she pulled the blade out.

That sure got the snake’s attention again.

Before it realised what happened, Evelyn wasted no time in running down the quickly enclosing alley, becoming almost claustrophobic. Wasting no haste, the red-haired huntress rammed the old door of the Wharf building open, falling inside. Her arms came out quickly to catch herself and absorb the shock of the fall. It stung, especially after cutting her arm and fingers on glass earlier, but there was time to fix that later.

For now, she had to kill the hell spawn and that the mystery man would still be alright.

 

[Ninja]

Darkness began to give way to dotted flashes of light, ebbing within the grey mist, these in turn giving way to swirling clouds, each a flickering picture of solitary memories flashing over them. Isaac, still trapped within his unconscious mind, began to drift silently through them a sense of calm flowing over him as he reaches out, fingers outspread towards a singular much darker cloud. Suddenly everything changes, familiarity beginning to fill his mind as faces appear before him, featureless and vague, yet oddly he feels a sense of knowing them. His view begins to roll to the side and he realises the faces are of people stood above him as if he's looking through the eyes of someone laying upon the floor. A hand, perhaps his hand reaching out towards something burning in the distance, the sound of someone screaming a single word begins to reverberate as a figure becomes visible in the flickering flames.

"Noooo...!"

Isaac suddenly finds himself awake, the sound of a voice, his voice, still echoing throughout the warehouse ruins. He sighs before leaning forward, hand touching the still tender wound before forcing himself up on unsteady feet.

"I really hope she's still alive" He mutters before starting to move his way carefully over the debris towards the alleyway once more.



The serpent flings itself through the wharf doorway, brickwork and splinters flying as it forces it's immense bulky size into the large open area beyond. It begins to weave itself in and out between the forest of supports before moving into the large open area within the centre of the wharf. Roaring hisses of anger begin to echo around the cavernous building as the creature coils and rears itself up, it's full size becoming apparent as it scans it's now impaired vision across the array of cranes and machinery filling the area in search of it's prey.

It's head suddenly snaps towards a large pit, cranes rising up from it's dark depths to the floors above as a bouncing pebble like sound echoes from within it. The serpent seemingly cautious begins to circle the pit, an urge to kill filling its very being yet the creature does not give in, instead looking for ways to strike its prey without letting them once more escape.

 

[Olive Tome]

Staying close to the cold ground, Evelyn listened carefully for any signs of the Serpent. It would appear that once the massive beast made its way inside the Wharf it was just as quiet as her as it began playing cat and mouse with the Huntress. The words of the hunter still stayed in her mind. Now that she was inside the building that was meant to be a trap it was time for the next step: get to the barrels. Evelyn had a fairly good idea that it was not going to be nearly as easy as it sounded when he mentioned it, but she had too.

If she died it would make her look like an incompetent hunter, and who would take care of her father? Possibly Victoria, but he would be devastated to know his daughter was hunting and died from a bad hunt.

With a steady, slow breath Evelyn lifted her head up to scan her surrounding area. Low hisses were heard in the distance but unable to pinpoint the location due to the echo it gave off. Just fantastic, Evelyn thought as she stood up slowly. Looking for a staircase could take forever and the more she explored the more likely the beast would find her first.

With no idea what to do next, Evelyn scanned to find an alternative to get upstairs. Steely eyes focused at the crane and then the second floor. The crane looked like it went on a forty-five-degree angle and the end of the crane was close enough that a decent jump could make the distance. A small smile grew on her pale face as she crouched back down. With soft steps and sword in hand, Evelyn made her way to the crane. Her heart was racing her her chest and muscled tensed waiting to be struck at by the beast at any moment.

With luck, Evelyn managed to get over to the large crane. The top was surrounded by darkness and was hard to make out. However, that did not stop her from climbing up onto the machine and grabbing hold of the cold metal with her free hand. Before she could climb she realized the difficulty it would case with one hand, so she released the red cloth from around her waist and wrapped it around the blade of the sword near the hilt. Afterwards, she placed the clothed part of the blade in her mouth and bit down to keep the sword in place. The cloth stopping the sharpness of the blade from cutting her mouth.

Now, with two free hands, she grabbed the metal firmly by the jagged sides as she got her feet planted firmly on the metal. Slowly she climbed, using her hands to keep herself steady and from sleeping. Certainly was not the sharpest angel she had to climb up but enough to leave her open to an attack, but that was a risk she would have to take to save time getting higher up.