Walking to the door I kept low. Now at the back door, I could hear something moving inside, just barely. The back door opened out so I waited behind it. If they left it open they probably planned to come out this way too. The sound of footsteps came closer and when the sound got close enough I kicked the door as hard as I could. It swung around, slammed into something just before it shut, and bounced back with shouts coming from behind it.

“Ow, FUCK! What the?”

I stepped from behind the door into the doorway to see a, younger than me, guy sitting up on the floor holding his forehead. When he saw me his eyes shot wide open painting fear on his face.

“OH SHIT! I… I didn’t know this was your place, I swear. I would have never come here if I knew.”

Standing over him I looked down at the kid as he stumbled to his knees, almost in a groveling position. I stared at him hard trying to recall how I knew him.

Nope, I have no fucking idea who he is, so how does he know me? I stood up tall trying to make myself look more intimidating. No matter how angry I was there was no denying that I was fucked up and I couldn’t risk another fight, even if he looked weak. Especially not one at MY HOME. But he definitely knows something about me and I need to figure out what and how. So bluffing it is.

I tilted my head up while keeping my eyes locked on him. “Who the fuck are you and how do you know me?”

“I’m nobody, I swear I work alone. I………. I wouldn’t lie to the guy who has been beating his way through Aaron’s amateur fighters like it’s nothing. I’m not even a fighter, and I’ve seen you fight… I don’t want to be on the receiving end, so please trust that I’m not lying. Please!”

“Aaron!? Did he send you?” I reached behind my back, of course, I didn’t have anything but he didn’t know that.

“What no! He’s going to kill me when he finds out about this. This is worse than when I tried to steal from him!”

“Steal? You were stealing from me?” This son of a bitch, I get beat the fuck up and I come back to this!

“No! I…. I was just scouting it out so I haven’t taken anything yet and now that I know this is your place I won’t come near it again. I promise.”

As I took a step forward he instinctively tried to make himself smaller. Perfect. I leaned my face down and close to his, “Don’t tell anyone about this place!”

He looked terrified and confused, but his confusion won out on the other and he spoke. “But shouldn’t I, tell others so they know not to come here?”

Fuck that’s a good point. However, I definitely don’t want anyone to know where I live. Especially after what happened today.

“Tell them to stay out of this area, and if anyone else comes here I will deal with them… And then you!” when I stepped to the side he franticly ran out of the door and vanished behind a house.

“Fuck! I wish I could have killed him, that would have solved my problem but…” That would probably cause way more problems than it would solve. Plus I don’t really know how to clean up a murder scene so it was a no-go.

I shut and locked the door. I barely made it to my room before, dropping, I hit the floor finally letting the exhaustion take over.

“I just can’t catch a break.” I closed my eyes as I lay on the floor.

He is definitely going to tell Aaron where I live. Aaron already knew the general area but not the exact house! Though the real problem is if he tells someone else. Well, that and the fact that I apparently have a reputation now. If I’m lucky I don’t have one and it was just that one guy, but with the previous logic that means I definitely have a reputation and a good amount of people know about it.

“Fuck, I need to get cleaned up before—” a bright light stopped me mid-sentence. Opening my eyes it continued to get worse until my eyes adjusted.

“Why is the sun?............ Oh, no.” Grabbing my phone I confirmed it. I had slept through the night and into the next day. Panic set in as I looked around checking for any signs of my Ma entering my room. Nothing out of the ordinary but that didn’t mean she hadn’t opened the door and saw me. although she would have probably woken me up so I think I’m safe.

After making my way downstairs I grabbed something to eat and sat at the kitchen table. While eating I look around the house. I wasn’t paying particular attention when I got home but I get the feeling that not one thing has been moved. My Ma should be at work right now so it’s no big deal that she wasn’t at the house but…. I’m probably just overthinking this. I should just be happy that she didn’t walk in on me passed out with a bloody shirt and have a freak-out. I guess I have been a little lucky. I mean if that kid would have tried to fight me I might have been fucked. I was exhausted and I still feel like shit. Thinking about it though, I should feel worse.

Knock. Knock. A familiar yet surprising sound came from the door.

“Who would? Shit he must have told them where I lived. Dammit I should have slit his throat!” I grabbed a knife and then ran to the door. The door didn’t have a peephole so I looked through the barely translucent glass to the side of it.

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“Just one person. Alright, this shouldn’t be a problem.” The front door opened in and swung to the right so I unlocked it with my right hand which was also holding the knife. Using my right I opened the door, careful to hide the knife behind the door until I needed it.

As the door opened it revealed someone I hadn’t expected, “What the fuck do you want?”

Now standing in front of me was the same man from the hospital. He was in his generic black suit with shades.

Setting down the knife on a table next to the door I step out onto the porch shutting the door behind me. “Why the hell are you here? You think you can just show up at my house?”

The agent looked back at me and smirked, “Why I just came to talk with you. As for showing up to your house, I don’t know of any law that would stop me.”

“Before you ask me anything I’ve got questions for you!” I stood my ground and stared into his shades. He looked completely calm. The only emotion coming from him was the slight smirk that was still on his face.

“Oh, if you insist I guess I have no choice.”

He must really think he is all that, cocky bastard, “Who do you work for? I want to see a badge; I don’t care what you say. You have to tell me if I ask right?”

His smirk was now a full-blown grin. He made no effort to make a response. That could only mean one thing. He is a fake.

My right fist shot out straight towards his face. I watch his grin fade away as he struck my elbow causing my arm to shoot up. I swung with my left as my right arm missed. He leaned back and my second strike missed. I spun and jumped forward, swinging my right with a backhand and I felt it connect while I was still in mid-spin so I couldn’t see where I hit him.

I’ve got him! I brought my left hand around putting the power of my rotation into it. As my head turned I was able to see where I had connected. He had blocked it with his right arm but that was fine. It wasn’t the main attack.

I whipped my left aiming to slip around his blocking arm and connect with his jaw. My hand slipped past his guard and connected, with his hand.

He caught my punch? Looking at him in shock I heard his voice. “Do you really think you will lay a hand on me like this?”

What! Does he know I’m not using my perception? He shoved me with his right hand and moved back into the grass putting some distance between us. “Please don’t tell me that is all you’ve got.”

I thought he was just some guy posing as a detective but he has some skill. Without my perception, he has me beat but unfortunately for him. “Alright mother fucker, I’ll put your wannabe detective ass to sleep.”

I run at him as the world slows down around me. Fifty percent should be all I need to beat him. This time he makes the first move and throws a straight right. I dodge it easily by turning to the side. I throw my right at him as I turn. He grabs it and pulls my arm down and to his right causing me to lean forward.

This guy’s good. How did he catch my punch mid-swing? I even tried to adjust my swing so he couldn’t grab me. Fine, if he wants me to go forward I’ll go forward and then around to his back. Wait! Shit!

His right leg slammed into my stomach as I was leaned forward. I was barely able to keep my breath from leaving. I grabbed his leg with and stood up, pushing him back. He jumped and leaned forward putting all his weight on his leg causing my hold on it to break and he once again shoved me.

This time I hit the ground on my left side but rolled right back up. He looks at me with one eyebrow high. “Did you think you were a bigshot because you won a couple of street fights? If you’re going to come at me you need to do better than that.”

What? How much does this guy know? I need to make him talk. “What are you fucking stalking me?”

His smirk came back as he spoke, “I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t keep an eye on you.”

So he isn’t acting alone. Does that mean there really is a facility? Either way, it doesn’t change the fact that I’m going to beat his ass. I go to charge forward but he lunges forward before I can take off and starts throwing punches. I bob and weave dodging them all.

“You definitely have the reactions of a trained fighter; maybe even better but how come you don’t have anything else?” as he spoke his strikes got faster and faster. “Your movements are so sloppy and your blows don’t pack much force. I really thought you were one of them but I guess I was wrong”

“Fuck you!” I threw a right at his throat and he grabbed it. God Dammit how is he catching my punches! He then spun and threw me over his shoulder. While in the air I adjusted so I would land on my feet, but.

He hadn’t let go of my arm when he threw me so he stopped the momentum of my potential flip. My back slammed into the ground and this time I couldn’t stop the wind from escaping my lungs. I gasped for air as I got to my knees.

It’s like all my punches are guided right into his hands. I stood up catching my breath, “Who the fuck are you?”

He seemed more concerned with straightening his suit than me. “I really thought you would be faster.” He looked genuinely disappointed. “Well, I came here to tell you that you might want to watch out for the father of the young lady you crippled. He hasn’t been seen in a while and I think he may attack you.”

Now able to breathe fine I questioned the wannabe agent, “What exactly makes you think he’s coming after me?”

“Well besides the fact you crippled his only daughter not long after his son committed suicide. The last time he was seen was when I told him where you lived.”

“You did what!? He might try and hurt my MA!”

“I doubt he would do that but not to worry, if it makes you feel better I can keep your mother with me.”

“What do you mean KEEP?”

He brushed off his suit and spoke as he walked away. “Well, she is already with me of course.”

Without a second thought, I charged at him with my perception maxed out. He isn’t going to get away, not if he has my Ma! He turned to me and pulled a gun out of his inner pocket.

Shit, I’m already moving in a straight line. I’m not going to be able to dodge it. No! I have to dodge it. As he pulled the trigger I moved to the right. All I have to do is get out of the way of his aim before the gun fires. No, I’m not going to make it!

The gun went off and the bullet shot at me. That’s not a bullet and it’s not moving as fast as one either. Because the speed of the projectile was slower than a real bullet I was just barely able to move out of the way.

The agent’s eyebrows shot up as I dodged it and kept charging at him. “Interesting!” A smile returned to his face and he then threw the gun at my head.

As if that would work. I reached out and caught the gun. Once I move it out of my face I felt a sharp pain in my stomach.

“Two!?” I had made it to him but strength was quickly leaving my body. “What was—” I looked at my stomach but there wasn’t any blood so I wasn’t bleeding out. I looked back to the agent who was standing there holding the second gun he had shot me with.

“Don’t worry you’re just going to sleep for a little bit is all. I’ll say high to you mother for you.”

I fell to the ground and everything went black.