Chapter 2: The City

Valerie walks down the street of a busy city on the outside walls of the building she lives and works in. The city is large and lit in neon lights while cars hover past a paved road. A man zips past her and she nearly falls over, watching him fly past on a skateboard that flew above the ground. “Watch where you are going!” She yells stumbling back. Liam chuckles and pats her head, “Your fine calm down.” She rolled her eyes and tugged at her black leather jacket over her turtleneck. She both loved and hated the city; it was beautiful and vibrant. But it was also noisy and full of the past that she wanted to outrun. Worst of all was the loud noise and crowds she dislikes so much.

Valerie squeezes through crowds of people, not knowing where she was going. “Liam, read me the file while we walk.” She said looking toward him, “Maybe we should sit down and read it.” He said back to her trying to keep up, he couldn’t slip through the crowds like she could. He had too much bulk and muscle and was too tall to pass by everyone. “Wait up, Val!” He said waving his hand up in the air, she looks back from where she is far ahead. “You are lucky you have the file, or I would just leave you behind!” She yells over the crowd of busy men and women, walking back to him and pushing through people.

Liam huffed unamused by her comment, “You have no idea where you are going anyway! Now stick with me, find a place to sit, and let’s go over this.” Valerie stared at him, turned around, then continued walking. “No,” she said continuing on, she enjoyed doing things as fast as possible, if it was up to her, she would take the name and description and go from there without further information. Liam was now able to keep up, holding the yellow file open and walking behind her. “It says the target's name is Lucas and he has a strange necklace in his possession, said to be stolen. It also says he has ties to the resistance against the king, but little is known about what he does for them. Valerie let out a sigh, “So nothing but useless information.” Liam shrugs, “I wouldn’t say completely at least we know his name.”

“But no picture?” Valerie added. “No,” Liam said shaking his head and closing the file then putting it away in the bag he carried full of weapons, water, and food. “No known places to visit, no idea where he lives, where he’s from, nothing! This is completely useless might as well have just thrown the file away.” Valerie wasn’t paying attention to where she was going, as she turned a corner down an alley where a bar, she and Liam liked to visit to get information. “Let’s just go to the bar, ask Amanda if she’s heard anything.” Liam nodded walking behind her, but noticing a figure ahead that was running towards them with people running after him. “Val!” He whispered then signaling ahead, but Valerie wasn’t listening. “What Liam? I am not in the mood for any of this, we need to hurry. Don’t you remember half the assassins in the country are after this guy?

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Valerie feels someone knock into her and she falls backward with the strange man on top of her. “I-I am so sorry miss!” The shaggy blonde-haired man says scrambling to his feet and holding his hand out to her. “I should have been paying more attention to where I was going!” Valerie glared up at him, pushing herself up off the ground without his help and pulling out a knife, and pushing him against the wall, “Listen! You should be worried about what kind of people you run into!” Liam pulled her back off him, “I’m sorry, she gets angry easily... Are you all right?” The man was shaking, holding his hands up in defense. He has blonde hair and blue eyes, wearing a black leather jacket, white t-shirt, and jeans. He looks around frantically then back towards some people running down the alley.

“They want to kill me!” He said yelling, Valerie rolled her eyes heading back to the bar she was trying to go to, but Liam stopped her. “Why?” he asked. The man shook his head, “I don’t know! They said I stole something from the king, but I never took anything I swear, I’m sorry I ran into you but please, please help me.” Valerie glares at Liam, but he wasn’t paying attention to her, “What’s your name?” The man didn’t speak for a long moment, “A-Alex.” Valerie crossed her arms still being held by Liam by the collar of her turtleneck. “Fine! We will help you!”

Alex’s eyes lit up with joy and he walked over to her and hugged her, Valerie didn’t like this at all, she pushed him away looking absolutely disgusted. She looked back down the alley, and a woman was in front of them holding a large gun. It was grey and glowed pink in the crevasses of the design. “Give me the boy!” She yelled pressing a button as the gun made a noise like it was charging up. Valerie went through Liam’s bag and then pulled out a purple gun, “I suggest you walk away.”

The woman laughed at the weapon that was much smaller than hers, “That model doesn’t stand a chance against mine. I doubt that thing is even laser-powered, looks like a regular old gun.” Valerie shrugged, “You would be surprised what a real bullet could do. Do you really want to put that to the test? I heard that ninety percent of the time, they blow up and kill the owner. The two girls were staring each other down, not moving an inch. In all honesty, if both pull the trigger most likely they would both die. But the woman against Valerie isn’t one likely to give up. Behind Liam the man named Alex was watching, putting his hand to his chest, and gripping onto a necklace he wore. Watching as the two slowly put their fingers on the trigger. His eyes would glow, only a color slightly brighter than his own, then when the woman against Valerie pulled the trigger Alex started to talk to himself. But then the gun would blow up in her hands whatever was inside the gun melting the top half of her body, giving off an awful stench as she fell to the ground. Alex let go of the necklace and then ran to Valerie. “Are you ok ma’am?” He said with a worried look. Valerie covered her nose and continued walking. “I told you that would happen... Let’s just get to the bar we have someone we need to speak to and I would like to know why that woman was after you.

Liam looked rather confused swearing he saw a light behind him, but he shrugged it off and followed along.