Out of Options

"Who was that?" I roll my eyes, "That ain't none of your concern. You got my shit?" I cross my arms and impatiently tap my foot at him.

"Don't get ya pantines in a wad, I got what you need right here." He smiles a crooked smile and leads my to a rusty door. He taps on it and a pair of dark eyes look through a slot, "What has mother brought for my birthday?" The voice behind the door ask. "A unicorn and a bong." He answers. The door creaks open and we both walk inside.'What the hell was that all about?'

"What you're looking for is straight up ahead." He holds out his filthy hand and I tightly press my lips together. "Ah right, your pay." I reach inside my jacket and pull out my gun. I fire it and his body falls to the floor. "Idiot. Thought you was gonna get paid for some bullshit like this." I step over his body and continue down the hall.

I can hear the distant screams of agony and the loud cheering of a crowd. I soon walk through double doors that lead to a room. Unlike the hallway I walked though, the room was completely lavish. It had tinted glass walls which I'm assuming are two-way because right in front of them are people fighting. Some men and some woman, but all great fighters.

"Entertaining innit?" I quickly turn around and see who's there. She's a small brunette woman with a strong English accent. On her left cheek she has a large scar that I try not to stare at. She smiles at me and walks over with her hands in her pockets. "You the one responsible for that loud noise out back?"

I nod, "Problem with that?" She chuckles and shakes her head. "Just a shame I have to go look for a replacement. But enough about that, what brings you here stranger?" She ask while leaning against the window.

"I'm looking for someone..." I watch her closely as she sits on the oversized chair. "Does this someone have a name?"

"Yeah...Kazmaria." When I say her name the woman's face turns pale and her grin immediately disappears. She slowly faces me and gazes at me with wide eyes; "We don't say that name..." Her teeth begin to chatter as her eyes glass over. "Why on Earth would you be in search of Shadow Killer?"

"The what?" I cackle. "I know her, she might be fierce but she's not-"

"You actually know that monster?"

My brows furrow at the odd question but I remain quiet. I want to hear what she had to say.

"She first showed up bout five years ago. She was but a child then...No one knew who she was nor did they know about the evil that lives within her." She holds her face as if the old scar had reopened. "We knew she was sent here by the lady but we didn't know that shed ever return."

"Wait by 'the lady' you mean the Lady in White? How does she factor in all this?" She holds her finger to her pink lips; "It was cold the day she appeared. She wore a mask over her face so no one would know her, but once she starting fighting..." Her hand shakes as she cups the mark on her face. "She was unstoppable."

[The safe house]

"You're late."

"I apologize boss. We didn't know that you needed us so suddenly but we came as fast as we could."

"Whatever just get inside." I let them inside and lock the door behind me.

"Mañana por la mañana estás conmigo."

(Tomorrow morning you are with me.)

I nod towards one of my men. "Ustedes dos se quedarán aquí con ella. Nadie sale y nadie entra. ¿Entiéndeme?"

(You two will stay here with her. Nobody leaves and nobody enters. Understand me?)

"Sir!" They agree unanimously and I sigh. "I also want you to keep watch on the place. Make sure doors, windows, and anything else is secure. Check the cameras every few hours and if she ask any questions, tell her to talk to me. You all know your way around so keep quiet and I'll see you in the morning."

I walk back to my room and pull my pants off. Today was beyond exhausting for some reason. Normally I can do a weeks worth of work running on two hours of sleep but what's different this time?

"Carlos? You wake?"

'Ah of course, it's her. She's what's different.' I lazily open the door and lie back down on my bed. "What?" I ask flatly.

"You took my phone earlier and I kinda need it back." I don't want to look at her face; I know if I do I'll just become even more upset.

"No. From now on you use burner phones. No posting on social media, no texting, no video calls and no calls over five minutes."

"Okay...That's fine I guess. When can I call Keisha?"

'So that's it? She's not even gonna argue with me about it? Jesus, what is happening?'

"Don't know, maybe tomorrow. Now go to sleep, you've had a long day and I'm sure you're tired."

"Right, I'm tired." She silently creeps back out of my room. I wait for the dook to click shut before sitting up on the bed. The smell of her perfume still lingers in the air around me. I stare at the spot where she was standing and my mind begins to wander.

"What is happening to me man?" I pull my hair tie from my hair and let it sweep my shoulders. My jumbled thoughts pounce around in my head until I have yet another sleepless night. The sun barely shines through the drawn curtains and the birds being to chirp outside. 'What an annoying sound.' I roll from my bed and make way for the shower. "I have to get rid of her." I talk to myself as the hot water runs down my back; "I finally have no other choices left."