Chapter 9: Guard

Gaius sent me a chip huh. This seems weird but I went up to my room and checked it anyway. I made sure to check it after Marque is asleep and Amari is back at her house. I sighed and waited for the chip to load into my computer. I opened a can of soda and clicked around the file inside and saw about a hundred pictures.

"What the..." I said and sat up straight looking closer.

This is unusual. Five of the pictures had my house in it with the same dude with a cowboy hat in the background. The pictures way taken from the cameras I installed around my house. The pictures were taken on different days but the dude's...still there. I don't know anyone with a cowboy hat. I didn't jump to conclusions right away since this might just be one of those usual stalkers...but stalkers targeting me? Erimus is the new city in the US as a background and bad stuff doesn't really happen here as much. Yet at least. Just some thieves and the other usuals. 20 is quite suspicious at times...most of the time being an underground city. Not much authority is here other than people making their own groups and gangs. That or their own little...businesses.

I checked the chip further and nothing else was hidden in it. Nothing creepy at least. Whatever...I'll let this simmer down and see what happens next I guess?

3 months later.

I let it settle for a few days to see if more pictures come in from Gaius. Nothing much after that day I received the photos. I soon just shrugged it off and continued with my day. A few weeks passed...still nothing. From days to weeks and from weeks to months. It's rather quiet...too quiet.

I sat in my chair practicing my codes and it felt very suspicious that the cowboy dude disappeared as soon as I saw the photos from Gaius...I have a feeling this is some kind of setup. Maybe it's just my guts acting weird? Either that or it's trying to tell me to act up on it before I get my head it's very own price.

Silence slashed through the calming feeling of the house.

"Come out. I know you're here." I exclaimed as I sat up from my chair and shut down my tech.

A new voice then bounced from wall to wall in my empty hallway. I'm alone in the house. Or rather WAS alone.

"So it is true..." The male voice said with a heavy western accent. Fits considering he has this crusty cowboy hat on.

"You have one hell of a set of senses on you. The boss man may seem like a sly fox but he wasn't lying about you. Project X-1107." He followed.

"I guess I should thank him for not warning you about saying that code to me. I'll let it slip and give you a swift death." Growling but calmy, I made my way to the couch next to my gear and sat down.

"Oh calm your sissy. I'm only here to confirm location and bag up my bounty so why don't you be a good little girl and come with me. I might not put you in a cage if you do." The man snickered off.

I rolled my eyes and took a sip of my soda, "Your boss taught you to not be a gentleman? Tch. As expected of his snake ass."

"Oh pardon me, missy! Name's Stallion Donald but friends can call me Donny. Nice to meet ya." Stallion said as he 'politely' bowed. Yeah, I'm not calling him Donny. Not in a million years.

"Kitsunae. Nice to meet you, horse face." I replied.

After that little introduction segment, he just started to get to my nerves or at least TRY to get into my nerves. Did HE recruit guys like him? Pathetic. Amari and Marque were already alarmed by this intruder and have already surrounded the house. I've also told Jules to set up exit traps when he's where I want him to be. Planned everything from the moment I woke up.

Stallion then shrugged and charged towards me. I saw it coming before he moved. I dodged his punch which landed in the wall causing his arm to get stuck. As fast as I can, I struck his arm in hopes to disable his attacks...he dodged it? My move was faster than a blink. I might have more to do with this country dude. Once he evaded my attack, he then went to headbutt me. It landed but it only stunned me for a split second. What? I'm rusty!

"Quick hands. Not quick enough though." He said and yanked out his arm from the wall.

"You know you really should use better concrete for your walls." He followed.

"I'll use better concrete to hide your damn dead body after this." Frustrated, I barked back. I shouldn't be out of balance with myself or else my loss will come faster than anticipated. I have to keep everything level. I can't use too much of my powers either...It'll give me away to him and everyone else...I have to keep it a secret...

In a nick of time, Amari burst through the door as if a bull was angered and charged him through several walls and threw him off of the high stacks. A person like him should be able to survive that fall so we should hurry and get off of the radar. I coughed from the debris and dust the flew into my face and looked at Amari. Fascinating. Her whole body was turned into steel, her iron hair looked like a porcupine's spines, her jaws looked like a bear trap. Snapped closed for now but might do so major damage when used. Is this her powers? I only saw a split second of it. She touched something before bursting through the walls.

"Impeccable timing."

I commented as I started to gather my things.

"Shut up and pack. We have to go." She follows as she tied her hair back up. Her body was back to normal.

I took a second to look her up. Not in THAT way. I was very fascinated with her abilities. She raised her brow and nudged me.

"Hurry up! You got more to look at when we're out of death's eyes here."

I rolled my eyes and sprinted off after packing. I took my bike with Amari behind me and Marque using some other way of following us.

"Who was that guy?!" Marque exclaimed in her comms.

"Jesus christ lower your voice, will you? I figured he's one of my dad's henchmen looking for me." I explained and rode off to the main city road above 20. Who knew. Old fart's smart enough to find me in this wasteland.

"I've set our next location to hide. It'll take about 3 days to ride there then Gaius will meet us so she can take us to her place. It's safe there." Minding the road, I relayed information. Of course, Marque freaked out at what I said saying it was far and stuff but I noticed Amari was awfully silent after that encounter. I didn't think she'd be silent after that fight. No matter...The important thing is that we're safe. I've alarmed Jules and Gaius that we are on the run. Again.