The night growls in Krim Valley as mercury clouds dulled out streetlights.Police sirens blaring
across the road as onlookers squeezed through as their eyes gawked at a contorting figure as
its four-digit hand tried to reach out as its mouth foamed. His throat caught up like a bear trap;he
tried to lunge yet limbs dragged behind.His leaking red eyes drooping over a pasty face.
Commissioner Alex- a bulbous man with greys- solemnly stood beside it scratching his scruffy
moustache:"Not again,Who would do such a thing?"
Alex's eyes mirrored the figure's eyes.He knelt down placing a hand over its face.It was boiling
cold.
"Boss,you said to run the name of the guy?"spoke Lieutenant George who gripped his hat to his
chest.
"Yeah?"
"Well,it seems to be a teen– aged 16– called Arnold Honey.According to reports,he's been
missing for a while alongside Chloe."
"A missing teen,huh?"gritted Alex."Oddly convenient,teens vanishing and now!"
Georges's hand perched upon Alex's shoulders:"Boss,No matter what we do, psychos
command this city like a leashed dog."
On the building above,a mysterious woman lingered with her ears drawn to the scene below.
Plopping a map on the bumpy surface,she plotted an x around several places."Hhm,If I was
scum,where would I hide?"
Central city was a minefield of attention due to its neon-overloaded lighting.Unless the criminal
was stupid,there was no way. Lockley Avenue?It had many narrow passages that connected to
major parts of the city but it was in police turf.Whoever it was,they probably wouldn't boldly
threaten the police or they would have done so already.Brines had been popular bar in the 80's
before it was overtaken by a mysterious owner.Oddly,none can see in or out which doesn't
sound like good biz for drawing alcoholics.
"Let's see where this goes."
Far across was a pub that had read Brine's.On the outside,its walls crumbled with mossy
stones.Scratches marked along the edges despite the fresh paint.Shaded windows stained with
whiskey so dense not even an x-ray could see in.However,inside,the glossy lights illuminated on
shackles clacking with hordes of whimpering teens.Their faces were mellow jackfruits as their
knees dig to the ground above a spindly man who wore a pristine buttoned suit padded with
bulky shoulders:his posture sharp yet projected like a throne made of corpses.
Above him,the tv bursted with hysteria of news reporters explaining the incident:"This is
Reporter James and people are demanding who's behind the disappearances of teens in the
area?Police outwitted?
With every detail,the man smirked as he puffed his cigarette leaving an ashy breath that made
the teens cough.His eyes were sparking eels.
"Oh,Henry,you did it again!"He praised himself."That will show them who's really in charge,now."
In his eye view ,a brunette girl covered with pencil-smudged rags glared at the picture of Arnold
Honey on the screen tearing up, standing as venom seeped into her words as the others try to
shut her up:"Someone will…"
Henry's eyes twitched and he marched towards the girl like a stiff gargoyle.Breathing steaming
as his hands clawed at her chains dragging her closer.
"What did you say?"his voice bellowed.
The girl's mouth trembling as she tried to make a sound.Quaking as he tugged her neck closer
to his face.His fingers assaulting her smooth face with wide eyes and small lips:curling her hair
into sprinlock-like strands before yanking his nails into her scalp till it bled.Her screams echoing
the halls yet the others didn't bother to help her.They were limping puppies.
"Remember,beautiful,Arnold Honey?"
No response.Why was she struggling?This was her goddam best friend.Chloe panting as she
remembered Arnold's optimism that they would be there together.Arnold's smile was a
keepsake she had everyday walking along him.Every birthday party to jokes,his casual smile
capturing the heart.The time Arnold had gotten injured on his bike yet always getting on his feet
no matter what.However,the void in her heart spasmed just imagining his mangled corpse
frozen with a neutral smile.
"Just as I thought."teased Henry and before he could inflict anymore jabs,a muscular guy-Mr
Mammoth-henry's top henchmen-wearing a skintight jumpsuit planted a dusty briefcase
encased with an access panel beside Henry.
"Here's the goods."grumbled Mr mammoth.
"About time,M."
With a click,the briefcase sprang up with purple vials clad with bubbled gas.Each one bundled
with layers of oil.Besides it,a compartment split in the middle revealing an injection-blade with a
tinted chamber with a dial.
"Well,M?Tell me more."
Mr mammoth sighed :The nerds have been working on something more punchy since then.The
oils for not making the solution go sky high.All you gotta do is load the vial like a magazine into
the gizmo and you know how it goes.
"So sweet of them,early birthday gift."giddied Henry like a school girl."More fish for the
shark,they say."
"Yeah,toast to that"smirked Mr mammoth."We got the city in our grasp."
"Agreed,toughy.Noone to stop us"
The bar's bell chimed as the wind twirled around.From shadow,a woman wearing a pointed
laced cowboy hat covered her face as a poncho clung to her neck.Leather boots clanking
against the wooden floor.Compared to her surroundings,her fit popped with lavender purple with
occasional streaks of scarlet.Whistling was her anthem as she made her way.
"Are you lost lady?"
With a southern drawl the woman spoke:Maybe,sugah.Maybe not.
"Don't coy with me, lady."
"Ahh,can't sweet muffins handle a gal like me?"
Henry's eyes twitched as he glanced at the suitcase
"I wouldn't dance with the big boys, sweetie."
Her sultry smile mixed with cold eyes:Oh please,I got dance.
To her right,she flicks her pistol from her satchel before spinning the barrel.
"Let's play my favourite game,poppin weasels."she baited."Give ya a 3 for beginner's charm."
"M,bury her.I got places to be"he hoisted himself up dragging the chain of teens with him.
"With pleasure"smirked Mr mammoth as he cracked his knuckles blocking the exit.
With a bolt,the table separating them was hurled at acer yira as she narrowly slides under.
"When they say it's on the house,I don't think they meant this"She teased as she swiveled into a
kick before mammoth flings her like a ferris wheel into a wall:crack.
"Seems you're finished,"grunted Mammoth.
Gradually thrusting away from the crater,she staggered onto her feet dusting off the debris.
"Thought it would be this easy?"
"Do you ever shut up?"
"Not this lone wolf." She says as she springs back.
Both charge with eyes locked on.Jab,punch,counter strike.Left,right,intervweave:her body barely
blocking as her feet trembled.Then,a punch to her midsection jolted her back as he clamps her
neck.Guns dropped.
Mr mammoth towering over in his hands making her look like an action figure."Game over,gal."
Her breath huffing but audible:"The bigger they come, the harder they fall." She chomped on his
hand.
Strings of muscle and bone peel out as screams echo the pub before he curled against the floor.
Taking a gasp of air,she crouched below to meet the mammoth's eyes.
"You're fun,but I got a weasel to fry."smirked Acer yira as she jostled to the exit leading down the
dingy alley.Spread before her,the top layer of the floor was chipped by something metallic.
"I see."
Headlights flickering as she trudged past strewn rubbish.The miasma stronger than a million
year old tequila wrapped in rat skin.
Clanky,clank.Like cattle,Henry dragged them searching frantically behind.
"Too late." Henry smirked as the blade caress's chloe's neck."Make the shot,she'll be tonights
news"
Acer gritting her teeth as her fingers loosen around the trigger as the girl whimpered.Her eyes
flashed to a young lady stained by the rain holding onto a soaked corpse followed by low
pitched sneers parading away.The lady's head cushioned against the corpse's chest clinging
onto its clenched hands.
"Mr Henry,I guess you forgot one thing"
"What,dear?"Henry beckoned as the blade nearly thrusted Chloe's neck
Steadying her breath,Yira pivoted dead center at his arm.
"SUCK LEAD,VERMIN!"
The bullet pierced past Henry's shoulder as blood ruptures into fleshy stems.
"AHGGHGHGH!"
From his fingers,the blade slid down.Thrusting forward,her fingers wrapped around the
contraption as Henry staggered back.Chains rustling across the ground.Blowing on his
wound,he tensed under her quiet glare.Was this the same woman?
The children slithered away from Acer as moonlight doused their skin.Chloe's mind searched for
a word to describe.Giving a wink,Acer placed a hand on her hip.
"Take care,alright."
After several days,the News clambered to the scene.
"Today at Grim valley,missing teens have been recovered from Brine's and the perpetrator
Henry and Mr mammoth have been detained downtown.While Commissioner Alex and his force
investigate the the strange contraption,who's the mysterious woman?"
On the police station roof,Acer with a hand on her hip glanced at the sky above.White wisps
dancing like Japanese theatre performers;illuminating twirls dividing the darkness before it
dimmed.Why did beautiful things fade?Posing her hand to cusp the distant stars, imagining the
warmth surging through her before it dissipated into the night.Even if it was for a second,she
wished this could have lasted forever.Stars singing an orchestra that noone could
hear.Constellations were like a join the dot colouring sheets.So abstract like him.Only he could
see the world this way.
During the silence,a teardrop slid down;why does everything remind her of him?
Tipping her hat,her voice grew into a whisper:"I'm sorry."