The image again. It's been fresh in my mind since I had seen that man. Tei was it?

Anyway, I have a task to do. Can't be some dooy eyed school girl. The crevouse I sit in is perfect for hiding and seeing. Concentration is life and death out here. The streets are hard at night, placed with Sackees guards' men. During the day is harder. The only reason I'm out here is because someone in the Command told me the master would be out today. This I must see. After so many times of trying to kill me I have to find out why.

A man. That's all he is. I was expecting something ... different. He is surrounded by his battalion. The coward. I have to see! I have to see what he does. I follow him from the out skirts of the city to its center. "What's he doing?"  I whisper to myself.  He commanded his guards to leave, and is now vulnerable. I sit and watch on a roof top. He digs in his pocket bringing out a cigarette and lights it. He is a muscular man. Not huge, but good sized. He has white hair, almost clear skin, and purple eyes. He turned his back to me. Big mistake. I look around, no one. "Finally!" I slink down from the old wooden walls and across the stone square.  Once close enough, I confront him. He's not scared.

"Rosie." He purrs. He takes a big puff of cigarette letting it out slowly. "You come to kill me?" I get close to him. "Give me a name." I hiss. He sighs. "Who's?" "Yours." I growl. He laughs a throaty laugh. He leans in and whispers, "You already know that." His smell makes my nose burn. "You don't remember." He laughs. I bring up my dagger, pressing it to his throat. "You find this funny?"

He smirked. As swiftly as I can I slash at his cheek leaving a small bloody scratch. Then I press it back to his neck. Crimson starting to come through.  The man just smiled. The noise of his body guards stopped me. I glance back. They are at all of the corners, but one. I take it. Bolting down the old stone streets.  Dodging the trash cans, dead hanging plants, and bullets. Yes bullets. They're shooting at me. I jump, they jump. Every now and then I look back. They are a whole lot bigger up close. My blood racing, pounding in my veins.

The sting pierces my body warming it to go faster. My left shoulder felt wet. But I can't think about that. Over fences, across yards, through dead gardens, on roofs. Lost most of them on the roof. The big bulky ones fell. Most of the houses are so destroyed they have no bottom. But still. I keep going. One fence. One fence stands between me and freedom. A large, thick, tall fence that stretches beyond anyone has ever dared to go. That's where I'm headed now. All I need is to--- suddenly a sickening force knocks my stomach. My fist comes up, another comes down. My collar is yanked and I'm facing my opponent. A large in every way, dark skinned man. Bald headed and scarred, he whacks my jaw.

I sling back, but violently smashed into something else. I jump to my feet, charging. With a clash of shoulder and gut we both go flying through a wooden wall, into an old living room. He pushed me into the fireplace. My back cracked. He is on me in a second. My fist came up in an uppercut, rattling his teeth. My knee reached his gut, and he doubled over. I moved just out of his reach. He growled a throaty growl, and charged.

Ramming into my torso. I let out a shriek. A dreadful pain pierced my left shoulder. Another pulled at my head. With ears ringing, I will my right elbow into his spine, and foot into his knee pit. He let go,dropping to the ground in a whirl of pain. Blood came out of his leg. I crouch a little way off catching my breath. Somehow I get to my feet. Pull out, my dagger ready for the fatal end. Once close to him he starts to laugh. His eyes dart behind me. Mid turn------the world goes dark.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>