There was a quiet knock at that door that distracted Natalia from her reading. Quickly glancing at the clock she grew tense. It was 4am. Another knock. It was so faint, she questioned whether she was hallucinating or not. She slowly stood up, grabbing the small dagger to her right and cautiously made her way to the door without a sound. Another knock. Louder this time. The knocks became a little louder with every step she took.

She placed her hand on the door handle, considering whether to open it or not. She twisted the door knob and flung the door open, thrusting her knife forward, stopping right as it met the neck of a man.

"I come in peace" He smirked, raising his hands.

"Jesus Christ, Zsasz" Natalia grunted, lowering the knife and walking back into her apartment "Could've cut your throat out"

"Oh please, you wouldn't have gotten the chance" He teased, following her inside.

She sat back down on her couch, looking at Victor.

"Why are you here?" 

"Pissed off the GCPD again and really couldn't be dealing with penguin right now" He sighed, landing on the armchair "Thought i'd come here instead. Is that Pepperoni?" He grabbed a slice of pizza, throwing his feet up on the coffee table.

"Dickhead" Nat scoffed "So you're just here to annoy me?"

They looked at each other for a moment before Zsasz scanned the room "I also have information for you"

Nat peaked with interest, leaning forward, "Information on what?"

"The Vultures" He said with a mouth full of pizza "More importantly The Crimson Killer"

Nat leaned forward even more, staring at Zsasz. "What about him?"

"Her actually"

"Her? How do you know?"

Victor pulled his feet off the table and stood up.

"Saw her in action" He spoke as he walked over to the window, "Didn't get a good look at her face but she was wearing a red and black palm tree shirt. Not entirely sure if it's meant to be intimidating because if so she's failing in that department"

He lifted open the blinds and peered out the window "Was right over there. In that alley way"

"What?!" Nat jumped up to join him at the window "None of the vultures ever come around here. They're careless and impulsive but not stupid. It'd cause a gang war"

"She doesn't seem to care. Gotta give her respect for that"

"And you're sure it was her?"

"Definitely her. Saw her hack a guy to death and then paint the back of his left hand with his own blood" He laughed "Who comes up with this shit?"

Nat shoved Zsasz out of the way and looked out the window. Sure enough she saw the remains of a man in the neighbouring alley way. She scanned the surrounding area. No sign of anyone else around.

"It doesn't look like she left much of a trail" She muttered to herself.

Zsasz laughed, "If you're thinking that she's major competition you're completely wrong. She fell while climbing up that fire escape. Smacked her face on the ladder. Doesn't seem like the graceful type"

"Well someone around here must think she's good enough since they hired her instead of me!" Nat complained, dropping the blinds and shoving past Victor.

"Woah Natalia, easy there" Zsasz smirked "Jealous?"

She glared at Victor, "Don't make me stab you"

"It's already hard enough to get hired when everyone in this city just goes to you without a second thought" She began.

"I am the best assassin arou-" Zsasz interrupted.

"Oh shut up! Now she's walking around here taking jobs" Nat continued to complain, "Could you stop laughing?"

"I'm sorry. This is very entertaining" 

"Fuck you, I'm mourning my career"

Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of cop cars blaring before they came to a halt followed by someone calling Zsasz' name.

"Well that's my cue. Gotta go" He said, pulling two guns from his coat pocket before leaving out the front door.

"Jim!!! How are ya?!" Nat heard him call before he descended down the stairs. She shook her head and laughed.

She made her way over to the couch, grabbed her laptop and opened it up.

"Okay...." she sighed, typing "the crimson killer" into Google "let's see what makes you so special..."

Hundreds of articles popped up on the infamous crimson killer. No one seems to know who she is or anything about her. She's a ghost. The only sign that she was ever there is the red she paints on the back of the victim's left hand. A special touch by someone so desperate to stand out  Natalia thought.

The Crimson Killer is known for killing several politicians. Most of her victims come from wealth and power.

Natalia kept scrolling until she came across an article about the vultures.

The article hadn't given much information apart from the fact that The Crimson Killer's stamp had been found in the North, meaning the vultures could be planning a gang invasion.

Sending out their most famous member would be a good way of sending a message.

Natalia's researching was brought a quick stop when her phone rang. She reached over and grabbed it from the coffee table.

"Hello" she spoke once she answered.

Silence.

"Hello?" she repeated.

"I have a job for you. It needs to be done tomorrow" a voice calmly spoke on the other end of the line.

"Could you maybe elaborate?" Nat scoffed, patience wearing thin.

Her demand was followed by a brief silence before the voice spoke again.

"I need you to kill Thomas and Martha Wayne."