The Warning

Along the darkened skyline of Clockhaven a lithe figure is seen leaping between alleyways and rooftops, stopping only to silently watch the streets below. The singular distinguishing characteristic in the figure’s outline is a long shadow, most likely a saber, attached at the hip. Directly below, a man on the street darts quickly, being certain to remain in the crevices the alleyways provide.

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Slowly making his way to the Gangplank where he believes his quarry to be, the man immediately freezes in place as his well-trained ears catch a small sound from the roof above him. He breaks into a run, purposefully zig-zagging from side to side through the dim tunnels in hopes of losing his pursuer. An expression of determination rather than panic overtakes his features as the figure from above drops directly in front of him, bringing him to a dead stop lest he collide with it.

After a few seemingly-eternal moments of silence, the dark figure’s arm shoots to the man’s neck, shoving him against the brick wall of the tunnel with a loud thud and grunt. A body follows the arm, quickly stepping into what little light is provided by the gas lamp on the corner. The first things the man notices on the red-headed woman are the grim smile and penetrating blue eyes coldly greeting him.

“Good evening, sir,” she says in a mockingly soothing tone. Her free hand quickly moves to her pocket, pulling out a familiar dagger and pushing the smooth side of the blade against his throat. His one good eye widens as he quickly intakes breath, feeling the pressure of the cold steel against his skin. The mocking continues, “Ah yes, you seem to have left me a little present. I felt compelled to thank you in person.” Her hand increases the pressure on the dagger, making the man wonder if she has drawn blood yet.

The cutting blue eyes boring into him begin to cloud with grey, the mocking facade fading, only to be replaced with a bloodthirsty smirk. In a lower register the woman hisses, “Consider this your warning. I do not care who you are or even who sent you. You are utterly expendable to me.” She pauses to let that fact sink in before continuing, “Now think long and hard on this: Is however much they paid you truly worth me dismembering you and feeding you to the rats and wiggyfish?”

His professional demeanor cracks as he gives an audible gulp and shakes his head pleadingly. In response, the woman gives a wide smile before saying “Remember that.” Her hand glides to the side of his head and skillfully bashes it against the wall, the force being enough to only knock him unconscious. After propping his body against the tunnel wall, the woman rises and dusts herself off before continuing in the direction of the Gangplank, a happy whistled tune trailing behind her.