The sounds of cheers and music could be heard by Paige as she neared the.ground floor. Paige stood by the side and watched the ongoing match with a poker face. As soon as the match ended she jumped into the ring, suddenly cheers rose up from the crowd. She shouted, "let the real show of power begin!"
cheers rose...
" Who will come to the ring first?" Paige could hear the sound of her own breathing due to the ear deafning silence that followed her words. "You leave me no choice".
As the highest ranking mercenary she's free to choose her opponent with or without their consent. She squatted in the middle of the ring and eyed every mercenary there. Before she could choose, a young man volunteered. The place turned from dead silent into an uproar. A series of whoops filled the air. He circled the ring eyeing his prey while she stood rooted to the spot.
"I hope I can get your number after this, little girl". He blew her a kiss.
She was little compared to the rest of them. She was just turning 18 in a week. But age didn't matter when you have a skill. His probably new here else he wouldn't have signed his death.
Soon Paige threw a flurry of punches at him and in less than a minute he went down with a slight nose bleed. She wasn't going to stop. She grabbed his collar and pulled him up a little before delivering a knee to his nose spending him back down. She straddled him and landed several punches on his pretty, little face.
Paige is known for delivering really, really, really hard punches. When Paige got to her feet she was looking demented. She walked to the ropes and leaned on it. She stared at a female before gesturing for her to come and join her in the ring.
The female stared at her for a few seconds before sacrificing the comfort of her corner to enter the ring. She was as pale as a ghost, tall, lithe and athletic. She moved her neck left and right making cracking noises.
"What's your name?"
"Andrea".
" Andrea, make this memorable".
They charged at each other at full speed. Andrea lept in the air and thought of hitting Paige with her feet. Paige focused on her movement, time slowed. She jumped higher, twirled left in the air, brought her right leg forward and hit Andrea's ternum with all the force she could muster.
Andrea was hit badly. Air from her lungs whooshed out. She fell and slid three feet away. She quickly got up like the hit meant nothing. She sprang up and attacked Paige's leg, taking her down to the ground with her. She straddled Paige and boxed her everywhere she could.
Paige lay their with an evil smile. She didn't try to block or defend herself but her smile got Andrea off guard. She landed her right fist on Andrea's face, blood spilled from her mouth then she head butted her which sent her back. She jumped and twirled, landing a hard foot on Andrea face, knocking out her senses.
Paige squatted at the corner of the ring, waiting, for Andrea to get to her feet. She eyed her like a prey. Andrea's vision blurred and she panted. She wheezed and tried to push herself up.
As soon as her head lifted, Paige ran towards her, lifted her foot and slammed Andrea's head hard on the ring floor.
Paige towered above Andrea's prone body, she looked ferocious. Her eyes searched for her next victim and that's when she saw her. She looked so frail and innocent. She smirked at Paige before leaving. Paige fled after her, she pushed through the crowd and stumbled outside. She ran towards the busy street, searching franticly for a girl in a wine oversized jacket.
She went back to the Arena and found Rhys leaning in the wall at the entrance. "What'd you find?"
"I think I saw her". Paige answered with a confused gaze.
He patted her shoulder and led her inside, "Go change so we can leave".
Inside a cafe called the crocodile...
"what'd she look like?" Rhys looked inquiringly at Paige when the waitress arrived.
"Your usual- muffins and strawberry jam and death wish coffee:dark roast and hot water. Don't drink cold unless you have an actual death wish".
"Yes, please". Rhys nodded.
"you're the best, Kate". Paige took a sip of her drink and smiled releasing a satisfacted sigh. The waitress smiled and left them to talk.
"So how'd she look like?" Rhys asked while munching on his food.
" Paige folded her arms and sat straight. " She had pouty lips, small eyes - very dark eyes, and black hair. She looks like a regular highschoolar".
Rhys frowned. "So how she our killer?!" He exclaimed.
"Oh, Rhys, as simple minded as ever", she let out an exasperated sigh. "Ever heard the phrase, don't judge a book by its cover?" She nodded her head hopelessly at him, he snickered at her and continued eating. "You got Theodore's dead photo with you?"
"Yeah," he reached into his pocket and placed the wrumpled photo on the table.
"Look at that". Paige pointed at the photo.
"A dead man? I see him alright".
" what else do you see?"
Rhys glanced at the photo again. " A bullet holes and an arrow stuck in his neck".
"What part of the neck?"
Finally realization dawned on him, he looked up at Paige and his eyes widened slowly, "the carotid artery".
"Meaning he would bleed to death in a matter of minutes..."
"She wanted to watch him die".
"Mm hmm ".
"She wanted to watch his soul leave his body, she was the spectator".
"Damn right she was, and who watches while their prey dies?"
"Serial killers?"
"Serial killers stalk their prey, I really thought we were vibeing Rhys".
"Me too". He said in a disappointed tone.
Paige rolled her eyes at him and continued, " someone who as a beef with the prey, a personal beef". She went silent for a space of time. "We just need to find out who they messed over together."
There was a deep silence, they were so close to closing this case and getting rid of droopy Damon and having back slightly less droopy Damon...
"Well, when you come up with anything call me, gotta go". She took the last sip of her coffee and abruptly stood up. She felt for the door handle when Rhys called her back, "I Know who they messed over together."
Paige came back to their table and gave him a rushed look...
"The Giambelli."
Paige wore a confused look on her face, as she stared at Rhys, who for the first time ever had a serious look on his face. "The Giambelli murder? But that was years ago, why wait now to enact revenge? And who is this crossbow killer?"
"Look she took out Theodore, took out his firering squad..."
"But who's she? And if what you're saying is true, you're on her list too".
"You got anything better?" He raised an eyebrow at her.
"No,but I gotta go".
"Where to?"
"I'll text you later. Go back to Helstrom and lay low". She dashed out of the cafe.
Star city police department....
Officer Montez - short, leathery tanned skin, and a power House of disciplined energy - was standing by the file cabinet in Chief Bogo's office - three years ago she solved the Jason brothers case but got stuck at detective level while her partner took all the credit and got promoted to Chief.
"You want to go after the richest and most influential man in Star city with a bunch of rumors and conspiracy theories?"
"If we don't stop him before he gets his hands on the Giambelli diamond, he will have enough money to bribe all the judges and policeman in Star city. He will be invincible".
"Why would he make a play for the diamond?" Officer Montez new partner, Steven asked. "He was disinherited from the Smith family because of his simplemindedness".
"Yet he became the richest man in Star city". Officer Montez acknowledge.
"You said you've got someone on the inside?" Chief Bogo asked.
"Well - ye - yeah, am - am working on it". She stuttered.
He sighed and shook his head. "What does the DA say about this?"
To make matters worse, the assistant DA, that's her ex.
"I need something more..." she thought of the right words to put her ex's statement. "Hard-hitting, to open a case on Damon Smith".
"So why come to me with this?" Chief asked in disdain.
"With your backing I can get the DAs approval".
"Officer Montez you're a smart officer, but you need to Know when to stop. Stop this goose chase and go solve the case assigned to you, this crossbow killer is out there actually commiting real crimes."
"That's an order." She was about to retort but shut her mouth.