Satisfied that he had shoved the man into a corner where he wouldn't be quickly detected, Duke took a step away, only to see a glimmer of an object flying toward him. Reacting quickly, he ducked, and the object pierced the wall behind him. Duke scowled at the large knife now sticking out of the drywall where his head had been moments ago.
"You're not about to steal my case now, are you?" a chilling feminine voice called from the shadows. She stepped into the light, and Duke clenched his jaw in displeasure. She was still half-cloaked by shadow, but the light revealed enough for Duke to see who he was dealing with. She wore a white shirt, similar to his, with some buttons undone, exposing her pushed-up cleavage.
"It would terrify you to know that I don't plan on letting anyone stop me, irrespective of their gender, Miss," Duke informed her.
She leaned against the wall, observing him strategically. Then, suddenly, she pushed off the wall and closed the space between them. Duke didn't let the blade she was twirling with her fingers out of his sight. She grinned a perfect smile at him as she stepped forward again.
"Good to know, else I would have made your death quick... Duke," she stated knowingly with an evil grin before lunging at him with a knife.
Out of instinct, Duke lifted the suitcase, and a clanging sound was heard as the blade struck it. The pull from behind made Duke realize she was trying to pull out the knife. He quickly let go of the other briefcase, grabbed her raised arm, and stepped behind her, swinging her arm painfully behind her back. Using her momentum and his grip on her wrist, he shoved her into the wall.
"Well, that's no way to treat a lady," she let out amidst discomfort.
"I did warn you," he retorted.
"Maybe your foster dad can teach you some manners," she teased, refusing to dwell on the pain in her arm. Duke loosened his grip at the mention of his father.
How did she know he had a foster parent? How did she know he was a foster kid? he wondered.
Noting the effect she had on Duke, the lady used her free hand to push off the wall, causing Duke to momentarily lose his balance. She grabbed another knife from her boot while Duke regained his footing. In one fluid motion, she threw the blade toward him.
Duke stepped back, narrowly escaping the large dagger. He had to admit, she was fast. She lunged at him again with another blade, making him turn to prevent the blade from piercing his abdomen. Duke dodged a little too late, and the knife grazed his arm, leaving a deep cut.
She threw a left hook with her free hand, and Duke grunted as her knuckles connected with his cheekbone. The impact caused him to fall to the floor. Taking advantage of the opportunity, she jumped on top of him and straddled him.
"Oh wait, your father can't," she said tauntingly as she gripped his neck and started increasing the pressure. She leaned closer and whispered, "Because you killed him."
Duke had managed to get a grip on one of the suitcases as she leaned closer, making it convenient to hit her with it. Twice. Blood gushed from her nose and mouth at the impact, causing her to unintentionally let go of Duke's neck. She coughed miserably.
He raised the metal briefcase, intending to knock her out once and for all, when he heard the sudden sound of sirens blaring in the warehouse.
He quickly lowered his arms and rushed to grab the second case, noticing the dagger still on it.
"You can't get past the security with two briefcases. You'd definitely meet your demise once you get out of this section," she coughed out.
"Good thing you left me a souvenir," Duke said, tilting the briefcase with the dagger stuck in it for her to see.
Duke squatted down and, with a good amount of force, pulled out the dagger. "I don't know what you think you know about me, lady, but next time you won't be so lucky." With that, Duke made his way to the nearest exit.
He heard her curse at him, but he didn't look back. He continued walking until she was completely hidden by the shadows.
Duke hid in a corner when he noticed the robotic men had crept in behind earlier, making their way across another room, all armed.
Duke felt uneasy. He had forgotten about the cut on his arm. The blood dripping onto the briefcase worried him. He didn't like the idea of leaving his print on something he didn't know about. Moreover, he had yet to figure out how to open the briefcases.
Duke held the thought when he noticed something unusual. The briefcase his blood had dripped on started shaking vehemently. He thought of abandoning it, as it started to scare him. After all, better one than nothing, right?
But when he heard a click from the case, he dropped the second to check it out. The briefcase had opened on its own. He set it down and opened it properly, revealing a gem-like blue pill. It had to be the most beautiful thing he had ever set his eyes on.
He hurriedly grabbed the pill and shoved it into his pocket. Duke decided to leave the other case behind. After all, he got what he came here for—the pill. He couldn't afford to waste any more time.
Duke faked a limp as he rushed out of his hiding place. If he looked normal, it could look suspicious. He bit his tongue until he felt enough metallic liquid form in his mouth.
As he made his way toward the exit, the guards stopped him. Duke burst out crying, screaming for his mom as he systematically showed them where he was wounded. The guards left their position and rushed inside the warehouse upon seeing Duke's wounded form.
Duke placed the pill underneath his tongue as he climbed the fence. He suddenly felt a sharp pain in his mouth down to his abdomen. He decided to act on it once he was safe, but the pain was overwhelming.
Once he got down the fence to safe grounds, he couldn't crawl anymore. His vision became blurry even with his glasses on. He felt a wave of pain wash over his body, and he groaned in misery.
His consciousness started to desert him. As his eyes gave way to darkness, something unusual appeared in his line of sight.
[Congratulations, you have been granted a superhuman system]
"What the fuck," Duke mumbled before slipping into unconsciousness.