*Jessie has dirty blonde hair.  Thought I’d clarify that.*

Anyone watched the Disney Movie ‘Frozen’? I did! Olaf = my dream bestie

Fun Fact: I’ve been listening to ‘Let it Go’ (Demi Lovato Version—because that V. Is better) from that movie for over 8 hours straight.  Next chapter is totally based off of that song... I love it. 

Apparently it played on the American radio once.  What has our world come to?

†††††††

I wrenched him off.  My voice was glacial as frostbite.  “Drank what?”

Crash!  A Chinese woman with coarse white hair yelped, the window beside her shattering.  My gaze snapped towards the sparking bomb that rolled towards my feet.  An immediate trigger snapped in my mind and I threw myself at the doors.  I broke them open with my weight as I slammed onto the cement. 

I skid forward; pain clawed across my stomach.  The explosion erupted, my hands flying above my head.  Human screams went off and burnt metal clattered to the floor.  Groaning, I shifted my head, eyes wheeling to the chaos.  Madness infected the area; people running and sirens wailing.  I rolled over and saw Levi and Casper doing the same. 

The bus door dropped an inch from my neck and I flinched, death too close for comfort.  Someone hauled my arm.  I gradually tried turning, but they snatched my elbow.  They yanked me forward, and I stumbled, my legs tripping over themselves.  Their sturdy hand helped me to my proper stance, and I glanced up.  Levi shouted something except I couldn’t hear.  I was good at that.  He yanked my arm again, ushering us to move.  Casper was already ahead, quickly waving his hands.

I shook my head, and blinked to see the whole picture.  The bus was split in half, the stench of burning metal infecting the air.  Flames danced on the vehicle, the hot colours igniting the black sky.  A meadow of broken glass enclosed around the vehicle.  A limp arm hung out one window, a silver wedding ring sparkling from their hand.  My lips trembled, the colour drained from my face. 

“They know we’re here.  We must leave,” Levi said, tugging my hand. 

I chocked on my own breath, staring at the unmoving arm.  Death had decided to come for its own kill.    He tugged again.  “Now, Jessie.”  With me in tow, Casper led the sprint, dodging the gawking people who were stupid enough to go near the burning bus, their bright phones lighting up the night. 

I burdened the sudden mourning I had for the strange.  “Who are ‘they’?” I asked, trying to keep up with the two men.  My shoulders kept colliding with strangers, battling against the human current.

No one answered until we reached the Temple Street Market.  Neon lights bathed the streets, illuminating bright hues off of buildings and signs.  Strips had booths take up the roads, merchandisers shouting foreign words as they searched for buyers.  Beautiful lanterns dangled above us, a long train of them consuming the skies of the market.  Body contact was constant, the musty sweat clinging to my clothes.  Casper slowed his pace and soon we were walking, the burnt bus not in sight.  I restored the proper amount of oxygen for my lungs after a couple breathes. 

Levi liberated my hand as we continued to walk, getting deeper into the chaotic market.  “’They’, my darling, are the kills.  Some are stupid enough to know we’re hunting them down and will try to stop us.” 

“And when you mean by ‘stop’, you really mean try to kill us, right?”  I said sceptically. 

He took a cautious look.  “Yes.  That’s why it’s our job to kill them first.”  He peeked over his shoulder and pressed his palm flat on my neck.  We kept moving, taking a sharp turn into an alleyway.

Casper hustled towards us.  “I see them,” he told Levi, a hardened look passing his face.  “Either go for the kill, or keep running.  Your call.”

His features darkened, his hand making its way towards the pocketed gun.  “I say we go for the—” 

I sharp gasp left my mouth, and I clutched my stomach.  My knees buckling, Levi grabbed my arm in time.  “What’s wrong?  Speak, Jessie.”  Anguish flushed his honey eyes, his grip tightening around my arm. 

It wasn’t pain, but it was more like getting shocked by an electrical cord or when you touch an object and it shocks you because of the static.  This overwhelmed by body, catching me by surprise.  “I-I-I’m fine.  Stop it.”  Rising, I attempted to escape, yet his grip was similar to steel.

“You’re not fine,” Levi growled, and led us to a small corner store.  Raw fish and black eyed squid were sold outside the shop, the ice keeping the dead delicacies cool. 

A tattooed pedestrian shoved my shoulder as Levi towed me.  “Hey!”  My eyes caught onto his white Mohawk and skeleton tee, my glare sharpening.  “Watch it, jackass!” I hollered.  He passed by without an apology.  Thinking he was another purblind citizen, his head titled to the side, a crooked smile creeping along his face.  But my attention was hooked on the snake tattoo that wrapped itself around his pale neck.  Trying to get a better look, Levi yanked me into the store while the odd stranger disappeared into the crowd.  Casper flicked the cashier woman a nod and she grinned. 

Annoyance itching, my attempts of letting Levi release my arm were pathetic.  Then the heated feeling ran through my blood, the darkening senses closing around my heart.  “I said I’m fucking fine!” I snarled, shoving Levi back.

He stumbled into Casper who swore, the two ramming into a shelf of chips.  “We got to get her out,” I heard Casper mumble, shoving Levi off of him. 

A smile twitched at my lips, but I remained cold.  “Get out where?”

Remaining a stern gaze, Levi hid his startled reaction and directed us into the staff room.  The room was cluttered with a tiny wooden desk, shelves full of cleaning supplies and paper.  I noted whoever owned this place had an indifferent opinion on self maintenance.  He crouched down and unhooked a clasp, opening a door to an underground staircase. 

“It’s no time for hide and seek,” I said, sneaking a glance at the door.  “We’re playing a game.  A killing game.  Others probably have tons of kills by now and we have none.” 

Levi spoke as he walked down the stairs, forcing me to follow since I had no idea where I was.  “We can’t exactly play if one of our teammates isn’t well.” 

My body heated, not from embarrassment, but from the drink.  My hands vibrated.  “Fucking listen.  I.  Am.  Fine,” I gritted through my teeth.  Casper pursued behind, closing the hidden door. 

Darkness consumed the hidden staircase, and I slipped, squealing as I luckily landed on another step. 

“Try not to wake the dead,” snorted Levi, easily watching his step. 

“It’s not my fault I can’t see,” I snapped, tripping and then slamming into the back of Levi.  My nails dug into his shoulders, and I felt his back stiffen. I pushed myself off and heard a thumping noise.  A house music beat zipped past my ear, coming from the bottom of the stairs. 

Levi’s footsteps were silent and it dawned on me that we stopped.  The music louder, flashy lights and smoke leaked from under the door.  What sounded like metal sliding against metal, a soft click echoed and he opened the door only a smidge, enough for all of us to slip through before closing it. 

Beaming lights penetrated my vision, and I squinted, the adjustment painfully slow.  These people took the saying, “Back in Black” way too seriously.  Woman strutted and danced flawlessly, their curvy, lean bodies swaying to the beat.  Tight dresses and skirts clung to their skin, countless types of leather and chains linked around their impeccable structures.  Their eyes were heavily drowning in sparkling coloured makeup, streaks of neon eye shadow and flared glimmering eyelashes making bombshells seem amateur.  Men weren’t too far behind the ladies, geared with leather or dark garments. 

About to feel out of place, I noted my own enticing clothing and lifted my chin.  I wouldn’t be surprised if I woke up the next morning deaf, the music now louder as we walked deeper into the mysterious hangout.  Alcohol and cigars put a heavy weight onto the thick air, and I coughed, swallowing another gulp of toxics. 

“What are we doing here?” I yelled above the noise.  Levi neglecting my question, I grabbed his shoulder, whirling him around.  Before he could snap, I said, agitated, “I might not be a part of the Snipers but I am part of your team.  I deserve and want to know what’s going on.” 

The gazes from nosy observers shifted towards us.  Levi noticing this, seized my hand from his shoulder and did a painful spin, twisting my position around so I was in front of him, my wrist pressed against my back.  He moved his mouth to my ear and spoke harshly, guiding us towards the unknown destination.  “Never touch me like that.” 

Sucking in a sharp breath, I bit my tongue from unleashing a cynical retort.  “To your answer,” he continued.  We entered the dance floor, the merge of putrid sweat and overdose of 212 cologne thinning the oxygen.  People were grinding and shaking, doing strange moves that were both intriguing and erotic.  “We’re going to take that drug out of your system,” Levi said closely.   

My spine stiffened.  “Did...Did I ingest the poison?” 

He replied roughly, “I don’t know... but whatever you took is even worse.” 

Words in my mouth were left stale.  What was worse than dying?  

“You can’t handle the drugs.  You aren’t used to the—”

I halted within my tracks, digging my heel into the ground.  He grunted a, “Move,” but I didn’t budge.  Cocking my head to the side, I countered harshly, “I can handle anything you give.  I told you I can.”

“What’s the hold up?!” Casper shouted at us, pushing a clingy dancer away. 

Avoiding his irritated queries, I told Levi, “Stop it.  Why are you treating me so differently?  Yeah, I’m not as skilled as the others and I’m not a Sniper, but I want your expectations and the same treatment you give everyone else.”  His grip loosened, and I took the chance, releasing myself as I spun to face him.  He wore an insensitive expression, my voice cutting off any of his thoughts.  “You said you wanted to test me.  To see if I was good enough to be one of you.  The only way you can do that is to not give me the easy way out, but the hardest way.   Push me to my limits.  I want to win the title of being the Sniper by working hard for it, not by the cheap way.” 

Silent seconds filled his response, the outlandish music speaking on its own roaring volumes.  I failed to read his face, my eyes searching for feedback.   Finally, he answered, “If you were supposed to be treated like everyone else, you wouldn’t be here right now.  You, Jessie darling, would be dead.”  He pushed me into a couple, their shrieks deafening within the music.  They scurried away, leaving me stumbling before I regained balance.  “You don’t understand.  We saved your life.” 

“From what?!” I practically screamed.  “I know fucking nothing!  I only know I have some stupid drug flowing through my blood.  And all you’ve done was kidnap me from another kidnapper, lock me up in a room, force me to be naked in front of strangers, have them touch me and clothe me into outrageous outfits, and then throw me into a gruesome killing game!  You didn’t save me.  You imprisoned me.”  

His strained neck made a crack, a vessel ready to pop.  “We saved you, Jessie Daniels.”  He stalked over and gripped my chin.  “Romane would have done traumatizing things to you.  He would show no mercy.  He certainly wouldn’t have given you a bed or clothes.  He wants to hurt you.  We saved you from the real enemy.  Don’t you fucking get it?”

I threw my hands up.  “I don’t get fucking anything since this started!”

My ears perked to hear keen zip come from the distance.  Suddenly, he tackled my body and shoved us to the ground.  A surprised gasp pumped out my chest, his weight crushing me.  A man screamed, a bullet blasting into flesh.

More gunshots strung through the air, collecting agonizing screams.  The smoke from the air vents intensified, everything clouded with the steamy fog.  “Stay down,” Levi hushed, and I felt his warmth disappear. 

“What?!  Wait!”  In a matter of seconds, the room was covered in smoke, it impossible to make out anything.  I turned over so my stomach remained on the floor, confusion overshadowing my mind.  I heard more gunshots, and cries, pressing my face to the ground before glass crashed. 

I counted to three before lifting my head.  Thump!  A body dropped beside me, a woman’s empty pupils staring back at me.  Her bleached hair stunk of perfume, a scar running down her cheekbone.  Smudged pink lipstick stretched from her bottom pucker, the lips parted after her last breath.  My heart slammed against my chest. 

I shut my eyes.  Concentrate.  Breathe, Jessie.  Breathe.  Focus.  Get it together.  Breathe.  Tingles crawled up my arms.  I shot my eyes open.  The heated churn was happening again.  I glanced to see my hands shake.  Fear made my heart slam harder.  What was processing within my body? 

Then a hand yanked my shoulder, flipping me on my back.  An intimidating man with silver necklaces and a black beanie stared, a grin shining similar to his golden teeth.  My eyes followed a snake tattoo that trailed from his wrists, under his shirt up to his neck. 

I pushed off my feet, attempting to scramble away, but his vicious hands grabbed my throat.  “Where do you think you’re going?” he slithered, his viper green eyes leering across my body, up to my terrified face.  His breath smelt of onions and morning sickness. 

“I have a message for you, Jessie.  Specifically from the man himself.”  My hands kept shaking, my palm rooted to the floor in panic.  I failed to find a scar across his features and knew he was no Sniper.  His hoarse voice cleared as he lowered.  “He says time is running out.  Enjoy what you call ‘freedom’ but you know very well what it really is.  He’s coming for you soon.  When you least expect it.” 

He dangled a few inches.  “Unless, perhaps I can get you now,” he grinned. 

I didn’t like this man.  How his eyes raked and crept into my own, staring into my soul like he could see everything.  I didn’t like how he was staring.  I didn’t like how when I sensed him, a dark, lifeless vibe came off.  Almost as if he had no heart. 

“Get off!” I screamed, my hands vibrating furiously on the floor. 

He chuckled, his awful fingers dancing up my neck.  “Yes.  I think that’s a great idea.  I will bring you to him.  He’ll surely be impressed.  He’ll be okay with”—he flicked a loose curl off my face—“the package coming early.”

I didn’t know what went through me.  It was maybe because I sensed the sudden danger this man provoked.  Something about him was threatening, made me feel in risk.  My shaking hands erupted and my knuckle collided into his face.  I heard the bone connect to his skull.  It was an ear-splitting crack.  The impact sent him flying back.  As soon as he was off, I scrambled onto my feet.  The sight of him drowning in his pool of blood was enough to have me running.  I didn’t know where I was going.  I just kept moving with the herd, in the direction of the other Snipers.  The smoking air was worse, restricting any sight within a metre away.

I banged into a hard metal, and touched it.  Feeling around the pipe, the idea dawned on me that it was a ladder.  Climbing the moist steel, someone tugged my foot, and I kicked, trying to get them off.  Their nails dragged across my legs, making me scream.  I kicked harder, and felt my heel collide with their face.  Quickly, I scaled up with ease and unlocked the circular lid, popping out of the hole.  I was back outside.

Keep moving, Jess.  Keep moving.  I couldn’t stand still.  My hands were shaking even more after the punch.  My whole body was electrified.

Flashes of the unconscious man scarred my thoughts, blood spilling over his face.  I had killed someone with my bare hands.  I almost crumbled to the floor from the agonizing realization.  I took a life, he was never coming back.  But what surfaced my mind was more painful. 

I didn’t feel guilty.  I felt more alive. 

I entombed that terrifying comprehension, sealing it far from my current thoughts. Breathing hard, I sprinted down the empty alleyway, steam coming from pipes and sewage.  It was a maze, towering cement buildings making the space narrowed.  My arms sliced faster, driving my body down the long alley. 

“Jessie!” shouted Levi. 

I stopped and turned to find Levi and Casper coming from the corner.  A burst of relief surged, and I ran over.  They waved their arms, and shouted again.  Unsure to what they were saying, I squinted, and made out bits of, “Go back!” 

Frowning, the boys were being chased by an aggressive mob of men about twenty feet away.  My eyes widened.  I quickly took off my heels, hooked them onto my fingers, did a one eighty spin and sprinted in the direction I came.  My bare feet splashed into the puddles, the after smell of rain and hot pavement awakening my senses.  This labyrinth of corners made my brain hurt, and I just kept turning when my instinct said to turn; taking two rights, one left, and another right. 

My calves ached and I stopped, puffing heavy breathes.  Sitting on a trash can, I rested my hands on my knees, my shoes dangling by my pointing finger.  I decided to ditch them and tossed them away.   

“How did you know we’d stop here?” Casper panted, jogging around the corner a few minutes later. 

Relieved to see them in one piece, Casper had a bleeding nose, his tanned oily body slicked with sweat.  “I didn’t,” I answered and glanced at Levi.  His bottom lips were swollen, beat red with a cut across his collarbone. 

“They’re still onto us.  We have to move,” Levi instructed, starting to walk again.   

“Who’s they!” I called, rushing beside him.  Those trigger words unleashed the flood of questions that rapidly came pouring from my mouth.  “Was that all part of the game?  What happened to the others?  Where were we in that hangout earlier?  Was that some sort of private club?  What—”

“He’s trying to concentrate,” Casper hissed, elbowing my side.  Glancing, I realized the gang leader was in deep thought, his brows furrowed.

“Who told them our spot?” Levi asked, making constant turns.  I was on radar for any other company, but no one seemed close.  

Casper strode along his side.  “I don’t know, sir.  No one knows how they got there.”

I hustled to make this a trio walk.  “Someone mind telling me who ‘they’ is.”  I thought about telling them about the threatening man I punched, and opposed of it.  I shouldn’t be telling them anything until they’ve told me something. 

“The underground place I had brought you to was a confidential club for our Snipers to hang out at.  People schedule meetings, have drinks, dance; an area that only Snipers would know,” Levi said.  His jaw tightened.  “Only Snipers.  Those people who attacked were not one of us.” 

I threw my thumb over my shoulder.  “Shouldn’t we go check on how everyone’s doing?  If anyone got hurt?” 

Levi shook his head.  “No.  We have people for that.  What we must do now”—he took out a gun from his shirt and reloaded it—“is continue with the game.” 

“What?  We have to go check if those people are okay!” I sputtered. 

“Jessie.”  Casper rested a warm hand on wrist.  “Stop.  Others will take care of that.  You have to learn that it’s best to move on.  We’ll investigate later, and at this moment, the games are the main priority.” 

“Were they men from Eagle’s Eye?” I asked, poking on the subject again.  “They had snakes on their skin.  Did that mean something?” 

Levi stopped dead in his tracks.  “What did you just say?”

“Snakes.  They had snake tattoos drawn over their bodies,” I repeated, studying his face.

He masked his reaction, and narrowed a hard gaze forward, his jaw clenched.  “We can’t stop moving.  We have to get back onto public grounds.  We must continue the game.”

I stored this peculiar moment for later.  Once we entered the chaotic market again, I kept a sharp eye for any unusual people.  Passing by a booth, I nabbed some moccasins on the table and swiftly placed them on my bare feet as we moved.    

“Casper, two blocks.  Five kills in range.  Finish them.  Meet us back at thirty by John’s,” Levi said.  Without hesitation, Casper vanished, the crowd sucking him in. 

Lowering my hands, I checked the status and found everyone with at least two kills completed.  Suddenly, my hands started to shake again.  “Shit,” I whispered, burying them in my shorts. 

“You cold?” Levi asked, it coming out more as a sneer. 

“No,” I grumbled, digging them deeper. 

He turned into a strip where booths were squished, the sparkling trinkets spread across the clothes.  The merchandisers shouted multiple languages, trying to nab any pedestrians close by.  I pushed away a jade necklace and followed close. 

He made a sharp turn and stole a small bag of rice, keeping it low by his waist.  Curious to what he was planning, I almost lost him as he made another short turn.  It was even more crowded in this area, elbows jabbing my hips.  “What are you doing?” I asked below his ear. 

“Getting us some kills.” 

“How?”  I turned my head.  “There are people everywhere.  People will see you.”

He spoke leaning to the side.  “What you don’t understand darling, is that as a Sniper, we are hidden within the scenery, where you’d least expect it.”  Mischievous flickered beyond his eyes.  “We are trained to kill unseen.” 

A butcher stand came into view.  There were stacks of caged chickens, their clucks adding more sound to the busy streets.  A man was on his phone, leaning on the side of the stand.  Bald and cleanly shaved, he was a built white fellow, his blonde brows furrowed. He was shouting curses, the poor person on the other end probably stressed.  Levi did a casual walk towards him and before I could comprehend, he grabbed the man’s throat, the phone dropping from the victim’s hands.  Blasting out of the phone was a woman’s angry voice, shouting another set of her own creative profanity.   

I stood behind Levi, keeping a watchful eye.  The man gagged, and tried shaking his head.  “I-I didn’t mean to,” he struggled to speak.  “It was by accident.  I can make it up to you!  What do you want?  Twenty grand? Thirty?”  His oily face was shiny, his eyes avoiding Levi.  He made a confused glance at me.  “Who’s that?” 

Levi tightened his grip and the man yelped.  “None of your business.” 

The fright was instantly filtered off of the man’s face, leaving only a smidge of struggle.  His eyes gleamed as they shot to my shaking hands in my pockets, the vibration of my fingers heightening.  He did a short laugh.  “He was right.  He was actually right.  Who knew a lunatic like him would be right?”

Levi pressed harder.  “Who?” he roared. 

Amused, a smug grin was sewn across his lips.  “You and your stupid council better make a choice soon.  Time is running out.  That monster you have over there?  She’s gonna explode soon.  And when she’s gonna blow, she’s gonna take you all down with her, counting your precious brothers and sisters and every one of you Snipers.”

“What do you mean?” I asked sharply, stepping forward. 

The man looked at me, then back at Levi, and laughed.  “You haven’t told her?  Man, if only he was here to see this...”

“Who?”  Levi dug his nails into his skin, clenching his bobbing Adam’s apple.  “Tell me before I rip you limb from limb, and tear your heart into shreds.”

The curve of his lips widened, delight rushing up his face.  “Oh dear Levi, it seems you’re already too late.  I don’t have a heart anymore.” 

Shock was painted on Levi’s face for a moment before he grinded his teeth, and said, “Good.  Then you won’t have a problem going to hell.” 

“I can’t wait to see you there,” he grinned.  A second later, Levi slammed the bag of rice to the man’s chest and shot three bullets into it. 

I jumped, startled even though the bullets were silent from the bag.  Levi let go and the lifeless man slumped to the ground, the bag of rice covering the wounds.  He slid the gun back in his jacket and grabbed my hand, pulling me back into the riotous crowd. 

His eyes shot to the warm shaking hand he was holding.  “Stop the hand-thing will you?” 

“I can’t,” I answered hotly.  Agitated by the current event, I dominantly asked, “What did that man mean?” 

“Nothing, he meant nothing,” Levi said, averting his gaze as we walked.  Knowing I was going to try penetrating his caged mind, he continued, “There’s something you need to understand, Jessie.”  He pulled us aside to the side of a building, pressing my back against the cold cement wall.  “I want you to listen carefully.”

I gave a meek nod.  “Good,” he said.  “In the world of gangs, darling, there are five divisions.  Each member of any gang is at least part of one division.  You have your Visionaries; intelligent, practical, the inspector, the one who has the brains.  They do mental calculations and figure out the quickest and efficient way to complete things in a short matter of time.  In this age, you can say they’re the ‘smart people’.”

“Then you have your Dynamos, which we sometimes call Fighters.  A Dynamo is the one with strength, speed, a competitive athlete who has top precision.  They have the strong muscles, and are champions when it comes to combat.  They study different moves, and are light on their feet.  You can rarely lose to them.”

“After, you have your Seducers.  They are experts at seduction, and usually are used to lure our targets; known as bait.  They have strong emotional intelligence and are professionals when playing with your mind and emotions.”

“The fourth division are known as Jaqs.  These are people who are all three divisions; a Visionary, a Dynamo and a Seducer.  It’s not common for non-gang leaders to be Jaqs but it’s possible.  Gang leaders are usually Jaqs though; clever thinkers, skilled fighters, and excellent mind players.”

“You’re a Jaq?” I asked, slowly processing this information. 

“Yes.  For example, Casper is a Jaq as well.  Cray is Visionary and a Dynamo.  Vamp is a Dynamo and Seducer.  Snapback is a Visionary.”  He lowered his head, still clutching my shaking hand.  “We all have our own strengths and weaknesses.” 

I gulped, his breath fanning across my cheeks.  “Then what’s the fifth division?”

A layer of darkness coated his features.  “The fifth division consists of a rare breed.  There used to be many of them around the world until a gang disappeared, their kind vanishing.”

“You make it sound like they’re not human,” I weakly laughed, trying to lighten this subject. 

He pursed his lips.  “They’re not.  Based off of our definition of human they’re not.  A human is someone who feels, has emotion, fears, and a heart.  These kinds of people, they don’t feel, they don’t have emotions, they have no fears, and they certainly don’t have hearts.”

“Are you implying they’re zombies?” I joked, and he twitched a smile. 

“No.  I’m not.  They are regular human beings, just with a vast difference of personality.  Instead of crying at their loved ones funeral, they would sneer.  Seeing a little girl hanging off a bridge, they’d watch her die.  Emotionally, they don’t have hearts.  When they have a mission, they do it and don’t let any feelings disrupt their goal.” 

“They’re bitches is what you’re implying,” I said. 

“Basically.”  He squeezed my hand.  “They’re dangerous, Jessie.  You don’t want to meet another one.  Trust me.”  Another?  “The man back there was one of them.” 

“But what are they called?” I gave him soft eyes, wondering how the famous leader Levi could fear of such a demon. 

He released my hand, putting some space between us.  “Their type doesn’t think, they just do.  Lethal humans who are everything combined, full of indifference and heartlessness.  They are called Cold Bloods.” 

Terror iced through my bones.  Cold Bloods.  A wave of memories crashed, sweeping away where I was now and bringing me back in time. 

During my bedtime stories, my dad used to say Cold Bloods were Satan’s children.  Part of the Bloody Trio, he said all the dominant gang leaders were Jaqs; the Sniper’s leader and Eagle’s Eye leader.  Except Slein, the last gang leader of the trio.  He was a Cold Blood who had a thirst for money, pleasure and power.  Him and his gang were ruthless, but could never reach supremacy because the Eagle’s Eye and Snipers managed to balance him out. 

Until one day, he just disappeared.  The rest of the Cold Bloods scattered, that division vanished from existence.  What no one realized was that, for those who studied Holy Trinity or had good observation for a simple barstool, the number three represented balance.  With one gang gone from the three, economy for gangs dropped, and the world was chaotic, little gangs then beginning to appear, trying to reach the top hierarchy.  Eagle’s Eye and Snipers were no longer allies, but enemies. 

No one knew where or how the Cold Blood’s came to be.  But no one wanted them to return.  Seeing that the Eagle’s Eye and Snipers were no longer allies, bringing in another dark gang who possessed potent hatred would put our world in chaos.  No one would be able to hold back the Cold Blood’s. 

And we just saw a Cold Blood. 

Suddenly, the vibration burst from my hands and I gasped.  It felt like someone put me on fire.  I heard fast steps come from a mile away.  I sensed Levi make a lunge at someone, a punch being thrown.  A kick.  Everything was blurry.    

I shut my eyes. What felt like a potent fire ignited my body. Overwhelmed, I threw my head back and allowed the energy to surge through my veins. The reaction resembled a lit match dropping into a pool of gasoline; immediate explosion.  I heard the sound of a bullet slice through raw flesh. My eyes flew open. 

Levi held a gun, the lethal barrel directed at a tattooed man. The one who I saw an hour ago, outside of the corner store.  With his signature white Mohawk, I couldn’t help but stare at his snake tattoo until my gaze met his face. An oozing bullet hole was carved among the centre of his pasty forehead, above the widened ocean irises. He took a shuffle back along with his last breath and then collapsed onto the ground. 

Expecting instant grief to flood my unknown body, the gruesome death had a shocking affect. It fuelled the internal burning sensation. 

"Jessie?" 

My neck cracked to the side. Levi's golden skinned features held a spark of... Worry?  “The RBR… it’s reacting with her drug.  But how…” I caught him whisper under his breath.   

Warmth buzzed around my neck, a ball of energy building within my chest.  It was similar to the adrenaline in the fighting ring and back at the Sniper hangout. But multiplied by a thousand. "What?" I hissed, the invading power sharpening my tone. 

His worry was merged into confusion, and he made a slow approach. His voice was laced with fear. "Your eyes. They're black."

I was about to give a confused response, but the temperature jacked up again. My comment came out throaty, a husky vibe at the tail end. "What do you mean?" 

"Guys!" We spun around to see Casper sprinting down the strip, pushing people out of his way. I could smell the beads of sweat trickling down his temple. He was more than ten feet away. His frantic shouts clouded my puzzles thoughts. Casper halted breathless beside his gang leader. "I killed five of them, but there were more than you predicted.  The element of surprise is now gone." 

The angered stampedes of men were in view. Their black leather jackets flapped among the wind, infuriated expressions seeming more deadly as they approached. 

Levi gave light hearted laugh. "Alright everyone. Pick a kill, any kill."

"You make it sound like this is a game," my new voice smirked. It was happening again. Someone flicked that ego altering switch. Back in the fighting ring and the skyscraper jump, I couldn’t feel any negative physical and emotion feelings. My mind thought differently. More darker. More arrogant. 

Levi adapting to my new transformation rather quick, he returned with a smirk. "That's because it is."

One of the furious men shoved a woman into a jewelry booth and she screamed, falling on the necklace assorted table.

"We need to stir them away from the crowds," Casper explained, already heading the opposite direction. 

"No we don't. It's their fault if the pedestrians get in the way," I coldly snapped. 

The boys looked over their shoulder, shock registered in their eyes. Levi was the first to shake it off and continued to hustle away from the crowd. "No. The whole point of haja sangue is to not stir trouble but to balance and put order in our gang system," he informed.  

“Then I guess it’s about time we change that,” I replied darkly. 

†††

Did you really think Jessie would run through an alley on heels?  Obviously I’d make her take them off.  I swear, the only movie when the heroine is in an action scene and she actually takes off her shoes is Salt with Angelina Jolie (She’s my role model)

POP QUESTION: What would you be or what would you want to be?  A Visionary; the intelligent one.  A Dynamo; the athlete.  A Seducer; the master of luring and playing with the mind.  Or a Cold Blood?

How to say Jaq --> J-ACK Like the name Jack

(Didn’t put a Jaq as a choice, because come on, we all want to be a Jaq)

I’m curious!  Quick update because I already have it almost done ;) Maybe in two days?

VoTe! (Uno click!) CoMmEnT! FoLLow!