[hr][hr] [center][img]https://txt-dynamic.static.1001fonts.net/txt/dHRmLjcyLmVkMWQxZC5UV0Z5YVdVZ1NDNGdURzlqYTJoaGNuUSwuMQAA/ds-gabriele.regular.png[/img][/center] [hr][hr] [i][b]*BANG! BANG! BANG!*[/b][/i] Within the seedy, secluded underbelly of New York, two unfortunate souls fall dead to the floor like a sack of flour as panicked screams erupted from within a crowded building. The third shot would puncture through a window, allowing one of the survivors to leap through the window in an utter panic. The man in question - a seedy-looking gang member in blue - stumbled as his foot got stuck on the window frame, causing him to trip and fall onto the grimy alleyway belly first into a dirty puddle. His shirt and jeans would be covered in wet bacteria-infested shit water, but this was only the least of his issues. Quickly getting onto his feet, he makes a mad-dash down the dark alley as he ran like hell. He knew what was coming. As he looked back, he saw a shadowy figure leap into the air and disappear into the volley of hanged clothing. His heart continued to beat faster in terror as he proceeded to run faster - to run as fast as he could. Faint clacking could be heard from above, as if a person in heels was running parallel with the apartment walls, slowly getting louder and louder no matter how fast he went. Gun shots rang out close behind, nearly missing him by inches as he looked for a clean way out. Turning a corner into another alley way, the man dashed into the darkness and planted his back towards the wall in hopes to hide from her. However, he instead found himself falling backwards as a loose door opened behind him. He rushed to quickly slam the door shut and lock it accordingly. It was not the most noble of escape plans, let alone elegant, but he could hear the clattering of footsteps slowly seeming to go farther and farther away into the distance. Did he loose her? Did he actually loose her by sheer luck alone? It seemed too good to be true. He paused motionlessly before backing his shaking body towards the shadowy wall. He couldn't quite tell where he was, being that it was nearly pitch black, with only a hint of light coming from a tiny window. It felt oddly humid and damp, almost as if he was suffocating in his own sweat. Every little sound he heard was magnified by his paranoia - every creak, every crack, thump, and any other insignificant noise kept him on edge. The clacking of heels may seem to be gone, but that doesn't guarantee that he's out of hell just yet. He has heard horror stories from word on the street and even regarding a few special figures of his gang about this woman. She could be anywhere now. She could be far away... she could be nearby outside... she could even be right behind~ [i]*Clock*[/i] [b][color=ed1c24]"Boo."[/color][/b] [hr][hr] The gang member was thrusted out the door as he skid across the gravel pavement. As he came to a stop, he panically proceeded to crawl to the edge of the perimeter, still blinded by the sudden change of lighting. Yet as he reached over the smooth ledge, he found no ground to press his hand on. He'd soon realize where he was... on the very roof of the building he entered. The man looked back at the approaching shadow that covered his body - greeted in a feminine figure in bright crimson holding two twin flintlock pistols. The Scarlet Butcher - Marie Lockhart - was upon him. [b][color=ed1c24]"Ya got nowhere to run this time, bud."[/color][/b] the bounty huntress remarked in a cold expression as she glared towards her victim. The man stared back at Marie bug-eyed for a few short moments before attempting to dart past her left and brace for the stairway ahead. However, his plan was cut terribly short as he was met with a red boot crashing into his skull. He fell back onto the gravelly pavement and issued a painful groan as blood ran down his nose. Marie squatted down and grabbed the man by his hair, raising his head up until it met her's. [b][color=ed1c24]"Man yer one quick lil' fucker aint ya."[/color][/b] the huntress sneered, [b][color=ed1c24]"Quit actin' like a lil' bitch, it won't save ya."[/color][/b] The gang member's face trembled as he finally began to speak. [b][color=0076a3]"W-What do you want from me?"[/color][/b] he asked weakly as a cough escaped his throat, [b][color=0076a3]"W-What could I possibly h-have that you want...?"[/color][/b] Marie lightly chuckled at the man's fleeting statement. [b][color=ed1c24]"Someone paid me gooooood money to come and find ya,"[/color][/b] she replied with a mischievous tone, [b][color=ed1c24]"Well, I suppose I didn' need ya in particular. You just happen'd to be here at the right time. Heard yer gang was hidin' some stolen funds from my client. He wants em back."[/color][/b] Her victim seemed initially confused by her reply. [b][color=0076a3]"F-Funds...?"[/color][/b] he asked nonchalantly, before being pistol whipped by one of Marie's guns. [b][color=ed1c24]"Don't start playin' foul on me, pal."[/color][/b] she interjected violently, [b][color=ed1c24]"Yer be only wastin' your time and mine. The Caliban Mafia wants their money back and yer gang's way overdue. Tell me where they're hidden and I'll spare yer life, otherwise I'll be poppin' one straight into yer skull. Capiche?"[/color][/b] The bleeding member coughed again as he struggled to let out a wheeze of pent up air to clear his throat. [b][color=0076a3]"You... you won't let me go..."[/color][/b] he blurted out before having another coughing fit, [b][color=0076a3]"I know you enough to *cough* to know that... you won't let me live the tale. So why does it matter whether I... tell you or not. I-I'm a dead man either way!"[/color][/b] A sly glance emerged from the bounty hunter's eyes, with a light smirk curling across her lips. [b][color=ed1c24]"Wanna bet?"[/color][/b] she playfully asked. The man paused for a moment, contemplating on whether this was worth it in the end. But just as he was about to reply, they two could heard hundreds of faint voices crying out in terror from below. Marie shifted his glance towards the edge of the building as she slowly raised to inspect the odd noises. Her victim would begin to stand up, until a cocked pistol was pointed in his direction. [b][color=ed1c24]"Move and I'll kill ya."[/color][/b] she bluntly barked, forcing the gang member to slowly kneel onto the ground. He wouldn't move from his spot, not even to see what his captor was about to witness. And when Marie looked down from atop the 12th floor of the high-rise, her face warped into a confliction of confusion and dissatisfaction. Out of all the crazy batshit things she had seen in the Big Apple, nothing seemed more ruthless than the onslaught of hundreds of shadowy masses violently emerging from their host bodies and murdering them in cold blood. [b][color=ed1c24]"What the hell?"[/color][/b] Marie muttered to herself as she scoured the carnage taking place. She couldn't help but to feel a sharp pang of dread vibrate through her body, yet all of this didn't seem to make sense. Just minutes ago she was hunting down her captive and now, out of nowhere, she was witnessing a mass genocide with shadow-people murdering everything in their sight. In fact, she was so ingrained on the entire situation that she almost forgot about her captive... and her senses immediately detected something off. Without hesitation, Marie turned to load two shots straight into her victim's head. However, instead of the victim's body... the bounty hunter saw an oozing black, shadowy humanoid mass with its hands over her head - as if it was about to catch her. However, it was too slow to dodge the lead that entered its body. The creature released a deep, booming, groan before falling onto his back and having his dark essence dissipate into thin air. She glanced back at the body of her real victim, only to see a gaping stab wound oozing directly from his chest cavity. [color=ed1c24][b]"Ugh."[/b][/color] the huntress groaned frustratingly while lowering her pistols, [color=ed1c24][b]"So much for gettin' paid."[/b][/color] She leaves the butchered corpse behind as she readies herself for combat. [color=ed1c24][b]"Time for ya'll to start chuggin' my bullets..."[/b][/color] she breathes under her breath as she lock and loads her flintlock pistols. She makes a running head start before leaping off the edge. Suddenly her heeled boots would ignite as she found herself descending towards the shadow army. And before she would land, she proceeds to unload on the enemy. The battle has only just begun... and it's gonna get messy.