Dreamstate

Any breath came slow and quiet, each step precise and silent. Anticipation edged her heart on faster, teasing her lungs for more air than she allowed them. She had to remain absolutely silent- else she’d give away her position. As far as anyone else was aware, she wasn’t even here, creeping through this decrepit building of rotting wood. Crouched low, she kept close to the walls. The darkness was her cover, her friend. But even this ‘friend’ held eyes and ears in its shadowed crevices.

Only glimpsed in dark wisps and quick movements from the corner of her eyes, they surrounded her. They were always around, unseen and unheard, but felt with the cold shivers in a warm room, the undistinguished movements one can never be quite sure was real. These creatures hungered for the fear, the agonizing torture of the unknown.

Especially for the beings in this realm, the larger-world: protectors, creators, fighters. They were dreamstaters. Like her.

It was not fear that kept them at bay.

No, whatever the reason they chose to lurk in the shadows for this event. They tempted her, oh she certainly noticed the movement that lurked too closely, or the voices set to distract her. They loved to taunt.

This time they remained in their corners, their hidden world. And waited for the victor.

She sneered. It won’t be me, not today. She cast her thoughts to them, figuring even if they could not read her mind they would feel her energy’s intent. Their chaos reigned in, and the space felt silent again.

Another deep breath and she was in the next room, searching, listening. The hallway was next, and when she reached the living room, her attention was drawn towards the oddity of its polished wood and fresh couch, the blanket strewn over it not yet ruined by moths. Her gloved hands reached toward the blanket, exactly as her memory remembered it to be.

A voice snapped her back.

Focus, Kat, it filtered through her head, don’t let them see.

She shook the melancholy from her mind and blinked until the fabric fell apart in her hands and the clean room faded to its despondent reality. A glare had the shadows in the room scattering. Their tricks weren’t enough to snag her in their traps- Kat had long been trained to see through their illusions.

Blocking them completely from her memories was another issue altogether. Especially if the wrong person happened to walk in and see- any information could be used to find her. That would be a problem.

A slam carried across the abandoned apartment had Kat bursting out onto the sunlit balcony within seconds. Pounding steps pulled her attention to the right where she gave chase.

Target located, in pursuit, she cast the words to her companion.

Be aware he is armed.

No shit, she shot back and jumped the railing down from the second story. She landed in grass with a roll, cursing when she looked back up to an empty courtyard. A dagger fell into her palm, As do I. Where did he go?

He’s still in the area, but he’s cloaked himself. Proceed with caution, I can’t help you until he shows himself again.

A grin graced her lips. Kat wasn’t worried in the slightest.

She stuck close to the trees of the eerie courtyard for cover, still and without any inhabitants. There was not one remnant left of the people that used to reside in this complex. The war had long ago bleached this area of life. For a moment she debated going up, eyed the balcony she had just come down from. But other than a waste of time it would shed any cover she held.

Kat felt, rather than heard, the release of energy and jumped out of the way. The blast of power whizzed past her ears and collided into the tree she had just been next to. It splintered into fragments, debri caught Kat across her arms and chest and knocked her back with a grunt.

You okay?!

Yes, she answered after a brief assessment and set off at a run towards the closest apartment. He’s a bit more powerful than I expected.

She couldn’t focus on Faze’s next string of curses. Apparently he hadn’t either. They had been given orders to track and retrieve. A brief description and picture was provided, but nothing more.

When the targets were never seen again there was no point in placing names to faces.

Crashing through the front door of the abandoned apartment took no effort, the hinges were so rusted. Without looking back she barreled through the hallway and used the wall’s corner to turn her into the living room just as another wave of energy crashed through the unit.

So their target preferred a ranged fight, did he? Fine, she snarled and smacked the amulet at her chest. Avoiding the broken glass, Kat glanced to ensure her path was clear. A breath later she was jumping through the shattered patio doors, relishing the tickle of bones that rippled across her back.

Faze knew immediately what she was up to and promptly began his protests. All of which she had already thought through. Her midnight suit morphed to allow the new appendages growing behind her- only a partial transformation. She didn’t need to reveal everything to this opponent, but just enough to gain the advantage.

Kat, I know what you’re thinking-

Once her wings were formed- a traditional white that had her cringing at the ‘angelic’ comparisons she received for them- Kat shot to the air, high above the depressed two-story building. Within seconds she found her target’s location and swooped down onto the roof, her hands heating to scorching levels. She was no angel. “Let’s see how you like it,” she muttered darkly, and her palms ignited. She hoped the fire set her eyes manic as she looked to their target. And smiled.

Don’t!

The ball of fire flew.

And the courtyard exploded beneath her in a blaze of heat and orange. Hot air blasted back, catching her wings and nearly pulling her from her perch on the roof. When the smoke and debri cleared, the courtyard was mere ash and dirt. Cutting the connection to her amulet, Kat’s wings shrunk back and disappeared into her body.

We were supposed to bring him back alive! Faze’s voice admonished.

She merely grunted. “He was too dangerous to be left alive,” she spoke aloud, confident now that she was alone. And because of her, now truly the last living thing in the vicinity. It was a shame, but not one she dwelled on. Nature always found its way. “I’ll go and head back to report first- this body needs a break.”

I need a break.

“Let me help with that,” a deep voice spoke behind her.

The sky was looking down on her before she had even felt the kick to her head. She rolled with a groan just as her assailant’s boot heel came smashing down beside her.

Kat! Faze yelled into her mind.

She shook her head to clear it and brought both arms up to block the man’s fist. Barely did she dodge the next kick. Kat reciprocated with her own jabs and punches but her target easily outmaneuvered her. His aura was overwhelming up close.

She pulled her own in, further cloaking the extent of her abilities in an attempt to create some advantage against him. She had always been more powerful than her peers, faster and stronger. But fighting against this man made her feel like a novice all over again.

He tricked us! She sent to Faze when a particularly nasty mix of fist and energy sent her stumbling into the wall. I need back up, he’s too powerful for me to take alone!

We don’t have any close enough- this mission is a bust just get out of there.

Her eyes easily found the exits, but getting to them wasn’t going to be easy if she was already struggling to keep up with her opponent. If her dagger made contact, or a hit sent him back, it seemed to only fuel the man further. While Kat felt her own strength dwindling. Her cries pierced the dead complex when his boot met her chest, and a burst of energy sent her flying.

I can’t get away from him long enough, she coughed and wiped red from her lips. The exit was so close- filled with overturned buildings she could use to run and hide until the evacuation team arrived.

But her opponent was already in front of her, his laughter consuming the air. He grabbed a fist of her hair and lifted her until she was kneeling.

Kat! Faze was screaming into her mind, get the hell out of there, now!

Just another moment- she needed just that minute more. His energy signature was so strong, his face so close. She reached her senses forward, grasping at straws for anything she could use to identify him.

“They sent the little bitch to yap at me this time? Hmm,” he sighed, disappointed in her, and dropped the head of hair he held her up by.

On trembling arms she pushed herself up to sit and matched her eyes to the barrel of a gun. Kat’s breath hitched, hazel eyes wide. This man didn’t mean to just defeat her. He was going to end her completely.

“I will find you again,” she threatened with as much venom she could muster.

The man snorted and cocked the gun, pressing it to her forehead.

“Doubtful.” he shifted. His face flickered.

KAT FORGET THE IDENTITY AND LEAVE NOW!

I’m sorry, she closed her eyes and exhaled.

The gun popped. But she didn’t feel a thing. By the time the bullet left the chamber, Faze’s recovery craft had already snatched her out of harm’s way, jerking her body painfully and popping her neck in the snap back. The release left her temporarily disoriented and she rolled her head before focusing back down at what was a bare second from becoming her deathbed.

The man watched her all the way, fury sketching his face.

Katherine awoke with a start. Sweat coated an uncomfortable sheen down her body and she swallowed through a dry mouth. Reaching for a bottle of water on her night stand, Katherine hung her legs over the bedside and ran a hand through her tangled hair.

The dreams didn’t usually end like that.

Their targets didn’t overpower her dreamstate like that.

Walking over to her vanity mirror, Katherine turned her reflection, searching for any remnant of the fight. There was slight bruising on her cheek and the barest signature of a scratch on her arm from the debri, but she was otherwise unharmed. Dammit, her superiors would not be happy to hear about her failure. She was one of their best- hell, she and Faze both were.

And now they had no leads on their lost target.

She straightened, a fragment of the dream coming forward to prove her wrong. No, she did get something. At the very last second before he had pulled the trigger, she saw it. The illusion flickered, the face of the true dreamstater revealed underneath. Wild brown curls and just as dark eyes. Their target was nothing more than a man. And one close to her age at that.

A dangerous smile twisted her serene features. Katherine would find this man. And when she did, she would drag his pretty face through the mud.