Chapter 1: Chapter 1
The white noise of the city surrounded me as I stood at the edge of the rooftop, looking down at the street below. My eyes ran over the familiar faces of my classmates, as they laughed and talked about their days. A smile grew on my face as I remembered the days gone by, before I'd had to become a guardian angel to a bunch of misfits with nothing to live for but causing trouble.
Now, I only saw those people when we were forced to study together for our tests. It seemed like a million years ago since we'd all studied together for our test on ancient Greek mythology though classes have barely started.
I turned away from the edge, sliding on my mask. I had a mission to complete before I see those smiling faces up close once more.
The moon was high in the night. I crept around the corner as I spot my target. Another target bringing a threat to the agency.
They never noticed me coming.
The never see me raise me sword and strike.
The blade pierces their heart, my destruction awakens. I watch as their body withers down, with ugly black cracks lacing their skin at a rapid speed.
I retract my blade, blood gushing out slowly. This is the destruction I have been cursed with. The barrier that keeps me from living a normal life.
I turn to leave the scene but that’s when I see him. A familiar face from the academy, its Rain Walker.
He's standing with his back to me, talking to someone else. His dark hair fell forward as he tilted his head up, laughing. The sound of his voice quiet and calm, unlike how I feel right now.
He looks up and spots me. His smiles more, showing his canines, bright green eyes and pale skin. He saunters over to me, his steps casual and light.
"You're up late," he says, brushing his dark hair out.
I step back alarmed. But he simply walks past me, only taking an amused glance at the corpse.
“You know, my aunt would enjoy this scene very much.” He opens a window letting the cool breeze in.
“Though I figured you would be more discreet rather than leaving a gruesome scene. Wouldn’t that be more in character, huh Ayaka?”
I draw my blade to his throat. “It doesn’t matter if its out of character. You won’t be better off than this corpse.”He laughs, stepping closer. "You know, you really make it hard to tell if you're joking or not."
"I'm not." I say, sheathing my sword. "But I can assure you, there's no joke in words.”
“I need you alive for now. Now, tell me. How did you know it was me?” I ask, hand resting on my sword.
“You may change your appearance but your soul stays the same. I would’ve recognized you if you were nothing but a burned but alive body, with no physical features left to identify.” Rain seemed to glow of power under the moon, a shiver down my spine.
I run though all I know about Rain Walker: a rich inheritance from both his parents businesses, a medical student, a top student in all his classes, with undeniable beauty and unlimited admiration.
A foe I should be able to get rid of, if his disappearance wasn’t so noticeable. But then, all my targets are noticeable victims.
“You must realize that I cannot leave you alive.”
“Why not?” Rain laughs, “Afraid of what I could cause?”
Its true. If I let him go I would have to face the worst. From society and my agency.
Rain smiles, putting out a dagger. “I love a good fight. Make it worth my time, Ayaka.”A fight? Was he playing along with me? Or was he serious?
I blink. And there he is. Standing in front of me, dangerously close wearing that famous grin.
He reaches out his hand, touching my cheek. I feel a bolt of lightning shoot through my body, connecting us.
I grab my sword, striking at his figure. But he is faster. Deflecting every thrust of my sword with his dagger. His strikes quickly, each strike I feel power surging though his blade. I move quickly.But he is too quick. Every strike I make, he parries. Every time I think he will strike, he waits.
And then, when I am on the verge of defeat, he releases a laugh. "That's enough for now." He says, stepping back.
My blade hovers in midair, trapped between us. And then it drops, hitting the ground with a thud.
Rain steps over to it, pulling his dagger out. He rest against my throat, the only sliver of skin I have showing.
“I win this fight. How fun this was.”
I except to be struck, to bleed onto the floor. But nothing happens. Instead he ruffles my hair and goes on his merry way.
I recover from the shock only to realize he has left the room, back into the safety of presumably the crowd below. It was too late. Rain had left, taking my secret away with him.
I was not about to let that happen. No man gets out alive from me. Not after that shock. I turn to the corpse, grimacing I take some of the clothes from the corpse and put it on.
At least the parts without blood. I run after Rain.
As I quickly, sneak my way downstairs I find a fancy venue. A house party of sorts. I snatch a coat and hat from nearby and make my way through the party.
There I find Rain, in the middle of the ballroom. Dancing along to the music. And he is not alone. Rain seems to have their eyes on me.
I shove the hat on my head and tug at the collar of the coat. I wish I had something to drink. Or food. Or any food.
I wait until the song ends to talk to Rain. "Still enjoying the festivities huh?"
"Of course, who doesn’t love a party?" he asks, innocently.
"I’m not too fond of them, mostly all the witnesses" I say, and tug at the collar of the coat again.
"Oh, I'm sorry," he says, raising his hands in mock, laughing along.
“You just can’t leave me alone huh? Just can’t get enough of me?” Rain giggles. I want to strangle this man. I can’t in front of all these people.
As the music starts, an idea pops into my head.
I smile at Rain, “Why, lets dance shall we. I can’t get enough of you remember?” I sarcastically.
Rain takes my hand, the music gets louder. We start to dance.
I don't know why I dance to this. All I know is, I don't want to. My feet are stuck to the floor.
We dance for what seems like hours. Until I see those green eyes of his. They're full of curiosity. There's a darkness inside him that might have something to do with how he figured out my identity.
I pull him along, dancing farther from the crowd. Till we are dancing beneath the moonlight. I hold him closer
"Not bad," He says. "But I want to see more.”
“More. You are aware you are about to die?”
“You can’t kill me, I’d love to see you try.” He smiles. I couldn’t hold back anymore. I strike him with my power. I watch as the cracks flood over his skin as his smile fades from his face.
Then suddenly I am kicked back. As I get up I see it.
“Ah! Ew. You’ve ruined my complexion!” He whines. Rain had survived my destruction, the cracks even started fading away. I’ve never had someone survive one of attacks.
“How. How did you survive!” I ask. Answers. I need them.
“Well, I guess it was the power you used. Or lack of it, I mean, I still look like myself, just with a lot of cracks.” He replies. “It hurt, but I expected death to follow. It seems we are of equal power Ayaka.”
There is no way. No way their is someone as strong as me. There is no way I failed to eliminate Rain Walker. A man who knows the truth.
“We have to go now. Right now.” I say, moving towards the entrance. I grab Rain’s hand.
“Wait. Where are we going?” Rain asks. I don't have time for this.
“I’m taking back to your dorm. You have to swear to me you won’t tell anyone about me.”
“Alright. I won’t but you have to indulge me about your work Ayaka! What is it like?”
It takes me several minutes to calm Rain from asking so many questions. But at least we made it back to the academy.
“I can’t go with you, just go back to your room.”
“Aw. Is this goodbye? Won’t you come visit me?” Rain asks.
“I’m not interested in risky relationships even if I wanted to I can’t. I have to go now.” I say. I need to get back to the agency.
“If you change your mind about me Ayaka, just say so.”
I watch as Rain walks away, he turns to me once more.
“You know what they say, keep your enemies closer? Maybe I’ll see you again.” He walks away. How annoying. Ill be keeping an eye but I will never approach this man again, unless I plan to try to take his life again.
You live tonight Rain Walker.I drive off towards my agency. Come on now Ayaka. No use standing here. There is far too much to do.
The next day, I'm sitting in the courtyard, listening to the radio. I take no interest in it, however. My eyes are glued to the screen in front of me. Another mission.
Luckily, my agency have yet to realize that my secret has been revealed to Rain. So for now, Rain is off the hit list as usual. The bell rings, I have to make my way to class.Once again, I'm surrounded by they laughter of those I care about. I bask in their warm energy.
I push past a groups of students, heading towards the English building. It isn’t until I sit down at my seat that I realize who is in the room with me, more specifically sitting next to me.It's Rain Walker, the man who survived, the man who knows.
We say nothing, we haven't spoken since the night I returned him back to the dorm. Yet it’s the first class of the day and there he is, sitting next to me and smiling. His green eyes catch mine and he laughs.
“So we meet again, A-ya-ka.”
We meet again indeed. This man is going to be the death of me.