Picture of Katherine

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           When morning daunted on me I was hot mess carelessly slumping on the bike groaning from the lack rest I pulled myself off patting the girls shoulder reassuringly, taking notice that she attempted to help me up. Removing the bike I gestured for her stay by the door, pulling my gun out the girl grabbed my hand looking at the girl with her pleading eyes, "Please don't kill."

          Pulling my hand away I quickly walked away closing the door behind me skidding against the cold pressed form wall I peaked over seeing that some of those anarchy bastards were hanging around the airstrip; it was only four of them, but they had radio phones that could reach their leaders-one call and there will be reinforcements. 

           Going to the other end of the garage rustling of boots scratched the concrete leaving a stomping compressed thunder, pressing myself to the wall I held my breathe as she continued to walk seeing the peak of the bridge of her nose. The woman tuned her back simply passing me returning, reaching over I snapped her neck hearing the bones cracking underneath her olive skin.

           Once her body limped back I carefully dragged her body inside hearing the compressed gasp escaping Elena, running over I covered her mouth with my palm giving her a stern stoic expression, scolding her for almost screaming the girl horrifically looked away going to the corner of the room using my sweater to cover herself up.

            Going to the woman I respectfully undressed her putting on her military clothing which was a size too big for me at that moment I used her sweater to cover the woman's garment body, shutting her eyes closed so her soul can rest I tucked my brown shirt into my tightly wedged pants. 

           Grabbing the girl gently from her hand I pulled her with me zipping the sweater up for the girl to stay warm, the military uniform was new touch making me look official hoping it was going to be enough to pass as one of them. Exiting the garage I looked around keeping a steady hand on my holster.

          "Let me help." The girl sternly told me, she released her hand from mine closing her tightly rubbing the side of her temple breathing rhythmically hearing a thud hitting the ground following with another I furrowed my eyebrows cautiously treading towards the front. 

             Squinting to the entrance of the lot a man stood there on the ground appearing to sleep tossing and turning, his gun was to the side still in hand without any motions that he the man was pretending. Hearing a second preceding to a third along with a fourth soldiers fell to the floor, "I can protect you too." The girl took my hand her sweet tone pulling me out from my thoughts.

           Pushing the motorcycle out front we hopped on speeding out of their, hearing bullets ringing past us I looked behind to see a jeep car tailing us from behind, pulling my gun the kid ducked clinging to me while I shot right back glancing from the jeep to the road. The bullets smashed right through the window-shield hitting the passenger twice, but the driver swerved from each shot.

            Those idiots must've been parked, waiting for their own to return and when they saw us and the sleeping soldiers they obviously put two-to-two together. The gun clicking emptied, I reached over for the second magazine, "WATCH OUT!" Her screaming rang in my ears.

              Snapping my eyes in front, a jeep was parked a few feet away gritting my teeth. I pushed the gun into Elena's hands pushing my right hand in front with force as the car barley budged, "They're gaining on us." Her scared voice flashed in my mind-those eyes filled with fear just like hers. 

          Clenching my fist tightly, bubbling anger soon roared.The jeep pulled towards us, crushing the men that were out with their guns, sweeping the jeep to the side of the road I looked over my shoulder to the jeep behind as it collided right into that jeep tailing that was tailing us. The crushing metal and screams rolled off the road onto a field of grass.

            Speeding faster we stormed passed the bodies pressed on the roads blood claiming a new territory announcing that disaster had been created we passed fields after field, pulling over after we put a great distance from the scene I grabbed the gun from Elena refilling it with another gun stuffing it into my holster. Fixing myself in the meantime the girl hugging me from my waist, her eyes weeping of tears.

            Freezing in place I patted the girls back sighing out of relief that she was safe at least; this girl was all that mattered until we reached the Haven then the ties will be cut, the money was all that mattered in the moment once I kept that drilled as motivation the quicker all this trouble will be shorten soon. Constance wasn't answering our calls drawing in more worry that something was wrong.

            Dread nauseated me looking out to the road behind pacing feet daring me to go back to the run down and check on Constance she had to be kicking, with panic brewing deep inside the girl stated, "Ms. Lee's alive, she was lost her phone and is looking for it. Don't worry I told her that we're alive." The calmness in my voice eased the tension.

           Breaking a crooked sideways smile I sheepishly chuckled patting the girls arm for the favor I had to remind myself that she's a telepath, "Do all Supernaturals have two powers?" Nodding at her question the girl cracked the tension in her neck along with her knuckles too.

            Intaking the suffocating air I switched the radio on keeping the volume on low, it was important to keep updated on the weather when the front desk man informed me of a storm out in the Europeans it worried me that if it might be heading this way.  There was just commercial allowing the girl to have my undivided attention.

            "I noticed that supernaturals are a little stronger than humans, but we can still get hurt. Do you think all humans are after us?" She asked balancing herself on the curve of the road, putting one foot in front then another going back and forth once she reached a distance.

           Watching the girl playing her foot games I grinned reminding me of days when me and her will play footsies under the table, "Your so angry Charlotte, sometimes it hurts so much I cry at night. How can I make it feel better?" Gaping at her sudden claimed. I stared furrowing my eyebrows, she was still doing her foot games, avoiding eye-contact.

          Getting back on the bike we continued out journey the thickness of the ushering by us it was safe to avoid small formed towns as much as possible, even though there was sympathizers in reality people wouldn't mind turning others over for some: MOST WANTED, poster money that the bounties were going to have on us after the anarchy contact them.

          Listening attentively to the radio broadcast the weather that was Europe was still causing some damages with high levels of flooding occurring some people were forced to evacuate the radio soon loss connection the signal frenzying out of bearable understanding. Glancing back to the roads a roar of motorcycles from behind called from behind, looking behind a four bikers wearing mixture of leather and ragged clothes pulled out their guns.

           The air was thick danger filled it for that moment nothing else matter with those guns aiming right at us; it was four men on their bikes too, it was electrifying charge in the air almost daring, it rose goosebumps throughout my arms. 

           Charging the bike faster I gritted my teeth tightly the bear of my knuckles turning white from the rage bubbling protesting for a release I gritted through my teeth, the bike thrashed forward when I made a sharp right the bike swayed along with it siding on its side for a moment before regaining its balance.

            The bikes continued to tail us attempting to match out speed and for a split second I believed they almost did until I took notice that the blazing the motorcycles were no longer clinging to the air, coming to a short stop I looked over my shoulder to see the bikers slumped over their bikes sleeping. 

            Quickly getting off I swiftly took off my helmet checking each of their pulses chuckling softly, incredibly impressed by Elena's handiwork. The girl peaked behind her shoulder growing pale from the sight she quickly got off going to the dry grass and vomiting from the obvious tension that was weaving it's way into her.

          Attempting to step a sharp thrash of pain pierced right into my skull every nerve in my body focused on the pain, stumbling forward I dizzily turned around staring at my hand, throbbing uncontrollably, looked up a man wearing that leather and rag swung a punch; a shooting pain spiked turning my head when it connected with my cheek I fell on my back groaning in pain. 

           "CHARLOTTE!" Elena screamed attempting to run towards I stretched my hand arm putting her in a force-field bubble when a boot smashed into my arm snapping my eyes to the man tears swelled in my eyes tasting a swiss of blood in my mouth. I spitted on his boot which followed with kick to my side, I gasped stretching to my stomach I tried to crawl towards Elena.

           Pulling myself I turned around to face the man I smirked cracking my neck from side to side; ignoring the shooting pain that threatened to back me down, the man was two inches taller than me hair balled into a military style as his body was built with muscle he chuckled, "Hand over the girl." He demanded his wagered a war.

           Laughing bitterly I ran forward tackling the man to the ground we fell to the ground I snatched my gun from the holster using the butt of it to hit him in the head until he caught my arm headbutting me, falling back the man groaned rubbing his head hearing a gurgling of spit. 

          Stumbling back onto my feet I suspected that the bruising were going to appear in no time my knuckles were scraped open cuts dusting with blood and gravel of rocks sticking, the stood back up looking worse for wear. We stared at one another exhausted from this whole ordeal that none of us were willing to back down.

           "Is that all you got?" He breathlessly asked stammering onto his own two feet stretching his knuckles out to show impressions of the gravel rocks imprinted on his skin, he was bleeding on a cut on his eyebrow along with a gash on the corner of his lips.

           Panting heavily I stalked forward a shiver snaked on my fingers noticing the gravel of rocks slowly levitating, narrowing daggers into his eyes the man soon noticed the rocks moving around us as we both hurled towards one another. Ducking once he threw a punched I stabbed the butt of the gun into his side multiple times, until he yanked me from the hair he slapped me across the face I stumbled back trying to regain my balance.

            Focusing my attention back to the man I kicked my leg into his stomach watching him gasped I grabbed his shoulders kneeing him in the stomach then elbowing him on the back he fell to his stomach, coughing profusely the man let out a breathless gagged air I stepped back kicking him to the side of his stomach he swung over to his back staring at the clouded sky.

           Using the rocks to hold him down the man was now trapped begging for air as every rock nearby ranged from small pebbles to the size of microwave, the man's frightened eyes increased as I kneed right next to him smirking as he was attempting to speak. Pressing a hand to my ear to hear him I smirked when the words couldn't escape, stepping back I retreated to Elena.

            Releasing Elena from the bubble she stared at the man then back at me I worried she was going to lectured me for putting rocks on him, but instead she hugged me from around my stomach, "I knew you could do it." Unaware of what to do I slowly rested a hand on her back patting her with reassurance.

           Getting back on the road we quickly left going to have to figured out later how the man was able to restrain himself from Elena's telepathy, the exhaustion from the fight was wearying down but we needed to be halfway there to the boarder refusing to rest until we passed our marker on the map.

           Elena was still ecstatic from the fight making punching and kicking noises like they will emphasize in comic books or those old black and white tv shows, it plastered a small grin on my lips pleased that, but I worried that the only part she will admire was the monster I have become over the years. I knew I have always been a monster to those that dare go against me or threatened the people I loved, but now that the person I loved was gone-nothing stood in my way.

           I wondered if she was still alive if she will still love me for the person I have become, those offers to help people could've done some good in some way I pondered if I had a chanced to redeem myself, those years of self-blaming all those endless list of nightmares I craved to know if there was chance of survival for us if I would've fought harder or faster.

            After a few hours of driving I got off an exit we needed to refuel and Elena was hungry her stomach growling could be heard miles away, it wasn't much of a town and glancing around I noticed a neon lights bar flickering indicating neutral territory. When we parked the car some people eyed it until they saw the scrapes and cuts on my body signaling that we weren't to be mess with.

           The fight left me aching reminding me that I needed to rely a little less on my powers if I didn't want to loose touch of fighting dirty with others, we took a seat a booth Elena choosing our orders looking out the window the start of the bar looked like any other, but further down there was windows and few fans in selective areas to cool the place.

            After the fight I wasn't sure if I was qualified enough to bring the girl to the Safe Haven it was only going to get more dangerous in our journey this wasn't the kind of job I signed up for; I specifically highlighted that I was tired of fighting and I wasn't in it anymore, the thrill no longer coexisted. The next stop was fourteen hours from here, but the further we were getting to the South the hotter it was becoming.

           Everybody outside this bear were searching for food something to spare in the trash bins while off to the side a young boy sneaked over to a strangers pouch then took off running with it, the boy dashed right into the crowd. When the greatest start plummeting so did everything we stood for-the people that fought for impeachment were scattered everywhere and some took violence as the only source while others fought with a sort of: Honor.

          "Was the word always like this?" Her voice strung me out of my thoughts momentarily, yet I nodded with short reply staring intensely at the ways we have become.

           A few years after everything went down, that was when I was born along with her, we were born during the time that the government was scraping anything left to salvage from havoc. Although, the government wasn't entirely wrong, some people continued to follow a decent like while slipped through the cracks. We were the people that weren't supposed to make then we wounded up doing so.

          Resorting back to the girls question I simply offered her a small smile grabbing the crayons and kids menu, pushing it to the kid she shook her head grabbing the items with a hint of hesitation while she artfully drew on the menu following the instruction of activities the menu offered. 

            Propping my elbow on the table I rested my chin on the bridge of palm, looking out the window the only thing I heard out for was the shuffling of crayons that the girl was making. In some ways I wondered if this girl only had herself to count on or did she loose her family too, almost every kid didn't know where there parents were or what happened to them.

           "Do you have any family or friends?"  I asked reluctantly.

           The girl peered up slowly dodging her eyes from side to side before resting on her hands answering, "I...I don't know. All I remember is waking up in the middle of deserter walking endlessly, my shoes were tearing and I can feel my feet touching the hot road." 

          Listening to her story I rubbed the back of my neck scattering my eyes elsewhere feeling like a jerk that I allowed myself to paint this girl like a perfect-untouchable portrait, "But then those soldier picked me up and they taught me everything, but Sara...she's the smartest person I ever met. She always told me that keeping a level-head is important. We always tried to see the movies or tv shows." The girl giddily explained smiling from ear to ear.

          Once the drinks arrived I sipped the easing whiskey every nerve relaxing the aches throughout my body, it screamed for a bed and a cold shower if we ever did make it to. Glancing around the bar several people sharpened their eyes on me then darted away when I caught them look, taking notice of the uniform I was wearing I sighed forgetting that I was still wearing it. 

           The uniform wasn't clean like it originally was having some blood stains also grass markings made this outfit stand out even more, pride lingered inside caressingly enjoying the fact that the people around was shifting in their seats. I leaned back easing into the fixation of the fear that flashed through their eyes, paling their skins and shitting bricks.

          "All I know is the military, everything outside this world hasn't been fully explained to me." The kid adds providing that she was ignorant to the conflict that had been occurring for more than twelve years.

          The kid was still fulfilling the activities silently darting her eyes back forth debating on the crayons to use, rubbing my thumb over the rest of my fingers a familiar itch before I can act on impulse the food arrived, but the frightened look in the woman's eyes pierced with a series of redness staining her eyes, her hands trembled then quickly brisk away.

           Elena dropped the crayon on the table her eyes widened when her eyes settled on the food I watched her eat the macaroni cheese and GMO fruits that she munched on, pulling the food over to me I picked at it craving for a drink rather than food, but I teased the buds on my tongue with the chicken soup juice.

          Wrapping up our lunch we made it out the bar a tender ring danced in my pocket swiftly pulling it out the called ID stated it was Constance, pulling away from Elena holding my wrist I patted the seat for the girl to take a seat and wait there. Walking a few paces away from the girl I placed the phone over my ear saying, "Constance." I whispered with a hint of happiness.

           "They're coming after her, I don't know how they found my storage but they did. God I'm so sorry." Looking around a few ransacked cars parked crookedly side by side from each other, furrowing my brows I sighed running a hand over my face.

             "I'll handle it, take the money and go to the home base" I angrily replied, slowly and deliberately I squeezed the phone.

             Hearing the heavy breathing at the other end swallowing down the streaming of tears, "Be car-" Hanging up I stormed over to the bike swiftly getting on the bike I tossed the helmet to the side speeding out of the lot.

            We sped down the road the lights brimming to a later evening ignoring the girl I was able to call the Private, demanding that we met at a run down motel on the side of the road by a emptied business outlet that were now dealing with drugs.  

          When the Private arrived she exited from the black convertible eyes utterly focused with a goal set to mind, two female soldiers walked side by side with her figuring that she must be outrank them by a few years, "What seems to be the problem...." She stops mid-sentence taking in the bruises that had already formed from the fighting also the calmed throbbed cuts on my knuckles.

           I glanced over to the girl pressing a hand on her shoulder for her to elaborate the words I needed her to explained to the Private, the girl sighed shifting her feet nervously before expressing, "Charlotte can't protect me anymore-they found out about me and her friend might be in danger. She...she didn't sign up for this and wants out."

           The girl shrugged my hand off crossing her arms noting that her shift of attitude had to do with me wanting to leave, but the Private looked between rolling her eyes with pure irritation radiating off of her. "We had a deal Ms. Grey, you were aware of the consequences and now you want out...utter fucking-bullshit." Her shift form a calm demeanor quickly changed clearly claiming that she wasn't happy with this new development.

           "She doesn't care, just give her...the last pay and find someone else to this job." Elena disgustingly answered watching as she clenched her palms over her crossed arms, she squeezed tightly her knuckles turning a brim white.

           Ripping my eyes away from the girl I shook the pity thoughts that were daring to make a escape, right now wasn't the time to use my emotions all that mattered was receiving the money and doing this job. At the end of the day this was only a job I took leave the country with Constance, that was our plan.

             The Private stared deadly into my eyes wavering between wanting to throw the hero book in my face or to beat the living shit out of me for not being the person she expecting me to be, there wasn't anything better than to dismantle that pedal-stool that she was holding me too. Actually, the scenario brought sickening smile to my face building me with pride that she didn't have to expect to turn into some cliché redeemed hero.

           "Acero." Her determined voice brought a female soldier stopping besides her.

            The bald headed black woman stated, "Ma'am." 

           "I want you to deliver the last money and inform Capt. Cruz that there was a change of plans." The woman controlled eyed balled eyes façade for a moment when hearing taking in the Private words, she slowly nodded walking away towards another two soldiers that were at the convertible.

           Before I can head off to my room since we decided to stay in for the night due to a radiation storm that was probably going to come the Private called out my name from her room that was two doors away from mine, "Look at me." 

            Darting my eyes to the woman she stared right into my eyes she stared at me in a way that shifted me uncomfortably as if she was layering off every detail that I am, but to dare uncover the person that I have become over the years. The woman slowly walked towards stopping an inch away, leaving us a descent amount of respectful space.

           "I seen that look in your eyes before, your a killer. A monster that has done terrible things.  I don't know what my superior ever saw in you." She told me attempting to berate me as if it wasn't something I have do myself over the years.

           Before I can allow the woman to walk away I swiftly yanked her arm in my direction hatefully staring right into her eyes, slowly letting go of her wrist I noticed that my nails were digging their way into her skin. Backing away I barged right into the room locking the door behind me.

         Those word she spoke enveloped into the truth I have killed before done some terrible things that even I don't dare to remember, those years of tormented torture I put myself through was because I deserved it. For years those memories haunted me placing me in a spot that there was peaceful point that even I couldn't remember any longer, for years I begged to recall them even now.

            Screaming awake the clenched the sheets of the blanket droplets of sweat rolling down my entire body wired me into fight mode, everything was levitating for a moment until I swallowed the lump in my throat regaining my composure that everything was alright. Getting off from the bed I achingly put my bra back on knowing well enough that it was going to take me awhile to go back to sleep.

            Deciding to sit on the side of my bed I pulled back hair into a messy bun, yet when listening for any outside noise a shriek bloodcurdling yelling rang through the air shakily worried that it was Elena I swiftly slipped on my shoes tugging on my sweat and bringing along my gun.

            Charging out of the room people were running out of their rooms as smoked filled the stuffed air everything was chaos a group of people with fire were kicking doors and sweeping the area, "Every there!" Looking over to two women on the left dressed with their upgraded mismatched armor they started charging at me from down the stairwell.

              Furrowing my brows the stairs creaked shut smashing the women to death bones sticking out while blood squirted from all directions, running down to Elena's room a barreled of screams echoed out the door kicking the door down. When entering the Private was being pinned to the bathroom door two men, furrowing again the men's bodies went out the windows crushing them into the roof of the motel.

            Taking off my sweater I covered the Private's body staring horrendously at the way they left beaten and stricken naked her raspy breathe noting to me that she was still fighting them, yet when her eyes opened she tried to push away until I quietly hushed her watching her slowly relaxing. 

             "I tried fighting them off...but...but there was too many of them." Every ounce of confidence she had in herself appeared as if it had been taken away from her, she was sobbing blaming herself that she wasn't strong enough to take down more before they got to the room explaining that she was able to down four men that were trying to come after Elena and herself.

             The woman was dying she had multiple wounds on her and she was shivering despite the sweater I was using the cover the dignity that she still had, "Please...I need you to protect her-she's like a sister to me." 

            I nodded trying to understand what needed to be done holding her hand blood was spilling out the edge of her mouth, "I'm here." I whispered to her shockingly cocking the gun, looking away I pulled the trigger the bang echoing off the destructive room traveling from one end of the room to the other signaling a complete silence.

             Crawling away from the limped body she laid that lifelessly I placed her on the bed covering her body with the a clean sheet of the blanket, watching attentively as the sheets didn't even stain with blood a creaked of the door pried opened my hands twitched when her soft small hand took mine into hers.

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