by E. Mendell
~ Four ~
Hiro made his way down the dark street alone. There were few people out on the sidewalk and the shadows lengthened across the street. Lampposts were flickering to life while last-minutes shoppers hurried by. The last thing Hiro expected was a pleasant stroll to the store. It was probably going to be closing soon so he walked briskly. The chilly night air made him shiver. He found that odd. He rarely shivered when the weather was cold. Normally he only shivered when…
“Something is wrong.” Hiro looked over his shoulder with narrowed eyes, then turned away, his expression darkening. He saw the shadows were moving oddly; it was something only his golden eyes could see. To the rest of the world nothing was out of place, but where there was danger Hiro could see the shadows morphing together or swirling like funnels. It depended on how evil the presence was. As far as Hiro could tell the presence was either weak, or far away. He eyed the shadows before hurrying on his way. He came near the store, relieved that it was still open. As he went inside he took one last sweeping glance of the street, but there was nothing to be seen.
Shopping was uneventful, but as Hiro was exploring the store he noticed the shadows continued to shift oddly. Under the shelves, beneath the items, and under his feet there were swirling shadows that at times created designs like fire. Hiro was on edge as he bought two blankets and two pillows for himself. When he checked out they were put into two individual bags, which he slung over his shoulder while leaving through the sliding glass doors.
Outside the world was silent. No cars drove by. There were no people. Behind him the store he had just left closed. The lights dimmed and Hiro’s shadow was cast across the road by a dark orange glow. His own shadow shifted, changing shapes. Hiro’s gaze slowly passed over the dark road. He watched as from both directions the city lights began to go out. Lampposts, store lights, and store signs. The blackout consumed everything except the glow behind him.
Hiro’s gaze locked on his shadow. It had stopped moving. This sent a shiver up Hiro’s spine. He could feel fear threatening to come over him, but he pushed it away. His emotions were hollow and his golden eyes rose slowly to the tall buildings across the street from him.
A shredded crimson cloak is what was wrapped around the dark figure that stood atop the building. Standing atop the building in the darkness. The cloak hid his features and a hood covered his head. Hiro knew who it was. Fear gripped him.
“Hiroshima,” called the man, his voice like ice.
“Red Assassin,” replied Hiro under his breath. He hid his fear behind a mask of apathy. “Why are you here?” He called across the street.
“I heard Enimito came for a visit,” replied the Red Assassin.
“And you felt like bringing this darkness just in honor of him?”
“I do not honor him. This darkness is mine.”
“Darkness belongs to no one.” Hiro scowled. “Idiot,” he muttered under his breath.
Red Assassin jumped from his perch. He flipped in the air and landed on the sidewalk, silent as a breath with his cloak fluttering slowly to the ground with him. It was made of light material, yet also heavy. Hiro knew the material was made especially for the Red Assassin and his line of work.
“You still haven’t told me why you’re here,” said Hiro. He watched as Red Assassin stood and walked into the street.
“To see you, old friend,” replied Red Assassin. “You managed to jump the radar. I’m impressed.”
“I was made to disappear and reappear undetected,” replied Hiro. “There is nothing impressive about it.”
“How can a war machine be so humble?” Red Assassin stood only three paces away from Hiro. He was near two inches shorter than Hiro, but that had never bothered him. “Nice to see you’re looking well,” said Red Assassin slyly. “Wash the blood off your hands yet, murderer?”
Hiro was unfazed by the comment. “At least I didn’t make a name for myself out of shed blood itself. It’s so original.”
“You’re too kind.”
“Learn sarcasm, lame brain.”
“I did.” Red Assassin smirked behind the coil of his cloak and hood. “You’re all alone. Where did your little girl friend go?”
“She’s dead.” Hiro gave Red Assassin a stabbing glare. “You couldn’t have been following me all day. I didn’t sense you.”
“You dropped your guard after the salon.” Red Assassin was mocking him. “Why did you do that? You never do that. Were you surprised at how lovely she looked? I know I was. I might have been following you, but had you two split up I would have followed her instead.”
Hiro decided the pleasant talk was done. “Did the scientists send you?” He asked.
Red Assassin laughed once. “Do you think I would tell them that I’ve located you?” He snarled. Yes, the pleasantries were dead. “My business with you is personal. I am not going to let the scientists get you until I’ve had my vengeance.”
Hiro nodded once and tossed his shopping bags aside. He had known that this would be Red Assassin’s answer. Red Assassin threw his cloak back over his shoulders, revealing black clothes, detailed with leather and crimson stains. He whipped out two knifes from his belt where there were many sheathed weapons. He cut at Hiro who held no fear for knives. Hiro thrust his arm forward, catching one blade vertically in his flesh. He then trapped the knife with his other hand and spun. This wrenched the knife out of Red Assassin’s grip and Hiro delivered a spinning crescent kick to Red Assassin’s head.
Red Assassin jerked back in time to save his face, but then Hiro came at him with an uppercut, which Red Assassin sidestepped. His cloak caught Hiro’s fist and before Hiro could pull away, Red Assassin whirled the cloak around Hiro’s arm and, with a hard jerk, sent Hiro sprawling into the street, but he wasn’t defeated. Hiro jumped up, blocking a series of solid strikes.
A split second opening in Red Assassin’s attack and Hiro moved in, slamming his knee into Red Assassin’s stomach full-force, but this was a bad move. Red Assassin’s second knife stabbed straight into Hiro’s back.
There was a horrible buzzing sound that filled the darkness as Hiro screamed. He stumbled away, his whole body twitching uncontrollably as electric shocks went through him. Like blue lightning they shot out of the wound and from his mouth.
“Short circuit the robot,” hissed Red Assassin, walking forward as Hiro doubled over. “And win the fight.”
Oil drizzled down Hiro’s torso and blood spewed from his arm where the knife first was still gouged. Red Assassin kicked the back of Hiro’s head making him hit his face on the sidewalk. Red Assassin then kicked Hiro over, dropping his foot on Hiro’s chest. This gouged the knife deeper into Hiro’s back and brought an even worse buzzing noise. Hiro’s whole body was twitching uncontrollably and zaps of electricity writhed all over his body like snakes. His scream sounded digital and his eyes glowed golden white with electricity reflected inside.
Red Assassin stood over Hiro, watching emotionlessly. His cloak rippled in the wind that carried Hiro’s unearthly scream down the empty street. Red Assassin could have finished off Hiro, but he stayed his hand. He lifted his head, looking around their surroundings. From his belt he withdrew a small black devise and flipped the top lever open. Inside was a glowing white button. He hit it, and the orange glow of the last store went out.
From above, the starlight filled the world. Red Assassin pulled back his hood and sank to one knee beside Hiro. He watched the man twitching and struggling to regain control, but Red Assassin knew he wouldn’t be able to stand for a long time. His knife in Hiro’s back had shattered one of the main stabilizing panels in Hiro’s system.
“Sucks, doesn’t it?” Red Assassin said, reaching out and slowly drawing his bloodied knife from Hiro’s arm. Hiro could only cringe and wrench his head back with his mouth open wide, but only raspy air escaped. Red Assassin wiped the blade clean with his cloak and returned it to its sheath. He crossed his arms on his leg, watching Hiro’s short circuiting spasm. “Being mad
e of metal isn’t very nice.”
Hiro’s head was splitting from the screaming machinery only he could hear. To anyone else it would be a loud buzzing, but in Hiro’s head it was like constant nails on a chalkboard. Changing pitches from high to low, then high again. The pain filled his body and even though he tried to move there were many muscle groups he had lost control over. He gritted his teeth, knowing he couldn’t expect to escape alive.
“Just-st-st b-b-b-bring the b-b-bag to S-S-Soul-l-l-l!” Hiro said through the buzzing and twitching words. His voice box had been nicked also and Hiro cursed in his mind.
“To that tiny shed where you live?” Red Assassin slid his hand through his short brown hair. “I suppose I could pay that cute girl a visit. I’ll tell her you’re dead.”
Hiro smirked darkly. “I-I-I-I’m not-t-t-t dead-ead-ead yet.” At this his bloody arm shot forward, seized Red Assassin by the throat and threw him.
Red Assassin landed face first into the sidewalk as Hiro rolled away. His body was still twitching and jolting with electricity. He reached behind his back and grabbed for the knife, but he couldn’t reach it. In front of him, Red Assassin was slowly pulling himself to his feet. He held his head and looked at Hiro, wincing.
“That was mean,” he growled, blood drizzling from his nose and mouth. His bronze eyes were filled with anger and half his face was skinned raw.
“I-I-I’m not a n-n-n-nice-ce-ce-ce person-on-on,” replied Hiro, annoyed that his voice was twitching as badly as his body.
Red Assassin laughed out loud. “You emotionless robot,” he said, spitting blood to the ground between them. “I’ll need to find a better way of vengeance if breaking your control panel didn’t work like it was supposed to.”
“You n-n-n-n-need to study-dy-dy-dy mo-mo-more,” said Hiro, walking to the bags he had cast aside. He picked them up, slung them over his shoulder and walked past Red Assassin.
“You can’t hide forever, Hiroshima!” Red Assassin called after him. “You know we’ll find you eventually if you jump radar again!”
“Tell-ell-ell me some-some-something I-I-I-I don’t kn-kn-kn-know,” Hiro muttered under his breath. He was thankful for enemies that knew when they were beaten, but he knew even his luck with that was fading fast.
His time was running out.
