Vela's silent footsteps echoed throughout the streets of Detroit, this amazing city she had been living in for the past few weeks. Despite the slightly loud shuffle of her sneakers against the concrete pavement, she wasn't disturbing the peaceful atmosphere. The sky was filled with a soft, pink glow as she realized that it was getting pretty late.

Evening time would pass real soon, and she wanted nothing more than to get home in a timely manner. She knew her younger sister, Aquila, would be up waiting for her.

Not much, but some people passed by her, occupied with their own lives and not really paying attention to anyone, oblivious to the fact that there were malicious criminals that hid in the dark passageways. They would be waiting for civilians to catch whatever bait they had, and hoping at least someone would trespass into their territory so they could feast on their innocent soul.

Despite how often people would fall into their traps, most people were still unaware of their existence, as if they really believed the president's lies of promising to the people that he would wipe out all underground organizations and rid everyone of their worries. Pfft. As if. 

Vela had learned at a very young age just how much destruction they could cause, but little did she know that she had a family that had ties to the very underground corporations she once feared. Thus, not only did she learn of their evil intents, but she learnt to keep her mouth shut and only speak when asked to. 

There were also those civilians who stayed unaware by choice. After all, ignorance was bliss. All that philosophical shit that Vela thought held no real truth. 

Besides, Vela was beginning to face her fears, which was expected of course since she was training to be a hitter. She intended to protect her family at all costs from outside threats, who Vela hoped would be too foolish to notice that they are entering a trap. 

Although Vela would be lying if she admitted that the basis of her actions were entirely clean. Gotta get your hands dirty sometimes.

She didn't seek out her enemies just to prove her power. It wasn't some 'charitable duty' or anything. That was a given. The real intent to her mission started from the dark secrets of her past, which she swore she would never tell to anyone.

A passerby decided to shoot suspicious glances in her direction, and she quickly gave a warning look in return. Her dark, piercing eyes shot intense glances, and he quickly looked away, but Vela could not deny that she was getting kind of creeped out. 

Vela quickened her pace a little bit, but still casually strolling. The sun that once shone bright hours before was starting to vanish, her wavy locks bouncing as she fast-walked. Luckily, she wasn't in a dress tonight. 

Her comfortable selection of a leather jacket, jeans and her usual tattered sneakers allowed her to walk without discomfort. Vela knew if she had worn a dress with some unreliable heels, that would be extremely inconvenient, especially if one chose to suddenly attack her. However, she wasn't that worried because she was armed well enough with the gun holster attached to her hip, hidden by her sleek jacket. 

As she proceeded to pass by foreign buildings and dully-lit street lamps, paranoia started to enter her mind. Vela immediately stiffened as she felt like someone was on the lookout for her. She watched taxi cabs whizz past her as she tried to discern the situation. 

Vela suddenly moved her position on the sidewalk from the middle to the side, not wanting to come too close with strangers in case they would suddenly pull out a knife and attack her veins. The wariness she had started to feel caused her to put on a sharp gaze as she took in the sight of the streets around her. Nothing seemed to be out of its place, or weird, so she was confused as to why she was feeling the poison of paranoia. 

A sigh of nervousness escaped her lips and decided with the fact that she would have to put off home time for now. Better than to lead her 'stalker' somewhere else than to her home, where Vela would be not only putting herself in danger but also Aquila. Instead, she made her way into a dark alleyway. 

Vela was cautious, but she prepped herself for the dangerous encounter as she made sure to hide the weapon holstered on her. In case someone was going to make a move, she could swiftly reach for her gun at her hip and fire a few deadly shots.

Despite her careful assessment of the situation, from an outside perspective she looked to be unfazed. Keep cool. She thought to herself. Vela appeared to be cool, calm and collected to the world, the cold breeze surrounding her was like a monotonous vibe. She tried hard to paint the face of a extremely dangerous police woman on high alert over her true identity, which was a wholesome, sweet and innocent girl. 

Vela kept her eyes on the dark alleyway before her. 

A figure was hiding in the shadows, and she was slightly amazed at how well they were able to camouflage in the darkness. Vela patiently waited for their next move, whether they would emerge and reveal themselves to her or pose a question of some sort. It was part of her training to not make the first move. 

Some would ask why. But has anyone heard the saying 'look before you leap?' 

Even if she was ready to pounce on them right then and there at the click of a finger, should it ever occur, would be against all her morals. The next move would be up to the person standing across from her.

I wanted to take a stroll in the Detroit air. I had changed int a flowy skirt, and an old button down shirt, from an old boyfriend I had altered. I thankfully took off the beautiful heels that made my legs look sleek like a snake, and put on some comfortable shoes. I could not wear the stupid heels all day everyday. Then I saw someone who seems familiar to me.

Vela! My shimmering blue eyes could see clear as day, even in the dark. And, what did I see? Vela acting funny. Was she being followed? I did not know. I decided to make it a point to surely find out, she was a member of my family  of course. I was walking ever so lightly, but not looking suspicious. If she was being followed, that person would not know until the last second, before one or both of us took him out!

I did not want to alarm Vela either. I had seen the look her and the other person exchanged. I wondered was this the person or one of the persons in question. I really did not know what was going on, but I was surely going to find out, I followed sorta, but not too closely, and saw Vela dart into an alley. She had looked like she was going home before then , but for some reason had chaged her mind. She obviously was not stopping for last minute ice cream soda from the soda shop, there was not anything much around here. Something was not right here, but what? I ducked into another nearby alley where I could still peek, see her, and be ready to quicky fit someone with some shoes, where they would never be in need of shoes, muchless oxygen, again.

The man across from Vela could see the smoke that was curling up from the narrow chimneys. He watched it carefully, then returned his gaze on Vela. He was slightly amused by the fact that there were many civilians cooped up in their warm homes and completely unaware that there were people like him standing right outside their houses. 

A cigarette stick was resting in between his fingertips, which he lifted to his mouth and slowly took a drag of it. The gesture reminded him of his mother, who always despised his smoking behaviour. Especially when he was much younger, he would do it anyway, but earn a few lectures out of it from his mother. 

Cigarette smoke slipped past his thin lips, and he exhaled slowly. 

He could understand where his mother was coming from, maybe. It might have been a motherly instinct to stop your child from getting into such bad habits. Truth was, he missed her voice even if all they did was bicker with each other. 

Though he was confused because he remembered seeing his dad always smoking a pipe in his childhood years, and not once did his mother scold him for it. The man wondered did his mother love his dad at all? Or were they just putting on the act of a happy, loveable family? 

He snapped back to reality, noticing that the lady across from him hadn't done anything yet. He figured she wanted him to say something first. It appeared that the peaceful air he thought was once here had now vanished. The man was only smoking and didn't want any trouble. 

The man raised an eyebrow, trying to decide if he should speak up a complaint against her due to the suspicious stare she had going on. He really thought that the subtle glow of his cigarette wouldn't attract anyone, much less be able to recognise his dark shadow in this alleyway. He rolled his shoulders, stretching out his muscles before pushing himself from his comfortable stance against the brick wall of one of the houses that bordered the alley. 

He threw the remainder of his cigarette on the cobblestone floor. 

A humourless smile was now painted on his face. "What can I do for ya, miss?" The mysterious man questioned as he placed his hands behind his back in a childish manner. Mischief was all that Vela could read from him. She wondered if he knew that he was giving off that 'i-didn't-do-it' gesture. 

Vela saw him tilt his head to the side. 

The man stared back at her, asking the question though he knew the answer already. She didn't need anything to be done for her or someone to cater for her. Vela was on a rush to get home and didn't have time to be playing whore. 

She was angry at herself truthfully for deciding to walk this late in the night. 

As he began to gamble with the outcomes of how this situation would play out, his thinking was cut short when she noticed a woman some way behind her, hiding as if no one would notice her. 

He didn't know her, but Vela did. The man had noticed the lady watching them for some time now, but he thought against exposing her. The lady seemed to have their eyes on them, looking away whenever he decided to point his face in her direction. A funny game of hide and seek, if you will. 

The man lightly sighed. Poor lady was probably thinking she was doing a good job in the skulking department. Using his long, thin legs to stride across the cobblestone floor, he finally stepped into Vela's clear sight. The man tipped his fedora hat to her and began to speak in a quiet, hushed tone. "Miss, I'm afraid you've got someone stuck to your shoe." Vela raised both of her eyebrows, but went into even more shock when her elbows were lightly gripped by the man, leading her back into the direction she came from as if it was just an accident that she darted into a pitch-black alleyway. 

The man wondered if the lady would continue to spy on them now that they were out of the alleyway. He knew now that the lady would probably stop following them because one more move and she would blow her already cracked cover fully. Whoever these ladies were, the man was only motivated by a simple idea. 

He was clueless about the whole thing, but he was down to come to the aid of this lady he was holding onto.