With Blood soaked into her hair, every inch of her skin. Her clothes. It was like she bathed in it. Her mouth was covered in her enemies blood. It was freezing, her feet bare, skin had been ripped from the soles of her feet, due to how frozen the ground was. She wished she hadn't of kept her Godparents promise. If only she trained sooner. Her enemies wouldn't have gotten the best of her. Her chest burned, her heart beat so hard and fast it hurt. It made it burn. Hard to breathe. Trying to stick to the shadows, if she ever pictured her life. It was never like this. Her name on every TV, every news radio. Every military radio. She wanted the world to remember her name but this wasn't how she pictured it. 

She could hear them coming, her fear and panic clogging at her throat. The pain of being alone. And the pain of being on the run, one seemed to hurt more than the other. but she kept going. 

She couldn't go back to her hell, but she couldn't die yet. She had so much to do. She was just starting to do things for herself. Her breath sounded louder than it actually was. Her heart beat in her ear. Her breath showed in the cold air.  

Blood seeped from her wounds. Anger and sadness seem to have blinded her from dying. Like an adrenaline pulsing through her veins. Not knowing who to trust. Feeling her enemies right on her tail, she looked back, dipping into the alley ways. Feet hitting rock and sand. Old concrete crumbled into chunks of frozen rock, cutting into her feet. She quietly leaned against one of the old brick buildings covering her mouth. She closed her eyes remembering a breathing technique that her mom taught her. To make her breath so quiet, that it was almost like she wasn't breathing. 

As they ran past her, she kept her eyes closed, until she heard a foot Fall. Then she turned to look and one minute the young man was looking at her and the next he was screaming. She pulled out her daggers, and sliced through the man's throat and turned and ran. 

As bullets began to fly through the air, Adeline made a b-line for the next turn. Only to come to a road and it looked like they were on a bridge. She turned, only to see people ahead of her. Suddenly she could hear the sounds of guns at the ready. She jumped on the side of the building as high as her body would let her, she flipped only to land on her hand on one of theirs, dodging the first round of bullets. Using her other hand, she reached out and sliced right through the man's skin and muscle of his neck. Blood gushed out. She then jumped down, landing on her feet in a crouch. She wiped her face only for the blood to smear further. She looked around her, Adeline wasn't the best, but she had something, most didn't. And that was clear sheer stubbornness and a strong will. 

As flash back after flash back kept hitting her, she ducked and dodged, blasting out power, of shadow and death. She jumped up, absorbing the souls, of the people she killed, she used her daggers to cut two of the bullets in half as she used her other dagger to smack them back at the shooters. She wanted her name to be remembered but not like this. The more blood she was losing the more she was starting to weigh on her feet. Losing focus, the more her anger pushed her further. They say that death is something to fear. Nah Adeline didn't death, in fact she wanted it. She welcomed it. No, the thing she was afraid of was becoming nothing. The darkness was her friend. But becoming nothing, no sight, no hearing, no feeling, no thoughts, no movement. Nothing. But it's probably what she needed to become, the shadows. The nothing. Death was easy for Adeline. It was living that was harder. After death that was an interesting thought. No the thing that made Adeline stubborn was the betrayal, she wouldn't let them win. Her enemies will soon fear her. Or maybe they already did and they just talked a lot of shit like she was nothing. Or dirt beneath their shoe. Well if she was nothing? Why kill her? Why turn the whole country against her? Or state. Why blast lies on the news. It made no sense. Ah but it did, she was mafioso. The princess of mafioso. The very existence of death. And people feared the unknown. What they couldn't have they destroyed. If it interfered with their plans. They killed, but you know, people say some of those people are ignorant Or enjoying their life. Tends to become the true beast hiding in the shadows. But who knows. Adeline Was a ghost. An assassin. She would prove then all wrong. If only she had more time. Maybe that was their goal. 

Suddenly a bullet came just inches, as she bent so far back, her hands were on the ground, so she flipped and kicked the shooter. Only to come up slashing flesh. She landed on her feet, as she swirls, her daggers came up cutting through ligaments and muscle of wrists that pointed a gun at her, only for it to end up in their throat or chest. When her hands were empty she jumped, clinging to one of the men as she put her mouth to next, growling as she bit through tissue and muscle, and vessel. Ripping out his throat. As the man began to fall, with blood splashing all over her and coming out of her mouth, she flipped and grabbed her daggers only to land on her feet. 

She could feel the fear starting to make its way up her spine, feeling suffocating. The strong will to live. She was like a beast covered in blood. Shrouded In darkness. Hated by all, left by all, betrayed by all. But fought with all. She spat, trying to get rid of the blood from inside of her mouth. From the guy she had bitten earlier. Adeline wasn't perfect in this profession, but she had a few tricks on hand she could play. 

With fear choking her, her life line, bleeding put of her. Her energy depleting due to her excessive bleeding. She looked around, standing at the edge of the bridge, as she turned around, she could see every gun, every sword at her back, ready to kill her. 

Her lip began to tremble, this wasn't fair, she hadn't even done anything. She didn't get involved in others business. She just wanted live a simple life. But no, people just had to do this the hard way. She was lucky she was still alive and moving due to the massive incident she went through. It was so terrible. Why her? She was the last of her family. If she could go back she'd definitely do things differently. 

Swallowing Her rising fear, and her haziness, and moved to the edge, she looked over the side, she knew there was water but she wondered if it was frozen. But looking at it now, it was open. The water was going to be freezing. 

“How quaint, the famous killer, either dies by a bullet or jumping. That's okay well just say she committed suicide.” One laughed. 

“As if you will. I'll kill anyone who touches her.” The soft deep voice said. 

She recognize him, her eyes widened as she climbed over the ledge. Everyone gasped, she just smirked. 

“Catch me if you fuck heads. You wanted to kill me so badly? Then come get me you fucking passes.” She said, she gave them all the middle finger. 

She looked at the one who threatened them, with a sad smile, he looked sad, he shook his head no, “See you later devil.” She whispered. 

She then dove Head first, dropping into the water, as she was falling the cold wind pricked at her cheeks making her skin freeze. But she knew the water was going to be colder. Her clothes were soaked in blood and torn,so her body was completely cold. As her teeth chattered, she took a deep breath and felt her face dive deep into the freezing cold water, as she dove deep. Her muscles tightened, she tried to think of anything else, other than the freezing bitter cold. As she put her daggers away in the belt Holders. So she began to swim as far as she could before coming up for air. What felt like hours was probably only minutes due to the current of the river. She swam up, and took a deep breath, gasping for air, as soon as her head broke the surface. She could hear the screams from fair away. She looked back and saw what seemed to be death and Wrought Of time, and shadow itself swirling around, hearing the screams. She swam to edge and quickly climbed out of the water. 

As she stepped out of the water, the water making a splash and sliding down her now painfully freezing body, blood seeped from her wounds. The rocks cutting deeper into her feet, the bitter cold snow ripping her skin. She whimpered, fear to be chased and hunted, nowhere to hide threatening to take over. 

As she made it to the trees, away from the city, she slowly made her way into the shadows. Moving slowly, she was sure toes were gonna be frostbitten soon. But due to the trees, some of the wind was blocked. Her breathing so loud, her enemies could probably hear for miles. She was losing focus. Limping, finally deep into the forest. It was quiet. So quiet. No more city noise, yells or foot falls. No more engine sounds, just peace and quiet. As her eyesight began to blur, she stopped at a tree. Sliding down the bark, feeling it dig into her cold skin. Her breath coming I'm fast, the ringing in her ears. They say that when you're dying. All your senses Become dull. But why did it feel like she became more sensitive? Almost like the shadows were Following her. 

She remembered the sound of that angry voice, she gave a weak laugh. As if he was going to catch her then punish her. 

“Pfft hahaha, how do you punish a dying person dumb ass.” She giggled weakly. 

Her ears twitched, as she leaned her head back against the tree. It seemed lighter that way. 

She just laid There listening to the footsteps crunching in the snow, the snow seeming to slow down as the wind began to blow through the trees. The moonlight high in the sky. It was December twenty third nineteen- fifty nine. It was so cold, she let her sight slip between reality and her memories. She swore under her breath, it was almost too heavy to breathe. She remembers how her life went from happy memories to darkened painful memories Over the years. 

Her eyes went from a hazel to almost a silvery gray, like death was taking her away. As she watched, blurry feet seemed to come towards her. 

She coughed and blood seemed to spit from her mouth, and slip from her lips. She reached out, thinking she could touch whoever was coming towards her. The pain seemed to subside. That must be a sign she was dying, as the footsteps came close she tried to zero in on who it was but her eyes wouldn't let her. She could feel a weird connection, but she didn't say anything, she was dying so what was the point. If the person wanted to kill her he could. She was already so close anyway. 

Her lower lip trembled, no one would never know if she had died, that was okay too, she could be at peace. 

When the footsteps finally came to a stop, and the person seemed to have crouched down. She closed her eyes and let out a heavy breath.

“If you come here to kill me please hurry it up and get it over with.” She whispered. 

“I'm here to be with you until your final breath.” The man said, his voice was deep but gentle. 

His voice was soft, “So you came here to mock me?” She asked. 

“I don't mock those in their final moments, I only came here to listen.” He said, but it was like he had a weird determination.

“Okay. Do you have a name?” She asked, as she tried to reach up and reach out. But she couldn't really see. 

“Humans are interesting with their weird obsession for naming everything..I don't have a name. I give you permission to give me one.” He said so softly. 

“How about shadow? It seems fitting considering where we are.” She let out a soft whisper like soft chuckle. 

“Alright. Shadow it is. Tell me, my sweet little beast, is all the blood from all those bodies you left behind in your wake?” He asked, she could feel him put her head on his lap. 

“Ah half of it. The other half is my own blood. Do I look terrible?” She joked. 

“You look beautiful, even in death.” He whispered, she let out a soft laugh. 

“Only you think up shit like that. You know I wish I could experience things a normal person can. All because of that stupid promise. I never got to experience childhood. A play date. Meeting new people, even desserts, I've never been taken to a new restaurant. I was born into a rich family and I've never had any of the benefits. I wish I could change that. I'll never be able to fall in love. Marry even. I can't have kids. Because I'll be dead. I have one wish, can you grant it?” She whispered.

Something warm slid down her cheek, it was wet, but he seemed to wipe it away “if it's within reason I'm sure I could.” He whispered back. 

“Get revenge for me. That's all I ask.” She whispered. 

Suddenly she heard a different voice as they chuckled, it sounded a lot like her brother, who was supposed to be dead. She gasped as she tried to open her eyes. 

“I can do you one better, how about I send you back in time. And you can change your destiny? You can get your own revenge?” The other man said. 

“Time, you finally got here. So the gods finally heard her huh?” He chuckled. 

“Yes, her suicide attempt and trying to survive made them fully understand just how out of her depths she was. Considering the odds were against her and no help. So I gave them an ultimatum, either bring her back to life or face the horrendous consequences themselves. Not by me but by other beings. I don't think they realized just how bad it really was until this.” The man said. 

“Wait what's happening?” I asked, going into a slight panic attack.

“Easy little one. We are going to send you back into nineteen- thirty-two when you were eighteen. That was before it all started. Also you'll have him there. He'll be there when you get there and me. I do what I want. So just relax and let him help you through the transition.” Time said. 

Suddenly the snow swirled around them, “you'll see me when you wake up, pay attention to details, you'll need the information I'm going to give you just relax I'll help you through it.” He whispered. 

Her heart came to a slow, she shivered, as she felt his warm hand over her eyes, suddenly information flooding into her mind. As she began to feel Time flow through her consciousness. To be continued….

I will listen to this entire story on the express condition HenryTheHoover is allowed to join Sleep Token.