Kassidy V. Cicilia - ist es Schicksal?

“Oh, the silent bitch type? And here I thought you might be original…”

Kassidy’s smile faded away quickly as she rushed her opponent, who came charging at her like a train, and with all the brainpower of the vehicle as well. The hunter already knew what would likely transpire, her light jabs would ounce off Cicilia’s tight defense, the boxer would try to throw a few punches that she would ultimately avoid, and then Kassidy would use her two power attacks to send her foe reeling back in suffering pain. Afterwards, Kassidy might have humbled this angry little girl enough that she might actually get some fun reactions out of her. Only time would tell~

The start of their clash played out exactly how Kassidy predicted, her blows doing little more than keeping the boxer’s attention and making her mad. Next up came Cicilia’s punches, which Kassidy would dodge with eas-

The fist that brushed up against the Hunters ear was…strong. Stronger then anything Kassidy had seen Cicilia thrown at her the entire fight, but even worse it was fast. It was like those fists were emitting steam due to their sheer speed, wiping any kind of confident feature from the Hunters face and instead replacing it with extreme caution with a hint of panic. Kassidy dropped her petty attacks altogether, focusing on keeping her head attached to her shoulders until he could think of something else that would get her through this.

It was not just the Germans fists that had become faster. Cicilia was in the middle of throwing a straight blow at Kassidy’s face, the hunter already back pedaling to avoid the blow when she was suddenly on Kassidy’s unguarded side, her fist smashing into the crooked woman’s jaw before she could react in any way. Kassidy brought her arms up to defend herself, but the boxer was already on the other side, smashing her with a mirror attack, her fist digging into Kassidy’s cheek and jostling her skull around, heavy grunts falling from the Hunter as she struggled to keep her head clear. What little progress she would make would quickly be destroyed, as Cicilia crushed her ribs from behind, eliciting a shriek from the criminal. Kassidy tried a backhanded swing, to fight of Cicilia so that she could recover, but the boxer must have thought of that, because just as Kassidy began to whirl around, the Boxers boot smashed into the crooked woman’s side, pushing her forward and causing even more pain to the woman’s ribs.

Kassidy was suffering, and cast a murderous glance over her shoulder before rushing at Cicilia once again, her crescent kick moving to hit her foe’s rip cage but missing its marks. The hunter simply moved onto her next attack, opening her hand and lunging it at the boxer in an attempt to blind her. The hunter narrowly avoided the quick jab to the face before she though her murderous kick that would have crushed an unaware victims’ skull. The impact of the blow could be heard all throughout the gym, surly that would at least weaken the German enough for Kassidy to recover…but the boxer had not moved an inch. She stood the same way she had seconds ago, her strong-arm blocking Kassidy’s destructive kick dead in its tracks.

Kassidy stood there, dumbfounded, looking into Cicila’s eyes with a new-found curiosity…and hatred.

“T-that’s…not possible! You should be on the ground, or reeling…you…That’s not possible!”

The German woman seemed to are little. She had made the impossible possible, and she was not yet finished. She grabbed ahold of Kassidy’s leg, snaring it tight. Then the boxers other hand shot forward, seizing Kassidy’s throat and lifting her up into the air in an intense and violent display. Kassidy’s claws immediately went around the Boxer’s wrist as she desperately tried to get some air.

Meanwhile, the trainer who was reluctantly watching the two fighters’ brawl finally decided they were going a bit too far with there spar, and would attempt to say something. She marched right over to them, and tapped the side of the ring in a noticeably nervous manner.

“Excuse me, girls? U-um…could you tone your spar down? You freaking everyone out and making them nervous. You look like you seriously might hurt each other if you are not careful.”

As if on cue, Kassidy’s one free limb-her left- leapt into action, using Cicilia’s own display of strength to help her deliver yet another powerful blow to the side of the boxer’s face, this one packed with all the hate, fury, and desperation Kassidy could put together while still stuck in the beginning of a chokehold. If Cicilia’s could still fight through that pain and finish her chokeslam, Kassidy would simply lie on the floor for a minute, before cursing up a storm and attempting to roll onto her stomach.

Cicilia glared darkly at her victim as she lifted her up by her throat, showing her just how utterly useless and weak she had become... Not possible...? Not possible to take her kick and lash back? Did Kassidy think herself such hot shit that nobody could stand up to a move such as that? Elfrida would've mangled her for her arrogance... Cicilia knew that much. This girl would've been in the hospital for days for daring to put herself on such a high pedestal... She wondered if her sibling felt the impulses to do so... or if they were so thoroughly merged with her being that they commanded her beneath her notice...? Cicilia felt it... how those eyes glared back at her, how through her strangled windpipe, she declared her denial of reality. The Juggernaut's jaw clenched as did her fingers around the girl's neck as she prepared to end the girl's career in the ring once and for all...

...Until a foreign voice broke her concentration. Cicilia's sanguine eyes flicked her way, a trainer who, as sheepish as she looked, asked them to take it down a notch lest they truly harm each other! Cicilia couldn't help but stop, the strangle-hold on Kassidy's neck relenting for but a moment. She didn't say a word... she simply stared at the woman, her eyes... shocked? It was almost as if she didn't even realize what she was doing! She still felt the power of the adrenaline rush through her, her fingers like hooks that would latch onto their targets, her arms like the strong neck of a hammer ready to beat in a few skulls. She blinked, realization setting in as she felt a sting of guilt stab at her heart...

I was gonna do it... She thought to herself silently as she slowly retracted her hand from around her opponent's throat, staring at it all the while. I was really going to break her... It wasn't even someone she KNEW or wronged her besides the classic shit-talk and weird-ass looks! She was going to BREAK her... She felt it... the remnants of the command to snap her spine with that choke-slam. Cicilia's complexion disappeared instantly as her eyes grew wide, a shiver of terror washing over her as she realized just what she was capable of... What she nearly did...

She almost became her sister...

Kassidy used this moment of weakness to attempt an escape, kicking off the ground to bring her free leg around and SLAM it into the side of her head! With only Kassidy's restraint stopping it from impacting full force, the leg sent Cicilia reeling hard to the side, dropping her captive entirely! She stumbled to the point of tripping over her own legs, collapsing on her side, barely managing to catch herself before her face impacted with the canvas. The Juggernaut groaned loudly, not at ALL appreciating that kick... but did little in response. The cold ice block of self-fear bit into her guts as she brought a hand to her wounded temple, completely freezing out the rage that gave her strength... Cicilia's muscles tingled not with strength... but with weakness... She stared (potentially up) at the girl who had downed her, sadness filling her eyes.

I could've killed her...

Kassidy had once wanted to be something so much farther from what she was now. She had not always been the anarchist that enjoyed the destruction of society’s norms, nor the cruel hunter that stalked targets she was so often tasked with “collecting”. Once upon a time, she was a small girl that wanted to create things, to give joy to others rather than take it from them. She was always so fond of baking…creating sweets out of scraps, turning trash into treasure. Maybe it was a way to distract herself from her poor upbringing, to avoid facing a broken home and invest herself in a way that made her smile. It was a long-lost dream, one that had been buried in the recesses of her mind long ago.

So, it was a rather odd memory to pop up in Kassidy’s head as she was being absolutely strangled by this woman. Flashes of the pretty pink cakes she used to make appeared and disappeared before her eyes as Cicilia hoisted her up single handedly, squeezing her neck with a force she had never experienced before. Try as she might, the crooked woman could not budge even a single one of the German’s steel digits that wrapped itself around her neck. Kassidy used to pride herself on being tough, breaking in people who were better trained and physically stronger then herself by using her wits and cruelty and overcoming the odds…but she could feel those eyes on her, as the grip became so strong she could feel the vertebras in her neck slowly beginning to crack and shift under the pressure while those red eyes watched her with such a dispassionate gaze, it sent shivers down her spine. She had only ever seen those eyes on one other person, but it was not joy Kassidy was experiencing like when she first met that person. The half breed knew exactly what would come next…and she was terrified of what the German was planning.

Until a meek voice seemed to intrude on their battle, stalling the attack that would likely take away everything Kassidy had. The crooked woman couldn’t hear the voice, the lack of oxygen making her muscles tired, and her vision dark. Whatever the tiny voice said, it was enough to distract the boxer from breaking Kassidy’s neck, even getting the German’s crushing grip to slacken just a bit, enough for some precious air to get into Kassidy’s lungs.

And enough air to feed her crooked brain so that she could focus on her escape the deadly grip. Her leg swung up high, once again going for the head. The kick carried the Hunters fear, anger, and desperation all in what would have been a bone shattering blow, had she not been suspended in midair.

When that kick cracked against Cicilia’s skull, and that death grip finally fell from her neck, Kassidy thanked the gods she never believed in. She had been saved, at least for the moment. She could still use her arms and legs, and now that she was getting her air back, she was getting her brain back too. She could still feel those fingers around her neck, and in a way they still were. A fresh, hand shaped bruise was now visible on the hunter’s pale neck.

Every electrical snap that ran its way across her brain told her to run. She was sent here on a mission by her leader, and she chose this woman to be her target…but this was not a woman. She was a wolf in sheep’s clothing, a monster in waiting…

A freak!

Her brain said run. The blade of the hunter had been dulled as it uselessly struck against the war machine’s powerful defense, and was almost destroyed completely under its treads. She had no reason to fight this monster, she could flee and find someone else, Miranda would be none the wiser! Miranda just wanted test subjects! It didn’t have to be her!

But Cicilia, who had fallen to the ground after taking the blow to the head, looked up at her, and gave Kassidy a look that ate away at her. Kassidy couldn’t believe the look she got. She expected satisfaction, a prideful look in a job well done, or at least enraged eyes at a predator losing its prey. Kassidy expected the look of a monster, she could live with losing to that…but those were not the eyes that were looking at her now. They were fearful and sad, the eyes of a person in fear of becoming something she already was deep down.

That was not the look Kassidy wanted to lose to. Cicilia was ready to take everything from her in a single move, destroy all that Kassidy was and what she hoped to be one day…So why did she think she could be the one looking on in fear?

“You almost did it, didn’t you?”

Kassidy, who somehow managed to stay on her feet moved closer to her downed foe. Her instincts screamed, telling her to get away from the threat that almost killed her but still her body pushed further. With every step closer, her body began to tremble more and more until she was visibly shaking in fear, standing right on top of the boxer.

The look in Kassidy’s red eyes were obscured by the tears that formed around her eyes, the effects of the strangulation still lingering.

“I…hate you…so much…”

The crooked woman raised a foot, preparing to stomp on the face that looked at her with such sad eyes. She could barely stay steady, her body shaking so violently, the hunter had to hide her eyes behind her bangs to avoid looking at the woman that scared her as much as her leader did.

“H-hey! Stop! She’s hurt! Don’t-!”

The boot came down, HARD. Kassidy’s stomp showed as much mercy as Cicilia’s attempted chokeslam. A noise from the side, the trainer? Was she trying to stop them?

She looked to be trying to save Cicilia from such a painful fate, using her own frail body as a shield for the German. No matter who took the blow, the Crooked Collector would be sure they suffered!

Cicilia watched as the crazy collector raised her boot over her head, like she was some bug that needed to be squashed out. Even though she knew the pain that would come... she couldn't help but think she deserved it... after what she almost did. She wanted it... Something that would stop the demons from inside from getting out... Being beaten unconscious...? The best option she had available to her... She didn't break eye-contact with the other girl, her eyes comminicating the sorrow that had replaced her rage... Even though the girl was absolutely insane, Kassidy didn't deserve the unholy retribution she would've suffered if that ring-side woman had kept her mouth shut... Nobody deserved that. Cicilia bowed her head in anticipation as the boot came down, submissive to it's wrath...

*BASH*

Cicilia's eyes shot open as the woman from outside the ring jumped in front of Kassidy's foot, taking the jaw-shattering stomp to her own face instead! The boxer's jaw dropped, her mouth agape in shock as this stranger came to her rescue, unable to even THINK of doing anything as she was beaten to a pulp before her, Kassidy apparently turning her attention toward her instead.

Why?

The woman whimpered in pain as each boot came down, nobody coming to HER rescue... Cicilia clenched her eyes shut and turned her head away, her lips curling into a snarl of pain...

WHY??

Not once did the stranger try to retreat, to open Cicilia up to the beating she deserved. She stood between them, determined to stop the carnage with her own form... Even as she slowly crumbled, as tears filled her eyes, the woman's resolve was untouched... even if the rest of her was left bloodied and bruised.

"WHY!?" The boxer roared, those demons she tried to suppress... making their ugly resurgence yet again. The Juggernaut rose behind the woman who protected her, shadow appearing to envelope her form like the unholy creatures that polluted her soul. Her sanguine eyes shined out from the dark, the boxer's form shaking with righteous anger as she burned holes into Kassidy... Even though they were close in height, the boxer stared DOWN upon her, her hand curling into a fist that shivered and shook with the power it contained. It was as if she towered over the woman, standing hundreds of feet above her... She wouldn't let this happen... She COULDN'T LET IT HAPPEN! Nobody should suffer for her mistakes except for her and her alone... Anyone who dared to spread around the pain meant for her would BURN!

Without hesitation, Cicilia cocked back her fist... before bringing it down across Kassidy's face... with every ounce of strength she had.

The body that took the stomp was not Cicilia…Just some shrimp who was probably interning at the gym for one reason or another. A woman who constantly wanted to interfere with their fight, and unbeknownst to the crooked hunter, her savior from a life she could not peacefully live. Her body shook in fear as her foot came down on the base of the poor girl’s skull, her entire body rocked by the blow. That didn’t seem to deter Kassidy. She had planned to end it all in one blow…but Cicilia still gave her that look, and Kassidy simply had to get rid of it. The half-breed’s eyes barley noticed the person she continuously to stomp on, her thin frame hardly able to withstand the blows it was taking, the Crooked Collector actually feeling the bones of the poor girl shift with every stomp.

No one stopped her. Not even the German. Kassidy managed to get at least four stomps on the girl’s skull and back before anyone even seemed to move. The fifth and final stomp finally took the trainer down to the floor, falling apart like a broken piece of wood. Her body bruised, her mouth filled with blood. Kassidy had just assaulted the girl, and yet it was clear the crime had not even registered in her crooked mind. The gym had been having trouble with its security cameras, with only four of them working, all of them outside the building. Of course, the hunter knew this because she was the cause of the problem. None of this fight would be recorded. None of it traced back to the Wrongs.

But Kassidy’s instincts were still intact. The fear of the German radiated throughout the Collectors entire body, and her brain would not allow her to lose track of a threat that had nearly ended her mere moments ago. As the shadow of Cicilia lifted herself from the ground like a dark being, Kassidy’s red eyes stared down at her crushed victim, but fearing the devil standing in front of her. She could feel the heat of her rage, the acute cut of her gaze rip into her like the ant she felt she was. What hope did a hunter have for crushing a devil?

Her sense was not dulled by fear, but rather heightened to an amazing degree. Kassidy could actually hear the quiet brush of fabric against the boxer’s skin, her arm moving against her clothes as she pulled back an arm that was ready to finish what she had started before she was interrupted. But Kassidy would not be caught in such a deadly attack. Not again. Her own body would not let her.

The moment, the very second her ears heard Cicilia’s fist clench in preparation for an attack, Kassidy’s fear over took her, pushing off on the poor broken girl and retreating with a speed she had never achieved before. With one push, Kassidy was on the other side of the ring, shaking violently at the sight of those burning red eyes.

“You won’t get me…not again…never again…I’ll get you…before you can get me…M-my friends...they will help...”

Kassidy had no interest in staying in that ring with such a violent freak. She hopped over the ropes, hoping that monster would not follow, and instead stay with her broken shield.

Kassidy was a monster, a freak, a demon, and a criminal…but she couldn’t stay there, alone with that German any longer.

Kassidy's cowardice only further enraged the Juggernaut, her entire body starting to shake with the explosion of anger bubbling up inside... The woman muttered something about how the German wouldn't get her, how her little friends would save her... The half-breed's comments did little to deter the boiling hatred inside, Cicilia only dissuaded by the broken body of her savior before her... Any tenderness in her heart at the moment (including the majority of her attention) was focused on her, tending to the woman who had saved her from an ugly and brutal thrashing. Her heart sank when she saw the extent of her conditions, her wounds... painful... bloody... but not life-threatening that she could tell... She was barely conscious, her breaths shallow... Cicilia knelt by her side, trying to think up something she could do to help her... ANYTHING!

"Damn it..." She growled under her breath, hesitant to touch her, let alone MOVE her for fear of hurting this girl even more! Why did she do all that...? Why did she come to her rescue...? She didn't want it... She didn't need it! She... Ugh... Damn her... Damn her for thinking she could get between them... DAMN IT!

"Somebody call an ambulance!" Cicilia demanded, her own phone sitting in her bag along with the rest of her stuff. She wasn't going to leave this girl's side... not after what she'd done for her, as stupid as it was. Stupid stupid stupid... She just should've minded her own BUSINESS! Fucking...

Somebody got hurt because her own problems... It was something she always wanted to prevent... Nobody should pay for Cicilia's problems except her and yet... that girl just jumped in front of a boot for her.

"Why...?" She whispered, not really expecting her to answer... "Why would you do that..."

If Cicilia was waiting for a response from the poor, broken woman, she would have to wait a very long time. The crumpled form of the newbie trainer simply laid there. Her labored breaths were barely audible, her small frame seeming to shake with each inhale an exhale, the baby blue eyes barely open or conscious of the world around her. A few more members of the gym, who purposefully ignored the violence inside the ring finally looked upon hearing Cicilia’s desperate plea for an ambulance. The small rush of concerned onlookers provided the assailant perfect cover to slip away unnoticed…

Kassidy dashed into the locker room, snatching her stuff from the locker…but not fleeing just yet. Her sharp eyes dancing along the locker numbers until she came across her lucky number 6…the one Cicilia had used for the day. Kassidy worked fast, and didn’t bother being subtle. Her hand shot into her bag and quickly pulled out what it was looking for. A small, blunt hammer, which seemed to only exist for sinister use. With five hard, echoing blows the lock was no more, and the hunter began to dig through the Germans belongings. It would be seconds before she found what she was looking for, Cicilia’s lovely little ID…and the home address printed on it.

“Won’t get me…because I’ll get her first…if she comes, I’ll get her first~…”

Kassidy took no chances and snapped a quick picture of the small plastic card, only taking enough time to insure the address was visible before tossing the piece of plastic back in the messy locker. With her security in her pocket, she dashed out of the locker room side door, careful to use her bag to cover her face in case one of the few operational cameras caught a glimpse of her.

By the time the gyms staff came in looking to detain and question Kassidy, all they found was a broken lock on the floor, and the door slowly closing shut to the outside world…The hunter was gone, and there was little they could do to avenge their beaten comrade, shame on their faces as they let the whole thing transpire, and now their comrade was injured, and the villain gone…

No, she wasn't honestly expecting an answer... the poor woman looked far too battered to even begin to comprehend her words... It seemed like forever... but the true medical professionals finally arrived, shipping her off as the German watched on silently... She wouldn't answer any of their questions, too wrapped up in the whirlpool of emotions that surged through her... She had no idea what to feel... what to think...

How could this have happened...? She asked herself, pushing through the crowd to get to her locker. Was it my fault? Did I make this happen...? She wanted to shake her head, just... ignore her possible role in the clusterfuck that was today but... she just couldn't... If she just put on a smile... if she just kept herself under control... nobody would've been hurt... She wouldn't have had to been saved and that woman wouldn't have had to been stuffed into the ambulance! The juggernaut WAS responsible... She was the one who brought this about... It was ALL HER! She didn't even feel the tears bubble up from her eyes, rolling down her cheeks as she finally made it through the crowd of confused spectators...

"I... hate..." She whispered shakily as she stumbled through the door to the locker room, her heart aching worse than it ever had... It was as if an infected wound ripped into it, pumping aching blood through her veins... That blood blocked out rational thought, her only words used to express her own fragile emotional state. One of her hands subconsciously rose up to grab at her face, clutching at the space over her scarred eye as if the wound there were open.

Cicilia pushed passed those that crowded about her locker... only to see what was left of it and the stuff that was inside... Her eyes widened, her whole body froze as she saw her stuff DEVASTATED... but that wasn't what truly mattered... Her ID... the thing she'd left at the bottom of her stuff... was sitting out there in the open amongst her extra clothes and money...

That could only mean one thing: The person who tore it up was looking for it...

The boxer's lower lip began to quiver, her whole body following suit soon after... Both hands now clutched at her head as her shaking reached a fever-pitch, tears now pouring down her face without anything to stop them...

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" She screamed suddenly, making everyone around her jump! Her voice seemed amplified by the tight quarters of the locker-room, making her wail all the more devestating! She screamed in anger... frustration... sorrow... It was all coming APART! EVERYTHING! SHE WAS COMING APART! HER LIFE WAS COMING APART! IT.... It.... it.....

Cicilia fell to her knees, sobbing softly as she folded over on the floor, her head pressed against the floor as her hands wiped at her tears fruitlessly.

"...It's all over..." She sobbed softly, making sense to nobody but herself. "I can't...."

A few hours later, in a building long forgotten by the world and owned by a man that does not exist, two figures sat in a poorly lit office. The atmosphere was cold, merciless, and mechanical. There was nothing in the office, no pictures of loved ones, no personal effects of any kind. There was only a desk and three chairs, flanked by three filing cabnets that seemed to add to the dreary atmosphere of the office. The room was devoid of any emotion, a black hole that seemed to suck up any color or warmth from a persons soul.

--

Kassidy seemed uncomfortable in the chair. She had just reported her failure to acquire another test subject for her employers “performance enhancers”. That in itself was problem enough, but she came back looking as if she suffered a violent beating, a fresh set of bruises was radiating around her pale neck. Not only had she failed in her objective, but she had been beaten soundly, calling her usefulness to her employer’s cause into question.

Kassidy had explained everything that happened in the gym, what she did to the security, how she chose her target…and what transpired with that target. The Collector even threw in what happened to the personal trainer, and the acquisition of Cicilia’s information. Upon review, even Kassidy could see how far off the rails her plan had gone, and what troubles her cowardice had created. She could only hope that Miranda would understand…but she knew how cold her employer was. Miranda seemed to be more machine than human, severing any emotion from a problem and looking at the world with a cruel, calculating eye.

“It seems you have made a bit of a mess Kassidy. I’m sure you are aware, but I find these results very…disappointing.”

Kassidy stared at the floor. Miranda’s lifeless red eyes pierced her the same way the Germans did, but rather then feel the heat of a berserker’s rage, it was the cold, icicle gaze of a remorseless killer. She didn’t dare look up at the woman, not with the current atmosphere.

“I had high hopes for you. It is difficult to find someone with your set of skills in this particular line of work, and you seemed capable of working without supervision. I have not discounted your past successes but this mission’s failure was immense. I have nothing to show for this, other than notoriety and a beaten operative…as well as a new possible enemy that-by your account-sounds like a formidable foe.”

Miranda walked around the desk and sat on it, directly in front of Kassidy. The action was meant to make the Hunter feel small, weak, and with no power in the situation. It worked like a charm as Miranda looked down on the psychopath.

“Why should I permit you to continue helping me when it is possible you might do this very same thing again?”

This was a question Kassidy had to think about carefully. In this line of work, there was only one meaning for the word “fired”, and it wasn’t something as nice as simply being unemployed. Kassidy knew her life was in danger, and she would have to convince her employer of her worth in order to keep herself safe.

“I-I promise Miranda, she won’t be a problem! I’ll take care of everything! The gym, Cicilia, the trainer! At my expense! I’ll get you double the test subjects next time to make up for my failure, and I promise you won’t hear anything else come from this situation!”

Kassidy finally looked up at her boss, trying her best to hold eye contact with that merciless gaze. It was clear Miranda was thinking, if only for a second.

Finally, she turned away and sat back into her chair, picking up a report and glancing at it casually.

“Fine. I suppose it would help me to see your problem-solving skills before I pass judgement. Let’s see if you can keep you promises Kassidy. No screw ups this time.”

Kassidy was quick to stand up from her chair and retreat from the freezing room, “I will! Don’t worry I will!”

--

A few minutes after the door closed quietly, Miranda tossed the report o the side, looking at the chair her employee had just sat in. a curious gaze dancing around her features.

Almost broke her neck…Paired with those bruises…This De’Reignhardt might be an exceptional study… it may be helpful to visit her sometime soon…

To be continued...?