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Oh the stink of blood... The soft whisper of leather flexing signaled the movements of her fingers as Jack relaxed her grip ever so slightly, the girl in her grasp sucking in a ragged pant as the pressure eased off her airway just enough to keep the youth from fainting. Meek like a kitten.. but not Human. Not that it would have mattered 'what' the kid was of course, but... The faint light of the street lamps glittered over the pale blonde strands of her hair and the hard lines of the simple black facemask the woman wore as Blackjack tilted her head and studied the strange little monster she'd been contracted to get specimen samples from. So many hours of staking out that club, bribes paid to the apprentice tattoo artist at the shop to learn this girl's appointments, and time wasted waiting in the shadows of this dark corner while the girl stumbled so cautiously into her trap. The girl was a stealthy, she'd give her that.. This was actually the third attempt Jack had made to corner the girl simply because the odd little waif seemed to just melt away at the first sign of danger. Flat, gilded eyes swept over the distressed features of her prey from behind the eyeholes of her disguise and the woman felt her eye tick a little.. annoyance briefly flickering through her mind as she noticed the tears forming in those too-innocent pink eyes staring back at her in a panicked terror. Poor thing probably didn't even know what this was about.. but it wasn't Jack's job to enlighten the brat. This was work and frankly... the kid was just lucky it wasn't a termination job. " Behave." Her voice was calm yet.. vicious in how level it was and Jack actually almost smiled at the jump she felt in the girl's pulse under her palm. Keeping her hold on the girl's slender neck the Hunter ignored her victim's petty attempts to pry her hand away; Instead the woman took advantage of her distraction to instead reach down with her left hand and grasp the handle of her knife that was sticking out of the girl's thigh. " ... Deep breath." It was the only warning she gave the girl before Jack gripped the handle of her blade and yanked it out skillfully; The woman tilting her dagger just enough to cut away a shred of flesh with the gesture. It was a deep wound, the kid had the good sense to try and run the moment Jack got close but unfortunately for her this Huntress had rather good aim.. and she couldn't afford to risk this kid getting back to her Master's club before getting her blood and tissue samples.

It hurt. Tears flowed unchecked down Viv's cheeks even as the girl stubbornly clamped her mouth shut, her jagged breathing muting a little as she tried to keep herself on her tiptoes and ease the vicelike grip on her throat. The only reason Vivian had even come out tonight was to touch up her tattoo; It was a trip she made often and never had anyone even noticed her passing.. But tonight? Everything had started with a terrible cold feeling, something not quite 'malicious' but certainly frightening was drawing near so Viv had tried to run. But.. The burning sensation in her throat earned a soft mewling whimper as Viv felt her eyes start to close, her body struggling to hold itself up as she gripped her attacker's arm desperately and the shadowed alleyway danced eerily behind that ominous black mask hovering in her watery gaze. Her attacker was female. Human.. Maybe? But that mask dominated her features and made the figure holding her seem so much bigger than she actually was. She couldn't put any weight on her right leg, the woman had hit her with something but before she had even had time to understand the situation she'd ended up in a chokehold barely touching the ground. Why? This masked female didn't feel 'human' and yet her energy was exactly that, so how was she lifting her like this? She hadn't asked for money or demanded anything either, was she going to kill-- Fire blossomed in Vivian's thigh as her attacker wrenched the dagger out, the girl visibly struggling as a scream ripped from her throat in agony. Shaky breaths followed, the girl's entire body shaking violently, and yet.. Viv finally managed to use her fingernail to pop the spike on her ring open. Terror and temper flared in her expression as the girl lifted her hand and brought it back down hard, trying desperately to sink that spike into her assailant's arm. The venom coating it would buy her time, she just had to-- A heavy hand caught her descending wrist, slender yet strong fingers wrapping around her own arm and effortlessly yanking her ringed hand up towards the masked figure's face with bored authority. No..." No!"

" So you can speak." Low amusement tinged Jack's voice at the girl's obvious frustration but she made no attempt to hide it; If anything the kid's attempt to attack her had earned a degree of the Hunter's interest. Meek.. but not stupid, at least. Even if she couldn't use the tool she had on her the kid knew better than to roam without protection. Hm. Examining the spiked ring the girl had just tried to jab her with Jack smirked under her mask as a shiver of curiosity ran along her spine. Would the poison have hurt? Maybe a little jab wouldn't be the worst thing to test... but alas. Work was work and she could test that theory later. In a smooth motion Jack snaked her hand up the girl's wrist and neatly plucked the ring from her struggling grasp, twirling the little metal disk between her own fingers somewhat mockingly before tucking the jewelry into her shirt pocket. Now the question... did she let that leg wound bleed out and be done with this little mouse or did she leave her fate up to chance? This area was deserted, it was why Jack had attacked here, and it likely wouldn't have any friendly pedestrians even if someone did find the girl in time.. Jack's job was done, she'd secured her samples in little vials while the kid had clumsily played with her ring, so frankly it didn't really matter to her what happened to the girl next. And yet... A soft Mmmm sound rumbled in her throat and the woman tilted her head to the other side, studying her prey through the eyes of her dark mask thoughtfully as she started to tighten her grip on the girl's throat once more. " It may be a shame to let you bleed out... Should I just turn you in and demand a higher payment? It would be better than dying in this dirty alley right?"

The soft fabric of the girl's neckline hindered her hold just enough to let Viv jerk herself backwards, the woman's oddly strong fingers raking the exposed parts of her neck even as the girl crumpled to the ground in a choking heap. Instinctively she wanted to grab her neck, to protect the abused column from further damage, but the thin thread of her rational mind instead forced her to clamp both hands onto the weeping wound on her thigh.. Fear and panic gnawing at her self control even as her body remained frozen at the Hunter's feet. Viv was well aware she couldn't move fast enough to get away even if the woman seemed so relaxed, she could actually 'feel' the weight of her assailant's stare boring down on her slender shoulders, and any trace of doubt died in her heart as the reality of her situation sank in. She had let her go... The woman's fingers had flexed earlier as if mockingly letting Viv wiggle free.. because they both knew it didn't change anything. But even knowing that.. Viv felt her lips purse as her gaze flicked up towards the mouth of the alleyway. Over her head she heard the woman's voice, a low warning tone anyone could understand as a cautionary tune, but even as the noise processed for her the girl used her uninjured leg to launch herself forward.. One hand reaching out as if to break her fall and continue her escape. Sadly even as she felt herself start to move forward she could sense something coming directly at her exposed side and with a brutal accuracy her Hunter's boot found the girl's ribs in a punishing kick; The force of the blow sending Viv skidding on her side until her back slammed into the alleyway wall that had been directly behind her. Pain radiated up her body and yet the girl couldn't tell where the sensation originated from, her limp form jerking as blood splattered from her lips in a weak coughing gurgle. It was... hurting less. Her eyes felt heavy. Sleep was bad, she knew something was wrong with her, but.. she was slipping.


" ...." Crouching down next to the girl Jack felt her lips press into a displeased line, her fingers deftly finding the weak pulse still thrumming in the girl's neck as a sense of resignation filled her. The brat already knew she couldn't make it.. The sharp 'tsk' sound that hissed from her lips pierced the chilled evening air as Jack reached into her shirt pocket and retrieved that silly damn ring she'd taken. Placing that small token into the girl's outstretched, limp hand the Hunter stood up and turned away sharply.. her dissatisfaction with the situation obvious as the woman left the girl to the consequences of her choice. There were different kinds of bravery.. Jack had kicked the girl out of reflex, her body conditioned to react aggressively by years on that damned fighting ring, but in truth she hadn't meant to damage the brat that badly. Human or not, at least a few of those ribs were going to be broken.. but damn, who would have guessed that little mouse had the nerve to be brave at the end? It was the only reason Jack had given that little trinket back as a last-wish sentiment. She could at least respect the effort to survive even if it had been foolish. Tapping the pocket she'd stashed her sample vials in Jack shook her head, dismissing the situation in favor of returning to her original objective. There was no guarantee the girl would survive now even if she took her so, to Jack, that settled the matter.

Without a second glance the Hunter left the foolish girl to her fate, the woman's form fading from Viv's blurring sight as the girl weakly tried to grip the ring that had been returned to her. Cass was going to be so worried if she came home late... It was her last thought before her mind finally drifted into darkness.

[Exit Jack]