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The darkness of the alley seemed to swallow everything, except for the faint glow of cigarette butts. A group of 5 thugs gathered around an old ash tray, their laughter and shouts echoing through the night air. They had just finished a job, and the thrill of it still lingered in their voices.
"That fûcker could get us in trouble" the leader said, his voice laced with concern.
One of the thugs lit a cigarette, taking a long drag before blowing out the smoke. "Yeah, no kidding."
Suddenly, a voice echoed through the alley, "Haven't you heard that all smokers are liable to die young?"
"Who's there ?"
The thugs turned, guns raised, as a figure emerged from the shadows. Dressed in a dark coverall with a white and black mask covering their face, the figure seemed almost ethereal.
"The moon sure is beautiful, isn't it?" the figure sighed, their voice low and mysterious.
"It's not fair. Don't you think this is an handicap?" the figure groaned.
"Who are you?" one of the thugs yelled.
"Just a lost soul wandering the earth. You can call me Shadow." they replied, their voice dripping with an air of secrecy.
"What do you want ?" the leader growled, reloading his gun.
"Just some intel about a highschool student named Lizzy. I was told you guys knew," Shadow yawned, their movements fluid and calculated.
The thugs exchanged nervous glances, unsure of what to make of Shadow's words. "You know the best thing about the darkness?" Shadow continued, their voice weaving a spell of unease. "You can do whatever you want and no one will ever know who it was."
The darkness of the alley seemed to amplify the sound of scraping metal as the thugs closed in on Shadow.
The figure stood still, a silhouette against the faint moonlight, the white and black mask a stark contrast to the shadows.
One of the thugs, a burly man with a thick beard, lunged forward, his fist swinging wildly. Shadow dodged with ease, their movements fluid and calculated. As the thug stumbled past, Shadow landed a precise kick to his stomach, sending him crashing into a nearby dumpster.
The other thugs charged, a cacophony of grunts and snarls filling the air. Shadow danced between them, their agility almost supernatural. A swift jab to one thug's jaw, a kick to another's knee, and a perfectly aimed elbow strike to a third's solar plexus left the group stumbling.
One thug, a lean figure with a scar above his left eyebrow, pulled out a switchblade, its blade glinting in the dim light. Shadow sidestepped his lunges, using the thug's momentum against him. With a swift grab, Shadow twisted the thug's wrist, forcing him to drop the knife. A sharp kick sent the thug crashing to the ground.
The leader, a towering figure with a menacing grin, pulled out a gun. Shadow's eyes locked onto the barrel, their gaze unwavering. With a speed that seemed impossible, Shadow dodged the first shot, the bullet whizzing past their ear. The second shot was met with a swift kick that sent the gun flying out of the leader's hand.
"Didn't I tell you this was an handicap?" Shadow spoke with an unhinged calm.
The thugs regrouped, their breathing heavy, their eyes fixed on Shadow with a mix of fear and anger. Shadow stood tall, their chest barely rising with each breath. The air was thick with tension as the two groups faced off.
Without warning, Shadow charged, their movements a blur of punches and kicks. The thugs stumbled back, their defenses breached. One by one, they fell to the ground, groaning in pain.
The fight was intense, with Shadow using their agility and cunning to take down the thugs one by one.
"Shit" the leader took to his heels.
"There's no where to run to" the figure spoke.
"You think you can catch me" he turned around, but found no one there.
"Lesson 1: Never turn around when running"
The figure grabbed him by the throat, making his breaths seize as he pushed his back against the wall violently.
"Give me the info I want" Shadow demanded.
"I don't know what you're talking about" he smirked, but Shadow's grip only tightened.
"When you're ready blink twice." they said, their voice cold and detached.
He finally gave up, blinking twice, but Shadow still increased the grip on his neck.
The leader's eyes widened as he tapped against the wall, his air supply running low. He blinked twice once more.
Suddenly Shadow let go.
"It was Piper" he gasped, holding his red neck.
"And Ricky Martin. They said they were just having fun when things got chaotic. He said something about this girl named Lizzy, that she saw something she wasn't supposed to see."
"So they got rid of the human evidence?..
"Yeah. After the job, I emailed the proof that we got rid of her. I swear that's all I know" he replied.
Shadow's expression remained unreadable, but their voice was laced with a hint of satisfaction. "See? That wasn't so hard, was it ?"
As Shadow walked out of the alley, the air seemed to vibrate with tension. The thugs lay scattered on the ground, and the smell of blood hung heavy in the air.
"Here," Shadow tossed a phone towards the leader. "We'll keep in touch."
With that, Shadow vanished into the night, leaving beging a trail of mystery and intrigue.