Status Quo rule no. 36 - A syndicate leader can discipline his Hirou fighters, killing them is prohibited.

Skye sat at the bar and ordered herself a glass of wine. The white marble on the bar seemed expensive, clean, glassy, shiny almost. The bar at the ‘Archive’ hotel screamed of money and the people inside yelled wealth. The bartenders were all in black and white uniforms while the waitresses elegantly donned little black dresses, their lips adorned with a striking crimson hue that graced their smiles.  In the background, mellifluous jazz melodies filled the air, seamlessly intertwining with the intoxicating blend of cigar smoke and fragrant perfume. A big library stood at the far wall of the bar, filled with ancient books of all kinds, lending the entire setting a wistful and nostalgic ambiance.  

Leaving home at night was a risky move. After the few first kills, Bradley put all of his UA fighters on house arrest, prohibiting them from getting out after 7 p.m unless on a League day. But she needed the money, her bike didn’t refuel itself, and the incessant rent payments grated on her nerves. As Bradley had been fond of reminding her, nothing in life came for free. 

Bradley didn’t put guards outside of her house tonight, too sure she wouldn’t leave it and at most times, he was right. Breaking one of his rules could be quite a painful experience, one that she was too familiar with and tried to avoid if possible.  

Skye didn’t want to stand out at the fancy bar with her casual and cheap attire, so she wore the blue dress Amit had bought her for her birthday. A kind gesture which was a rarity for his type of people. It was a short dress with nice cleavage and thin straps. 

She sat alone, spoke to the bartender between sips, pretending to enjoy her night out, paid with her wealthy parents’ credit cards. Skye waited for Frank to appear so she could get the work done and get home before Bradley would notice her disobedience. Frank better come soon. 

“This hipster guy is staring at you.” The bartender gestured with his head toward the man sitting alone by the table at the far end of the bar. 

His dark chestnut hair was elegantly tied up in a man-bun, and a few days’ worth of beard growth adorned his rugged features. Beneath his long, dark lashes, his whiskey-brown eyes remained concealed, only to reveal themselves with a captivating smile when their gazes met, almost making her flinch. Her eyes narrowed on the two dimples on his cheeks and she wanted to poke them with her fingers. What a strange thought. 

She shook her head, redirecting her attention back to the bartender. The stranger’s attire, a crisp white button-down shirt paired with brown vest and trousers, did seem a bit incompatible in the upscale setting. However, there was an undeniable aura about him, an energy that spoke of a different narrative entirely. It was as if he exuded an air of dominance over the entire hotel. If her work hadn’t been her immediate priority today, perhaps she might have talked to him, or perhaps more. Yet, the need to earn money to settle the bill for the wine she’d just finished drinking was top priority.

“He’s cute.” The bartender added.

Skye only smiled back, then her work stepped inside the bar. Frank passed her by and left for the restroom. When he was out, he held a small pouch, only big enough to put a phone inside of it.

“I’ll be right back.” She left the money for the wine on the marble bar, and stood up.

“Enjoy your night!” The bartender shouted her way. Skye ignored him and followed Frank outside.   

As soon as she stepped outside, a sudden grip clamped around her neck, propelling her into the narrow alley that lay behind the hotel, locking her to the wall. It wouldn't have taken much effort to unleash a jolt of electricity upon Frank when he seized her, after all, she’d left the bar with her straps firmly affixed to her hands. But pulling any unwelcome attention was not on her agenda. When they were hidden well enough and Frank believed he had the upper hand, she shot a little wave at him, making him jump away while screaming.

“You bitch! Did Bradley send you? I paid him back! What else does he want?” His voice almost sounded like a hiss.

“Do I look like I care?” She sent another small wave at him. 

Frank fell on the ground, unconscious. Skye stepped closer to him, tied him up, and called Aiden, who said he’d arrive in thirty minutes or so. She hung up and sprang to her side as a green brick flew her way, almost knocking her out.  

What the hell had just happened?

Quickly, she grounded her Hirou and waited for another attack to follow.  

Instead, her attacker stepped out of the shadows, a mask hiding his face as two bricks flew her way. Pushing herself off the ground with electric waves, she shot another wave from her leg at the man. He blocked it and ran to her while shooting small, but heavy bricks in her direction. Skye sliced through the oncoming bricks, closing the gap between them as she set her sights on striking his torso before he could react. When they drew dangerously near, she delivered a powerful kick with all her might, forcefully driving the heels of her shoes into him.

The man groaned and aimed for her face with his fist. She moved her head backwards and hit his stomach again, this time with her palm, sending electricity through it. The man folded in half and grunted. The hit left a nasty burn mark on his stomach which was visible through his ripped shirt.  

She aimed for another blow, but stopped abruptly when a sharp pain hit in her side. Another bolt of pain at her shoulder sent her flying back, her head hitting the wall behind her. She cursed and greeted her teeth, her eyes squinting from the impact. 

Blood oozed from her stomach, dirtying the dress. The world spun around her. The pain was too much to bear. 

The attacker jumped at her again but stopped, confused, as another man appeared from the shadows. 

The newcomer pushed the attacker with a wave of white light that the attacker barely blocked. The new arrival seemed familiar but her sight was blurry. The pain from the shots and the hit she took to her head was taking its toll. The bleeding didn’t help either. 

“Hold on for a bit longer,” the man said with a calm voice.

Skye didn’t reply, too confused by the whole situation, too cold and too weak to even think. As powerful as Hirou wielders were, they were far from being immortal and couldn’t miraculously mend all wounds. The bullet pierced the side of her stomach, probably hitting some vital organs with the amount of blood she was losing. The hit she had taken to her shoulder only made things worse. 

The attacker tried to punch the newcomer again but was easily blocked with white light. 

How was this even possible? 

What kind of Hirou was that? 

The newcomer casually shook his hands. White beams of light appeared in each palm as he raised them forward and shot. 

The attacker tried to block it but the white Hirou broke through his shield of green Hirou, blasting him away to the main road. He rolled a few times on the pavement, then slowly stood up with a groan. When he managed to straighten himself up, a passing bus crashed into him, tossing his battered body a few feet away to the sound of screaming passing by. 

While ignoring the rush of people on the road and their wailing, the newcomer kneeled beside Skye, who was now sitting on the floor and leaning against the wall next to an unconscious Frank. The blur prevented her from seeing the man and she grunted, half-frustrated, half from the pain. Her breaths shallow, her heart pounding in her head, her chest burning with each inhale. The dress was soaked in her blood and she moved her hand to where the bullet hit her shoulder. As she tried to move her other hand, the pain made her hiss and squint her eyes. 

“I need to get to a hospital.” Her voice came out more like a croak. 

“Yeah, I don’t think you’ll get there in time. You have a hole in your stomach,” he said with what sounded like a smile, and lifted her up in his arms. 

Skye didn’t reply, only snuggled closer to his chest, and closed her eyes.