– M A K A Y L A –

I was drunk.

Not just socially tipsy drunk. Properly struggling to stand drunk. This was probably one of my worse ideas especially since I was still miles away from Sector 1.

I had no idea what time it was but there was no sun outside of Kuzo's anymore. Yeah, so much for attending that ball in style tonight. My father will have my head when he finds me.

At least I had been smart enough to "make some friends" like my driver had suggested... By that I mean finding the first group of guns for hire in the bar and paying them up front to protect me for the night. I wasn't completely mad after all.

But I had to try these incredible and exotic drinks!

And of course by the fifth one I thought it'd be a great idea to buy rounds for the whole crowd... People cheered and slapped me on the back, making me spill my drink and giggle uncontrollably.

Others watched me with hungry eyes. Either for my money or my body but my new guards could worry about that.

When I finally decided that I had seen enough for the night I stumbled to the dark exit. The metal door slid open and the cool air hit me. Rain had started to fall heavily but I was too drunk to notice.

I wondered down the road with my four hooded guns for hire. Most of the people were off the streets now so it was quiet. Only the glow of the neon lights shone in the dark.

A dark shadow stepped in front of me.

I would've flinched but I was too gone. But of course drunk Makayla had different ideas...

"Can't youu see I'm waaalking here you stupid moose?" I slurred at the hooded figure.

I wasn't sure but I could swear he just dropped a nod.

Five more shadows appeared from different side alleys in the street. My guards drew their guns and started cursing over the rain.

The shadows drew their own massive automatic weapons in response.

"Fuck this. Ain't worth dyin for some rich bitch." One of the mercenaries muttered. Then as if on cue all four of the mercenaries behind me ran off.

Well, shit.

The shadows closed in towards me rapidly and I tried to run but I caught my foot on the back of my cloak and crashed onto my ass. The rain was pouring all over me now and the hooded figures surrounded me in a circle drawing their guns.

What did they want? My money? Oh god what if they kidnap me or--

"Grab her." A raspy voice says.

But before any of the shadows touch me...

"Lovely night, wouldn't you say?" A calm voice rings out above the rain.

The black figures all whirl around and gasp collectively. I still can't see the source of the voice but they all bow their heads in unison and murmur the word "scorpion".

Scorpion? What the hell is scorpion?

"Now be dears and fuck off. All of you." The voice dismissed them quietly.

They instantly melted back into the shadows like cockroaches. Who the hell had that much power other than my father? I squinted through the rain to see a lone figure but slimmer, more agile than the others. When it came closer I saw a pair of golden eyes practically glowing behind the hood.

Oh god. It's the demon from earlier. Her.

Twice, this terrifying woman has saved me and the day isn't even over yet. But I was drunk and still riding on the liquid courage high.

"What are you doing here." She stated angrily.

"I can do–whatever I want." I mumbled as I tried to get to my feet. I slipped on my cloak again and was about to smack the tarmac but a pair of strong hands grabbed my arms and set me on my feet.

"You're drunk?" The woman asked incredulously. Those hellish eyes took me in intently with irritation. "You do not belong here." She murmured.

I looked her over as she held me. "I belong wherevver I want!" I shouted and pushed her off me.

She stumbled back a step and looked at me like I'd grown another head.

"You dare disrespect me like that?" She seethed over the rain. "Do you have any idea who I am!"

I couldn't help it. I started laughing. She was like some crazed villain in an action film, or a gang leader... It was so ridiculous.

"Do you have any idea who I am?" I mocked as I bent over my knees hysterically.

The woman lost her patience. She moved faster than anything I'd ever seen and grabbed me by the throat.

My breathing stopped and I looked at her wide-eyed.

"The only reason you're still alive is because you're evidently too drunk or stupid to understand who you have just insulted." She growled in a lethal voice. She drew her hood back entirely and I forgot how to breath. Not that I could right now anyway.

But she was perfection.

High sharp cheekbones, full luscious lips, straight nose, dark arched eyebrows, tanned complexion, waving deep brown hair and finally... Those rich golden eyes that missed nothing and saw straight into your soul.

"Well..?" She snapped. Clearly expecting a reaction other than my gawking.

"You're hot." I blurted.

The stunning woman—that was actually closer to my age than I first thought—actually flinched in shock. It was not the answer she had expected. Her brows raised and she looked utterly speechless.

Then she regained her composure and shoved me away.

"You are drunk." She stated as she pulled her hood back over her face. Then she turned sharply and walked off in the other direction.

"Hey! Wait!" I shouted after her and stumbled to keep up.

She kept walking.

"You can't just leave me here–I'll be killed again!"

"You weren't killed a first time. Unfortunately." She snapped, increasing her walk speed and yanking her hood lower.

"But you saved me–" I dragged out the word like a buffoon.

She dragged a gloved hand over her face in frustration. "I should really just end you and be done with it." She stopped, seriously contemplating.

"That's not very civil." I retorted.

She laughed humourlessly and stopped again.

"I don't know where you came from, or where you're running from—but you really do need to check your surroundings if you're going to survive the night." She growled.

I smiled slowly, an idea suddenly forming.

"You live here. I can stay with you until tomorrow!" I said happily.

"HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND!?" She suddenly exploded whirling around to get in my face. "I am not some pompous, samaritan from Sector 10!" She pushed me back as she snarled, "–I am not your friend. I am nearer to the devil than I am to any of those things! So stay. The hell. Away from here." She finished storming off into the rain once more.

I stopped in my tracks.

No one had ever been that horrid to me in my life. It felt like a punch to the gut. I stopped trying to keep up with her and just stood in the rain. Tears fell from my face and I felt hopeless. It was probably the alcohol too but it still hurt.

Footsteps were splashing towards me again but I didn't even have the heart to look up. Maybe it was those shadowed men coming to finish me off.

"–cannot believe I'm doing this..." I heard a familiar voice mutter.

Then a hand grabbed my arm and started to pull me towards a fusion craft on the other side of the street.

"W-what are—" I mumbled.

"Shut up." She ordered.

I didn't know whether to cheer or cry again as I watched her cloaked back. But the monster proved to have a heart once again...