Chapter 1 A Shadow

The muddled chatter of passing pedestrians swirled heavily with the chaotic melody of car horns, squealing tires. The trumpeting musical symphony of mechanical parts exploded into nothingness with the rainy, smog polluted air embracing my shadowy silhouette. The congested city bustle only added to the imminent danger lurking among the dancing shadows of my next target city.

A shadow among shadows.

The sharp clicking of my heels against the rain glossed concrete, echoed seductively around my stalking body, quickly glancing over my shoulder as sirens and shouting overlapped the soft pitter-patter of the rain. Tossing away the blonde wig and black trench coat into a dumpster in passings. Clicking the keyless start to the sleek black and gold Suzuki Hayabusa purring to life tucked away in a hidden cove among the deserted alleyway.

Slipping on the matte black helmet, engaging the Bluetooth as the custom tinted visor glowed with life. The real-time interactive GPS mapping and police scanner swirling around in a holographic dance of translucent colors, flashing out the live radar and other cool technical features… I didn’t give a fuck about.

“Retinal identification engaging.” Sliding onto the sleek machine of high performance as Celeste, the Artificial Intelligence Interface or A.I.I. for short, scanning my retinas for access as the four-cylinder beast purred beautifully out of the alleyway.

Disappearing into the congested traffic of Miami’s nightlife.

“Retina scan confirmed. Evening, SF-01-00.” Rolling my eyes in annoyance with the melodic tone of her mechanical voice, weaving through the parade of exotic cars with their God complex owners. Flaunting all that money and scantily dressed women. Grose!! Mental vomit.

Revving the engine as the humid night air whipped and caressed my leather-clad body in passing.

“Celeste…” Speaking her name sharply.

“Yes, SF?”

“Celeste!” Cutting her off sharply, opening the throttle as the wind rushed over my body in a heart-pumping blast of adrenaline, leaning down into the streamlined flow of rushing air and mechanical power.

“Yes. Yes. Shadow.” Smiling against her catty attitude as she corrected herself in addressing me. Scanning over my body’s translucent yellow 3D diagram. Observing the flashing locations of healing and damage, scanning quickly over the data scrolling horizontally between the visor edge and the figure rotating three-hundred and sixty degrees.

Shaking my head slightly at the sweet metallic tang tickling across my tongue, narrowing my sight onto the rushing concrete of the busy highway.

“Now was that so hard?” Laughing sharply with her humming reply, scanning over the incoming police calls, smirking deviously at the highlighted Code-187 reported and active at the East Hotel. Glancing over at the white Ferrari F8 keeping pace with me, backing off the throttle as the cute blue-eyed male with short blond hair, excitedly pointed between us to race with his buddy recording from the passenger seat with a shit-eating grin.

“Celeste...” Grinning as she already knew what I wanted, pulling up the Ferrari’s mainframe while adjusting my bike’s gear ratio to outrun him in the last two gears. Flipping up my visor so they could see that a female was fixing to leave their asses in the dust, nodding to their challenge.

Flipping my visor back down coasting at sixty miles per hour, smiling as he got the jump on me. Opening the throttle as the Hayabusa purred like a well-oiled machine of performance, speeding by his silver spooned smug-ass with a middle-finger salute as his buddy laughed in excitement slapping the dashboard.

Watching the poorly handled machine disappear in the rear-camera footage while weaving through the highway traffic. Slowing down as Celeste highlighted the GPS route, exiting the highway as the roaring screams of high performance faded away into the muggy horizon.

“Call Blue.” Coasting to a stop, smirking at the invisible symbol glowing against the smooth concrete directing me towards a safe house. Quickly scanning over the dimly lit roadway. Ring…ring… Shaking out the trembling in my left hand as the vibrating machine leaned slightly against my outstretched leg.

“Blue speaking.” Smirking against that calm husky tone with a slight hitch in words, knowing he was smiling on the other end. Lurching forward as the light turned green, weaving through the shadow-covered streets following the glowing symbols.

“Target eliminated.” Coasting onto a quiet side street of houses, exhaling softly as the garage door opened to the modern style safe house with a well-manicured lawn and private pool in the back.

“As expected. When are you going to take me up on my offer?” Rolling my eyes as Celeste chirped in her mechanical laughter, knowing damn well what his offer was. Cutting the engine, coasting the bike quietly into the garage as the door closed behind draping me in a soothing blanket of dancing shadows.

“Why are you so adamant about this?” Scoffing lightly, removing the helmet as Celeste switched over to the internal interface of the house. Kicking out the kickstand with a smooth foot and spiked heel, sliding off the bike to enter the kitchen. Rolling my eyes listening to Blue’s husky laughter echo throughout the house as the kitchen door clicked closed behind me.

“Oh come on Shadow. When was the last time you let loose and actually had sex? Don’t say with Leo and me since that was part of your training.” Unzipping the leather catsuit enough to breathe, pursed lips and all, pulling open the fridge door as the soft LED light highlighted the scarce contents hidden inside. Halting my shaky fingers over the bloody raw steak with a soft inaudible hiss, quickly grabbing a bottle of water and a piece of melon before closing the black stainless-steel door with a heavy foot, and the brash clap of a pissed off leather spiked heeled foot.