“I don’t have time for you,” the masked figure stated curtly, its voice warbled in chaotic distortion. “I have somewhere to be.”

  “Then hand it over,” I relaxed my palms, twisting the batons with ease, revolving them with combat readiness. “Wouldn’t want to tie you up on business.”

  The masked figure chuckled darkly, its gaze turning from the block of Ira back towards me. An uneasy sensation forming in my stomach, at the sight of the mask, as the laughter trailed off. “Oh, you won’t.”

  Instantly, the masked figure darted towards me, carrying the piece of Ira in his left hand, charging at full force, an uncompromising burst of speed racing at me.

  I spun my batons with fervent delight at first. That delight turned to frustration as the masked figure dipped, dodged and parried all of my strikes, deftly using one hand to control the flow of battle. I was astonished and enraged at the same time, as he delicately held the Ira in one hand, while I was unable to land any blows.

  Whoever this figure was, they had received substantial training in martial arts. Luckily for me, I'd taught myself a little 'street art'. I whirled both batons, near each other and pressed two buttons on each, igniting a little static beam of electricity connecting between them, with a playful smirk.

  “Going to whip me with that?” The masked figure joked. “Someone has distinct tastes.”

  Feeling a hint of rage welling up inside of me, I leaped forward, lashing with my weapon, whipping, and countering as such a pair of nunchuks could do.

  The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  The masked figure moved effortlessly, slipping behind me, its head next to my ear, as it locked my arm back, the electricity hissing and cackling with sparks right by my face, illuminating the mask with a faintly ominous glow. “Go home, this is over.”

  “This ends with one of us down. Not me.” I growled, attempting to bash my head backwards, which set me free, as he recoiled safely. I swung around to feel a forceful hand upon my chest.

  “Ugh!” He open palm stuck me, in the center of the chest, sending me staggering backwards, sliding across the floor, enough to shock the air from my systems, for a moment.

  “This is usually a job for one,” the masked figure noted, as we sashayed around each other. “But it doesn’t have to be.”

  “I don’t do tag-teams,” I scoffed, lunging forward and swiping at the masked figure with an errant blow that launched its sleeved arm upwards as it slipped back to protect the Ira from falling to the ground. I spotted bare skin on the wrist of the masked figure. Coarse hair along the brief forearm and an ultra detailed tattoo of a golden leaf up along the wrist.

  “A guy, huh,” I laughed, looking at the figure now silhouetted behind the large windows facing out upon the city behind him. “Should’ve figured as much.”

  The masked figure stalled, tensing up. “We do not have to determine this with such methods,” he said.

  “You just continue to spout nonsense,” I coughed back. “This ends with me winning the prize.”

  The masked figure shook his head. “That’s a shame.”

  Suddenly, the masked figure reached for a compartment under its rags and slickly tossed a tiny burst ball at me. It popped at my feet, as I hopped backwards into the containment area, landing in a crouch.

  A smokey and fiery distraction!

  At that moment, the masked figure stepped back, clenching his fist, and sidled closer to a nearby wall before smashing a glass box. It’s tiny shards dancing to the floor, glimmering in the light around us.

  “A pity...such a pity...” The masked figure said, with a hint of genuine feeling, as his fingers pressed a red button down.

  Alarms blared, with flashing lights beaming, as a large gate slammed down in front of me, sealing me into the space.

  I gritted my teeth and spit on the floor, in contempt. There had to be a way out. “This night is not going as planned!”