Something about a Dangerous Woman

CHAPTER TWO

Once she arrived at the entrance of the building, she dragged her feet into the building and trudged from the lobby to the elevator.

The eerie feeling in the dull colored lobby truly can ruin any good mood. The building had straight cuts of black and white and not the shiny whites you see in hotel lobbies, no. The kind of white you see in hospital wards or psychiatric institutions. The unwarranted stormy grey accents accompanied with the jungle red elevator didn’t at all help with the gloomy atmosphere, in fact the weird color palette makes the building in it's own twisted way look like a asylum and thus a subtle warning to normal civilian. Anyone with any ounce of common sense would know immediately to leave this building.

Having lived this life for over ten years, Lara has reached her limit. The irony of it all was this was, she escaped one prison to only end up back into another.

And this life wasn't one you could just walk away from. If you want to leave, than make sure you are truly ready for die.

Lara was familiar with the protocols and rules. It was etched into her ten year old brain the day she joined the guild. Something she wished no kid should ever go through.

Dejected she wadded to the elevator, the black leather jacket contrasted against her pale skin. Being born and/or raised In the industry, anybody and everybody would be familiar with your identity thus any change you undergo is monitored and controlled, and there was nothing you could do about it.

There was only one problem though. After the loss Lara faced some time ago, she changed and for most people around her, it meant bad. In their eyes she has officially lost it and had become lethal, mad killing machine . Extremely hazardous and a risk just keeping around. It was as if one wrong move would send this savage on a rampage.

Their thoughts accompanied with recent vicious acts she took to complete her mission, has led to this matter reaching the higher ups. Anyone lethal but not under control is deemed a liability and in this case, she was the liability.

She had already concluded from observation alone that this meeting wasn't going to be a walk in the park. All she wondered now was what they would do to restrain or rather discipline her. Was it the dog house, or maybe punishment. Better yet, forcing a self sabotage for a trifle of enemy torture after completing the mission. The latter always guarantees 100% success rate if the others didn't. Not that it ever reached that point.

This methods was the only way to control wayward souls. In a lifelong industry like this its better to have trained obedient dogs than wild wolves. This much, she knew.

She only ever heard of one person that went through the latter but all information was classified regarding the matter so she never really found out much about it, only except that was it took place about two years ago.

Regardless she didn't really care if they make her go through the latter. One can only hope the physical pain encountered overpowers the emotional turmoil that constantly shreds her insides every now and again.

The elevator dinged, snapping Lara out of her thoughts. She looked up and caught a glimpse of large shoulders encased in a camouflage jacket stepping out of the elevator. Once the door shut the elevator continued its ascend.

Once the elevator arrived at her floor, she got out and trudged toward the end of the hall, where the only door was located. She always found it hilariously ironic that the highest floor of the building was void of any color except white, and yet it was the floor filled with the worst of the worst. Maybe she should suggest they change the white to black. It would be a good representation of their souls. Not that she was any better herself.

Finding it hilarious, she laughed and made her way toward the room. It was said those who walked into that room left in two ways. Alive and bloodied or dead and mutilated. Nothing more, nothing less.

Once she reached the door, it opened. With a blank face, she heightened senses and became more alert to her surrounding as she entered the room, preparing herself for the worst. If they want her dead then so be it, but she'll be sure to go down fighting.

The tension was thick enough you could almost cut it with a knife. It sent the warning bells in Lara's head into a all out bell fest. Something was wrong and she didn't need to be a trained assassin to figure that out.

She scanned the room. The first thing you must always do in a dangerous situation is familiarize yourself with your environment and opponents.

Three suited individuals stood at a uniformed distance from each other. Although no interaction had taken place, you scold tell they were cut from the same cloth. Their posture and body language gave that away. The only problem was she couldn’t figure out who was in charge. They all seem to be of the same caliber.

Do you ever hear people describe beautiful men as handsome devils. Well these men were the epitome of that. Handsomely flawless and yet wretchedly vicious and cunning master manipulator.

Beautiful but deadly.

She smirked.

That's one biased requirement of this industry. Looks do play some part in accomplishing certain missions that require seduction. She's had her fair share to know this.

From the three dangerous men, Lara recognized the one on to her left. She was fortunate enough to see him in action.

The might and speed he used to force his opponents into submission before death was terrifying. By the end of it, their bodies were torn up and in odd angles, that man was truly a sadist at heart.

Even though it was years ago, she could recall that scene like it was yesterday. When your a 12 year old trainee in the guild watching the masters move, you tend to wonder how terrible could they possibly be or how wrong could it get.

After a long period of silence the one to the right spoke,

" Lara Jamieson, such a terrible time to meet a rising star like you. 100% success rate, you truly are a phenomenal individual."

Before she could respond to his remark, the man in the center cut in.

"Weren't you the one you lost your step brother like some time ago. A promising young man. What was his name again?"

That sentence felt like sharp knife digging into her heart. She almost crumbled. She held her blank face and tried to keep the bloodthirst from entering her eyes. They were watching her, one wrong move and she’s dead.

"His name was Andrew, and yes he was promising"

The man in the center chuckled

"Nevermind that, he's already dead. We're here today to address matters involving you."

With that, two files were tossed at her.

Then the man on the left spoke,

" Contained in the first document is your profile and punishment. Within the second document is your assigned mission. You have officially been deemed high risk and due to this, you are being warned to comply to the rules and punishments given. Resistance and failure to comply results in annihilation."

Once he finished. She was surrounded by men in black, like literally men covered in all black. They were known as the enforcers. Everyone was familiar with them. A group of men dedicated to punishment those who disobey. Their methods of torture were horrendous, bloody and toe curling.

She narrowed her eyes and the documents within her hands slowly crumpled. The stoic faces of the men in front of her got darker. She straightened her back and angled her feet for better range.

Before they left, the man in the center piped in,

" Enjoy the sparring. See it as practice to better your skills."

Once they left, with no hesitation whatsoever, from every directions punches and kicks were traded.