Assassinatrix

What an interesting position to be in.  Him on his knees, looking intently into her eyes.  Her standing above him gazing down at him.  Her hand resting on his shoulder.  His hand on her hip.  His blade piercing her skin trying to find its way through her ribcage; her blade just above his heart, also drawing blood.  Both poised to kill and die simultaneously.1

They weren’t always such fierce enemies.  They both worked for the A.R.T.E.M.I.S Corporation and were once even partners.  Aggressive Retrieval Tracking Enemy Maintenance Intelligence Systems was basically a professional hit for hire agency.  A.R.T.E.M.I.S operatives were vigorously trained in combat and survival skills.  They have no real identities.  They do not exist.  2

Vixen was the top of the field.  She was unbeatable, unstoppable and unfortunately for her, uncontrollable.  That is why McCullen (known as Cully only to Vixen) was sent to terminate her employment with A.R.T.E.M.I.S and termination came only in one form:  death.3

Now here they were, both bleeding and knowing full well that the only way to end this was going to be even messier.  She knew what she could have done differently during the fight which preceded this predicament.  This wasn’t the time for regrets.  Vixen was ready to eliminate this threat even if it meant her end, but there was something delaying her.4

Cully didn’t think that terminating Vixen was necessary.  Sure, she was rogue operative.  She was the best operative that A.R.T.E.M.I.S. had.  He was sure that there was some hidden agenda.  Cully didn’t care how much of a threat Vixen was, after such a passionate fight he had things on his mind other than killing her.  5

They were both in such a posture that to drive their blade forward and complete the objective they would in turn be driving the opposition’s blade into their own body.  Not exactly a win-win situation.6

Cully was sure he could find a way around killing her and ultimately himself.  He just needed Vixen to listen to him.  She didn’t seem too interested in what he had to say.  There was no reasoning with her, there never was. 7

It was time to try more drastic measures.  During training he never beat Vixen.  No one ever did, all other operatives were weak in comparison to her.  Cully hadn’t been beaten by her because he was weak, he was beaten by her because he chose to be.8

He withdrew his blade, laid it on the ground near her feet and prepared to be slaughtered.  Cully loved her.  He loved her enough to die for her.9

Vixen was a bit surprised to see this formidable opponent drop his blade.  Normally, she would have thought it a very weak move.  Not this time.  There was something very strong about this act.  10

Cully didn’t particularly want to die and he wanted to kill her even less.  She saw it.  Vixen withdrew her blade and slowly paced backwards until she slipped behind a building and disappeared from his sight.11

She wasn’t stupid.  Vixen knew that Cully was ordered to kill her.  That in a sense meant that A.R.T.E.M.I.S. also wanted Cully dead.  No one had ever survived an encounter with her, no one.  She hoped that Cully was smart enough not to go back to headquarters.  He was as good as dead if he did.12

That ended well.  How was he supposed to find her?  Vixen made it a point to become invisible after targets were completed and this time would be no exception, especially with an order on her head.  Cully thought it best to track her before anyone else came sniffing around to check his work.  13

It took three hours, but he found her.  Vixen decided to rent a room at a hole-in-the-wall hotel that no cockroach with any dignity would stay in.  Cully knew she thought he’d never think to look there.  He knew she checked in half an hour ago.  That she was in Room 206.  He also knew that she was injured and would likely be cleaning and suturing her wounds.  That was some fight.  She lost a lot of blood. 14

Vixen threw some towels in the less-than-sparkling bathtub and rested on top of them.  Beside her lay a hand mirror, a travel sewing kit and a bottle of rubbing alcohol.  This was going to sting a little.  15

When Cully found her she was unconscious.  He didn’t think she could have lost enough blood to knock her out.  Perhaps, it was from the pain of her attempts to sew her own wounds.  After looking her over, he discovered that all wounds were repaired aside from the last one he inflicted.  16

Just as he finished suturing her wound, she began to wake up.  Cully had nothing to worry about—even if she had an arsenal under those towels she was reclining on.  He made sure she was secured before he started repairing her injury.17

Vixen was not amused in the least.  She was indeed in a very vulnerable position.  That was a first.  She didn’t trust Cully, even if he was apparently trying to assist her.  She trusted no one.18

They locked eyes.  He loved her.  She felt something, too.  She wasn’t clear if what she felt was love or the desire for another fight.19

If nothing else they determined that both were targets, neither could go back to where they came from and it was time to make a life in some new place.  Together or after going their own separate ways.  They could create any identities they wanted to.  The possibilities were endless.20

It would have been smarter to have their little “Let’s run far away together!” speech at a different location.  They wasted enough time to be tracked by other A.R.T.E.M.I.S. agents.  Vixen and Cully could hear them storming the hallway.21

He untied her as fast as he could.  They picked up their weapons and assumed their previous position with him kneeling before her and her standing above him.   She bent down and kissed him.  He loved her passion.  22

Death at each other’s hand would be far better than the alternative.  As the agents burst through the door, Cully whispered, “It was nice to pretend, wasn’t it?”23

Vixen and Cully drove their blades deep.  Hearts were severed.  They lay bleeding and dying on the floor of a hotel room that no cockroach with any dignity would stay in.24