My hand waved down, shattering her visor, showing blood drip down from her forehead from the blows I gave her. She licked the blood from her top lip, then darted towards screaming maniacal.

The Reaver charged right at me blade steaming orange from the heat. I tried to straf right, but my body wouldn’t allow it, so I did the next best thing.

The blade went straight towards my right side, scraping my Cybernetic hand as I barely pushed it out of the way. I stepped, twisted my waist whilst grabbing the Reaver, then spun violently, taking her with me as I slammed her into the ground with all the remaining energy I had in my body.

A loud boom echoed throughout the room, furniture, television and chair set shaking from the vibration of my throw. In the middle of my living, I left a small crater filled with The Reaver and I, where my coffee table used to be.

I snapped up the sword in one swift motion and drilled it into her chest. Only for a cranking noise to spool up, then buzz like a bee, confusing the shit out of me as the katana sword spit off my arms as if it hated me.

The Reaver headed butted me in the face, sending me back. She rolled and kicked me off, but kept me within close distance of her.

I kicked myself up, releasing a series of kicks, trying to keep her off, but she blocked all with a relative, which only annoyed me further.

I was tired, angry and damn well frustrated! I didn’t need this now. I needed to get my family back and kill Akatani, not some Reaver! God damn it!

Once the cranking noise stopped, a rattling sound creaked behind me. My eyes went right, glimpsing through the Television reflection that the sword had dislodged from the wall. I strafed right, feeling the blade scrap my side, sending me to my knees.

The sound of glass crunching sifts through the air, drawing my eyes forward. As the Reaver floated in the air, blade in hands aimed directly at my chest. I snapped my wrist open, summoning my short-sword and deflected the Reaver’s sword.

I rolled to my right, spinning in sequence, pivoted right, avoiding another wild stroke from the Reaver.

The Reaver and I began a battle of dodging and deflecting the Reaver’s blows, which took a toll on my body, but not hers. After all, she was fully cyberised, unlike me.

I could feel every inch of it scream from fatigue, which wasn’t helped by her rhythmic onslaught. The longer it went on, the more vigorous she attacked me. It was as if she sensed my ending soon.

I spun left, barely avoiding the thrust to my right side. I hit the glass and heard it crack behind me. The Reaver loosed too quick, using the sword to whip herself around hitting me in my left side.

Shards of glass punctured my right hand as I tried to stop my fall. The Reaver slapped away my short side, then buried the sword in my shoulder.

My outstretch foot stopped her piercing the skin too deeply, but the scent of burnt flesh and blood aroused my nose, leaving a metallic taste in my mouth.

I swept my left foot, sweeping the Reaver of her feet, watching as she dropped to the ground with a loud thudding groan. The moment I tried to prance on her to end this, she kicked me sending me into more glass.

The Reaver charged towards again, sword thrusting. The tip of the blade gleamed as it was pointed straight at me. I tried to move but felt my back fall backwards, hitting the glass window behind me.

A sharp burning sensation pulsed from my hand as I barely stopped the blade from penetrating my body. I grabbed the sword, squeezing it tightly, smelling my blood burning.

“How does it feel to die by Tela’s sword CYPHER!” The Reaver heaved with her harrowing voice.

“You keep saying Tela, but I don’t know who that is!” I shrieked.

“THE OTHER REAVER YOU KILLED!”

“If this is the same blade all I have to do is break it again!” I howled.

“You are a fool.” The Reaver said coldly.

The Reaver pushed all her energy into the blade, but before she could, I slipped my foot right by her knee, forcing her to the ground. I grabbed her with my cybernetic arm, twisting my waist one more time then spun violently sending the Reaver through the window.

“….and you’re a bitch.” I said glumly.

I watched as the Reaver fell to the ground, shattered glass sounded like bells of an opera house whilst an actress reenacts a scene full of tragedy.

I dropped to my knees, feeling a shard of glass puncture my side, leaving me wallowing in pain from the battle I barely escaped.

◆◆◆

I woke up hours later, to a buzzing noise. “What the hell is that?” I growled, mind-boggled from the sound. I fished into my pocket, my arm feeling like mesh, whilst the rest of my body weighed a ton.

I haggardly pulled a crystalline object to my face, feeling its smooth surface sending ripples of coldness through my hand whilst the cut around my palms pulsed incessantly.

“Looks like you finally answered.”A familiar voice said.

“Who is this, Akatani?” I growled, confused as ever.

“No. This is not Akatani. I’m sad to hear you’ve forgotten me already Cypher…after what I’ve done for you.?”

It didn’t hit me at first, but the sharpness of the tone was easy to decipher. “Mr Black,” I said coldly.

“That’s my boy.” He said firmly.

“What is it you want? You’ve called to let me know how I fucked you over with Colvolt?”

“You did that of your own volition,” Mr Black said calmly, but I could hear the venom in his voice. “I put my name on the line for you, and you squandered it because of some Princess’ sob story, do you know how you’ve made me look with my associates?”

“Associates?” I asked ruefully. “I swore you worked for yourself, never thought I’d hear those words come for you.”

“Watch your tone with me Cypher, you’re already walking a thin line with.”

“Am I?”

“Yes…you never know. I might be able to help you get your family back.”

I licked my lips, silencing myself, then ground my teeth, hiding my frustration. Of course…he would know something. He tends to know everything I thought, bitterly.

“Are you there Cypher?” Mr Black said calmly. “It’s not like you to go silent so fast.”

“Do you know where Akatani is?”

“Of course.” Mr Black said. “I know everything.”

“Then why haven’t you contacted me.”

Mr Black bellowed a laugh then sucked his teeth. I couldn’t see him, but I imagined he shook his head. “Number one. The Last time we spoke, you told me you weren’t one of my people. Number two, You were given a mission and completely squandered it, why in the IMBIBE’S name, would I even contact you, despite knowing your situation. Hmm?”

“I…”

“Before you speak, I’ll ask you one question.” Mr Black said, interrupting me. “Do you want your wife and daughter back?”

“Yes…” I whispered.

“Are you one of my people? Cypher?”

“I am.”

“Good.”

The phone line went dead with Mr Black ending the call. I lay on the ground, trying to gather my thoughts on what just happened and felt as confused as ever.

What did I just get myself into? I asked, but no answer came.

I pulled up the coordinates one more, clicking them and the call switched to a call. “Be there in 30 minutes,” Akatani said and put the phone down.

“Fuck!” I hissed.

I pushed myself up, feeling as my entire body screamed from my battle with I dragged myself through the door, making my way down the elevator and catching the nearest cab.

I didn’t know where the location was, but with gritted teeth and a heavy heart I made my towards my destination, hoping to see my family…alive.