Flashback

  In the outskirts of Cleveland National Forest,

  San Diego, California.

  Thursday, February 10

  11:32 PM

  A hooded man with a golden fox mask could be seen sitting cross-legged on the stone floor of a nine-tailed fox shrine. The air was thick with the scent of incense, and the soft glow of lanterns cast an ethereal light on the mask's intricate details. The man's eyes were closed, his breathing slow and deliberate, as he meditated.

  Suddenly, the shrine's doors slid open, and a blue-clad ninja slipped inside. The ninja's eyes scanned the room, locking onto the hooded man. For a moment, they simply regarded each other.

  The hooded man slowly opened his eyes, which gleamed like gold in the lantern light.

  "You're a long way from home, blue ninja," he said, his voice low and hypnotic.

  The ninja bowed, a gesture of respect.

  "I seek the one who wears the golden fox mask. You are he."

  The hooded man nodded.

  "I am. And you are...?"

  "I am Commander Nathair, a humble servant of DAWN."

  The hooded man's gaze seemed to bore into Nathair's very soul.

  "I have a task for you, Commander Nathair. One that requires your... particular skills."

  Nathair's eyes narrowed.

  "What is the task?"

  The hooded man's mask glinted in the lantern light.

  "I want you to follow a man named Dal to Nigeria. He will be traveling with a young girl named Ari. I need you to bring Ari to me."

  Nathair's expression turned skeptical.

  "Why Nigeria? And why Ari?"

  The hooded man's voice took on a sinister tone.

  "Dal and I have... unfinished business. But Ari is more than just a pawn in our game. She possesses a certain... quality that I require. A quality that will aid me in my quest for power."

  Nathair's eyes gleamed with intrigue.

  "I see. And what of Dal? Will he not resist?"

  The hooded man's mask seemed to twist into a cruel smile.

  "Oh, Dal will resist. But you, Nathair, are a blue ninja. I have faith that you will succeed where others might fail."

  Nathair bowed, a cold, calculated glint in his eye.

  "I will not fail. I will bring Ari to you, no matter the cost."

  The hooded man's mask glinted with approval.

  "I knew I could count on you, Nathair. Now, go! The journey to Nigeria will be long, but with Dal as your guide, you should have no trouble finding Ari."

  As Nathair turned to leave, the hooded man's voice stopped him.

  "Remember, Nathair, Ari is not to be harmed. I need her... intact."

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  Nathair's nod was almost imperceptible, but the hooded man's mask seemed to gleam with satisfaction.

  The blue ninja vanished into the night, leaving the hooded man to his meditation, his golden fox mask glinting with an otherworldly light.

  ***

  In Angeline's Church,

  Sunday, February 13,

  10:59 AM

  This is what actually happened:

  The Agents had almost reached the gates when an earsplitting roar stopped them in their tracks.

  "W-what was that?" stuttered one of the Agents, visibly shaking in the knees.

  The Agents shook like leaves in the wind as they noticed that their men were being picked off by a strange creature, one by one, only to be dumped back, gored with various degrees of scratches.

  "What on earth...?"

  "Dragon!" squealed an Agent, not before she was swept away by a spiky tail, slamming her into some cars parked nearby.

  The ninja Agents found themselves against a beautiful purple dragon, twice the size of a full-grown man, with its ominously greyish-blue eyes raking over them.

  "Thank you, Mr. Dragon!" little Ari croaked, showering it with kisses.

  It gave a low grunt, probably of appreciation, licking the tears off her face with its serpentine tongue, which caused her to giggle.

  Suddenly, mist began to hiss out of its pores, engulfing both of them in a thick fog.

  Alarmed, Ari began to fan it away, but as the mist dissolved, so did the dragon.

  It was gone!

  ***

  Back in the church, By the parked cars, 11:01 AM

  Angeline

  I groaned as I used the hood of a maroon jeep to help myself up. Still drowsy from the tranquilizers, I wondered if the kids were safe. I had found Ari, though, and fortunately, she wasn't hurt... well, physically.

  "Mr. Dragon! Why?! It should have been me!" she bawled on top of her lungs through the dissolving mist.

  I chuckled ruefully at her antics, causing me to wince in pain as I clutched my sides. Soon, I heard the sound of people approaching, maybe to join hands with others as they tried to put out the fire from the burning car. I was grateful that the impact of the crash was loud enough to alert them, but I couldn't help but think I was forgetting something

  "Help! Someone help me!" a little white boy with a thick auburn fringe squeaked, as he was being forced into a van.

  "Ben!" Ari and I cried in unison; I in realization, while hers was in despair.

  "Help! They're taking my cousin!" yelled Ari, pointing at them.

  I felt my blood boil; I couldn't dam the rage surging through my veins as I dashed towards the gate, ignoring the alarmed and disapproving glares I received from some women I whooshed past. Unfazed and not pausing, I snatched the exhaust pipe of the now battered car and charged towards the Agents who were running away.

  I overtook and batted every Agent out of the way, but just as I reached the van, they shut the door in my face. Still on adrenaline and incensed by their guts, I went to the back as they tried to start their vehicle and slashed the two wheels. I paused to catch my breath, grinning with relief as I watched them deflate.

  I clutched the pipe protectively when I noticed the Agents slowly surround me. Just then, they paved the way for another Agent, obviously a high-ranking one, who came towards me, and I instantly recognized him. He went pale as he stared at me like he had just seen a ghost; I just kept my face fixed on him with a glare.

  "It's you again!" he spat. "I thought we got rid of you?"

  "It'll take more than just 50 darts to put me down, you dog!" I heard myself say, wondering when I got the courage from.

  "You think you are so brave coming here alone..."

  "Enough with the chitchat!" I snapped, cutting him off. "I told you and your two friends, 'You can only have those kids over... my dead body.'"

  "Do you have any idea who you are messing with? We are DAWN..."

  "Scared of little pretty me?" I drawled.

  "I'm warning..."

  "Let's finish what we started, or are you all scared of getting your asses whooped, cowards claiming to be professionals." I scoffed.

  "What are you all waiting for?!" he roared, really incensed by my confidence and insults.

  "Kill her!"

  I giggled because I felt like I had just landed in a fight scene in one of the many Kung Fu movies I watched when I was little. They menacingly brought out their weapons, sauntering forward to end me.

  For some reason, I couldn't really fathom; I bravely struck a tiger stance, waiting for my doom. All of a sudden, as they sprang to attack me, my vision turned fiery orange with flecks of grey. Over the next couple of minutes, I found myself fluidly dodging all their attacks.

  I was feeling a little lightheaded as I successfully deflected their knives and shurikens with my pipe. I still ponder how I was able to sense one persistent ninja Agent who tried to stab me from behind as I was under the mango tree, but I cartwheeled away, causing her blade to sink into the tree. Leaving no time for her to recover, I kicked her thrice in the midsection and followed up with a heavy hit on the head with my pipe.

  I didn't have the chance to celebrate because just then, someone started to choke me with a staff. I could feel my life slowly slipping away as he added pressure on every attempt to wriggle free.

  "There's nowhere for you to go, darling." A familiar voice I'd recognize anywhere, even in my sleep, snickered as he tightened his grip on the staff. "It's a shame I have to kill you 'cos you're not pretty!"

  I retched more in disgust than affliction when I realized that it was the stupid ninja with an X on his chest who was amongst the three idiots who had shot me earlier.

  Agent X!

  "We'll see about that, hotie!" I slurred, erotically. The shocked expression on his masked-up face was totally priceless as I winked at him.

  Seeing he was distracted, I elbowed his stomach and face before flipping him over. Grabbing my pipe again, I hit him in the tummy, causing him to yelp like a castrated dog, and gave the last attacker a hot back kick in the zipper.

  I couldn't hide my smirk as their moans and groans serenaded my victory, but almost immediately, I felt like I was about to be...

  I was quick enough to jump out of the way as a black gleaming van drifted in front of the church. Their leader in blue gasped on seeing my handiwork and quickly ordered a retreat.

  Groaning, the Agents sprawled on the floor helped themselves up, limping into the van. Some climbed onto the roof or held the door as it sped off.

  Clutching my side, I managed to drag myself to one of the vans they had left behind. I silently prayed as I managed to pry it open on the eighth attempt. I sighed in relief as I was greeted with squeals of delight. I found Ben safe and sound, with some other kids I'd never seen before.

  "Ben!" I panted, raking his anatomy. "Are you hurt? Is everyone okay?"

  "Yeah, we're... Angie, lookout!"