Flashing lights and loud music filled the club as people danced without a care. A woman watched from the VIP room with a blank face but was interrupted when a group of men entered.
"Who the fuck are you?"
A man in a flashy silver suit with several rings spoke in an annoyed voice. He got closer to get a look at the woman who wore a bright blue jacket and black jeans, her black hair which looked fake at first sight.
"That's not how you greet strangers."
The woman turned and faced the man. He quickly let go and stumbled backward, then fell.
"I-I-I didn't know it was you."
The man quickly kneeled as the woman fully turned and stared at the rest of the men.
"I remember when you approached me to build this club. You were so young, full of life and ambition; that's why I am disappointed in you the most."
The woman approached the men, who looked confused.
"Who is this bitch, Carmelo?"
Another man asked as he cautiously watched the woman. He made a hand signal as more men came inside and surrounded her, then closed the door.
"Carmelo, you brought some rowdy people. Were you planning on selling this place and booking a ticket to the Bahamas?" The woman moved around the VIP room, void of fear.
"I was not the one who betrayed you! It must have been Joe or someone else," Carmelo pleaded.
"Listen, broad, I don't care what relationship you have with Carmelo. All I want is to close the deal, then you two can sort it outside."
The man spoke once more but was met with a manic laugh from the woman. Carmelo tugged the man's leg.
"That is Adeline," Carmelo whispered.
The name Adeline was synonymous with the boogeyman; she ran everything in this area. From small businesses to all the illegal activities, and she defended what was hers with a bloody fist. Nothing went over her eyes, and those who got greedy disappeared. The man was not from this country, but he too had heard whispers of Adeline's work, but he did not care. To him, she was just another small fish lost in the sea of crime.
"Leave now, and we won't have any problems."
"That's too late; we already have a problem."
The group unbuttoned their black suits and pulled out various weapons, from knives to police batons. Adeline scoffed at the sight as she turned her back and reached for something in her jacket.
"I do have to warn you."
Adeline turned, revealing two golden knuckle dusters.
"I love a good fistfight."
She darted into the group. One of the men tried to hit her with a baton, but she easily dodged and landed a gut punch, bringing the man to his knees. She followed it up with another punch to his face, breaking his jaw. The man let out a muffled scream as he held his dangling jaw, but that too was short-lived as Adeline punched him once more, knocking him out. The rest came rushing in as a bloody fight ensued. Adeline dodged the attacks as she tried to create some space.
One of them slashed towards her direction as she jumped clear. Her back was now against the wall as the man closed in with the rest behind. He lunged, sensing the advantage, but Adeline was able to dodge to the side, grazing her stomach. She countered with a strong punch to his side, then followed it with an uppercut as a tooth could be seen flying in the air. The man stumbled backward but was not given time to recover as another punch connected on his nose, breaking it. The man let go of his knife as he shielded his face, leaving his stomach exposed, which was hammered by two quick punches. The man let out a pained groan and retreated.
"What are you waiting for, you bastards!"
Adeline cursed them out. She tightened her fist and let out a scream as everyone collapsed on her once more. Adeline's fighting style was brutish, to say the least. She punched away while having a bloody smile as more of them fell. Carmelo crawled between the bloody bodies as he hid underneath the nearby table. Screams and the sound of breaking bones filled the VIP room while Carmelo closed his eyes, praying. The ruckus finally stopped, but Carmelo did not dare even peek.
"Come out now."
Adeline ordered, but Carmelo remained in position.
"Don't make me ask twice," Adeline added, forcing Carmelo from under the table. He saw Adeline covered in blood. She reached inside her mouth and pulled a loose tooth. She stared at it for a moment, then placed it inside her jacket pocket.
"Who are these people?"
Adeline asked with a groan as she nursed her aching body.
"I never asked, but they may be part of the mafia or something similar."
"Come here."
Carmelo approached her and instinctively stretched his hand towards her. She grabbed his wedding finger, then violently pulled back, snapping it like a twig. Carmelo let out a muffled scream as he fell to his knees while holding his hand.
"I used to live in the streets, no family or friends. I had to fight for every bite of food, the best spot under the bridge, clean water, clothes. You were spoon-fed everything and take it for granted."
Adeline paused as she cleaned the blood on her face and removed the wig, revealing her silver hair.
"Give me time, I promise to find out who it was," Carmelo pleaded.
"There is nothing for you to find out."
Adeline answered coldly as she stared down at Carmelo. She walked toward one of the tables and picked up a bottle. She opened it and poured the contents around the room and over the unconscious men. Once it was empty, she reached for another as the room now had a strong gasoline stench.
"Wait, I can still be useful. I have contacts with various families; they can take you to the next level."
Carmelo got up and raced towards her but was answered with a bottle to the face. He fell while holding his face. Adeline poured the gasoline over the squirming Carmelo.
"You can burn with the money and fame that you wanted so much."
Adeline reached for her lighter in her back pocket and lit it. She took a moment to stare at Carmelo, who tried to get up. She tossed the lighter as his body slowly caught fire. He frantically tried to put it out as Adeline made her way out.
"ADELINE PLEASE!!!!"
Carmelo's screams landed on deaf ears as the door closed. She let out a sigh, then placed a chair against the door handle. She made her way down the staircase and pulled the nearby fire alarm, causing chaos. She moved with the crowd of people who raced to the exit as the VIP room burst into flames, which spread to the rest of the club.
Adeline, now outside, made her way down the familiar street in the dead of night; the alleys became darker and more desolate. Women of the night could be seen standing under the only working lamp while the homeless scavenged through dumpsters.
This was the ugly part of the bolstering city, the place Adeline grew up in and called home. She stopped in front of a run-down orphanage with a singular light for the door. She nudged the door open and made her way inside. She removed her jacket and threw it to the side as she used her hand to feel her way through. She reached the living room and threw herself on the sofa, throwing dust in the air.
"Will you continue hiding like a creep?"
Adeline asked as she slowly raised herself and sat upright.
"I am impressed; I didn't think you would notice me." A man wearing a trench coat revealed himself. He slowly walked towards her as he screwed in a silencer on his pistol.
"You breathe like a cow." Adeline spoke as she stared at the shadow moving around.
"You are promising; my employers would gladly accept you." The man spoke.
"I know what I am, and a dog isn't one."
Adeline spoke as she started reaching for something on the couch.
"Disappointing, why do you stick to such narrow-minded morals when you have none."
The man paused and raised his gun towards the defiant Adeline.
"I always wanted to go out with a bang."
Adeline suddenly pulled a double-barreled shotgun as the sound of gunfire filled the empty night. The man could be seen laying dead on the ground with a sizable hole on his chest, while Adeline remained seated. She coughed out some blood as the shotgun slid down from her hands; her vision started to blur.
"What a rotten life."
Adeline uttered her last words. She closed her eyes and pictured the only happy time in her life when she was in the care of Sister Helen. With a faint smile, Adeline passed away, followed by a bright light.
To her surprise, everything was dark and felt as if she was being suspended in nothingness. This afterlife felt very weird and vastly different from what she was taught and imagined. She slowly started to feel cold, a sensation which was very weird. She suddenly heard something moving about the area. She frowned at the thought of her still being alive. The commotion continued, which now came with grunts. She opened her eyes and was greeted with the sight of a naked orc. She closed her eyes once more and hoped it was some type of error.
"Master, are you alright?"