THE COPYCAT GANG! // [C-RANK JOB: Anastasia Cordero]

" “

A black cloak drifted aimlessly through the wind. The only decorative colour that dotted the barren landscape of the Phoenix Mountains. Luminous red-eyes pierced the misty veil that the clouds provided as a singular and lone soul stood atop one of the snowy peaks that overlooked a small clearing below. Figures gathered in the clearing, silhouettes that were hard to make out. The indiscernible noises that rumbled from their vocal chords made it impossible for regular individuals to discern but there was one man in particular whom existed an objectively-driven life. A man who'd focus so hard on his task that he'd make the impossible seem possible.

Clu had his arms folded and he watched the group at a distance with that unrelenting, observant gaze of his. It was one of his primary characteristics after all. The art of identification. His ability to seek and destroy was a talent he and others valued greatly. There wasn't a man or woman on earth that he found impossible to track. Though saying that, there were certainly indomitable foes. Sure, he could find any culprit responsible for a crime but bringing them down was another matter. Soulless yet striking red sclera emphasized a heavy-set gaze as similar thoughts drifted along his consciousness.

"1.. 2.. 3.. 4.. 5..“

The devilish gentleman's finger danced along each silhouette in the distance as he systematically counted them one by one. He wanted to make sure they were all there before he made his grand-entrance. Sure enough, they were and Clu prepared his frontal yet not so confrontational assault.

The stick-like muscles in his legs twitched as his body leaned forwards. The thin mountain peak that once provided stable support with which he perched on soon gave way underneath him and rocks crumbled between light footing. Floating for a brief moment, Clu plummeted down the mountain-side where he gracefully directed his body to slide down the cliff and promptly appear in the clearing where the organisation known as the "Copycat Gang" continued their dauntless meeting.

"Who the hell are you? Get the fuck outta here if you know what's good for you!“

One of the men shouted in his direction; pointing a fat finger in Clu's direction. The darkened wizard's red eyes glimmered in delight as he watched the finger rather than the man behind it. He took a few steps forwards and the whole group tensed as if expecting an assault. The black cloak fluttered behind him and with each step, a footprint carved itself out within the snowy clearing.

"You must be Randy. I've been told you're quite brutal.“

Clu's sharpened teeth glimmered with delight as he observed the heavy-set club attached to Randy's waist. A brutal thug of a man who clearly favoured brute force over the tactile methods that some of his compatriots employed.

"1...and then there's Toby the Defiler, Kim Strange, Wade Booklet..“

Clu's eyes dashed from left to right, observing every little detail about the apprehensive group of dangerous individuals that lay themselves exposed infront of him. They watched him warily but not one dared to make a move as if this black-haired man's very presence intimidated the daylights out of them.

"Oh.. and of course. The one with the talent, Zack Storm.“ Clu smiled in his direction, directing those monstrous, luminescent red-eyes of his to make point blank eye contact with the self-appointed leader of this gang.

"You saying we don't have talent? I'll fucking kill you!“

Randy screamed a monstrous war cry and withdrew his club from it's sheath. In a rather crude manner, the brute stumbled towards Clu whom remained perfectly still until the club was practically inches from his face... and then it happened. Practically unseen to the untrained eye, Randy was on the ground, tears of blood streaming down his right eye and the club that he once held proud as a weapon split in two by his side. A wickedly sharp dagger had pierced his iris in the space of a second.. but how? The gang looked on astonished and Clu only smiled in their direction.

"Now.. gentleman. Let's say we continue this civilly, hm?“

W O R D S
789

M U S I C
xxx

T A G  
@Anastasia Cordero @Seven

N O T E S  
xxx

" “

Crimson irises settled on the two new occupants inhabiting the subtle snowy scenery. His observant gaze worked hard at penetrating their every weakness but to no avail. There was something about these newly introduced individuals that Clu couldn't quite wrap his head around. The black cloak fluttered around his body revealing knives of all shapes and sizes within the innards of the garment that draped loosely over his shoulders. He opened his mouth to speak but no words came as he was interrupted by a shard of lightning that struck deep into the ground between the three. Zack Storm stepped forwards, his body radiating a menacing electrical glow.

"Y'all really messed with the wrong bunch. Those two brutes are nothing compared to what I can do."

As he spoke, he launched himself in the air with speckles of blue electricity decorating the atmosphere around him. Bolts began raining down on Clu, tens at a time. One barely reached his face when an explosion ignited as if the attack had found it's mark. Smoke shrouded the area and clouded everyone in a veiled silhouette. Figures were indistinguishable amidst the carnage whilst the gang yelped cries of recognition to ascertain whether they were still together. Then it happened. A resounding boom smacked into the clearing and the overwhelming sense of a heavy weight on everyone's shoulders ensued.

Zack began to cry out and the echoes of bones breaking, skull cracking, ribs snapping filled the void of enigmatic silence. Clearly the weight that everyone now felt on their shoulders was particularly strong on the young lightning mage. It was as if gravity itself had turned up several notches. The world had turned against them and the very laws of reality were defied as Zack's body was literally crushed into a million tiny pieces such was the force that exerted itself on his shoulders. He lay there, lifeless in a matter of seconds, his body a literal puddle on the floor.

The smoke cleared and the gang gasped; unable to find the words to avenge their fallen comrades. Two of them began to whimper as the realization soon dawned on them that they were far out of their league here. To add a further observation, Clu had disappeared from the rocky mountain clearing; a wisp out of thin air; there one moment and gone the next. He'd left his mark and a terrifying mark it was. The blood that was once belonged to the dead Zack Storm had traces of fingerprints in it. Only a few more centimeters away you could see the reason for such a phenomenon. A message.. written in blood.

"I leave the rest to you. You'll see me again, of that you can be sure.“

W O R D S
555

M U S I C
xxx

T A G  
@Anastasia Cordero @Seven

N O T E S  
job done boys