Hunting Jacob Goodnight

Walking out of the Hargeon Police Station around midnight, Diana clutched a job notice in her hand. She had been tasked with finding and apprehending a local serial killer named Jacob Goodnight, a local miner who had turned serial killer after experiencing a lapse in sanity that was permanent. He had killed fifteen so far, including a police officer who died during a partially successful sting operation. The police did not capture him, but they proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that Goodnight was the man they were after for a string of murders that had occurred at the lower docks.

Diana had legal sanction for this job, so there was no need to worry about sneaking around, learning the patterns of local law enforcement, and being careful not to leave evidence. All she needed to do was find and apprehend Goodnight. If that was not possible due to the danger, she had been granted permission to terminate him. She was fine with that. It was not like she was new to killing people.

Her reasons for taking this job were threefold. First, hunting serial killers would make for a good public reputation that she could use as a front. Second, it would cut down on competition should she have to return here for less savory jobs in the future. Third, serial killers brought no art or skill to their work. All they did was carve someone up and leave them for the police to find... there was no skill behind it nor any standards.

The blonde reached the lower docks of Hargeon Town and smelled the salt air as her dress shoes clacked on the wooden boardwalk. Dressed in her usual attire, Diana was counting on her "office lady" look to lure Jacob Goodnight to attack what looked like easy prey. Little did he know that the "office lady" was actually a huntress that and he was the prey. Walking past a seedy side alley, it did not take long for her to pick up an unsavory follower. Someone followed behind her and grabbed her left arm, spinning her around to face them.

Her assailant was a tall, burly man with a white t-shirt and brown pants with a bloodstained black butcher's apron over the front of his shirt. He was a man with a shaved head. In his right hand was a sharp butcher's knife that gleamed in the light.

"You're the prettiest victim I've had so far. It's... nice to meat you!" Jacob Goodnight made a very bad joke. His pun was every bit as bad as his personal hygiene... an odor that was an awful combination of sweat, meat, and blood emanated from him. Diana was going to put him out of his misery.

[Word Count: 459]
[Total Word Count: 459/500]

Diana did not bother with a verbal response. She quickly produced her Silenced Handgun and shot him in the stomach twice, making him yell and let her go with a quickness. He responded by punching her in the face, then slashing at her with his knife. Ducking in time, Diana brought up her pistol again and got off another shot to his stomach before he slammed into her so hard that she was literally knocked out of her shoes. Goodnight took a moment to laugh about knocking her out of her shoes, then casually kicked them into the water and walked towards her with murderous intent.

"Looks like you have nowhere to run. It's been fun, but let's cut to the chase!" He said to her. Diana was not impressed with his sense of humor. However, she agreed with him on that one point. It was time to quit playing around.

Jacob grabbed her by the left arm, holding her aloft in the air. He knocked away her pistol and put the knife to her stomach, clearly intending to repay her for the wounds she had inflicted on him. Diana was not ready to die without a fight.

Diana wordlessly charged a Stun Blast and fired it at his chest, forcing him to drop her. He yelled as his legs went numb and he frantically massaged them in an effort to get them moving again. The blonde summoned her pistol and made good use of it, firing seven times using Full Metal Jacket rounds until he dropped to his knees. It was just then that the police came running up to them.

With the arrival of the police, Jacob knew that it was over for him. He clenched his teeth and forced himself to his feet. He brought out his meat hook on a chain and hooked Diana's jacket sleeve, resisting all attempts to club him down as he hauled the blonde towards him by the chain. Jacob was determined to take someone with him to the other side. Diana was equally determined that she was going to remain in Earthland until her appointed time came.

At the halfway point Diana wordlessly leveled her pistol at his head and fired a Full Metal Jacket shot that hit him squarely in between the eyes, causing him to drop the chain and stand in place for a few seconds before silently falling onto his back and bleeding from his forehead. It was not how Diana wanted it to end, but Jacob Goodnight had been stopped. The blonde dispelled her pistol and presented the job notice.

"I was hoping that we could take him alive, but you had no choice." One of the officers, a younger man with black hair, said to her.

"Indeed. The choice was taken out of my hands." Diana stated. She opted to leave it at that.

"In any case, here's the reward money." The officer said to her, presenting her with a bag of Jewels. Diana took them with respect and pocketed them.

"We'll take it from here. Thanks for the help." The officer said while more officers arrived and taped off the area.

"It is no problem." Diana said before leaving the officers to their work. The area was taped off behind her, but she had no reason to go back. She had completed her job for today. She had done a good deed by taking Jacob Goodnight off the streets for good. Now it was time to go home and add another success to the list.

[Word Count: 590]
[Total Word Count: 1,049/500]