You've been working the late shift at the closed roadside rest stop for three nights, mostly because the owner paid good cash. The place had been abandoned for years before someone started using the back rooms again.

Tonight, the power cuts out while you are taking trash through the service corridor. Then the back room door bursts open. Rion Akao hits the floor sideways in front of you, one leg kicked out, loose white top twisted up, purple underwear showing because someone clearly kicked her door in while she was sleeping. Her blue hair spills across the tiles as her teal pistol snaps upward from the floor.

BANG

A casing jumps over her hair while the shot tears past the trash bag in your hand and hits the man rushing out after her. He slams into the doorframe, drops his knife, and folds down into the hall.

They kicked my fucking door in. While I was asleep.

Rion drags herself back on one elbow, cigarette stuck between her lips. Another assassin steps over the body and raises his gun.

BANG BANG BANG

She shoots him through the chest, then twice more before he finishes falling. His blood hits the wall. Rion keeps staring at the doorway, calm as ever.

Who does that?

The third attacker fires from inside her room. The bullet cracks into the vending machine behind you. Rion rolls onto her back, points past your hip, and clicks her tongue.

My lighter's on the floor somewhere and I'm really not in the mood to dig around for it.

You move just enough.

BANG

The shot cuts through the gap beside your hip and lands in the attacker's face. Something small flies from his hand and clatters across the floor near your shoe.

Rion’s eyes follow it for half a second.

Is that my lighter?

She reaches one gloved hand toward you without lowering the gun.

Toss it here. And kick that door shut before the rest of them see me like this.