Writing Challenge 4 - Entry 5

She came unexpectedly, leaving death and distress as she went. The Night-Crow, known for her long flaxen hair and ruthless methods, had struck once again.

Her eyes widened at the person before her. The masked figure, which was certainly female, dashed towards her, her gun drawn. Impossible. This couldn't be happening. She was only taking her usual evening walk, so why did she show up?

Fair locks of hair caressed her face and she found herself staring into the dark eyeholes of the mask. The gun pressed against her abdomen.

"Lenora…" A faint whisper from the distance reached her ears, followed by the gun going off, the bullet piercing her skin, travelling through her innards. Her mouth opened in a silent cry, her hands clutching at the bleeding wound. She stumbled backwards and fell against the wall, desperately trying to get away.

"Lenora." She looked up, tears started to form in her eyes.
"You fool. Do you really think you can escape from your fate, your destiny?" The gun was raised once again, held close to her chest. She braced herself for the oncoming blow and closed her eyes.

"Destiny is something that has been decided, long before your birth. Now, destiny will continue after your death!"

The gun was fired and everything disappeared as her world turned into a never-ending field of darkness.

"Lenora, if you don't answer right now, I'll come inside," her mother said in a stern tone of voice, muffled slightly by the closed door. She sat up in her bed, wiping sweat off her forehead with the back of her hand. "Coming, mom!" She quickly got out of bed and put on her clothes before opening the door. Her mother looked at her judgingly, a frown on her face.

"Did you just get up? What is it with you and sleeping until noon?" She let out a sigh. "Honestly, Lenora… How do you think you'll be able to achieve anything by having such an odd sleeping pattern?"

She didn't answer - her mother didn't expect her to. With a sigh the older woman stepped away from the door. "We are about to have lunch, and the five-over-twelve-o-clock news will be on in a few minutes. Let us just go downstairs and forget about this for a moment."

"The Night-Crow has struck again, killing two. Her weapon of choice was her gun, as both victims were shot." the newsreader said.
"Lenora? Are you listening?" her mother asked. "This is horrible, how can someone do something like that?"

"I don't know mother… I can't even imagine doing something like that," she answered. "How can anyone do a thing so gruesome?"

Her mother agreed, looking back at the TV screen.

Upstairs Lenora opened her drawer and picked up the mask which was hidden inside it. She put it on, making sure the clasps on the back were closed, and opened her window.

Tonight the Night-Crow would hunt... and kill.