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After Zack returned to the theater, he went straight to his room and closed the door behind him. He took off his long classic coat and tossed it onto the nearby chair. The night had just ended, but his blood was still boiling with excitement.
Calmly, he removed his formal clothes and changed into his original athletic gear—granted to him by the gods. The moment he put it on, he felt a kind of comfort and flexibility he never experienced with regular clothing, as if the outfit was a part of his body, tailor-made just for him.
Then, he sat on his bed, leaning his head back, reflecting on the recent events. He knew things were getting more complicated, and that his mission against the Penguin was no longer just a simple assassination—it had become part of a tangled web of connections and plans.
He looked beside him, where his iconic pistols, "Ebony" and "Ivory," lay.
Zack (placing his hands on them and muttering quietly): "Store."
In an instant, the pistols vanished into the storage dimension, as if they had never existed. It was one of the system's features he had come to rely on heavily—carrying no visible weapons gave him much more flexibility, especially in a city like Gotham.
Zack exhaled slowly, then dropped his body onto the bed, eyes fixed on the ceiling in deep thought. He had less than an hour before meeting Catwoman again, and he needed to be ready for whatever came next.
Zack (muttering to himself): "Let's see how far this partnership can go..."
He closed his eyes for a few seconds, preparing himself for what was to come.
A few minutes later, Zack glanced at the digital watch on his wrist—it read 01:54 a.m. Only six minutes left until the meeting. He sighed slowly, then stood up from the bed and stretched his muscles a bit to shake off any sluggishness.
He decided not to carry any weapons this time—not because he wasn't expecting anything to happen, but because he wanted to show Catwoman that he wasn't in a combat stance, that he only wanted to talk.
He left his room, quietly closing the door behind him, and walked through the dark hallways of the abandoned theater. The place was completely silent, the only sounds being his footsteps in rhythm with the soft wind sneaking through the shattered windows.
When he reached the main hall, he took a moment to look around the abandoned theater.
The large red velvet curtains were partially torn.
The old lights hanging from the ceiling—some were broken—gave the place a dramatic appearance.
The red chairs lined up in front of the stage were covered with a thin layer of dust, except for a few near the front.
He slowly walked toward one of those chairs and sat down, relaxing a little, though his eyes kept scanning every corner of the space.
The clock was nearing two in the morning, and the cold outside made the air inside the theater feel a bit heavier.
Zack (muttering to himself as he looked around): "Catwoman… let's see if you're the punctual type."
He wasn't nervous, but he was alert. This meeting might just be a conversation… or it might be a trap.
—
Suddenly, warning sirens blared in Zack's mind, and the system's voice rang out annoyingly:
"Alert! Unknown individual has entered the theater! Move it, you lazy ass!"
Zack slowly opened his eyes, as if waking from a heavy dream. His body felt completely relaxed after dozing off for a few moments, but his combat instincts brought his focus back instantly.
Standing before him was Catwoman.
She looked at him with a sarcastic smile, arms crossed over her chest, her head tilted slightly to the side as if she were studying his appearance.
In a calm voice, she said, "Didn't expect to find you sleeping here. Aren't you supposed to be a professional assassin?"
Zack, still trying to shake off the remnants of sleep, sat up straight and ran a hand over his face, exhaling lightly. He glanced at the clock—it read 2:10 a.m.
He smirked and replied, "Well, at least you showed up on time. I figured you'd steal something before arriving."
Catwoman chuckled softly, then walked slowly until she stood beside him. "If there was anything worth stealing here, you'd have already noticed it was gone."
Zack let out a light laugh, then looked her straight in the eyes and said seriously, "Sit. We've got things to talk about."
Catwoman raised an eyebrow but sat down on the chair next to him, crossing one leg over the other, her eyes still watching him cautiously—just as he was watching her.
There was something in the air between them—not tension, but a kind of caution laced with mutual respect. Both of them knew the other wasn't ordinary.
Zack leaned back slightly in his seat and said, "So… tell me. Why did you agree to help me kill the Penguin?"
Catwoman looked at Zack, locking eyes with him for a moment as if weighing his words, then said in a calm tone:
"Because I hate owing people... and the Penguin's been crossing too many lines."
She paused for a moment, then added:
"I don't like killers. But I do like balance. And the Penguin broke that balance. His control over the black market, his weapons smuggling, using kids for his dirty work... He's no longer just a common criminal—he's become a cancer in this city."
Zack remained silent, eyes slightly widened. Her words were full of conviction… and restrained anger.
"And then there's you," she continued with a faint smile, running her hand lightly across his chest. "A strange man who suddenly shows up, stirring up the kind of chaos I like to see… and taking control like he was born in Gotham's alleys."
Zack narrowed his eyes.
"And what about the jewels? Isn't that what you really care about?"
She laughed softly and said:
"Of course. I won't lie—I love the sparkle… but sometimes, what shines the most is the chaos before the big explosion."
Zack leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, staring at the ground for a moment before saying:
"I'm about to kill a man who controls part of the city. I've got only a few hours left… and the gods put this burden on my shoulders."
Catwoman raised an eyebrow.
"The gods?"
Zack sighed and replied without lifting his eyes to meet hers:
"Long story. No time to explain it now. But… let's just say what I'm doing here isn't about revenge or some kind of thrill. It's a duty. And time is running out."
Catwoman reached out and gently brushed something off the shoulder of his coat, then said:
"Alright, sleeping assassin… if you're ready, let's start the countdown. Because tomorrow… won't be easy for anyone."
Zack stood up, his gaze sharper now, and said:
"The operation starts at 10 PM… we have 17 hours. And I intend to be fully ready."
Catwoman stood as well, looking at him with clear respect, then leaned in close and whispered near his ear:
"Don't die, Zack… that would be a fun loss."
Then she turned and walked away, her graceful, quiet steps echoing through the theater, leaving Zack alone with the fading sound of her heels.
The system spoke directly into his head, this time in a calm voice:
"Are you finally starting to understand that this city never sleeps?"
Zack replied softly as he looked at the heavy red curtains before him:
"Neither do I."
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
If you liked the story and want to read more
or just to support me, copy the link below.
You will find a special membership for:
3 chapter
and another one for:
7 chapters.
patreon.com/zakx205
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