Dark and Stormy Knights
an excerpt

Her footsteps echoed in the empty streets. For her it was familiar territory. To run. To escape. When things get bad then you just take a step to the side and disappear. An easy way to deal with the demons of the past. Still she runs until she is unsure of whether the sound she hears is her steps pounding the pavement or her heart beating against her ribcage.
Shadows flit to and fro on the walls of the alleyway. Finally she stops for a moment to catch her breath and, in that moment, her past catches up to her. She meets the impact with a grunt and then it is all arms and legs as she rolls across the pavement. Somewhere along the way the sleeve on her top rips announcing that it is forevermore to be relegated to the ranks of work out clothes or maybe just a rag. However, first she has to face the attacker and win.
The rolling stops and she quickly disengages herself from her attacker. From a distance they could be sisters or maybe really close friends dressed similarly for a night on the town. She has a black top with long sleeves with a neckline that plunges to a metal clasp. The top reveals enough to tease and invite but nothing more. A good pair of black slacks and a comfortable pair of black leather shoes finish the outfit. The purse which had been so carefully considered was abandoned long ago, early in the chase. Her attacker has a black top on that shines in the dark and appears to be almost fluid like as her movement makes it dance upon her skin. Tight in the right places and loose enough for quick and simple movement in others. Black jeans and a pair of red sneakers finish her ensemble but much unlike her prey, a purse was never a part of the equation.
Both women eye one another warily now as they both move around one another. The space of the alley does not leave them much room but it is enough. As they circle it is as if the city is holding its breath, waiting for one or the other to make her first move. Neither woman looks the other in the eye. Instead their gaze falls into a fuzzy area just below the chin that allows both of them to watch any shoulder or hip movement that may betray the other's intentions. Suddenly there is a flash of red coming at her, a kick to her knee. She steps to the side and forward, avoiding the blow and closing in on her attacker at the same time. Her arms shoots out quickly, the hand going for the attackers throat. Just before her hand can complete the motion, the target is no longer there. Instead she is falling, twisting, and lashing out with her leg once more. As the attack finds its way home, she feels a sharp spike of pain run through her entire right leg. Before she can adjust from the new attack another blow lands on her chest, robbing her of air for just a moment. A moment is all that the attacker needs as she closes in and strikes once more. Then all is dark.