A Different Kind of Storybook

The Black Fox (Venice, Italy) Three months before (1:26 am)

The streets of Venice were quiet. Stray cats yowled and skittered from dark doorway to dark doorway, searching for forgotten scraps of food. The distant wail of sirens reached my ears but they were much too far to be a problem. Not this night.

The sound of my footsteps were hardly heard as I made my way through the night, seeking out my next unlucky victim. I wasn't in the mood for stealing anything and my last kidnapping had brought the police too close to comfort to knowing my identity.

No, tonight would be a night of red rain.

I drew a small shotgun from it's place in my belt and twirled it idly on my finger as I walked, humming "London bridge is falling down" quietly. My eyes scanned the street ahead and a grin spread across my face as a figure slipped quietly from a doorway and started walking in my direction, head down. I pulled my sleeve over the hand that held the gun and continued on.

I knew it was a woman as soon as she passed me. Her scent, hinting of jasmine, gave her away. I counted to five and stepped into the darkest shadow and stopped, waiting.

After a moment she turned around. Perhaps it was to make sure she wasn't being followed. Perhaps she had felt my eyes on her back. Perhaps she was curious as to why my footsteps had suddenly stopped. Perhaps none of these was the reason for her searching gaze; her tense pose.

I slowly emerged from the darkness, like a demon sprung from the darkest abyss. Her eyes found mine and she stopped breathing, her heart missing a beat.

"Hello," I said, smiling. My voice was friendly.

She didn't smile back. "It's you. You're the Black Fox," she said in a whisper.

I took two more steps forward. She took one back.

"What gave you that idea?"

"Get away from me!" she cried, half-turning and starting to run. I took a few quick steps forward and was in front of her again.

"Leave me alone! Please!"

I studied her face closely. Then I nodded.

"Yes, you'll do."

A shot rang out in the night.

Re posted later

Samuel Andrews; England; October 12th 2008; 2:00pm.

"Where's my next landing point?" Sam asked, flying the helicopter straight up until they were hidden by a mass of clouds. He glanced briefly at his young, dark haired partner and smiled. Good. She looked old enough to have some intelligence but young enough that she should be good in the field. In fact, the name was pretty familiar and he knew of a few of her successes.

"Venice," the male voice responded. "And once there, you're on your own."

"Understood," Samuel said. He changed the helicopter's course with ease and then decided it was time to introduce himself.

"You must be Isabella Milan." The woman nodded. "I'm Samuel Andrews." She nodded again. Sam felt just a little out of the loop. He felt old and he felt like a pilot, making small talk with the real agent. But then she spoke and it was in a polite, respectful tone. It boosted Sam's confidence and reminded him of who he was.

"Is this difficult to fly?" she asked, watching as he flicked switches and nudged the controls.

"Not this one. She flies like a dream," Sam said honestly. "But then, she's top technology."

"So is that all it takes to get someone out of retirement? A fancy helicopter?" Isabella sounded amused and Sam laughed a little and shook his head.

"Less than that. It took a single phone call actually. I'll tell you a secret: you get old, you get tired and you want out but life on the outside is just too dull. There's been little to entertain me these last few years and I've just been waiting on a chance to jump back in."

Eric Shields, Venice Italy, October 14, 2008.

Eric walked into the police station, coffee mug in hand. He looked around to see a few asleep at there desks and other pacing back and forth. The investigation is hurting everyone. He took another sip before walking into Clair's office. She was just handing up the phone, "What was that?"

"New instructions for when the agents get here. When they arrive..."

"No, don't tell me," he interrupted, "I'll wait." He leaned against the wall, and looked away, "I hate this. Why are the bringing in people from outside the country?"

"Our force is depleted, we need more man power."

"But we still haven't ruled out the possibility that the crimes are being run from beyond the border. It is possible, though unlikely the head is sending his arms to stop us."

"Your reading too deep into this Eric."

"You know," He looked her in the eye, "I hope your right."

Claire Jones, Venice Italy, October 14th

She tossed Eric the sterss ball, "You need this more than I do."

"How can you be so calm about this?"

"I'm not calm, I'm just not parinoid." I leaned my head back against my chair staring at the ceiling for a moment before I closed my eyes. "There's something missing here," I muttered, "something just don't add up right." I stood up and started pacing. "This is why I'm glad the others are coming! I'm missing something that somebody else must have found."

"Claire there's no guarentee that anybody's found anything yet."

I kicked at the red carpeting, "so?"

*since Sylverdawn isn't posting, I guess I really will just move on *

[Maijorie Gensitine - Venice, Italy - October 14, 2008 - 7: 39 PM]

I sped through customs and baggage claim, I guess it really did matter if I was with the SIS in airports. They led me to the front of the airport where, to my surprise, a cab was already waiting. The driver helped me in set my things in the trunk.

"I'm going to take a wild guess and say you already know where to go?"

He scoffed. "Well of course Miss Gensitine, I've been driving people like you around for awhile." he had a slight Italian accent.

So, as the unnamed man drover me through the traffic and unfamiliar streets, my eyes were locked on the window beside me. It was so beautiful here, the lights, the people, the buildings. Who could want to ruin this place by creating murders and running around on a crime spree? I fixed my beret and hung the sunglasses through a whole in the fishnet shirt that lay above another black shirt.

The driver took a sharp left turn and then came to an abrupt halt. I heard my bags rattle around in the back while I was thrown to side. Well, are you gentle? I thought sarcastically.

"Here's your stop, the Venice Police Department. Someone should be inside."

I quickly got out of the stuffy cab, the driver right outside, holding my things. I took my two small bags and then started to dig around for my wallet.

"Already paid!" he called out the window, the car soon speeding away from me.

A harsh, cold wind started blowing. I had to hold my hat down before it flew off of my head. Suddenly, this city didn't seem so friendly. With the moon slowly crawling up the dark sky and the wind feeling so icy that I might have suspected that there actually was ice in it, I ran to the door of the Venice Police and knocked on it with my elbow. One hand on the hat, the other one holding to bags, I really couldn't do much more than that.

All right, a few quick notes before I post. Firstly, if anyone thinks they know who the Black Fox is, PM me before saying anything to anyone else. If someone says something to you about it, PM me before saying anything to anyone else. To name someone as the Black Fox, you must have an abundant amount of proof. Also, all the characters will be staying in the same hotel, and we will all meet up in the dining room of this hotel after arriving. The dining room is entered through the downstairs lobby.

Isabella Milan

"I don't doubt that in the least," I said, chuckling slightly. Sam was amusing, but he definitely knew what he was doing. I had the feeling he would be better than most of my old partners - many of whom had no idea what they were doing.

"That's our landing point," Sam spoke quickly, pointing to the helipad on top of the police department of Venice.

"There are a lot of conveniently placed helipads," I noted quietly. Sam chuckled, nodding in agreement as he carefully landed the copter.

*sorry was traveling yesterday.*

Ray A'llen- Venice- 10/14/08- 7:42 pm

Ray grabbed his bags and stopped to grab a coffee before hunting down a cab. Once he was outside Ray pulled off his sunglasses, his electric green eyes taking in every detail. He glanced at his driver and raised an eyebrow, "So which hotel am I staying at?" He closed the door behind him with a snap and glanced outside the city lights, danced in blinding clarity, but he was used to the glare.

The driver grinned at him as he pulled into traffic. "The Regalia. It's five stars. You'll check in before going to the restaurant. Just show your ID to the manager, and he'll let you into the private dining room.

Nodding Ray leaned back and watched the sights go by.

Samuel Andrews; Venice, Italy; October 12th 2008; 5:00pm. (Why the sudden change in date everyone? Especially you, kittykat. I'm sure it doesn't take two days to disembark from a plane.)

"Actually, I've never had trouble finding landing spots," Samuel said with a grin as he thought of a few of the emergency landings he had performed during his career. Isabella smiled and Samuel settled the helicopter carefully, listening as it whirred to a complete halt. He stepped out onto the windy platform and reached into the back to grab his rucksack and the large, black, metal briefcase. Isabella raised an eyebrow, having very little luggage of her own.

"Just a few essentials," Sam said with a smile. He led the way off the roof and they found themselves surrounded by police officers. Sam showed them his authorisation papers and a tall man with dark, grey tinged hair led them to the main desk.

"We didn't expect anyone so soon," he said. "And a helicopter? A little dramatic perhaps." There was a twinkle in his eye as he said it and Sam shrugged modestly.

"Not my idea for once," he said. "So, this case..."

"Actually, we're waiting for everyone to get here, should probably take another two days. And then you'll meet the other agents and we'll explain everything."

"Splendid," Sam said, "and what do we do until then?"

"You'll be staying at The Regalia. I suggest you book in there and then take some time to look around. Do some research perhaps." Sam scowled. Was this guy a complete idiot or was he trying to tell him how to do his job?

"Thank you," Isabella said, taking the two keys the man offered. "Can you tell us who in your department is in charge of the case?"

"Alanna Kozachuk, Eric Shields, Seul Freeman and Claire," the man answered. Samuel took the notepad and pen from his shirt pocket, jotting down the names in his indiscernible handwriting as he and Isabella left the building and hailed a cab to The Regalia.

"What sort of code is that?" Isabella asked, peering over Sam's shoulder.

"Very bad handwriting," Sam chuckled. "And I'm the only one who can read it."

Asher Luna (dinning area? Hotel) Venice-Italy

I leaned against a wall, and started to pick at my nails with a knife. Anyone around me wouldn't question me about it, they wouldn't come within a five foot radius. I wish I knew someone here other than Milo, but I really didn't think I would. I wanted to find this killer, I was becoming obsessive over it, I couldn't sleep last night and if we didn't solve it soon I knew I was going to get even more obsessive.

"Where the hell is everyone?" I asked.

So I'm confused.

*Well, everyone in Venice had the 14th for the date, so I guessed should go with theirs *

[Seul Freeman - Venice, Italy - Hotel]

Seul never made it to the Police Department; he didn't get murdered of course but he was distracted. It was Kudo who distracted him really, by picking up on a scent. The powerful, focused German Shepherd didn't even pause, knowing that Seul would trust him.

Kudo led him to a Hotel, probably following the scent of dinner. Seul shook his head with a smile, about to tell his dog off, when he saw a certain group of people in the hotel. A certain group of people who definitely weren't from around here.

He went in, patting Kudo's great broad head as he did.

*sorry, that was bad just trying to stay in the story*

Asher Luna (((dinning room, alone, hotel,) Venice Italy

I kept picking my nails with the knife, no one was in the room, the lights were off and it was raining. I was waiting for something to happen. I looked down at my clothing it didn't look approprate for work but since it was after hours I really didn't give a crap.Someone opened the door and I thust the knife right by their head, on the wall. I realized this wasn't my house and I calmed down. The guy looked at me as if I were insane. Maybe I was....

"Sorry about that." I smiled.


***THERE YOU GO CAT!!!***

So Layleun is posting...what should I do? Help...anyone?