Shots rang out on the foggy autumn morning. Two teenagers dead already, early risers enjoying a Sunday treat at the mall. But it didn't matter to Mariana Sequette. Though she could hear the toxic noises above her, they were faint. And besides, she was facing a crisis of her own.

Down in the sewers, a small community of forgotten bodies struggled for survival. This was the bottom of the bottom. Sickness was in the air, and not just the physical kind. Mariana entered the town slowly, and she soon felt that aura of malice and depression. She looked away from everyone she could see. Mariana Sequette - down here in well-kept adventurer's gear and with a pantry of an arsenal - was certainly out of place. But she was headed for a small fishery on the sunken end of the slum.

The kind of fish that swam in the sewers was a mystery to Mariana. Definitely not one she would dine on. But these decrepit people were barely hanging onto life. The fishery owner was the same, and Mariana was greeted with his lurking establishment when she moved the door open.

He sighed when he heard the bell ring. Another customer. "What can I help you with?" he said weakly.

Mariana was direct with him. "Did you kill him yet?"

He sighed. "No. Listen-"

But no further words were spoken. Mariana had set his soul ablaze, her mouth grinning and her eyes content.

She sighed heavily as she looked at the imploded fleshy mess. It felt so good to her, like a long drag of a cigarette might feel for a human.

She blinked out of the fishery and into the crowd above her. She was suddenly in the mall's rotunda, and she was assaulted by noise. So much, from the screaming to the explosions to the tearing. A large stone bear adorned the center of the room, but the six assailants were using the decor to their advantage, with some on top of it and some surrounding it.

The exits were blocked, the security blinds drawn over the windows. This was meticulously planned.

Mariana scoffed as she looked around, her eardrums muted by a quick muffle charm. Fucking humans. Jesus Christ.

Mariana constricted six blood vessels and made the assailants cry out in agony. They fell to the floor, and the noise was gone. Mariana knew she couldn't stay there, but she had to look around for a moment. It made her physically sick - she was almost angry at herself for this display of weakness, but still, the scene fueled her hatred against humanity so much more.

Even today, the young sorcerer wishes she could erase this part of the story: she threw up all over the place. But right after that, she blinked back to her bathtub in Boston. She pouted, disgusted with herself.

The next day, Mariana was set anew with her lifelong task to kill the One. No longer would she hire bounty hunters or mercenaries. No, she would assassinate this worm herself.

And so she blinked to California. She knew where the One took shelter at - it was a body of great importance, and the disguise allowed him access to places of the highest status.

667 Sycamore Lane, this was it. Mariana got out of her car and approached the gates of this regal Los Angeles mansion. An old man with a tie spoke up to Mariana from within his booth - he was the gatekeeper.

"Ma'am, you need to have an appointment here."

Mariana cared nothing for that. "No, I don't," she said, using a good bit of her energy to convince this man.

"N-no you don't," he parroted.

Mariana was sweating. That man was way more of a challenge than she thought. But still, she did it. And with the senile gatekeeper's approval, Mariana made her way up to the palace. It was well-kept, but relatively modest in appearance. The style almost reminded Mariana of a suburban home. But still, she knocked on the door four times, loudly.

A sharp-faced southern man opened the door. "Why didn't Eddie tell me you were coming up? Who are you?"

Mariana smiled. "Mr. Quaid, I am Mariana Sequette. I am here because you actually aren't charming actor Dennis Quaid, but my brother Ezekiel Varley. And so:"

A lightning bolt was materialized far above the clouds, and it struck the old actor seconds after its manifestation.

Mariana laughed as the better Quaid brother was impaled by a lightning bolt. The familiar feeling of bliss rushed through her, and she sighed in contentment. It was done. She didn't see why this was so hard - Ezekiel had barely put up a fight.

Then she thought for a second. She saw Premonition, that was Randy Quaid, right? Or was it Dennis? Dennis Quaid was in that dragon movie for sure.

After some internal consideration, Mariana realized that it was Randy Quaid that Ezekiel was using as a shell, not Dennis Quaid. Such a stupid error, but still - no big deal. There was always another day.

Mariana went back to her Boston apartment and watched some television. Nothing was interesting for her. Ugh. She had to go out tomorrow. The One was still out there.