The Forshadow

Elisabeth Carson sat on the floor of the small holding cell, her back against the bars of the door. Her auburn hair was in disarray, her mascara was smeared down her cheeks and little remained of the lipstick she had once applied, though you could see it was a peachy shade. Normally she would have quite a full, friendly face with gentle features, but right now it looked like all wrinkles and bags. Elisabeth had physically aged in a dramatic fashion.

She finally moved after two hours of absolute stillness, because she suddenly had the feeling of being watched. When she slowly and deliberately tilted up her head, her eyes locked with the grim spectre she had been cursing at until she had broken. He had suddenly appeared on the bench in the cell and was looking at her with glowing red eyes that reflected a deep sadness. She looked back down again, not feeling like acknowledging this thing. Besides, she could see his deep black clothing even if she closed her eyes, down to the cursed cape the thing wore.

A whisper emanated from the spectre, then another and another, until the flurry of whispers turned into words:
"I regret this deeply, you must know this. Your logic was sound and clear, however your emotions got the better of you. I hoped when you put out the message to meet me, my sources would be wrong as to how you would react. So I set up the meeting in a place where you could control the situation, agent Carson. Yet your reaction warranted the last 48 hours, however much I regret it".

48 hours earlier

Agent Carson turned on her audio equipment and instantly was flooded by the chatter. The snipers and field agents had been up here for hours, securing the location from every possible vantage point. She knew they were getting impatient, but nothing could be left to chance. As soon as she had done that, agent Edwards and Delaney did the same. She'd brought them for their muscle and imposing figure, but they did listen to orders well. She spoke into the microphone on her shirt collar:
"Okay boys, we're at T minus 4, so break it up. Still nothing?"
The snipers all confirmed the roof was still clear and the feel against reported all the exits and entries around the building were still secure. If he was going to show up, he was truly a miracle worker. But that was the working theory anyway.

She waited three more minutes and then opened the little roof access door.
"I see you, agent Carson. Keeping you in my sights. Still no movement, but if he somehow shows up, we've got him covered".
Elisabeth and her two cohorts walked to the middle of the roof, which was pretty much clear and flat, except for two air vents a few meters apart. The last minute passed in complete silence, except for the soft breeze picking up now and again. Then, as she was looking at her watch and saw the dial jump to noon, the chatter came through:
 "We've got movement between the vents. Yes, it looks like it's him. The Cloaked Raven is on the building! How'd he get there? Is everyone still up?"

The voices in Elisabeth ears launched into a debate who was to blame, but she just looked at the cloaked figure that approached. The whispers started to come in over her audio equipment, forming sentences slowly and deliberately:
"You said you'd come alone, but then again I didn't expect you to. Now, I have simple proof of my innocence. I did not kill ambassador Ying". Elisabeth just nodded as the whispers stopped.
"Sure, and I'd love to hear it. Just come down with us and we'll talk about it at the bureau".
"That was not part of the arrangement, agent Carson. I could come here to tell my side and you would listen"
"Listen, you're an admitted murderer. Did you really think we'd have a pleasant conversation on a rooftop? I'm taking you in. You'll have your chance to tell your story, just not as a free man"
"I'm warning you, agent Carson. Do not break your word to me any further or the next 48 hours will be worse then anything you ever experienced"
"Threatening a federal agent is not the wisest of strategies"
"Neither is breaking your word to the worlds greatest assassin"

A few seconds passed in quiet. Just now Elisabeth noticed that the constant noise of her backup had stopped coming into her ear, replaced instead with complete silence. She quickly drew her gun from its holster, to which the other agents quickly followed suit. She pointed it at the Cloaked Raven and yelled:
"What'cha do, you scumbag?"
"Will you break your word?"
"Tell me what you did or I'll shoot you"
"Very well. I'll see you in precisely 48 hours".

Suddenly the figure became whir of cloak and movement. All three agents fired their weapons, but somehow their shots rebounded. A white streak of light flew forth from the dark creature, hitting agent Delaney. Elisabeth had no time to look around, but she heard a grunt and then something heavy fall over. Edwards stopped firing as well. Whatever happened to Delaney also happened to Edwards, as another white streak flew forth. Then Elisabeth ran out of shells. She knew replacing them would be useless and sure enough, a white line hit her. It flew right into her skin with a little sting, after which a white web appeared on her skin. Shortly after she lost conciousness.

Now

Finally Elisabeth looked up at the creature, after it had recounted all that had happened. Her voice was broken, yet clear:
"You think you're right to do all that? In the hours after we met, people suddenly found connections to the mob, my house was foreclosed, my car was impounded, my kids put in foster-care... All this because you had some lame excuse to how you hadn't killed Ying? You had written your name in his blood on the scene of the crime and yet you wanted to play this game with me, because I lied? You surely are the most horrid creature on the world". The Cloaked Raven looked away and then at her once again and spoke:
"You know who I am. I'm the Cloaked Raven and I'm the worlds greatest assassin. You know and admit that I am this". Elisabeth didn't dignify this with an answer. So the Raven continued:
"And why am I the greatest assassin in the world? Who have I killed? Besides ambassador Ying, name one victim".

Elisabeth didn't want to humour this creature, but against her own will she started to think of the rumours about the Cloaked Raven. How he was the greatest assassin, that he did the job good, fast and effectively. She knew a lot about him, but she couldn't name a single victim. That's why he was the greatest assassin. He didn't leave a single trace. And then it dawned on her... it'd been a frame job. It was as clear as day. He could've framed himself, but then his reputation would be a lot less impressive. She shook her thoughts away and looked towards the assassin, but he was gone. How he'd disappeared, she didn't know.

Suddenly the door behind her opened. It was Chief Withaker, the man who'd put her here after the string of mysterious mob connects and shady payments had shown up. He looked completely dreadful and full of guild. When he spoke, her voice was even more broken than Elisabeth's had been.
"We've cleared your name. About a half hour ago one of the techs found evidence that the facts had been fabricated. We're just done double checking it. I'm so sorry, Elisabeth..."
"You were just doing your job, John. And so was I. It wasn't you who put me in here, it was him"
"The Cloaked Raven? He fabricated all this? You have any proof?"
"I have a confession and that's all I need for now. I'll hunt him down like the dog he is"
"Well, we'll add it to the count of murder once we catch him"

She'd explain to him later that the Raven was innocent of that particular charge. Right now Elisabeth just rose and walked out of her cell with powerful angry strides. The Raven was still an outlaw vigilante who'd need to be put down, especially after what he did to her. She would make sure he would pay!