Outcome of Chapter 17 Plot Hinge: Men in Black 3 made less than $90 million in its opening weekend. As a result, Isabella is aware of the Windigos pursuing her and will not let them surprise attack her.

Agent Obstfeld kept his distance as he followed Isabella Medora and the others through the hospital parking lot. “We should wait for backup,” Agent Fioretti said over his earpiece, walking one row over from him.

Obstfeld ignored him. With Agent Isaiah and his precious Panama Crew gone rogue, a tremendous vacuum of power had just opened up with the Windigos. And he intended to be the man to fill it. Taking out Isabella Medora was just the ticket.

Of course, there were personal reasons as well.

Agent Obstfeld still remembers the first time he met her. He was a trainee with the Windigos. Halfway through their first semester their instructor introduced Isabella Medora and informed them she’d be joining their class.

Letting someone skip the first half of their training was unheard of but it didn’t take long to find out why it had happened. Apparently Bellakov had hired her father as a researcher. This had been Obstfeld’s third attempt to get through the training program and here was some spoiled brat getting a free ride because her daddy knew the boss.

Obstfeld and a few of his buddies decided to make their displeasure known the next day in the cafeteria. Coming up behind her, Obstfeld shoved Medora hard to the floor, sending her and her lunch flying.

“Don’t worry, Medora,” Obstfeld had said, “I’m sure Daddy will buy you a new—” But before he could finish his sentence Medora had sprung from the floor like a coiled spring, swinging the metal cafeteria tray into Obstfeld’s face. He spent the night in the infirmary and the next four weeks with a broken jaw.

His jaw still clicked to this day whenever he ate. A constant reminder of the humiliation he suffered at the hands of Isabella Medora.

Agent Obstfeld waited years to get his revenge. But Medora climbed the ranks faster than he did—no doubt because of her father—and their paths rarely crossed. And when he heard that she and her father had gone rogue after stealing those classified files, Obstfeld assumed he’d never see her again.

I guess good things come to those who wait, he thought as Medora got closer to the hospital entrance. Now was the time to strike, before they got inside.

“Let’s do this,” Agent Obstfeld said to Fioretti as he drew his gun. Half-crouching behind a row of cars, he closed the gap between himself and the targets. Stepping from behind his cover, Obstfeld aimed his weapon at Medora’s back. He smirked, delighted that the great and all-powerful Isabella Medora didn’t even know he was there.

Before he could pull the trigger however, a medical supply truck drove between them, causing him to lose his shot. Cursing his bad luck, he waited for the truck to pass.

When it did, Obstfeld’s stomach sank. Medora and the others were gone.

A wave of panic washed over him as he frantically searched the area. They couldn’t have gone far. He put his finger to his ear, activating his comm set. “Fioretti, I lost them. What have you got?”

No response.

“Fioretti, come in,” Agent Obstfeld said again, sweeping his weapon from car to car.

Agent Obstfeld recognized the voice that crackled into his earpiece. But it wasn’t Fioretti’s. “How’s that jaw of yours, Obstfeld?” Medora asked.

Agent Obstfeld froze. His mouth was suddenly very, very dry and it had nothing to do with the hot New Mexico sun. Out of the corner of his eye he saw a flash of movement. Pivoting on his heel he fired off two rounds at the person who had just sprung from between two parked cars.

Thankfully the shots missed since Obstfeld quickly realized it was Fioretti’s body he had been firing at. Agent Fioretti rolled onto his back and Obstfeld could hear him moan a bit.

The hairs on the back of Agent Obstfeld’s neck suddenly stood up. Spinning around, he found himself face-to-face with Isabella Medora. Grabbing his gun hand, Isabella disarmed Obstfeld with a sickening crack that left his wrist limp and undoubtedly broken. Obstfeld swung wildly with his left hand which Medora easily ducked. On her way back up she delivered a thunderous blow with her fist to Obstfeld’s gut, knocking the wind from his lungs.

Doubled over, Obstfeld gasped for breath. Isabella picked up his gun. “I asked you a question, Obstfeld,” she said. “How’s that jaw?” Obstfeld looked up just in time to watch Isabella pistol-whip him across the face, re-fracturing his jaw and sending him to the hot pavement.

“At least you’re near a hospital,” Medora said as she walked away.

***

30 minutes later…

Isabella drove Will and Tina out of the city, keeping to the back roads. She felt bad for having to steal one of the cars from the hospital parking lot. But the Windigos knew the vehicle she had been driving which didn’t leave her with many options.

“That. Was. Awesome.” Will said for what had to be the tenth time.

“Oh, shut up, Will,” Tina said. “It wasn’t that awesome.”

Isabella resisted the urge to smile. Having the opportunity to take apart Agent Obstfeld almost made up for the fact that they didn’t get the chance to scan Will for the decoder. Almost. She had to find the decoder.

Suddenly the front left tire blew, sending the car out of control. Even before the heavy impact of the car hitting the tree on the side of the road, Isabella knew it wasn’t simply a blown tire.

As the spots in her vision began to clear, Isabella looked around. She heard Will and Tina groan in the backseat. Through the front windshield, now a spider web of cracked glass, she saw the front end of the car wrapped around a tree.

Isabella groaned as well, but not from her injuries. Leaning against that tree was Agent Aurora McCrudden, her sniper rifle slung over her shoulder. McCrudden had been babysitting Will and Tina at the safe house in Albuquerque. Looks like she caught up with us.

Like Obstfeld, Isabella had a personal history with Aurora from their days together as Windigo Agents. Isabella was the only Agent—besides Donovan Isaiah—able to beat Aurora in hand-to-hand combat. And boy, did that grate on Aurora.

Aurora stared at Isabella with a small smirk on her face. Un-slinging the rifle from her shoulder she tossed the weapon to the ground and crooked a finger, inviting Isabella out to play.

Well, Isabella thought as she undid her seatbelt and forced open the bent car door, let’s see if she’s learned anything since the last time I mopped the floor with her.

Plot Hinge: MTV Movie Awards

We got ourselves a bit of a showdown between Isabella Medora and Aurora McCrudden! To see who comes out on top, we turn to the MTV Movie Awards, airing on Sunday, June 3rd at 9 pm (EST). More specifically, we’ll use the award for Best Female Performance to decide who will win this fight.

1. If Jennifer Lawrence or Kristin Wiig wins Best Female Performance on Sunday, then Isabella will once again best Aurora in hand-to-hand combat.
2. If however, Emma Stone, Emma Watson or Rooney Mara wins Best Female Performance, then Aurora will be victorious. (I’m giving Aurora better odds since Isabella was just in a car crash.)

Only 4 chapters left until the Grand Finale on June 28th!

Chapter 19 goes live on June 7th! How do you like the story so far? Feel free to leave comments below or email me your thoughts, questions and ideas. And if you haven’t already, be sure to subscribe in the top right of the screen to receive email notifications whenever a new chapter is posted.