Chapter One

Olivia Briggs cursed as she ran from her car to the front door of her apartment building. A freak rain storm had struck according to the general law of the universe: the day she had forgotten her umbrella. She tried to tuck the paper bag full of groceries under her arm as she fumbled with her keys. It was supposed to be an easy errand. Jason, her boyfriend, had the day off so Olivia decided to have a nice romantic evening alone with him. He often worked late and long hours, so it was an opportunity she intended to take full advantage of. What exactly it was he did was a complete mystery to her—but made him a decent enough paycheck.

It didn't really matter how fast she opened the door since she was already soaked to the skin, her bangs sticking to her forehead and her purple tunic dress weighed down with water.

"Urgh. Time for a bath," she mumbled to herself, trudging up the three flights of stairs to the apartment she shared with Jason.

Her parents didn't approve. But then again they rarely approved of anything Olivia did, from her decision to move halfway across the country to moving in with Jason after being together for a little less than a year. Three years later, Olivia was going strong at the age of twenty-five working as a book-keeper and was still with Jason.

She kicked the door open and dragged her feet to the kitchen to set the groceries down before the brown paper bag disintegrated completely. Their apartment was big enough for at least four people to live in, but the two enjoyed their space. Jason took one of the extra bedrooms and made it his office. The way the apartment had been decorated was all Olivia's doing. She had expensive tastes, but Jason let her do what she wanted. Most of the furniture was woodwork and each piece complemented the others nicely. Several potted plants were lined up against a large window overlooking the city. Olivia moved from the kitchen down a small hallway leading to the master bedroom.

After she showered—deciding against a bath—changed into dryer clothes she moved back into the hallway. As she passed Jason's office she stopped when she heard him talking. Probably with work, she thought bitterly. What a dick. This is supposed to be our day… She carefully placed her ear against the door to listen.

"I know sir…it's just… Right, right, yes it's ready… I've seen a few poking around places they don't belong… Tonight?"

Olivia furrowed her brow. What's he talking about? She heard Jason sigh and then he spoke again, something odd in his voice that she didn't really like.

"Tonight it is, I'll have her there before ten. I know sir… I know." She heard a faint beep and his computer chair creak.

She debated storming in and questioning him, or pretending like she had heard nothing. When Olivia had made up her mind she knocked on the door. "Babe? I'm back from the store."

Jason's office was the one room Olivia was never allowed to decorate, touch, clean or do anything in. It was a miracle Jason was even letting her open the door. He was sitting behind his desk hunched over. Several computer monitors were on and flashing bits of information that made no sense to Olivia. Several papers and files were littering the floor. He was scrolling through something on the screen in front of him. He was wearing a pair of black track pants and a fitted grey T-shirt. His face was unshaven, a very rare sight.

"Hey Livy," he said in a tired voice, taking his hand off the mouse and leaning back into his chair running a hand through his short dirty blond hair. "Sorry about this."

He gestured to the computers. "A small emergency at work."

Olivia rolled her eyes and put her hands on her hips. "I thought you had the day off Mr. Morgan?"

Jason flicked the power off on his computers and held his hands up in defeat. Olivia grinned and slowly made her way around his desk. "Good, now I have you all to myself."

She saw a slight smile on his face when she sat in his lap. When his smile faltered she tilted her head and looked him in the eye. "Jason, something wrong?"

He shook his head and kissed her gently. Olivia put her hands to his face and deepened the kiss. When they slowly broke apart Jason had that look on his face again—like he was hiding something.

Looking Olivia in her big brown eyes he spoke in a low voice. "I love you."

Olivia smiled and kissed him again. "I love you too, babe."

Jason was never one to keep secrets, and Olivia wanted to further question him but it was clear to her that he was 'ok'. Instead she took a big breath and rubbed his stubbly face.

"You should forget to shave more often," she paused, smirking slightly. "Makes you look sexy."

Jason rolled his eyes brushing off her comment. "Fine, I'm gonna go lay down for a bit," she sighed and she got up from Jason's lap and left him to his work.

A large crash and a noise that sounding scarily like a gunshot woke Olivia up an hour later. She almost screamed but managed to keep quiet as she ran to find Jason. Almost tripping on her own feet she dashed to Jason's office. When she got there the door was open and small shards of glass covered the floor. She covered her mouth and tried not to scream again. The window was smashed; there was a person with a white hood with a growing red splotch on their right shoulder. Then there was Jason, standing over the person with a handgun aimed at the person who didn't appear to be moving. Jason averted his attention to Olivia who was standing in the door with a horrified expression on her face. He stepped over the body and towards Olivia, the gun still in his hand.

"Jason, what's going on?" Olivia demanded as he grabbed her arm and pulled her towards the living room. He made no motion of answering her so Olivia shook his grip and stood still. "Tell me what's going on right now!" Her eyes were wide and held a terrified look in them. "You tell me right now or I'm calling the cops."

He made and angry noise as he looked to Olivia then to the door then back to Olivia. "I can't, we have to go NOW!"

He grabbed her once again and literally dragged her out the door. He tried to ignore her crying as then moved down the first flight of stairs. "Jason…please tell me!"

He bit his lip; things were not going according to plan at all. "That man in my office," he explained, pausing to kick the door to the fire exit open, "that man was an assassin."

"What-"

Jason cut her off."They came for you Olivia, and if you don't move faster they are going to take you away from me."

More tears poured for Olivia's eyes but she kept quiet and moved a little faster. Jason and Olivia's footsteps fell into puddle as they ran to Jason's car. Before they could reach the vehicle in the parking lot two more white hooded people came into view.

"Olivia, get away from him!" screamed one of the hooded 'assassins'. Jason fired his gun at the assassins but missed his mark. "Stand back, Livy," screamed Jason as he dodged the other assassins.

While Jason fought the assassins Olivia never felt more lost in her entire life. Who where these people?

"Olivia, we need you to come with us for your safety!" The assassin that wasn't fighting Jason advanced on her causing her to back up.

"Run, Olivia!" yelled Jason and he sent one of his fists into the assassins face. Olivia didn't need to think twice she turned and ran with the other assassin sprinting after her.

She ran around the back of the building and into a small alleyway. Her thoughts kept switching to Jason.

"Olivia, your parents sent us!"

She immediately stopped and spun to face her pursuer. "What have you done to my mom and dad?"

The assassin stopped running. "No time for questions, the Templars are going to be here soon…"

BANG!

Olivia gasped as the assassin fell to the ground, a bullet in his head. Jason stood in the middle of the alleyway with a small cut that bled on his forehead. He shoved the gun into the back of his pants and held a hand out to Olivia. "Let's go."

She looked at the assassin. "What was he talking about Templars, I don't-"

He stopped her. "I said let's go, Olivia."

She was taken back at the tone of his strained voice. She needed to figure out who the bad guy were in this situation. Assassins or Templars? She noticed how his hand shook as he reloaded the gun. His aim was unsteady as he pointed the gun at her head.

"Please, Olivia," he whispered, walking towards her. "I-it wasn't supposed happen like this." With his free hand he wiped one of his eyes and sniffed. "Livy, I don't want to hurt you."

Olivia didn't know what to think. This was so strange and distressing. Her entire life had been ripped from under her. Not even fifteen minutes ago she was taking a nap! Now she was standing in the middle of some alleyway with the body of an assassin at her feet and a gun to her head.

"I'm scared, Jason," she whispered looking at him, the gun, the assassin. Her heart was pounding in her chest, her head spinning, she was breathing hard from running and her legs felt shaky. Why was this happening to her…? Jason lowered the gun and reached for Olivia. He bit his lip when she flinched and moved away from him. He fired at the ground by her feet, then indicated toward the car. He opened the door, and she had no choice but to get in. She cringed as he slammed the door shut.

The driver side door opened and Jason climbed in and started the car. "Open the glove compartment," he instructed. Inside was a small black case. "Open it."

Doing as she was told Olivia opened it. A syringe and small bottle of clear liquid was inside. She gulped shakily taking the medical tools into her hands. She really didn't want to know what the liquid was but she had a bad feeling she was going to find out.

Jason turned the car onto a side street and took the syringe from Olivia.

"No please, Jason, don't…" Olivia whispered trying to squeeze herself into the car door and away from Jason and the syringe.

"Relax, it only going to make you sleep," Jason said calmly filling the device then tapped it for air bubbles. "Give me your arm, Livy."

She recoiled.

"I don't want to hurt you, Livy, just do as I say!"

She shook her head and tried to open the door. She wasn't fast enough; Jason grabbed her shoulder and plunged the syringe into her neck injecting the liquid. Olivia tried to struggle but he could feel like effects of the sedative immediately. Warmth spreading from her neck down her arms, straight to her toes and made her head feel heavy.

"I-I hate you,' she managed to slur out as she fell forward into the dashboard.

Jason capped the syringe and tossed it into the back seat and repositioned Olivia's body into a more comfortable position. Her last words echoed in his head.

He really didn't want to do this to her, but in his job you did as you were told or bad things happened to you. He just wished he didn't have to be so violent and aggressive with Olivia. He really did love her. He ran his hand through his hair and down his face and sighed. He really hated his job, and he really hated his boss. Then again he was the one who 'got involved' as his co-workers called it. It wasn't good when observers 'got involved' with their subjects. Jason didn't think of Olivia as just another subject, some miniscule thing to put under a microscope. What he saw was a person, a beautiful, funny, lovable person. Still gripping the steering wheel he leaned his head against it. They were going to do horrible things to Olivia, his Olivia…

Taking one last sad look at Olivia he turned out of his parking spot and drove the rest of the way to Abstergo.

SUBJECT 15: BRIGGS, OLIVIA

ENTERING FIRST AVAILABLE GENETIC MEMORY: FLORENCE, ITALY. 1459

Beta'd by the wonderful The-Lady-Isis you are awesome :D