Chapter One - Ian

Hey guys! I haven't ever posted a fanfiction here. However, I am hoping you guys will enjoy this? It's a concept I've been playing with for awhile, and I'm very happy with it, so I hope you guys will like it.

This story is going to work off review power, so if I get two reviews, I'll get the next chapter up as soon as I can. So, read and review if you like!

Also, whoever's name is in the chapter title is the perspective it's from.

Also also, in case there's any confusion, this takes place after Into the Gauntlet.

The choice was simple. Either they died, or we'd be on the run for what would probably be the rest of our-short lived lives with them.

And yet, it wasn't.

When Natalie and I found ourselves with nothing, we did the sensible thing and took up a job. Except, it wasn't the most...Well, sensible job ever. But, we would be payed almost as much money as we had before, so it was worth the distaste.

We were to dispose of people for an organization. They never gave us their name, but we didn't ask questions. They didn't pry into why we agreed and into our lives, so we didn't pry into theirs. Any nuisances that got in their way we were given to get rid of. Generally, we used poison to get rid of them. No use getting our own hands dirty.

Today was supposed to be our last job before we were payed. We waited at the pick-up point for the last people to be dropped off. Instead, a fancy, black car showed up. I recognized the driver as the man who normally dropped off the people.

"Get in."

He was a brute, and one you didn't want to bother. Natalie and I got in as fast as we could. Neither of us planned on being the one that made him mad. It was best to comply. We did have poison if it was needed. After all, we'd brought the stuff we intended on killing the drop-offs with.

There was the thought nagging at the back of my head that maybe they intended on killing us. Maybe we were the last two people, and that's why this was our last job. Maybe we knew too much. Well, we wouldn't go down without a fight.

"These last two are special nuisances. They've been trying to stop us, you know. We were lucky to even catch 'em. So, we got an extra special plan for 'em."

They pull into an airport, and we step out, walking past security. The driver walks with us, and another thug - he seems brighter than brute here - joins us, leading us into a private hanger. The guy who hired us must be rich, owning his own hanger. Then again, that's to be expected with the large sum of money he's paying us. So, we already knew he was rich. This just confirms it.

"We're gonna shove 'em out of a plane, ya see. The prisoners." The other thug, who not only seems brighter but is also smaller, chips in. The first thing he says in the conversation, and it's about killing. Fantastic. I'm sure I'll love this guy. Thank goodness this will be the last we see of them. "Or, more accurately, you are."

It's not actually killing them. We just instigated it.

Suddenly, I'm not so sure Natalie's logic works. But there's no use backing out now. We'd just get ourselves shoved out of the plane with these two - currently nameless unless we're told - prisoners. So, we step onto the plane.

They lead us to the cargo hold, complete with a large sliding door. It looks almost as if it was specifically made for shoving people out of. Two poles are by the door, one on either side. A girl is tied to the right pole. Her feet are bound twice, as are her wrists, to the pole, and a burlap sack - a bit old-fashioned really - is over her head. She looks taller than the boy, so I'm guessing she's older than him. She's writhing, trying to get out of her bonds. A pointless struggle. Tied to the left pole is a younger boy. I'm guessing younger, considering he's smaller. His feet and wrists are tied to the pole as well - twice - and a burlap sack is on his head as well, and he's also struggling. These are the duo that caused them so much trouble? They look around the same age as me and Natalie, now that I think about it. How did they get on the bad side of this group?

"Go 'head and unbag 'em." The bigger thug adds as he and the small one walk through a door to the front of the plane. "We'll give ya a signal when it's time to push 'em."

After the door is shut, curiosity gets the best of me. I want to know who these two, young people are that somehow bothered the association. Especially because they obviously bothered them much more than the average drop-offs did. I walk over to the girl, and after checking to be sure her bonds are tight - so she won't leap at me, since she seems to not be ready to give up - pull the sac off her head.

I stumble back a few steps in shock as the angry, exhausted, hurt, surprised, and - dare I think it - pretty face of Amy Cahill looks back at me. Or, more accurately, glares. She's gagged, otherwise I'm sure she'd be screaming at me. Somehow, seeing me and Natalie just seems to rile her up even more, and she's struggling even more against her bonds. Fruitless, but valiant. I can only guess who the other bagged figure is.

I assume Natalie knows who the other is too. But either way, she unbags the other, to reveal a gagged Daniel Cahill, who shows the exact same emotions that showed up on Amy's face. Anger, exhaustion, hurt, and surprise. But one thing confuses me. They're the two nuisances bugging the group? They're the prisoners tied up? They're the duo that's causing trouble? Because that means one thing. They are the ones we're supposed to shove from the plane.

Guilt gnaws at my stomach as I glance at Amy and Daniel, struggling against their bonds, and then to Natalie, who looks just as nervous. I don't think I can do it. I don't think I can kill my family. Especially not after the Clue Hunt. No, I don't want to murder anyone.

And that's how we got to the choice. We either kill our own family, or have to flee this organization with them.

No, it wasn't simple at all.

Well, what do you guys think? Remember, if you liked, review please! Two reviews will get you the next chapter!

~ Dagger