Word of this secret society has been around since the start of man. They wait, living in the shadows waiting for the call of duty. The duty to kill, sabotage or torture the targets. Some say the source is military, maybe an upset country. Some say orders are given directly from the president himself. All I know is that the assignments are meant to keep the world balanced. Violence is what makes the world go round. I have no clue my employer is, but I know the job must be done.

I barely remember how I entered this (once) unknown world because of the events that followed. I was 19 and had come to the end of the road of ideas of what to do with my life. College was definitely out because I couldn't imagine myself running around school with a messenger bag around my shoulder and a pencil behind my ear. I was never book smart. I saw myself being a business owner. Didn't know what kind of business, just couldn't stand the thought of anyone telling me what to do. That's why it's hard to believe I went to the Army, the place where orders are given from the moment your eyes open, at 4 a.m., until they close, at 8 p.m. I couldn't stand the not doing what I wanted. The $4,000 signing bonus is what really reeled me in. After having a man bark at me with breath similar to the essence of old wet socks, the army thing go old quick. I was ready to go AWAL without a second thought most people said I belonged in a magazine or a runway because of my complexion and toned tall body. I knew I didn't belong in that world either but I couldn't dream of what I had gotten myself into. While at what felt like a concentration camp, prepared to flee, a dressed in a dark suit entered the curtain way (we had no doors there). I couldn't make out make out his face because it was so close to bed time, but I could see the horseshoe shaped scar above his right cheek. He didn't look like he held ranks so I wondered why this maple skinned brother was standing so close to my bunk. He looked like at me intently as if studying an old artifact. I thought my master plan had been exposed and was ready to be towed away to military prison. After he stared at me for what seemed to be hours, he finally spoke in a voice too smooth and mellow for his husky frame.

"Are you Skinner?" he asked.

I nearly fell off my bottom bunk with the sound of that name. Skinner! I hadn't been called that since my freshman year in high school. How did he know that name? Who told him? Did he know the history behind it? I hadn't told my personal life to anyone at camp let alone that I had somewhat of a past. I was only 15 when that so called crime was committed. It was my freshman year in high school, fourth week to be exact. I only had one friend in Sarah Fitzgerald. And she had only one friend, me. We had one class together, P.E., the rest of her classes were honors. I was just teaching her how to play basketball when she decided to make a three point shot. I had the feeling she wouldn't make it but discouraging people is not really my thing. The ball hit the rim, ricocheted off the gym wall and right atop of this tall girls head.

"Opps", was the only word Sarah could come up with.

The tall dark skinned girl turned around, slightly off balanced. The anger in her face couldn't be denied. The rest of passé had turned before she could place her dark eyes in our direction.

"Who threw that god damn ball?"

I thought I saw Sarah shiver. This 12th grader was obviously intimidating and could pass for a senior in college.

"I ain't gone ask no mo, WHO THREW THAT GOD DAMN BALL!?"

I hated people who walked around with a visible chip on their shoulder. This young woman was a perfect example of an angry black woman. She was not afraid to show her fury in front of the entire 6th period class.

"Was it this little CRACKER girl?" she asked to the girls behind her.

I could almost see Sarah melting beside me. Even though I was a little for my age, Sarah looked plan old malnourished compared to her. She barely stood at 5 feet. Without thinking I blurted out, "It was me!"

My tone surprised me with its strength. I don't know what possessed me to say it. I wasn't scared, but I always know how to avoid conformation. The tall dark girl took a step forward.

"Ohh… Little miss mixed girl."

I wonder what gave that away. Was it my color? I could usually pass for a red bone. It had to be my curly hair. I remembered I hadn't flat ironed it this morning and it was pulled back into a thick sloppy ponytail. Trying to resolve the situation I decided to talk it out.

"I only meant to shoot the….."

But my words were cut off before I could attempt to finish.

"So you think you can just hit me with the ball and get away with it?!"

By this time nearly everyone had their eyes glued to this exciting scene. They were whispering saying thing that heard like "Lesha is going to kill her". Sarah looked as if she was going to defend me, but before I could let that thought process to words I said,

"Big bad Lesha can't take a ball to the head?"

The entire gym inhaled rapidly. Lesha's face twitched as if she was having a fit. I knew these words weren't the best ones to use, especially to resolve this, but I kept my head high. Plus I already knew talking wasn't gonna help me here. She almost ran to where I stood when Coach Saunders walked in front of her and said, "Do you lady's have a problem?"

I quickly said, "No".

Coach assessed the scene looking from me, to Sarah, and to Lesha and then down to the ball on the ground.

"It's a shame you kids will risk your future over a stupid game"

She didn't know what she walked in on. Coach still had her arm around Lesha. Lesha, caught in mid stride, looked like an enraged pit bull. Coach saw that the situation hadn't simmered yet and chose to take further action.

"Lesha, in my office. Everyone else get back to whatever you were doing, unless you want detentions for the rest of this semester!"

All of the kids scurried like mice and I heard Lesha suck her teeth and walk toward the office set in the hallway leading to the exit. Just as she made it to the door she turned her head in my direction and I could've sworn I saw her mouth say "I'll see you after school".

By that time Sarah was close to fainting. She had a look on her face that was close to tears. She continued to apologize as I walked to English. I was nearly annoyed.

"Sarah you should really get to class. I don't know what I would do to myself if I was responsible for messing up your perfect attendance".

The small joke didn't work as I had planned. She looked even more unstable than before.

"I heard a lot of stories about her. Some say she got arrested hitting a teacher".

I said "Those are rumors. She would've been expelled if she did that".

She seemed to be taking in my logic. I was wondering where she had heard that from. She was likely eavesdropping in the cafeteria. Or maybe her associates from the math club knew more than I thought. I convinced her that everything was okay and worrying wouldn't help. I got her to go to class before the bell rung.

English went past like a blur. Even though Sarah was convinced, I didn't think Lesha would forget about today's B-ball fiasco. English was my last class of the day and Sarah was at our usual spot by the yellow pole near the bus loading area. I could tell she was still shaken by today's events. Running out of words to sooth her, I thought a change of subjects would work.

"How was your calculus class?"

I knew that answer would be boring. I answered in my head, blah blah blah to the 5th power. Some number minus mc^2. Her answer was similar to mine. We started walking toward the schools exit gate when Sarah saw I wasn't paying any attention.

She asked, "Do you want to take the bus?"

I never thought about why the bus had a route to our house when we only lived three blocks away. Sarah stayed two houses down with her mother and little brother. Our neighborhood wasn't the worst but it certainly wasn't the best. I told her, "Exercise will do us some good". She laughed and said, "I would be saying the same thing if my legs were as long as yours".

We made it to Sarah's house and I told her she might have to come later to help me with my Pre-Algebra. She laughed as she waved goodbye and disappeared behind the door. I walked home thinking of what I would fix myself to eat when I heard the bass of the latest jam. I was used to hearing that in this area, but the sound didn't pass like usual. It stayed in the background like elevator music. Before I got the chance to look back a black Impala pulled up to my right side. All of the tinted windows were let down to reveal Lesha and the three girls from the gym. I didn't even have a chance to think when the car pulled in front of me on to the sidewalk and was rapidly put in park before it stopped.

"That's her!" yelled the girl in the backseat.

Once again no thought entered my mind. I had no choice but to stop unless I wanted to run into the car. Lesha jumped out of the car yelling, "Talk that shit now bitch".