A/N: Hello! I'm updating with Chapter 2! I decided to raise Arya's age again to eighteen, for anyone who might not have seen the note in Chapter 1. Also I want to give a huge thank you to anyone who has followed, favorited, or given a review for this story. You guys are awesome!

Chapter 2

"Watch it!" A man with a cart yelled as he nearly crashed into me. It was my fault, I was the one trying to read this damned map in the middle of a busy street. I harrumph-ed and sat down on a small bench against a smooth stone wall.

Who could ever understand this mess?

I turned the map which supposedly outlined the city of Braavos, trying to get a better sense of what was where. The captain had pointed out the location of the House of Black and White to me while we were still sailing. But that hadn't helped me in figuring out how to get there, since it was almost entirely surrounded by water.

Not to mention I didn't have money for a boat.

And I wouldn't want to steal anything in broad daylight. Even at night it would be risky, as I thought back to Marl's advice to not make any enemies in a city with no friends.

That meant figuring out a way to gain some coin while I was here. Judging by the way some passing men leered at me, I knew of a fairly quick method. Though the thought of it brought fire into my cheeks.

Absolutely not.

I sighed as my stomach grumbled. I'd forgone breakfast this morning when leaving the inn, sad when I realized the crew had no doubt left hours before I had risen. I wish I'd been able to say goodbye to Marl again. Now I was doubly kicking myself for not purchasing some of the cheap breads when I was still there. I couldn't even get back if I tried.

All thanks to you, garbage map.

Something caught my eye as another cart passed by. A flickering image of two figures watching me from across the street. They appeared almost spectral, blending in near perfectly with the shadow of the building they stood against. One shifted slightly at being seen by me. But then a set of two large horses walked in front of that vision and the next instant, they were gone.

Two enemies in this city and I hadn't taken a damn thing.

In a haste to leave the area, I walked hurriedly through the streets and over several bridges before stopping. The hunger was gnawing painfully now.

I had enough for a quick lunch, but that was it. I ducked into an older looking restaurant and ordered a plate of bread and fruit. Immediately I could tell I had gained the attention of three younger teenage boys, all huddled together around a table. They were the only other people in this place, and they peered at me as if I was the first dick-less person they had ever seen. The giggling grew louder until one began making imitation 'kiss-y' sounds at me.

I ignored them, choosing instead to peer out the window beside my small rounded table. It overlooked the harbor, and I was enjoying the view as well as the crunch of the freshly baked bread.

"Hey girl! You could suck on me for a day, too! Probably be better than what you're having."

Wow, disgusting.

The two other boys were howling now with laughter, clapping their friend on the back for his comment. I was sad to leave my uneaten apple, but these guys were scum and they needed to know it. I approached their table as they all tried to hush each other, hoping I would say something hilarious.

"I'm sure anything is exciting for a group of half-men who just discovered they can shove their cocks up their own asses."

Anger flared up in the boy's eyes who had yelled most of the remarks at me. "Is that right? My cock is perfectly fine, let me show you."

Nope.

I was used to comments like this back in Westeros, but that didn't make it any less unsettling or appalling. Before the boy could move, I unsheathed Needle and held the point against his throat.

"This, too, is perfectly fine I would say. In fact I could take another step further and feel even better."

Sweat beaded down the boy's face as his friends stood silently, shocked into stillness.

But only for a moment.

Their rage kicked in moments later and they all lunged. I realized pretty quick that I had made a mistake in attempting to take on three people at once. They were a few years younger but had strength in numbers. I fled the restaurant immediately, with angry cries from the owner following me out onto the street. Those outside barely noticed, and I slipped onto a thin side street hoping to make a quicker escape.

That was my second mistake. With the lack of crowds here I was spotted too easily by my pursuers, and could hear their feet hitting the pavement just behind me. I couldn't tell if they were coming after me for my comments, or something worse. I felt sickened as I kept running, taking two left turns, one right turn, one left again. I was thankful for these tiny streets which made it difficult for a larger group to give chase.

I was running out of energy fast and had to make a decision. The next street I turned onto was completely empty, and any noise made would have been drowned out by the main road this alleyway opened back up to at the end.

Stopping in the center, I took a moment to catch my breath. The three were closing in quick. In a flash I whirled around, the entire length of Needle piercing through the first boy from the efforts of his own momentum. I pushed against him and he staggered back, colliding with the second would-be attacker. The two bodies fell to the ground. Inadvertently they became a perfect obstacle for the third to stumble over, and I yanked him to the wall before he regained his balance.

"I killed your friend" I hissed in his ear, "he said nasty things so I gave him a nasty death. I'll do the same to you, unless you leave now." I shook the boy for effect and it was all he needed to tear away from me and race down the street, all bravado left behind.

Hastily I swiveled back to the other two, giving a swift kick to the head of the still conscious one struggling under the weight of his dead friend. He fell still immediately and I pulled Needle from the bleeding chest it occupied, wiping it clean on the bottom of my pant leg.

Blood was soaking rapidly into the boy's shirt, as well as a large cloth pouch tied to the belt I had just noticed.

No coin is worth anything to dead men.

I untied the pouch and emptied its contents into my hand. Several heavy, golden coins 'clinked' together as they spilled out. I smiled grimly at this.

Must have been a merchant's son.

No doubt this was enough for a week's worth of meals, baths, and inns. As well as one small boat's trip across the water. Part of me felt lifted at this, another felt crushed under a pillar of guilt. I looked at the still breathing friend, wondering if I should kill him as well.

Better to leave corpses behind than enemies.

But, at the same time I just couldn't do it. How could I justify killing someone, when their only offenses had been laughter and a chase through the streets? I looked at the now lifeless body of the boy I had killed. I didn't even know his name. Maybe he had just been playing an act for his friends. It was too late to tell now, and I felt another painful twist in my chest over what I had done.

You know he was going to take advantage of you, along with his friends. Don't give a person like this any doubt, you know better than that. Stop being so weak.

I turned toward the main street, heart heavy with conflicting thoughts. As well as fresh paranoia over search parties for someone's missing son. They'd be out before the day ended I was sure.

By some god's mercy I was able to blend quickly into the shifting crowds before anyone noticed the gruesome visage. I made it down several streets with the goal of finding a harbor and a rentable gondola as soon as humanly possible. Within minutes I spotted the glint of water, but the bridge to that area was blocked off by two arguing merchants.

I took a chance with a smaller street that seemed to be headed in the same direction. It felt eerily quiet here as I walked briskly down the deserted street. It turned onto another, then another. Despite the sounds from the main roads filtering in from above, it seemed almost as though I had stepped into a different version of this city. One that was colder, devoid of any inhabitants beside the echoing lost souls looking for their death's reason. I shivered and grabbed my arms momentarily, willing myself out of this sudden surge of fear.

It must have been a continued reaction from everything that had happened earlier. Though I knew I'd need to eventually get over that feeling of dread if I was going to be any kind of vengeful assassin worth fearing. The conflicting thoughts from before came rushing in again.

You were the victim.

You were the monster.

I saw the ocean come into view as I neared the end of this maze of streets. Relief washed over me and I nearly ran to the exit.

Right before I could reach the end of the alleyway, however, I was stopped suddenly by a girl and a boy. They seemed to have materialized straight out of the walls.

The two were still several paces ahead, though I had already stopped short so as to not get any closer. My breathing quickened as I realized why they seemed familiar.

It was the same pair that had been watching me earlier.

A/N: That's it for Chapter 2! Will Arya make it to the House of Black and White? Who are these figures? If you have a spare moment, let me know what you think so far. Thank you!