A/N: This chapter was edited by Dear4Life. Again, thanks for your help.


Bai was sitting on a chair, with her hands tied behind her back, in a small dark room with one little lamp hanging from the attic. She looked around and saw a table with many knives, needles and electrical clamps on it. Bai realized she was in the enemy's lair and probably would be tortured for information. However, during her one year training, she had learned many things, including how to resist pain.

The door behind her opened to reveal a man, who had dark-yellow gloves on his hands, messy hair and an unusual outfit. He stood before her.

"Who do you work for? The Syndicate?" he asked, with a cold voice.

No answer followed, as she just stared at him emotionlessly.

"Did you come alone?" he continued.

She didn't respond.

"I'm not going to repeat this again!" he shouted. "Answer!"

"No," said Bai, looking straight at him.

"Take her to her cage," the man ordered, as two eighteen year old male teenagers entered the room. "She'll be needed later. Don't touch her. She has a dangerous power and will kill you if you touch her even for a second."

One of the boys pulled out a knife and cut the rope fast, trying not to touch her.

"Get up."

Bai stood and walked in front of them, as they watched her back and aimed their guns at her. After five minutes, they reached an empty hallway with a camera in the left corner. With fast eye movement, she surveyed the area and began to think about a way to escape her guards. The two teenagers seemed well trained, but she couldn't be sure of that. Lucky for her, the shiny floor reflected their location without them realizing it. She just had to be patient and she would get a chance to kill them.

At last, the dark hair boy from her left looked aside. The moment came. Fast as lightning, Bai turned over, placed her arm on his stomach and called her power, assassinating her target. He dropped on the floor dead. Everything happened in seconds. The other boy didn't even have the chance to react. After she electrocuted him, he fell on the floor next to his partner.

Unknowing for the merciless murderer, a woman was aiming her bow at her from the end of the hall. Bai turned around to run away, but as she did it she felt a strong pain on her left side. Looking at it, there was an arrow piercing her stomach. She cried out in pain, placing her arm around the wound and noticing that another arrow was flying at her. Bai jumped aside, causing the pain to increase from the sudden movement.

Her attacker reached for another arrow, but was surprised not to find one. Grabbing a fire extinguisher from the wall, Bai immediately pulled the pin and activated it, fogging up the hallway in seconds. Even though it was causing her enormous pain, she used the cloud of smoke as a cover, ran at the woman, and placed her arm around her neck. After Bai called on her power, the woman screamed in pain and took her last breath.

Bai looked at her wound. It wasn't good. There was blood all over her top. She reached the staircase and when she stepped on level one, she left the building. There were no guards at the exit so she was able to leave the base. However, it didn't take long before she fell on the dirty ground and lost consciousness.


Amber and Hei lay in a bed, their clothes scattered around the room. It was around two in the morning and since no one was up they decided to get some privacy. They knew that the risk to get caught was huge, but worth it.

"Why did you join the Syndicate?" Amber questioned, while she stared at Hei's eyes.

"It's a long story."

"I'm willing to listen to every part of it."

He looked at her uncertain for a few seconds. Then he started explaining. "Before Bai turned into a contractor our names were Li and Xing Sheng Shun. One night, our parents went out and left us alone. At first everything was all right. Before we went to bed I walked into the kitchen and saw Xi - Bai looking at the stars. As I approached her, I asked what she was doing, but she looked at me without answering. There was something strange in the way she was looking at me. Her gaze was so empty…cold…emotionless and…I don't know. The sparkle she had in her eyes was gone. I asked her if she was okay and she answered that she was not the same anymore. Then a group of men entered our home and…I don't remember anything."

"I woke up in a dark room tied to a chair. I looked around for Xing but she wasn't there. A couple of hours later, some guy came in. I questioned him about where Xing was and what had happened to us. He told me that our parents were all right, but also told me that we were dead to the world and our new names were Hei and Bai. I tried to free myself from the rope, but he slapped me and said that if I wanted to survive I should follow his orders and everything would be fine. I had no idea what had happened to Xing, but I had to be strong if I wanted to see her again."

"After, I found out that she had turned into a Contractor and about the Syndicate. I started to train with Contractors and I became stronger. They told me to keep Bai safe on the battlefield while she paid her price or I would be killed. Two years later, we were assigned here with you."

Looking at him with sorrow in her eyes, Amber took his hand into hers.

"I'm sorry that I made you remember that terrible past."

"You have nothing to apologize for, Amber. It's my fate."

"Do you really believe this?"

"No," said Hei, as a tear rolled down from his right eye. "But I have to calm myself with something."

"Then don't. It is better to hurt than to fool yourself."

She placed a soft kiss on his lips.

"I'm worried about her, Amber."

"I know, Hei, but she has another contractor with her so I think they are going to be all right," she replied, lying on his shoulder.

There was a silence between them for a few minutes.


Bai woke up in a small cave. It was night and the stars shone in the sky. She was laying near a fire and noticed an old green-eyed, brown-haired man, dressed in ragged pants and a gray jacket.

The old man looked at her, and said, "I bandaged your wound and pulled out the arrow. You didn't feel anything because you were asleep. Your price is sleeping, right?"

"Why? Why did you save me?" she muttered, fighting with the sharp pain. "You should let me die."

"Some things are better left unsaid, young lady," he answered.

Bai couldn't understand why someone she had never met had saved her life. It wasn't rational. Her vision got fuzzy, as the attic started spinning, causing her to get sick. He had to have given her some drugs to put her to sleep

"Some day you will learn how to be human. Remember this."

Those words were the last thing she heard before closing her eyes.