Twin Kas - Hey guys, updating this from class while the other twin is asleep! By the way, feel free to ask any questions or give us any comments or theories you have! It's always fun to read them!


An assassin, Randy had learned, was a person who was charged with killing who they were sent after. That was the basics, at least, from what he had understood. It seemed he had been taken from his home in order to train to become one. Not that he believed that was the full reason. "Sylvia, why was I taken?"

Sylvia paused from where she'd been setting a bowl on the table beside him. He was still in the infirmary. Honestly, none of these people seemed to know how to handle children. "Well, little one, many children here are taken because the Sect needs more members, and the best way to do it is to get them when they're young."

"Sylvia, I'm a child. I'm not an idiot, however." Randy gave her a sharp look, gaze showing just how clever he truly was for his age. "There are children that are far easier to get to than me. If you just wanted members, there are easier ways than stealing a child from a large estate. What was the true reason I was taken."

"...Your parents were rather vocal about their opinions of the Sect. Those that were higher up made a decision to punish them."

"By taking their only son and heir," Randy mused, glancing down to his lap. "Surely that could have been done by killing me in my bed? Taking you has cost more than anything, what with...one of your members no longer available for work." He still had nightmares about that...that gun that had went off...

"I wasn't really involved in the decision, so I can only guess at their reasons. If you were to simply die in your bed, it would give them closure, and it would be over and done with. However, if you were to go missing in the dead of night..."

"It would give them hope that I would be returned if they are to 'behave' themselves. But now you face the problem that I would most likely remember too much if you were to ever give me back. I could tell them everything I've seen or heard. I'm a threat. So you either train me and make me loyal, or you kill me here and continue to allow them their 'false hope'."

Sylvia rose an eyebrow at him, looking a bit amused. "You're much more clever than you appear."

"Intelligence in one as young as myself is something to be handled carefully. People often fear what they cannot understand, I've found." Randy huffed, flopping back down and curling up under the blanket, wincing at the pain. "I take it I don't have a decision in what goes on, and that if I were to escape from this place you will kill both me and my family."

"I'm afraid so, young one. A word of advice? Keep your head down. It'll be the best way for you to survive here. You have a knowledge of right and wrong. Don't ever lose it." She nudged the bowl a bit closer and rose from where she'd been sitting beside him.

Randy hesitantly took the bowl, eating a bite before he was speaking again, voice much more quiet. "Sylvia...am I going to have to kill again?"

"That depends on the choices you make, little one. You have time to think on it. You don't have to decide immediately."

As Sylvia left the room, Randy looked back to his bowl. He supposed he could make himself seem incompetent, so they wouldn't have use of him to be sent out... Then again, if he appeared too useless, they might kill him instead. For now, he would just try to act as a normal, average four-year-old.

After he ate, of course, because he was rather hungry.

::

"So. It's been decided that I'll be your primary instructor, and that you defer to me." Well, shit. There went Randy's 'act childish' plan.

"As you wish." At least he was finally healed, and could move around again. "I assume I'll be moved into a dorm with others of my age group?" Others around here gossiped far too much.

"You will. You'll be one of the older children, it appears. Everything should go rather well. You're in one of the smaller age groups." Randy nodded, sliding out of the hospital bed and absently straightening the blankets.

"I see. Has it been decided if I'm to train as an...assassin." The word was said in distaste, the expression on Randy's face coming off as more of a pout, than anything else.

"That depends. Have you decided?" Sylvia rose an eyebrow, waiting patiently for him.

"I feel as if my choice does not amount to much, but if it's all the same, I'd rather avoid taking lives. Perhaps 'train' me for a nice paperwork job, or something of a similar sort." ...Okay, so Randy was trying to act normal. He failed, but still.

"I'm afraid that's not one of the choices, little one." She ruffled his hair, fighting to look stern, even as a smile made its way onto her face.

"Then perhaps you should list the choices I am able to make."

"You can continue to live and train as a member of the Sect of the Crow by our definitions, or you can take your last breath."

"Rather simple and concise, aren't they?" Randy chuckled, smile playing on his lips. "As I have no desire to die after being fully healed from my last bout with your assassins, I suppose the first one is the most sane option." For now. He would work on those escape attempts- Perhaps fake his death when sent out on his first 'mission'... Yes. Yes, that could work! Have him die and then just...go back home. "Yes. I will accept your terms and train as a member of the Sect of the Crow."

"I'll warn you now, little one. Others have tried to escape before you. It is...not so simple a task." Sylvia had a forlorn expression as she spoke.

"I am not 'others'. Besides, to escape at my age and experience would be foolish." A rather condescending expression, Randy raising an eyebrow. "I said once before, 'instructor', I'm not an idiot. I wouldn't make it out of the building before I was killed."

"Your thoughts were clear on your face, Randall. Come, then." She led him through the the stone halls. Randy followed after her, and, hm...he would have to be careful. Sylvia was clever, and she was the only one to know how clever he truly was. Sylvia stopped, gesturing to a room. "This is where you'll be staying. Choose an empty bed."

Most of the beds looked empty, but a close look showed messy blankets and the occasional item or carved name along most of them. Randy walked down the line before he pointed towards the bed that was the furthest away from all the others, and pressed right up against a wall and a window. Sylvia gave him a nod before turning to leave.

Randy waited until she was gone to glance out the window, nose wrinkling at not recognizing any landmarks. Oh, well. He'd have plenty of time to find out where he was, although his plan might take a few years to accomplish... Hm, it seemed the others were at lunch, for now. Hopefully they would stay there for a while. Randy wasn't all for 'making friends' in a place like this. "You know, I think I found a tooth in my soup," a girl's voice floated in from the hall.

Oh lovely. So much for that hope, then. If he was lucky, no one would notice him or ask about him or even look at him- "Hey, new kid!" God dammit.

"Gre-" Oh, right, dumb kid. That meant none of his usual vocabulary. "Hi."

"What's your name?" It seemed that about a dozen kids were flooding into the room, some talking with their own friends while a couple focused their attentions on Randy.

"Randy. I'm...new." Well no duh. Still, Randy seemed more common than Randall Beau- Oh...right. His name was Riter, now.

"Well, duh," One of the boys snorted. "We got that."

"Hey, did you eat anything for lunch?"

"I...did." Sylvia made sure he had eaten before shoving him off on these animals. Ugh. Children.

The one that had spoken shrugged, pulling a stolen apple out of his pocket. "Suit yourself." He bit into the fruit with a grin.

Hm, maybe killing people wouldn't be so bad- No, no, Randy. Keep your morals. Besides, these brats wouldn't be worth it. "Right." Maybe they'd get the hint he didn't want to talk to them.

"So, how old are you?" One of the girls sat down on his bed, looking curious.

"Four." There went that hope, then. He had a feeling he wouldn't have much hope left by the time he got out of here.

"Cool. So am I!" She stood on the bed, and stood on her tiptoes to look out the window. "So, do you know where we are?"

"No idea." How did small children act? Ah, yes. Rambunctious and constantly lying. "We're probably in some hidden tower in the middle of Africa or something." Ergh. He hated himself already.

One of the boys climbed onto his bed and hung off the side of it, upside down. "No way, we've gotta still be in France. I bet we're in Toulouse!"

"No way, Jareth! We must be in Paris," the girl exclaimed.

"Are you two idiots?" One of the other children shook his head, arms crossed. "You can't see the Eiffel Tower so of course we're not in Paris!"

...Dear god, these children were all idiots. Maybe it wouldn't be that hard to fake his death after all, Randy mused. "You guys, what if we're in America?!"

"Shouldn't we be able to see the White House, or that canyon thing, then?"

Death didn't sound that bad, now that he thought about it. Really, though, this... This was going to be a long few years.