Chapter 11

It's always too easy

"I'm going to ask you again," said the usher, "your theatre was over on the other side. Why did you come over here?"

"Uh… Uh… I was…" I tried to say, "I just thought I'd do some exploring."

"Exploring huh?" asked the usher.

"Yeah, you know, just see what other movies were playing you know?" I asked innocently.

"Well, they have this new movie playing right now," said the usher, "it's called "Bullshit"."

I swallowed. I'm screwed.

"Now… I'll ask you again… Why did you come over here?" she asked.

I had to think fast, if I didn't come up with another good excuse, I was done for.

"I'm waiting," she said.

"Uh… I got a text from my friend saying that she was uh… Here?" I asked, giving her a sheepish grin.

"Oh really?" she asked, "your friend's name wouldn't happen to be… Karyn Westover would it?"

I turned pale. How did she know?

"Oh yeah… I know who you are… Ailith Waver-"

WHAM!

I punched the bitch right in the nose and made a run for it, making my way to the main area. Just then, a bell went off in my head and I came to a halt.

"I can't let her follow me outside, she might call reinforcements," I thought.

I looked around fast and saw that I was right next to the restrooms.

"I'll have to take her out in there, try to make it look convincing," I thought.

"There you are," said a voice.

I whirled around and saw the usher… Templar Agent, was standing right behind me. I bolted into the bathroom. She followed.

"Ehehe, you've got yourself cornered punk," she said as she wiped the blood dripping from her nostrils.

I clenched my fists and pulled my hood over my head and put my mask on.

"…How did you know about Karyn?" I asked, "what did you bastards do to her?"

"Ahh… Curious, are we?" she asked, "don't worry, we didn't do anything bad to her. We just asked her a couple of questions… Told her what kind of person you really were… Then we gave her the same treatment just like the other poor saps we come across who associate themselves with you heretics."

I felt my heart stop. I couldn't believe it, they put a tracker in her, just like me.

"What a pity, now it seems you'll have to stay as far away from your little friend as you can so she won't turn you over to us," she said before letting out a loud cackle.

I gritted my teeth. I was pissed… No, I was livid.

"You cackling hyena," I said in a dark tone.

The Templar stopped laughing and looked at me.

"I'LL FUCKING KILL YOU!" I screamed.

In a flash, I lunged and punched her right in the chest. Time seemed to slow down all around me as numerous cracks were heard when my strike broke… at least five broken ribs from the number of cracks I heard. I looked to my left and saw her throw a counter punch, I ducked and jumped up, planting my foot onto her chest and launching myself off her, like it was a landing pad, backflip kicking her and causing her to stumble. When I stuck the landing, time seemed to start speeding up again. I looked up and saw the Templar was leaning against the wall, coughing up blood and wincing.

"You little bitch… How the fuck did you do that?" she growled, "how the fuck did you move so fast!?"

"Maybe you blinked," I said as I rose to my feet.

I got in a ready stance and extended a hand.

"Come," I said as I beckoned her.

The Templar growled and charged. We soon found ourselves trading deadly blows with each other. Just like in the simulation, I let my mind free, allowing my body to deliver lightning fast strikes and make carefully timed blocks and dodges. When the Templar blocked my next right cross, she went for a leg sweep, but a blocked it with a kick and turned right around, kicking her right in the nose and causing her to stumble back before falling backwards and landing right into an empty stall. I marched over to the woman as she tried to get up, when she went for a right cross, I ducked and punched her right under the ribs, causing her to cough up blood.

"This is for Karyn," I growled.

I took the woman by the head and slammed her against the left wall of the stall we were in repeatedly, before kicking her in the left leg and breaking it. Then I tripped her up with a whip of my leg, causing her to fall and hit the back of her head against the toilet, killing her. I stood over her, panting heavily. I looked at the blood on the wall, then the blood on the toilet and finally the blood on the floor. I looked down at my hands and saw there was a bit of blood on them too.

"I need to clean these," I thought.

I was about to go wash my hands when I stopped, I looked down at the Templar again and a thought entered my mind. Without a second thought, I closed the stall door and crawled under it, I rose to my feet and then proceeded to wash my hands.

"We just asked her a couple of questions… Told her what kind of person you really were… Then we gave her the same treatment just like the other poor saps we come across who associate themselves with you heretics."

Those words… They cut deep into my heart… Like a the very hidden blade on my wrist. I shivered and started breathing rapidly as I soon started to become consumed with sadness and anger. Karyn… My long-time friend… Bugged like I was… And who knows what kind of lies those damned Templars told her. The very thought made me want to break the bathroom mirror.

"Calm down Ailith… Calm down," I thought as I got finished washing my hands, "…just… Just try to keep calm… Make your way out of the building… Try not to draw attention to yourself."

I dried my hands, took a deep breath, pulled my hood off and started to make my way out of the building.

"Act casual," I thought as I shoved my hands in my pockets.

Slowly, but surely, I made my way out of the theatre and headed down the street. When I was a good enough distance, I quickly rounded the corner and whistled for my uncle. I looked up as I heard something blowing in the wind. My uncle landed, superhero style, and rose to his feet.

"Well?" he asked.

I showed him the picture. My uncle smiled.

"Well done," he said with a smile, "you managed to take out your-"

My uncle fell silent as he looked at me.

"…What's wrong?" he asked.

I didn't say anything.

"…Ailith, what's wrong?" he asked.

This time, I responded by jumping forward and hugging my uncle, crying into his chest.

"A-Ailith?" he asked, sounding confused.

"…They… They found her… They found K-Karyn… A-A-And they p-put a tracker in her, like they did with me," I sobbed.

My uncle sighed and just hugged me, patting my back.

"…I'm sorry kiddo," he said softly, "…but… Now you have an idea of the kind of struggle we're facing right now. The Templars… They'll do anything in their power to try and stop us… Even if it means targeting those we care the most about."

I looked up at my uncle, who proceeded to wipe away my tears.

"Will… Will I be able to… Break their hold on her?" I asked, "that's… That's what you would call it right? I'm… I'm not sure I used the right word…"

My uncle chuckled.

"Well… I'm not going to lie to you, kiddo, but the truth may be hard for you to stomach," he said, "…this is the truth. Usually whenever an associate of ours is used as a means of… Catching us and capturing us or killing us, we tend to keep our distance from them."

I looked down.

"But… If you continue to prove yourself… Continue to show potential to the council… I'll see if I can pull a few strings," he said, "let them allow you to… Find her and remove the tracker."

My uncle pat me on the head.

"After all, I kind of always liked her, she's a good kid," he said, "much better than the last friend you had all those years ago."

I frowned.

"Hey, you were happy I actually had fun at the party and you know it," I said as I poked him in the chest.

My uncle laughed.

"Come on, let's head back to the compound, kiddo," he said.

The ride back to the compound was a quiet one, neither me nor my uncle said anything to each other the whole ride. When we arrived, my uncle went to report to the council and I went to my room to get changed into my regular clothes. After I got changed, I started to wander around the compound for a bit, you know, see what other things this place had to offer.

"Hey new girl!" someone called out.

I turned and looked to see Shelby running over to me.

"Oh, hey, what's up?" I asked.

"Just heard that you went out on your first mission," she said with a smile, "so… How was it?"

"How was what?" I asked.

"You know what Ailith, how was it when you made your first kill?" she asked.

"Oh… Uh… I uh… I killed two people tonight," I said as I scratched the back of my head nervously.

Shelby gave me a look.

"Two?" she asked.

She started to smirk and gave me a playful push.

"Heh, trying to prove something to the council or something?" she asked.

"Huh? Prove something?" I asked.

"Kidding, I'm kidding," she said with a giggle, "so how'd you manage to land two kills?"

"Uh… Templar Agent tried to grab me after I killed my target. So, I killed her," I said, "as for how I felt… I was nervous at first… But then… I felt really calm. I don't know why though."

Shelby smiled.

"…I think you might have it then if you say you felt calm about the kill you just made," she said as she poked me in the chest.

"Have it?" I asked, "have what?"

Shelby giggled again.

"Oh nothing, pay me no mind," she said, "say, you're not busy at the moment are you?"

I shook my head.

"Great!" she piped.

She took me by the hand.

"Since you made your first, I want you to meet my friends," she said as she started to drag me along.

"WAUGH!" I yelped.

Shelby led me over to the right side of the compound which was marked "Assassin sector". And just as you would expect, this was where the initiates stayed. I'm sure you're probably wondering, and the answer is no, I don't think I'll find the council chamber here… At least I don't think. Anyway, Shelby led me into the cafeteria, which was full of assassins of all ranks, from the lowest initiates to the most renown veterans. Shelby led me over to a group of initiates, who were busy eating, chatting and laughing with each other.

"Hey guys!" Shelby called out as she led me over to the table.

The initiates turned and looked at us.

"Ailith, I'd like you to meet my friends," said Shelby, "this is Tanner Cullen, Jensen Marxx, Miranda Ledger, Isaac Dupenthalor, Walter Devlin, and this little hellion right here is the ever so famous… Carrie Bierzy."

My felt a chill go through me when I heard Shelby introduce her last friend.

"Bierzy… Where've I heard that name?" I thought.

"Guys, this is Ailith Waverly," said Shelby, "she's the new girl who joined a few days ago."

Shelby's friends each gave me a smile, a few of them waved. Except Carrie, who just went back to texting on her phone.

"Oh… And you remember Kyle, right?" she asked.

I turned and gasped, seeing Kyle walk over to the table and sit down.

"You didn't tell me you were friends with him, why not?" I asked.

"Just in case if you tried to get me to hook you up with him," said Shelby.

"Excuse me?" I asked.

"Oh, come on girl, you almost started blushing when you first saw him," said Shelby.

"Ooooooo, the new girl has a crush on the army guy?" teased Miranda.

"I don't have a crush on him!" I snapped.

"Careful, denial is always the clencher," Kyle said as he started eating his food.

I felt my cheeks puff up.

"Did you just show me to your friends, so you could tease me and make me look like an idiot?" I asked as I crossed my arms.

"Oh relax, I just brought you here, so I could tell them about the two kills you made," said Shelby.

All of Shelby's friends looked up at me again.

"And that you were completely calm when you made, said kills," Shelby said as she nudged me with her elbow.

"You were completely calm?" asked Miranda.

"Whoa, you must have it then," said Tanner.

"She definitely has to have it," said Jensen.

"Totally," said Walter.

Carrie on the other hand, let out a scoff.

"She probably just drowned out her feelings of doubt when she made those kills," she said, "it doesn't mean she has it."

Ouch.

"Can I borrow you for a second?" I asked as I pulled Shelby over to the side.

"Is there a problem?" asked Shelby.

I put my hands together, inhaled and spoke.

"What is her deal?" I asked.

"Who?" asked Shelby.

"Carrie," I said, "what is her deal?"

Shelby turned her head and looked at the black-haired girl before looking back at me.

"Carrie… Lost her family during the purge," she said, "of all the surviving members of the families who were of assassin descent, Carrie's loss was the most severe."

"How so?" I asked.

Shelby opened her mouth to speak when she stopped.

"I probably shouldn't say," she said, "all you should know though is that her family's death is what gave way to the assassins return from the shadows."

"What?" I asked, "why? How? Who is she?"

Shelby didn't say anything.

"Shelby… Who is she? Really?" I asked.

"It's not my place to tell you," said Shelby, "only hers."

I let out a groan and then I sighed. As much as I wanted to pry further, I just dropped the subject.

"Look, don't let what Carrie says get to you, she just comes from a rather… Famous family," said Shelby, "give it time and eventually she'll grow on you, ya know?"

I let out another sigh.

"Alright," I said.

Shelby and I walked back over to her friends, we sat down and started talking amongst ourselves… Well, except Carrie, who didn't seem like much of a talker. She just seemed… Distant if anything.

All things aside, these guys seemed like a rather interesting bunch, with each of them having their own interesting background story.

Tanner Cullen, who was twenty-one, with short, brown, mop head hair and green eyes, was recruited into the assassins through Kyle. If I had to guess, the two seemed like good friends in high school. If I also had to guess, when Kyle was recruited into the brotherhood, he went to Tanner and told him. Not soon after that happened, the Templars started keeping watch on him, and when they sent a watchman to grab him, Kyle saved his ass.

Miranda Ledger, who was twenty-three, with long black curly hair and hazel eyes, was scouted and recruited into the assassins due to her knack for gymnastics.

Jensen Marxx, who was twenty-five, with a clean shaved head and blue eyes, was actually recruited into the assassins after he mistakenly challenged one of them to a street race. I thought it was really funny too because he said after he beat the dude, he immediately asked him right on the spot.

"For a second there, I thought the guy wanted to fight me after I managed to smoke his ass," said Jensen, "he was good… But not good enough apparently, heh."

Isaac Dupenthalor, who was nineteen, with a blonde cowlick and green eyes, was kind of my favorite story, turns out he was another hacker who joined the assassins after he mistakenly hacked into their system one day and found out the truth behind the president and the Templars themselves. Afterwards he left a little piece of his data in their network, so they could trace him, and when they found him he asked to join and… Reluctantly they did.

"Left them a little "I O U"?" I asked.

"You might say that," he said with a chuckle.

Last but not least was Walter Devlin, who was twenty-one and had a short curly black hair. Apparently, he was recruited into the assassins after he saved an assassin field agent when they were being followed by a team of watchmen and was about to be taken. He claims that he didn't know that they were an assassin field agent until after a high-ranking member of the brotherhood found him and recruited him into the fold.

"What about you?" I asked Shelby, "what's your story?"

Shelby gave me a smile.

"I'll tell you another time," she said as she pat me on the back.

"Having fun?" asked a voice.

I let out a shriek and almost fell out of my seat. I whirled around and saw my uncle, with his hands behind his back and chuckling to himself, getting a kick out of my reaction.

"I hate it when you do that," I said firmly.

"I got finished talking with the council," he said.

"Oh, okay," I said.

My uncle pulled something out from behind his back. No… Two things!

"Wha!?" I exclaimed in shock.

The items in his hands were a photon sword and a hi-tech firearm that came in the form of a pistol.

"You're a Private now," he said, "they wish to extend their gratitude by giving you these weapons. The photon sword and the photon pistol. Standard issue for all assassins."

I took the weapons and looked at them, my face beamed.

"Cool," I said.

"They also say for you to get some rest, they'll have your next assignment ready by tomorrow," he said.

I smiled.

"You got it, uncle," I said.

My uncle pat me on the head and walked off.

"Not bad girl, not bad," said Shelby, "you're starting to move up through the ranks."

"Don't let it go to your head though," Carrie replied, not looking over at me.

I looked over at Carrie and frowned.

"I'm really starting to not like her," I said to Shelby.

"I told you… Give it time," she said.