"Wear your uniform, along with the bindings, tonight we shall find employment." A burst of excitement rushes through me and I quickly do what he said. Once ready, I stand impatiently in front of the door. I notice Bane isn't wearing his mask when he hands me my weapons. I suppose he doesn't want to scare off any possible employers. I attach the weapons to my body and Bane opens the door for me to walk through. We soundlessly go through the old building and out the door. It's quite warm and humid out, but the wind gives some relief.
We walk down the empty streets with only the street lights to guide us. I feel my excitement start to fade with every step I take until, finally, Bane walks up to an old-looking building and gestures for me to stay on the sidewalk. The windows are boarded and the building gives off an aura of danger. Bane knocks on the door and after a few moments a small slot at the top of the door opens, revealing little light. A muffled voice speaks in hushed tones and I'm to far away to hear what's being said. Bane speaks back with equal quietness. After a few seconds of the barely audible conversation, the slot slams closed and Bane motions for me to come forward. When I reach the door I hear some knobs turning from the other side. The door swings open and I follow Bane inside.
I assess the man. He looks young, probably from his early to mid-twenties, but his icy blue eyes show that he is much older than his years. A dark brown goatee adorns his face and his hair is short and trimmed close to his scalp on the sides of his head. He's dressed in cargo pants and a plain beige shirt, with a muscular build. An AK-47 is strapped across his shoulder and hanging casually on his side. He eyes me, but I can't tell what his emotions are. He speaks to Bane, without taking his eyes off me, in a language I don't understand and I inwardly stomp my foot in frustration of not knowing what's being said. Bane responds and the mans attention is finally removed from me. He starts to walk down the hallway and Bane and I walk behind him.
The inside of the building is a little weathered and there are cracks in the plaster of the wall. A few stray bullet holes are the only decoration. The further along we move the more I hear people talking and laughing. We arrive in some type of recreational room and the chattering quiets, but doesn't stop. The room is full of men, some dressed in traditional Indian garbs, others in clothing similar to what our guide is wearing. Many of their eyes follow us, glaring and studying us with open hostility. We come upon another door and the man knocks and says something. Someone calls from the inside and Bane opens the door and walks through.
There's another man, maybe a decade older than our escort, wearing a beige turban and sporting the popular overgrown beard, sitting behind a desk covered with maps. Guns line the walls and boxes of ammunition are piled underneath them. He and Bane converse for a while and Bane stays calm. Though eventually, the man speaks something directed at me. Bane responds for me and I suppose he tells the man that I cannot speak the language, because the next time he speaks to me it's in Bengali.
"I see how you might benefit our cause," he says directed at Bane, "but I don't see much worth in you." How dare he doubt me! I glare at the infuriating, hairy man and respond.
"Maybe a demonstration would prove my capabilities," I retort in a low voice. I can't let him know that I am a woman. He definitely wouldn't want me here if he knew I was female. Bane nods his approval and the man calls out.
"Barsad," our escort from earlier enters the room, "would you mind." The man looks at me and Barsad takes the hint. He crouches to fighting stance after tossing his gun to the floor. I unstrap my sword and get in my own stance. Barsad makes the first move swinging at my face, but as I dodge his right fist he brings his left into my gut. Finally, a man I can fight. I grin wickedly beneath my mask and return the favor with a knee to his own stomach. He grunts slightly and retaliates with a kick to my chest. Now that hurts. He swings at my head while i try to catch my breath and I duck and punch him in the stomach again. I follow with a kick to his ankle and he falls. He doesn't go down easily and springs back up with renewed energy. The fight drags on for a while and we're both exhausted and sweating when the turban man steps in.
"Enough. You have proven yourself. Barsad you may leave."
Barsad and I nod at each other before he leaves. Bane is smirking pridefully, and the man behind the desk speaks again.
"You will move in here tomorrow. It is safer for those involved in our army to be ready to act at all times. Barsad will show you were you'll sleep when you get back." He waves his hand in dismissal.
We pack our belongings as soon as we get home. I really am going to miss this place. Once everything is packed I fall onto the bed with a sigh and Bane lies beside me."I think I've grown attached to this place," I say propping myself up on my elbow with my hand supporting my head. Bane turns to look at me and props himself up in the same manner."As have I," he retorts. Our eyes lock and I feel like I can't move or I'll ruin whatever it is that's connecting us together. I feel something warm on the side of my face and I see Bane's hand from the corner of my eye. He begins tracing his finger over my features and I'm startled when he speaks.
"I am impressed that you can hold yourself so well in a fight with a man quite larger than you." I raise an eyebrow and say mockingly, "I'm hurt that you had so little faith in me ."
He leans towards me and my brow furrows in confusion. What is he doing? A fire shoots through my veins. His lips mold themselves to mine. Reluctantly, I let him pull away, even though I would much rather keep the surprisingly pleasureful contact . His eyes are hazy and dark, blush prominent on his face. He smiles at me and I'm almost winded by the sight of his already attractive face becoming even more attractive.
Author's Note: Sorry it's taken so long guys. I'm going to use the most cliché excuse there is, School. I've had to bring my laptop to school to work on an online college course during my study hall and I haven't been able to type the chapters out even though I have three pages written. I'm sorry for any grammatical errors, I don't have proofreading on my computer and the one on this site isn't so great either. Now that my fall break is next week I'll be able to type more chapters. The fluff is finally here!