Past

13 Years old

For the last three years, I held out hope that Levi would keep his promise. He wouldn't have forgotten about me, and he's too strong to have been killed. There isn't anyone alive who is stronger than him. Each day went by slower than the last, wrenching the hope out of my soul sliver by sliver. With my food supply running low, I knew I had to venture to the market in order to get more. There had been plenty of money saved up in this house when the three had left me, but now it was almost gone. At this rate, I might have to start working again.

Voices outside the door caught my attention. Two boys and a girl. "You knock, Ainslee. This is your specialty, right?"

"It only works on men, idiot! She's going to see right through my act," the girl snapped softly.

Jerking the door open with my knife in hand, I had a momentary pause. They're my age… Not at all what I expected. Still… narrowing my eyes, I asked, "Do you need something? I don't like visitors." Anyone showing up here had to know who I am. Either a new bounty had been put on my head, or…

The tallest boy with dark red hair shrank back, hiding behind the other two kids. "She has knife! I told you that we shouldn't come here."

Like all the kids in the underground, they were skinny and frail, but oddly enough their clothes were clean. The girl, Ainslee, had blonde hair that came down to her breasts and bright blue eyes. She sighed at the other boy and shook her head. "You're Cori Sommers, right? The residential thief in the Underground."

"Why do you want to know?" I asked, squeezing the knife tightly in my hand, ready for any assault that might happen.

The other boy with chestnut brown hair held up his hands but frowned. "You can relax. We aren't here to hurt you."

Like I haven't heard that before.

He took a step closer. "We have a job in the capitol that we can't complete without a fourth member, and you're the perfect fit for this. The pay is extremely well. The only catch is that this job isn't all about stealing. There's someone we have to kill."

"Rocco! Someone could hear you!" Ainslee hissed through her teeth, smacking him on the head. "Can we come in? This is a private matter." She must be the one in charge.

Warily, I nodded my head. The last thing I need is for the town to think I'm going to become active again. Plenty of eyes and ears were always listening to find information to sell. Letting the door swing closed behind me, I watched the two boys plop on the big couch. "What could you possibly need me for?"

"You're a thief, yes?" Ainslee asked, like she was talking to a child.

Power struggle. She wanted to establish that she was going to be in control, no matter the outcome of my answer. This type of girl was common down here. Thick skins were necessary to survive, and asserting dominance assured compliance. "What makes you think I won't turn on you?" If the pay is good, the old me would have crossed them without hesitation.

Rocco snorted. "Farlan didn't raise you that way."

My whole body went rigid. How. Dare. He. Tossing the knife just past his face, enough to make a cut, it lodged into the wall with a thunk. "Farlan isn't here. He abandoned me for a better life above ground." All three of them did. Farlan. Isabel. Levi.

Then, it hit me.

They aren't coming back. Why does it matter if go back to my old job? There's no one here that's going to take care of me. I'd still be training and working my skills without actually committing a crime, so why the hell not? This house is a shell of memories that haunts me every day. "But, I'm feeling generous today. I'll hear you out, on the condition that I'm in charge of the mission. What I say goes."

"Why would we allow that?" Ainslee snapped. Her head whipped around to stare the tall boy with dark red hair. "Killian. Say something!"

My head tilted to side in thought. Maybe I'd been wrong. She isn't their leader. My laugh came out before I could stop it. This scrawny little scaredy-cat was the brains behind this little group? Holding my stomach, I laughed harder.

Killian stood up, still shaking a little. "W-what's so funny? You think we're a joke?" Is he supposed to look threatening right now?

"Yes, definitely. I don't know how you've made it with your rag tag tactics, but I'm intrigued," I said, wiping the tears off my cheeks. I could get used to having some people to boss around. Sitting down in the chair, I smiled. "Alright, tell me about this job." What the hell do I have to lose?

Rocco laid out a map of the city above us on the coffee table. There was a path marked from the fourteenth staircase to a large house on the far side of the city, just outside in the country. A large X had been scribbled across it. "Our client has asked for some documents located in the office in this house, and the man who lives there, our client wants executed." He swiped his hand across his cheek, smudging the bloody cut from my knife.

"And how do you plan to do that?" I asked. Stealing is one thing. And harming someone in self-defense is another. But going on a mission with the intent to take the life of another human with no reason other than someone told you, is a totally different thing. It's not as easy as they think it'll be. Hell, I've never done it. Sure, people have died when I was around. I'd set a building on fire and the ones left inside were burned alive, but I'd never physically done it with my own two hands.

There's no way in hell I'm telling them that.

Ainslee brushed her blonde hair back. "We'll figure it out when we get there. The only thing we need to plan for is-"

"Let me stop you there," I said, interrupting her. Crossing my legs, I leaned forward to get a better look at the map. It's a relatively big estate, which means it will probably have more than few guards and staff roaming the hallways, even at night. "Only amateurs go in blind. The first thing we need to do is some reconnaissance. It would be even better if we could get inside. I'd like to speak to your client."

Killian bobbed his head in agreement. "I can arrange that, but can I ask why?" This ragtag group would be easy to lead. He's supposed to be in charge, but it's like he's already handed that position to me.

"Ainslee and I are going to get a job as maids in that estate," I replied with a grin. She won't like that, having to do actual work. Thankfully, I'd learned how to clean quite well, as Levi would smack me with a broom when I did it wrong. The two of us look non-threatening. A government official recommending two orphan girls for a good job would be easy to acquire. I couldn't help but feel excited about being able to pull off this job. It's been too long since I fended for myself and caused a little havoc on the rest of the world.