Chapter 5:3

1775, June 17th

I woke up at the sound of something quiet. It sounded like footsteps but they were so light that it impossible could be a human. But what animal would approach a military encampment in the middle of a battle?

"Wake up," I whispered to Officer… Sergeant Somerset and shook his shoulder. "Someone is outside our tent."

He didn't answer, obviously too exhausted, and I sighed heavily.

"I'll go alone then," I said and got up from the ground. "So much for your new rank, William."

My attempt on provoking him failed and as I tried to wake his friend, I was ignored again. I rolled my eyes at them and carefully maneuvered over their sleeping shapes, finding my way out of the tent without even touching them.

"Excuse me? Is anyone there?" I asked and gently pushed aside the tent flap, peeking out into forest. It was calm and quiet; I almost forgot where I was but the sounds from the battlefield behind me quickly reminded me.

There was no guard posted at Sergeant Somerset's tent and I found it odd. I could swear that Mr. Pitcairn had ordered a man to check on us now and then, as well as protect this side of the camp should the rebels want to do an ambush. But nobody was there.

"Hello?" I tried again but nobody replied. "Hello?"

Then I saw a sudden movement from the brushes nearby and instinctively gripped for my dagger. I made sure that my gun was loaded before slowly approaching the thick vegetation and was careful where I put my steps.

Just the slightest sound and you're dead, Melissa. Take it easy; it's probably just a rabbit, I assured myself as I crouched when the brush started moving again. Don't fright. Don't feel. Just kill it.

I was just in leaping range when a white-sleeved arm showed through the bushes and I – as foolish as I was, I thought it was a ghost – let out a terrified yelp and immediately recoiled. A head turned to me and I looked into the surprised expression of Connor.

"What are you doing here?" he wondered as I said something similar, but not especially confident.

"I-I…" I stammered and hid my weapon behind my back. "Y-you scared me!"

He smirked and after making sure that I was alone, he rose up from his hunched position and brushed off dirt from his knees.

"It wasn't my intention, I apologize." He sounded sincere but his crooked smile indicated else. "You didn't answer my question: what are you doing here?"

I opened my mouth to answer as his eyes widened and before I knew it, he had hooked me into the brush with him.

"What—?"

He placed a finger on his lips, telling me to be quiet, and I obeyed albeit reluctantly. I didn't know how he had managed to fling me into the nature – I was skinny but not that skinny – but as I realized how he was holding me, I forgot everything else. He was gripping me tightly around my waist and pushing me against his chest. I could smell the crisp fragrance of water and saw that his boots were soaked.

A soldier, he mouthed to me and crouched even lower. I tried to make him let go off me but it was like trying to push a mountain. Or the mountain would've probably been easier, since it didn't distract me with its very agreeable view and irresistible scent. The man holding me wasn't exactly someone that could make me fall for his looks only, but his strength and skill in combat was what made him so very attractive. I actually felt safe with him – a hired murderer.

I stiffened when I felt that my dagger was gone. I must've dropped it when he pulled me into the brush; but where?

"Hmm…"

I recognized the voice of Officer Dyce and my body grew cold as I looked into Connor's dark eyes. They screamed murder.

"No…" I whispered. I didn't want the officer to find us – me – like this but neither did I want him to die. He had helped me and Alex when we were lost in Lexington and cared for us in the camp.

Connor's eyes flashed to mine and I understood that I hadn't been quiet enough; Officer Dyce had already noticed that something was wrong. His jaw clenched as he let go off me and gestured for me to stay down. I shook my head and gripped his tomahawk but he easily loosened my grasp of his weapons and frowned, his eyes clearly showing that he wondered what I was doing.

"Hey, is anyone there? Melissa?"

Connor tensed and gently sank me down on the ground. I furiously shook my head and grabbed his shirt. Let me handle this, please.

He seemed to comprehend what I was mentally screaming at him and relaxed. "Yes it's me," I replied and shook the bush closest to me. "I'm just… you know. Everything alright?"

Officer Dyce cleared his throat and I glanced over my shoulder. I couldn't see clearly through the grass and the bushes, but I thought I saw him turn around.

"Eh, you… dropped your weapon. I'll let it be," he said awkwardly and made a little cough. "Do you need anything? Does Sergeant Somerset need anything?"

I blushed even though I was putting up an act, realizing that I would never be able to talk to him in person anymore. Shut it, Melissa. You just saved a man's life and you're complaining about something like that.

"No, I believe we are alright," I answered and turned my gaze towards Connor. He was calm and I felt relieved. I succeeded. "But do you perhaps know where the soldier outside our tent—"

I never got to finish the sentence when the Assassin stood up and lunged towards Officer Dyce. The latter didn't even have the time to pull out his sword before Connor pushed his palm against the man's chest and caught the limp body before it hit the ground. He quickly backed into the brush, dragging the dead officer with him, and threw him down the slope.

My mind clouded with anger as I rose up and aimed a hit towards Connor's face. He dodged it and gripped my arm by the place where my two main bones connected, just above my elbow, and rendered it useless. I tried to pull away by faking another hit, but he saw through me and blocked it.

"Why?" I exclaimed and stared at Officer Dyce's rolling body that disappeared into the forest. "He believed me and wouldn't have done anything. Why?"

"I was going to let you convince him," he muttered and our eyes locked. "I wasn't going to kill him, but then you ruined everything by asking where the other soldier was."

My breath in my throat as I understood; Connor had disposed of the guard outside the tent.

"Don't tell me…" I paused as he guiltily looked away. "Why do you do this? Why did you become an assassin? You're nothing like the boy I met for so long time ago… who are you?" And why do I feel for you?

"Go back to your tent and stay there," he simply said and shrugged off my hand from his shoulder. "If you follow me, I can't guarantee that nobody will see you."

I swallowed and took a step back, scared what he might do.

"Will you hurt me?"

His hazelnut-colored eyes turned to me and they were both sad and angry.

"Never," he replied quietly then shook his head. "Not you. I don't know why you're here and why our paths always cross, but be sure that I would never harm you in any way."

"What's the difference between me and those soldiers you kill?" I snapped, too infuriated to blush. "What? That I'm a woman?"

He shook his head again.

"No, Melissa." Connor paused. "Just go now… I have something I must finish."

"I know you are a true Assassin."

He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"And I know who you are," he answered, making my blood run cold. "And no, I still won't kill you."

I backed off a couple of steps and felt the edge of the knife beneath my foot. He silently watched me as I crouched to pick it up.

"I-I…" I soaked my lips and took a deep breath. "I hate you."

Does he really think himself so superior above everyone else? Is it why he's treating me like a little child? Huh, I never was a child in the first place, I thought and slowly I felt my hatred become real, engulfing everything else. Just because he probably lived with both of his parents and had a happy childhood. Can't he understand that so many others like me are suffering? And he ignorantly goes around killing people, never even once considering to let them live. He must've destroyed the lives of so many… what a monster.

"Go kill him, do what you think you must do," I continued as he didn't reply. "I can't stop you, you're too strong for me; I can't even convince you, can I?"

"No," he said and looked away. "I have to do this. The Templars are nothing but a gruesome association of corrupted men, seeking to eradicate whatever resistance they're met with. It's not right and you know it."

"Oh, and since when did the Assassins become the 'good' side?" I quickly answered and crossed my arms over my chest. "You run around, killing innocent people doing their everyday job. Do you think every soldier wanted to become one? Of course not, they surely had their dreams before this stupid war started! Some of them aren't even twenty. How does it feel to kill someone who has at least a third of their lives left?"

"We're going to draw attention." Connor surveyed the encampment behind me, but realized that the tents were hiding us and relaxed. "I don't have time to talk about what's right and wrong but this is something I need to do."

"Why?" I asked once again. He had been evading the question over and over again and I was getting tired of it. "Why do you focus the Templars? After Mr. Pitcairn, there will only be three left." Four, with me.

He opened his mouth to answer when he stiffened and his gaze shot to my left. I glanced behind me and saw Sergeant Somerset limping out of his tent, armed with a musket. His intelligent eyes analyzed the situation in front of him and he aimed the gun towards Connor.

"You again," he said calmly. "Melissa, back off, that man is dangerous."

Like I wouldn't know. "You woke up?" I asked a bit startled. "I thought you had succumbed to your wounds."

"Amusing as usual I see." The sergeant pulled back his hair. "I miss the hat; it kept my hair in place. I see you got me promoted as well."

I sighed and rolled my eyes at him.

"Go back to sleep, I can handle this."

"It's… you."

Connor's confused voice got my attention but I didn't have the time to ask what he meant when Sergeant Somerset pulled the trigger. The sound made it ring in my ears and I grimaced, but quickly collected myself.

"Damn, I missed."

"Could you please explain what's going on?" I almost screamed and turned to see that the Assassin had escaped. "How do you know him?"

Sergeant Somerset let out a little groan as he buried the edge of the rifle into the ground.

"To make a long story short; I know your sister."

I almost thought I was dreaming. But then, I would never dream about him.

"W-what?" I stammered and approached him. "What did you say?" Is he mad? My sister… she… she died in the fire…

"You heard me." Our eyes locked. "Your sister is alive."