"I don't trust her and neither should you Damien," Marcello said
"Who says I trust her Marcello? Am I not doing the right thing by helping that woman or should I leave her to die?" Damien said
Marcello grinds his teeth knowing Damien is right, he can't help his distrust of people after what happened to their father,
"You know the answer, so let it go for now," Damien said
The room went quiet as they ate until a noise came from the bathroom, they started in the direction founder what they should do but they didn't need it, Renato hobbled into the room with a look of fright on his face,
"Renato, what was that noise?" Damien asked
"And what's with the look on your face?" Damien continued
Renato hobbled over to them and sat next to Damien, he looked at both of them with a stern glint shining in his eyes,
"I checked on her, as I said and the weirdest thing happened," Renato
Marcello motioned him to continue, but he needed a moment to recollect his thoughts. Renato resumed,
"The mirror is shattered everywhere and she stood there with a dazed look, I pulled her into a hug trying to comfort her, but the strange thing is the door slammed shut with her voice laughing at the both of us,"
Marcello knew that they would try something but didn't think of it too soon, to them,
She was nothing but all of a sudden, they would kill her off. if they would survive but why not kill her in the bathroom, that's where it stumped him, Damien pats Renato back softly before asking,
"Where is she now?"
"Luke is with her, bringing her into her room," Renato said
Marcello stood up and walked out of the room, heading straight for the bathroom, Damien told Renato to stay there while he went with Marcello, He stopped behind him, looking from over his shoulder at the bathroom, Renato told them the glass was everywhere, but the rest of the room was fine,
"This won't blunt force," Marcello whispers
He picked up a piece of glass... There would be blood if she punched it and there isn't any. Why could have done this?
Bang!
Where the mirror was a loud crash came from it and caused Marcello to move away from it, he watched as black smoke moved around the broken mirror with a voice so familiar spoke,
"You should have stayed away from my family... You are all traitors to the mafia and you all will pay for it,"
The smoke went away. Marcello in a daze, walked out of the room past Damien to lean on the wall, Damien shut the door behind him while the voice laughed at them,
"It's her,"
"No, I will be fine," Avalon said
She moved the swab away from her wound, while Luke finished cleaning the wound,
Luke sat and looked at the bandage to make sure they were tightly wrapped around her,
However Avalon tried to sit back but the pain went through her side, she groaned in pain,
"Be careful with your wound, it's going to be sore, I will get you some pain meds," Luke said,
"I can handle the pain...I've been through the worst, good night," Avalon said
"Are you sure? I see how much pain you are in and I could," Luke spoken
"Just leave the pain meds in front of the door but for now I want to sleep, so please leave," Avalon told him,
"Fine, I will leave but if you need anything from me I will be in the lab, good night then," Luke said
Luke got up from his chair and walked to the door, taking a glimpse at her before closing the door behind him, Avalon slowly leaned back into the bed, with a little pain now but something annoying her, she forgot to talk to someone, Avalon jolted out of her spot and regretted doing that, the pain worsens but it doesn't change her motivation to find her phone, she is asked to respond after a mission that she hasn't done, she looks to her side where a small cabinet is, and finds her device with a note. She grabs her phone with the note and then reads the note,
"I thought you might need this, Renato,"
Avalon placed the note back on the tablet and went into her phone, finding the number to dial,
"Hello? This is the head of the shepherd's office, how may I help you," A woman replied
"I would like to talk to the head, it's agent Clover," Avalon said
Avalon looked at the door knowing if they walked in she would be caught, she slowly got out of bed but the pain in her side made her stop,
"Agent Clover, I will need your first name," She asked
Avalon walked towards the door feeling dizzy. but answered the woman,
"Avalon Clover, now can I talk to him," Avalon said
She made it to the door and locked it, before gradually walking back to the bed, She groaned in pain and lay on the bed,
"You are supposed to be infiltrating the tiger mafia?" She asked
"I was. but I got shot in the middle of it,
can I speak to him," Avalon said getting angry,
"Jane is that Avalon? put her on the line,"
A stern male voice spoke,
"Right Sir," Jane said
"Took you long enough, sir," Avalon said
"Where are you?" Salvatore said
"I got shot in a bank heist and got taken in by some men, but I have some information," Avalon said
"What do you mean some men, who are they?" Salvatore said
"That's not imported right now, this mafia head is what concerns me... She is more powerful than you let on Sal," Avalon explained
Salvador felt startled, looking over at Jane who had been listening to the call, he caught her having her phone up to her ear, she gave him a smile placing it down,
"How so?" Salvatore asked
"She can talk through mirrors for certain, but there is something behind her," Avalon asserted
"I'm not sure if I could believe that Avalon, do you have anything about this on you?" Salvatore asked
"I... No, I have nothing," Avalon said
Salvatore heard the tension in her voice and decided,
"I will just have to take your word for it, Avalon what was the information you have," Salvatore said
He drew away from his last question, therefore Avalon hummed and said,
"She is getting more recruits to get money,
she needs to expand her control," Avalon told him,
"That makes more sense now, she is advancing the weaponry and just like you said expanding her dominion, I have the weapon blueprints, are you able to see them?" Salvatore said
"I'm fine Sal, I would like to see them," Avalon said
"You better not be lying to me Avalon, Remember the last time you did... You were under rubble with cuts all over you," His voice got quiet,
A burning fire and a destroyed building.
"It will be there soon, I expect you to look through them all, don't fall asleep on them," Salvatore said
"I don't fall asleep on the papers anymore," Avalon said
"Yeah, but that was the reason why we went digital, I will check on you tomorrow night, goodbye, Avalon" Salvatore said hanging up the phone,
"Fine," Avalon said
Then her phone rang, showing a notification and Avalon tapped it to look at the blueprints,
"Uranium gun? Doesn't hurt the user but will cause radiation burns to the target, some will lead to death," Avalon read out,
She went through more of the blueprint, finding more side effects but there was a sign of approval that concerned her. give to partners of the United States government signed by the head of the Safe and Secure Foundation, Avalon felt a disturbed feeling in her gut, however, she placed down the blueprint and pulled out her phone,
"Safe and secure foundation," She spoke
Her phone pulled up multiple articles for her, Avalon scrolled through them but one found her eye, it was published by a former friend of hers but she didn't want to dread the thought, so she pressed it and opened the webpage, therefore, started to read it,
"We are a company built on helping the services affiliates build a better city while helping the average man grow into a brilliant straightest or a hard worker, this foundation is on a mission to correct the misinformed about the crime happening in this city, with the help of our affiliates we can secure and keep the citizens safe,"
She looked at the end of the page where the affiliates were, finding the same unknown but what was interesting to Avalon, was these large letters, she took a snapshot before looking into it more but before a knock came from the door,
"Avalon? Why is the door locked"
Avalon turned off her phone and got up placing it into the cabinet, she moved to the door and unlocked it for Marcello...
"He looks worse than the last time I saw him," She thought
Marcello walked into the room closing the door behind him, he stared down at her while in a daze.
"I want to ask you something before you take a nap," Marcello said
"What is it?" Avalon asked
Marcello takes a moment moving to her bed and sitting on it, while Avalon follows him, she stands in front of him waiting patiently,
"That woman was in the bathroom with you, wasn't she?" Marcello asked
"Yes, she was there," She whispered
"What did she say to you" He spoke
"That would be between me and her," Avalon said
Avalon shut down, not letting him see her emotion... it would be the last thing she would want,
"She was still there in the bathroom, confronted me and Damien," Marcello said
"Did she threaten you as she did with us?" He continued
Avalon looked at him seeing that he had a genuine concern for her... someone he had just met and threatened, She was taken by it, and when he saw that he might not get anywhere, he got up and said a quick apology,
"I apologize for my earlier actions and I will leave you..."
Avalon stopped him grabbing his hand.
"She did but that is for me to tell... but not now," Avalon said
"That is fine by me Avalon, I will leave you be, I just need to ask," Marcello said a little flustered,
He left without letting her speak slamming the door behind him, while leaving Avalon there wondering what she had gone through,
"This day has been enough for me,"
Avalon fell on her bed and instantly felt warmth move through, making her fall asleep,
"I shouldn't have been put under that Avalon!"
A loud impact could be heard,
"I know.... that doesn't mean go down this road, it will corrupt you,"
"Do you think I care about that? after what I have been through here, it is better in caparison,"
A fire burned around me... where is the light?
"You haven't felt how to be put in that position Avalon, that's why you here to die before you could,"
"She unworthy of it..."
I didn't hear the rest because a bright light set itself in front of me,
"They will not kill you here daughter. Rise Avalon and walk forward,"
The fire blew away from her and the mocking voice went away, leaving me in a field of flowers with the sun shining upon me, I looked around me in wonder.
"Your past will no longer define you, move forward,"
I looked ahead through the flowers but the world started to shake, I went to look behind me finding dark clouds there, and a thought stayed in my head.
"Move forward,"
The world shook before a bright light took me away,
"Avalon wake up, You shaking,"
Avalon jolted out of bed standing in front of Reanto, he placed a hand on her should trying to help her calm down, and then sat her on the bed,
"Avalon, are you okay?" Renato asked
"I just had a bad dream is all Renato," Avalon said
Renato stared at her and saw she looking into the unknown, shook her once more, therefore, getting her attention,
"Sorry, you were staring off," Renato said
"Renato?" Avalon asked
He watched her saw her looking at him, with her eyes still dull from waking up, she placed her hands over her face before saying,
"What time is it?"
"It's five in the morning," He answered
She lay back on the bed while Renato got up,
"I going to get some coffee, would you like some?" Renato said
Avalon nodded at him, therefore, he went out the door wanting to make bean juice, while Avalon stayed there looking up at the ceiling, losing herself in her head again,
"I need to move away from my past... it will continue to hurt me. mocking my existence,"
Her thoughts went to her life. now other than in the past, to her apartment where her dog is, the neighbors should be watching him, then to her work... her passion, she wants to help the people that get trampled by the elites of the city, the present call her to reality but before she could, one thought went through her head,
"I couldn't get my head through the past but now maybe I can,"
Knock
The door opened, Damien placed some clothes on the bed, looking down at her before telling her,
"Get dressed and head to the kitchen,"
"Why should I?" Avalon asked
"You have more to do today, other than being locked in this room," Damien said at the door and closed it,
Avalon huffed and then pulled the clothes to her,
"Did you talk with her?" Luke asked
Marcello looked over his laptop at him, before going back to his research into that company website,
"Yes, I have she was reluctant but is more comfortable with me... I guess," Marcello answered
"Then we can check on her injury after she eats... if she eats," Luke spoke
Damien entered the room walking past them but telling them,
"She will eat,"
"And why do you think that?" Marcello asked
"I will sit next to her and wait until she is done," Damien said
He walked into the kitchen starting her food, while Luke and Marcello looked at each other before going back to their morning, However, they didn't seem to hear soft footsteps stopped in the middle of their conversation, listening to their every word. Avalon scoffed inwardly thinking of ways to get out but before she could do more someone tapped her shoulder,
"You don't have to wait here," Renato said
"I suppose you are right, you go first," Avalon sighed
He glanced at her before relenting, hobbling to the kitchen to get her coffee, while Luke got up and walked to her,
"I just wanted to say..."
"Don't worry about my feelings. I've been through worse than you, " Avalon interrupted
She walked past Luke to a chair he sat next to, Marcello watched their conversation with curiosity and then saw his brother walking back to his chair deflated, he looked at Luke giving him a smile which Luke appreciated, and went back to his food but doubt still lays in his mind. Renato walked into the room and found it almost the same, however, Avalon laid her chin in her hand looking away from them, he walked in front of her and placed the cup on the table,
"Here we are, I don't know how you would want it," Renato said
She held the cup and took a sip of it,
"It's good Renato... thanks, " Avalon said
Renato smiles at her but he doesn't hear the quiet part out loud, Avalon drinks her coffee as the room around her goes quiet leaving her in peace, Marcello closes his laptop and grabs his drink before saying,
"After this, we will need to check on your wound after you eat,"
Avalon looked at him answering,
"Fine," Avalon let out
She wasn't sarcastic or irate but casual. Marcello shocked continued to ask her questions,
"If I can ask,"
"It depends," Avalon interrupted
"Then what's shepherd?"
"Do you mean, theirs a shepherd out there with his sheep?" Avalon said
"No that's not what... ''
"Or is there a sheep that went astray from the herd with the shepherd looking for them?" Avalon interrupted
Luke and Renato watched Avalon mess with Marcello, Renato found it amusing but will led to conflicts, Luke didn't like it at all, it wasn't leading them to answers and the one he wanted to know was the crystal around the bullet.
"That is not what I meant, I want the answer what is General Shepherd" Marcello accused
"And who says I know what you are talking about," She lied
Marcello felt anger rush in him which he knew wouldn't help him, he took a moment to calm down while Avalon watched him waiting for her next move, Damien walked into the room with Avalon's food in hand looking at both of them, he heard the yelling from the stove, he didn't want to hear it.
"Here,"
Damien placed it in front of her and Avalon stared down at the food, finding it to be her favorite food, He sat next to Renato and then spoke,
"I want that plant to be empty before they check on you,"
"Okay,"
Avalon ate her food while Renato, Damine, and Luke talked to each other but...
"Isn't there a new weapon that they're working on?" Renato asked
"I wouldn't say new but they have built a better version of that model, that they believe will have the upper hand in the streets, to help push their range of power and put pressure on the government. as well," Luke said
"They have already taken half of the city. but I noticed that some kind of agency that has been trying to stop them, and sometimes taking in the fugitives," Damien commented
"I don't think it will hold them off for long, it will take more manpower than that to tear them apart," Luke explained
Avalon listened to them while finishing her food, she didn't anticipate hearing this from them, how did they know all of this, it was apparent that they were no normal citizens, they had technology that the government would confiscate and keep for itself, but she didn't have enough time to think upon it as Marcello asked her something,
"Avalon Clover was injured in a building collapsing on her during work and was betrayed by..."
A knife flew at him into the wall behind him. Marcello looked at her to see her shocked staring at him while Damien got up and went to her, he pulled her out of the chair and asked her,
"What was that!"
"I didn't have that knife, how could I have a knife when I didn't have that, to begin with," Avalon tried to reason
Marcello got up and looked behind him examining the knife while Luke tried to get Damien away from Avalon,
"Damien let her go she is just as stunned as we are," Luke expressed
"If it wasn't her who could have thrown the knife?" Damien argued
Avalon got out of his grip by head-butting him making him let her go she fell on the ground staring at the window with a hole through it, but she saw a shadow of a woman with her head tilted watching Marcello. Renato got up helping Luke with Damien who held his nose as he felt it was broken,
"Dammit," Damien cussed
"That is what happens when you jump to conclusions Daimen, she didn't do it," Renato said
"I'm going to get a rag for him can you stay with them Renato," Luke asked
Marcello examined the knife...
"It's not normal." he thought
He went to pull it out but to his surprise, it didn't budge only glowed a light pink until a ticking sound came from it, He moved back and yelled.
"It's a bomb!"
They looked over at Marcello while the bomb detonated, Renato was pushed away into a wall with Damein who landed on the side of him, and Luke fell on his side before falling on the floor while Avalon before the bomb detonated crawled to Marcello and pulled him to the floor, Marcello felt his ears ring as the blast subsided and he tried to look around but the dust was interrupting his vision.
"You shouldn't be alive but here we are,"
He looked at the blown out window to see a woman like individual waiting for him from the outside, he staked him almost mocked him, and the thing he noticed was her gear... it wasn't made for an agency or the police of the city but is high tec and most likely deadly,
"You have no one to blame but your self Marcello Sickle,"
He tried to get up but the woman stopped him holding another knife. taunting him,
"I wouldn't get up if you don't want a knife thrown at you,"
She moves closer to the window and ridiculed him,
"The boss has a very hefty price for your head... it's not including your brothers,"
"Don't hurt..." He uttered
"She only tells me to warn you and this will be the last time,"
"She has been very lenient with you and my opinion too lenient, she should have killed you and you rebelled a long time ago," She mocked
Marcello watched glaring at her,
"No one asked," Marcello spoke
"Stay out of her way or you wish you would be killed by me instead," She scoffed
She laughed before letting out,
"This is amusing seeing the terror in your eye reminds me of my old friend I let in a crumbling building, such a shame really,"
Marcello saw movement next to the window and decided to infuriate the woman,
"You just a moocher," Marcello mocked
Anger went into the woman,
"Feeding on the boss leftovers,"
"Euongh!"
She puts her head through the window with anticipation of killing him but... Avalon puts a kitchen knife into the neck of her suit leaving her crying out,
"Dammit, who!"
She stood and pulled herself away from the window, staring at Avalon who glared at her with hate she thought would be gone.
"How are you?"
"Alive? I can't give myself all the credit you are the most vile cowered assassin who couldn't even kill its target," Avalon scoffed
"He was right then," She commented
Avalon felt her gut twist knowing what she meant. but before Avalon could say any more the assassin moved away before dissipating from them, Avalon dropped the knife and took a glance at the window before walking over to Marcello,
"You know her?" Marcello asked
"She is a true snake," Avalon scoffed
"That was her... they got her out of that godforsaken building!" She yelled
She looked up into the sky in anger... they didn't kill her, that was the plan kill her and the rest will fall into place. they would have all they wanted without her but life was cruel, wasn't it? she heard her phone ring beside her and a sensation of dread went over her, she carefully picked it up then answered the phone,
"Hello?"
"Did you get the job done?"
The assassin felt her fear reach her heart hearing the boss's voice... it lased with hostility but patient waiting for her to respond,
"N..No it wasn't complete boss but I will kill them..."
"My patience with you is growing thin, I've given you a chance after what happened last time Ally why do you keep disappointing me?"
"I didn't anticipate them having a hostage, boss. that idiot stabbed my suit!" She yelled
"What has that have to do with what I wanted!"
She shivered,
"I wanted then turned to dust but no you came back to me with excuses,"
"But boss I didn't have a choice, if I didn't get out of there I would have been caught," She lied
"Yes, yes the same lie again, I will see you back at the base waiting to hear the rest of you failed a mission,"
Tiger hung up leaving her glaring at the phone, the assassin was about to get up but something came to mind for her which made her shote out of her spot leaving her phone behind with one of her knives through it.