Madam Silvers sat at her desk and across from her, the Catchers assemble. Elle, Diego, Viola, Karen, and Zil prepared for the incredibly difficult task of going against members of the Peace Corps.
"You need to be very careful." Madam Silvers addressed the Catchers. "We cannot fail to eliminate every single one of them. Quickly and without anyone noticing. No one can know that the Peace Corps members were defeated here or even attacked. Do that and you all will be rewarded."
Elle notices Madam Silvers eyes on her, so smug. Madam Silvers always had an expression as if she could tell exactly what you were thinking and she wasn't impressed by any of it. Elle hated that look. Madam Silvers would grant her and Imani's freedom, and all she had to do was help kill someone she already wanted dead. The only catch was she was risking her life to make it happen.
If she could kill Captain Enyo she wouldn't have been dragged to the bathhouse in the first place. It would be possible with all of the Catchers, but not if he had all of his men.
"I sent an attendant to invite Captain Enyo to my suite to enjoy the view. Karen and myself will keep him occupied until you can take care of his subordinates. Diego, Viola, and Zil will take care of the three in the room." Madam Silvers laid her eyes on Elle again. "Eleanor, you will take care of the one visiting the doctor. I've been assured that he is injured and shouldn't be much of a fight. Can you handle that?"
Why was she putting her life on the line like this? If she succeeded she would be framed for the murder of the Peace Corps members, they all would be, and that was the best outcome. Worst case scenario she would die, but in all of the scenarios that she could imagine; Imani would survive and possibly be free.
She ignored the flaw in her reasoning. The gigantic elephant in the room staring her in the face.
"Yes I can do that much, as long as you keep up your end of the deal."
"Of course, after you do this tiny favor for me, you can leave if you want."
"And Imani, too!" Out of anger, frustration, or her inability to fake it anymore, she raised her voice which surprised everyone in the room.
"That is what I meant. You guys, can leave if you want once the Peace Corps has been dealt with. Does that verbiage work for you?"
"Me and Imani. Say her name."
"Oh my, yes if you and Imani want to leave you may. I don't understand you, Eleanor. I bought Diego in the slave trade and he wasn't this obstinate. What is wrong with you? You don't believe in anything that you don't read in a science book. You need proof for everything. No, even then, you still won't believe it because you don't trust yourself to be a reliable source. Its so sad, Eleanor." With every word Madam Silvers spoke, a cut was placed on Elle's heart.
Madam Silvers' words were always harsh and demeaning. This was exceptionally worse for Elle, due to her already fragile ego. Her inner voice assaulted her with reminders of her own weaknesses. She had weird shaped ears. She wasn't as intelligent as anyone she knew. Her fur was so curly and only grew on her head. Her family never accepted her, they were just lying. Even her brother who would always help her with her school work. Her younger brother was smarter than her. Her inner voice patronized and antagonized her.
Still the thought that Elle was ignoring became clear. She did not have to do this. There was another way, but why wouldn't she take it?
O BE CONTINUED...
Thanks for reading!