Evora's smirk widened as she glanced over the gathered members, savoring the anticipation hanging in the air. She flipped through the documents, eyes gleaming with the thrill of the hunt. Around the room, murmurs of excitement and eagerness rippled through the group.
A skinny man with wild, unkempt hair and a mischievous grin nudged the burly, scarred guy beside him. "About time we got some real action! Sitting around was driving me crazy," he said with a voice tinged with anticipation and excitement. "Let's hope there's a good chase involved this time, eh?"
The scarred man grunted in agreement, cracking his knuckles. He had the build of someone who preferred brute force when doing things. "Long as there's a decent brawl at the end, I'm in," he growled, his deep voice carrying a note of barely contained aggression. "Been too quiet around here lately."
Across from them, a woman with short, fiery red hair and a collection of throwing knives strapped to her belt rolled her eyes. "You two are always looking for trouble. Me? I just want a clean hit, no fuss, no mess," she said, casually flipping a knife in her hand. Her voice was calm, almost cold, but there was a deadly precision in her every move… a true expert in the eyes of mine it would seem
A wiry youth with a shaved head and quick, darting movements snickered. "Yeah, well, I'm betting this job's got more than just one mark. More targets, more loot. I say bring it on."
From the back of the room, an older woman with silver hair tied in a braid chuckled, her voice gravelly but full of experience. "Easy, kids. Don't let your excitement get ahead of your heads.
Vora took in all their chatter with a hint of amusement before holding up her hand for silence. The room fell quiet instantly, all eyes on her. "Glad to see everyone's eager. But keep that energy focused. We've got multiple high-value targets today, and we can't afford any mistakes. Stick to your roles, follow orders, and this'll be a big score for all of us."
She tossed a glance at Roran, who nodded and stepped forward. "We're splitting into teams," he announced. "Each team has specific objectives. You'll be briefed on your tasks once we break. The usual rules apply—no unnecessary risks, no loose ends. Efficiency is key… if you see someone tailing us once we finish the task… Kill em!"
Roran's words hung in the air like a cold blade pressed against my neck. "Kill them." The phrase sent a jolt through me, freezing me in place. Up until now, the worst I'd ever done was steal a few coins, pick pockets, and scavenge for scraps. Stealing was a necessity for survival, but taking a life? That was a line I'd never crossed, a darkness I'd never allowed myself to consider.
I felt Avelyn's grip on my sleeve tighten. Her small hand trembled, and I didn't need to look at her to know what was going through her mind. I could almost hear her thoughts echoing mine—how far had we fallen to even be considering this? We were kids just trying to survive, but this world was ruthless, and it seemed we were being pushed toward something we never wanted to become.
Avelyn's voice was barely a whisper, quivering with fear. "Kill…? Brother, we… we can't do that, can we?"
I wanted to tell Avelyn that she was right, that we could never become killers, that there was a line we'd never cross. But deep inside, I knew the truth—the world didn't care about lines or innocence. It was cruel, unforgiving, and if we wanted to claw our way out of the dirt, we couldn't afford to cling to ideals.
A cold resolve settled in my chest. I glanced at Avelyn, her eyes wide with fear, and felt a pang of guilt twist in my gut. But guilt wouldn't feed us. Guilt wouldn't protect her. If we were going to survive—if we were going to rise above the filth—we had to be willing to do whatever it took, no matter how dark the path became.
"Sometimes… we have to do things we don't want to," I said quietly, my voice steady despite the storm of emotions swirling inside me. "I don't like it either, Avelyn. But this world doesn't care about what's right or wrong. It only cares about strength and survival. If it means keeping you safe… then I'll do what I have to."
Her eyes filled with tears, but she didn't look away. "But brother… we're not like them. We don't have to be like them."
I felt her words pierce through me, a reminder of the innocence we still clung to. But I couldn't afford to indulge in it. Not anymore. "I know," I replied, forcing a gentle smile. "And I'll protect that, Avelyn. I'll be the one to carry the burden, so you don't have to. You're all that matters to me. Whatever it takes, I'll make sure you have the life you deserve."
Even as I spoke, I could feel something shifting within me. A line had been crossed in my mind—one I never thought I'd reach. Killing wasn't just an option anymore; it was a necessary step, just another move in a world where morality had no place. If ending a life was what it took to get us closer to our goal, then I'd do it. For her. For us. and for our survival.
Avelyn wiped her eyes, still trembling but nodding slowly. "I trust you, brother. I just… don't want us to lose who we are."
Her words hung heavy between us. I nodded back, but deep down, I knew that part of me was already slipping away. The part that could still see the world in black and white was being replaced by a cold, calculating mindset—a determination that burned fiercely, ready to do whatever was necessary.
As we stood there, surrounded by hardened criminals who saw death as just another job, I made a silent vow to myself. I'd keep Avelyn safe from this world's cruelty, even if it meant embracing that same cruelty myself. I'd become whatever I needed to be, use whatever tools were required, and cross any line that stood in our way.
This was the price of rising above the dirt, of clawing our way out of the shadows. And I was willing to pay it. No matter how much blood stained my hands, no matter how dark the road became, I'd walk it—for both of us.
Roran's voice snapped me out of my thoughts. "Make no mistake, kid," he said, his gaze locking onto mine with a knowing look. "You're either all in, or you're not. Once you take that first step, there's no turning back."
I stared back at him, my resolve hardening with every passing second. "I'm all in," I replied, my voice cold and unwavering.
Avelyn squeezed my hand, a silent plea for us to stay together, to stay strong. I gave her a reassuring nod, silently promising her that no matter what I became, I'd never let go of her. We'd survive, we'd rise, and we'd carve out a place where we could finally be free.
But freedom had a cost, and I was ready to pay it—one step at a time, even if those steps led me straight into darkness.
After a few moments, Roran stood at the center of the room, his voice commanding attention as he addressed the gathered crew. "Alright, listen up! I'm assigning you to teams, and each team has a specific task to complete. We've got a lot riding on this, so don't mess it up." He began pacing as he listed the tasks, his eyes scanning the room, assessing each member's potential.
One by one, he approached each person, handing them a folded piece of parchment. When he reached Avelyn and me, he paused, his gaze lingering for a moment before he handed us our parchment. I quickly unfolded it, curious to see what lay inside. My brow furrowed in confusion as I stared at the paper.
It was just a number "3" written in dark ink.
Avelyn peeked at mine, her own parchment clutched in her hands, showing the same number. Her brows knit together in concern, clearly unsure of what it meant. I scanned the room, noticing others had also received numbers—each looking either relieved or confused as they read their assignments.
Roran returned to the front, crossing his arms as he addressed us again. "I see some of you are confused. Let me break it down for you," he said, a sharp edge to his tone. "Those of you with number 1 will be responsible for infiltrating noble houses. That's a high-risk task with a high reward, so don't screw it up. You'll be going into some well-guarded places, and subtlety is key."
He shifted his gaze to another group. "If you got number 2, you're our scouts. You'll be the eyes and ears, keeping watch and providing backup for the teams inside. If anything goes wrong, you're the first line of support."
Finally, his eyes settled on us, those holding number 3. "And you lot—you've got a more straightforward job. You'll be infiltrating a storage building filled with goods. Think of it as a supply run. No fancy tactics, no nobles to deal with, just a bunch of guards and plenty of crates to sift through. You get in, grab the goods, and get out before anyone even knows you were there."
I exchanged a glance with Avelyn. Her eyes were wide with uncertainty, but there was a spark of determination beneath her worry. "We can handle this," I whispered to her. "It's just getting supplies. We've done harder things before."
She nodded, holding onto my words as a lifeline. "As long as we stick together."
Beside us, a young man—probably just a few years older than me—was also holding a parchment with the number 3. He had striking violet hair and an air of calm detachment, his expression cool and unreadable. Despite his aloof demeanor, there was something non-threatening about him. He noticed us looking his way and gave a small nod of acknowledgment.
"I guess we're on the same team," he said, his voice even and unbothered by the tension in the room. "Name's Kael. Don't worry—I'll cover you two if things go sideways."
His words brought a surprising sense of relief. Unlike most of the hardened veterans in this place, Kael didn't seem to carry the same cold ruthlessness. He was calm, almost indifferent, but not hostile—a small comfort in a room filled with killers.
"Thanks," I replied, offering a slight nod. "I'm Veran, and this is my sister, Avelyn. We're new to this."
Kael gave a small, almost imperceptible smile. "Don't sweat it. Stick with me, follow the plan, and we'll get through it fine."
Roran interrupted our conversation, his voice cutting through the room again. "We're moving out in thirty minutes. Gear up, get your heads straight, and be ready. We don't have time for mistakes."
As the crew began dispersing, preparing for their respective tasks, I felt the weight of the mission settling in. This was more than just a simple supply run—it was our first real test in this new world, a world that demanded we harden ourselves and embrace the shadows we'd been thrust into.
I turned to Avelyn, seeing the determination in her eyes. Despite the fear, she was ready, and so was I. We had no choice but to be.
Kael glanced at the two of us, his expression still calm and collected. "Come on, let's get you two geared up and ready"