Assassins Acedemy: Loreley

Memories

    I jump a bit when the door opens, but it's only Alix. My face burns a bit when I see her look from me to the mirror, and back again.

   "Where have you been?" I ask, daring her to make a snide comment about what i'm doing. I know she will sooner or later.

   "Got called in by the director." she shrugs. "We had a good laugh. Apparently he used to have anger management problems too." My eyes widen a bit at her willingness to share, but it quickly disappears, hiding again as the usual Alix reappears.

   "Checking yourself out in the mirror?" she mocks.

   I can't help the ice that freezes over my gaze, turning it into a glare.

   "Actually, I was trying to see if my weapon wrap is visible." Alix motion for me to turn around and I sigh before complying.

   "Well?" I ask. She nods saying,

   "Nothing is visible except for a small bit of the handle there." She points to a spot on my waist.

   "Thanks." I grumble. Alix stays silent as I push the handle down a bit, hiding it.

   "Better?"

   "Better." I ease the tension from my shoulders and go to sit down.

   "Did you have the weapon wrap on earlier?" she asks.

   " No, I just put it on." I glance at her holsters, and where I know there's knives secreted away in her sleeve and boot.

   "Do you ever take yours off?" i ask her, and she shakes her head

   "No, I always keep them on. Never know when you might need them." I nod. This girl is well taught, always prepared and very vigilant. We could be friends, but I doubt she wants friends. She's a loner, no doubt about it.

   She grabs her musicport and speaker before walking to the bathroom. I sigh again, and pull out one of my pistols, loading it and pushing it back into its spot on the small of my back. I do the same with the other, making sure the safety's are on and the chamber empty.

   Music leaks under the door as Alix turns her speaker up all the way, and I smile a bit. Music was one of my few escapes, a way for me to float to a whole other world where I could do whatever without expectations.

   Singing that doesn't go with the song reaches my ears, and a grin grows on my face when I realize Alix is singing. She has a good voice, clear and, surprisingly, almost sweet. She knows all the words to the song, and I just sit there listening.

   "I. Don't care what you think, as long as it's about meeeee. The best of us can find happiness in miseeeeerry" I smile as I recognize the song, and quietly sing along. When the song is over, I hear the water stop, and a bit later Alix steps out, her jet black hair hanging limp and wet on her shoulders. She has the same clothes on again, her hood up. I can't help the smirk that grows on my face.

   "Hey maybe there's a choir here you can join" She glares at me, her eyes like ice and her lips twisted back into a sneer. I continue to smirk, crossing my arms.

   "You heard nothing" she growls

   "Mhm suuurre" I drawl with sarcasm

   She pulls out one of her knives and twirls it threateningly.

   "You say anything to anyone and you're dead." I smirk and hold up my hands in mock defeat.

   "Fine, fine I won't, but only because I don't want you to kill me in my sleep."

  "Good. Because I might just do that if you say anything. One bloody word and I swear you're dead, Lore." I raised an eyebrow, surprised. I don't remember anyone ever calling me that before but it seems familiar.

   "Did you just call me Lore?"

   She shrugs.

   "Loreley is too long. You don't mind of course?" She layers on the sarcasm, her british accent coming out sweet and light.

   "Of course not." I respond, matching her sarcasm and adding an accent of my own. I smile sweetly at her. She gives me her signature cold glare.

   Suddenly things start to flash across my mind, things I thought I had long buried. A little girl with hair like mine, running through the snow and giggling as she yells
"You can't catch me, Lore"

   The girls vibrant green eyes so close to mine as she sits on my lap, tiredly blinking

   "Lore, will you tell me the story about the wolves again"

   Her small hands squeezing mine as she pulls me through the trees to show me the bird's nest she found.

  "Lore, the little eggs are so pretty!" I curl my face into my lap and squeeze my eyes shut, her sweet voice echoing in my head. Then, it changes to her scream, her horrified piercing scream that haunted me for years.

   "What's wrong with you?" Alix's muffled voice pulls me from my head. I uncurl myself and manage to get a single sentence out.

   "Don't call me Lore." I hiss, hot tears pressing at the back of my eyes. I jump up and walk out the door, barely keeping my cool as I slam the door behind me. I will not cry in front of Alix, I will not cry in front of Alix.

   I run through the halls, past other girls and teachers alike. When I reach a deserted hallway, I drop into a heap against the wall and sob into my arms, trying to muffle the sound. Why did all those memories pop up just now? I had blocked them away for so long, the memories of my little sister. Her voice still echoes in my head, and I smack my head back against the wall, trying to get it to leave, trying to make it stop. Her sweet beautiful face floats into my mind, and I squeeze my eyes so tight spots swim in my vision.