The Raven

Chapter Three

The day passes in a blur.
I'm driving down the single-track road making our way home when I look and notice the time. I let out an annoyed sigh and try to relax on the seat. It's been hours since we went down to the warehouse Wolfe told us about and after arriving it was obvious someone or something tipped them off. The warehouse was empty. Fucking empty. All that was left was a few tables and boxes but there was something that did catch our attention. Just as we turned to leave there on the back wall are the words.
VIPER.
I bite my tongue so hard I begin to taste blood, anger course through me and my fingers twitch to get my hands on that motherfucker.
"This is personal now," I say into the quiet space between me and Phoenix.
"Before I thought it was a deal that went wrong somewhere but, after that in the Wearhouse..." I grip the steering wheel hard and breath slowly out my nose. "Something is telling me Phoenix that something messed up is going on here and that viper guy is the lead of it."
Too much doesn't add up. Why would you put a hit on someone who wants to buy drugs or sell a girl? From what we can gather Robin didn't talk about who he was no one knew until after he was dead. So why would he be killed?
"I know," I turn to Phoenix who's looking directly at me. "Something has been off since the beginning of this I'm inclined to agree with you there."
I hold his eyes for a minute before shaking my head and facing the windscreen.
"We will tell the rest of them what we know when we get back and if we can no killing straight away. The council called and there asking for us to keep it low
And only kill the people we have to."
I snort at that. "Yeah, good luck telling crow and sparrow."
He sighs. "I'll deal with them"
The rest of the drive goes by In silence. By the time I'm pulling up at the house Crow is already stacking up the van. Guns and ammunition line up on the ground at his feet. He has on his bulletproof vest and his dark hair is Combed right back out of his face.
He doesn't look up as we open the door and head over to him, Phoenix going to his left and me coming to his right.
"We set?" Asks Phoenix his eyes searching all the equipment,
"Yep." Answers Crow as he lifts more guns into the van. " your stuff is inside and dove has everything ready.."
Phoenix nods his head before turning and walking into the house. I turn to follow him but crow stops me grabbing my arm harshly and pulling me back. His icy glare is trained on me and I direct the same one back to him.
"Not so fast," his voice sounds angry but coming from crow that's not a shock. "Where did you and Phoenix go this morning?" I narrow my eyes. "If Phoenix wanted you to know," I lean forward until we are nose to nose "you would know." He grips harder but I don't react. He opens his mouth but Dove takes that moment to walk out on us. She slows down when she notices Crow's hand gripping my arm tightly.
"You okay Raven?" she asks sceptically her eyes darting between me and Crow.
With a final glare, he releases me and shoves me back. "Yeah we're fine aren't we raven?" I glare at him. Once there was a time that me and crow were close but now there is nothing. Whenever he looks at me I see the disgust and blame he projects on me.
He's not wrong though.
It is all my fault.
"Yeah, we're good, Crow."
I don't linger.
Turning on my heel I walk past Dove who's still standing in the same position and make my way up the steps. I open the front door to step inside but stop when I hear Dove talking.
"You need to stop blaming her crow. Everything with Robin isn't Raven's fault-"
"Dove saves me your speech alright, I'm not interested in it."
There's silence for a beat before Dove's soft voice Echoes to me.
"Out of us all ravens been through the worst crow, maybe you should stop and think about how you would behave if it was you."
Her words sting a little. I know I'm fucked up a little probably more than any of the rest of them but I didn't think I was that obvious. Can they see my struggles? Do they know about the pain and guilt that crawls its way up inside me bit by bit every single day? Or the fact I want to run for the light instead of being stuck in darkness. My thoughts begin turning dark and when I can hear crow mumble something low enough I can't understand, I leave them both to it and walk into the house.