ASSASSINS

TWO

"Hey," I said as I sat down next to Silk. I grabbed a plate and loaded a hamburger and fries onto it.

Silk turned and gave me a slightly exasperated look.

"What?" I asked defensively. Her eyes met mine.

Lightning is going to sit there, her mind said, and my eyes widened.

"Oh shit, sorry," I muttered, standing up and searching for another table.

An open seat between Riptide and Silver. Perfect.

I plopped myself down in between them. "Yo."

Silver chuckled. "Hey, Raven."

"I have to sit with you guys now because Silk just kicked me out. Apparently, Lightning has taken my spot in her heart and at her table." I stabbed at my food with my fork.

Riptide laughed. "You can sit here now, if you want."

"Thanks, Riptide," I said, smiling, and dug in.

"What's your next mission?" Silver asked.

"Um, I'm not supposed to look —"

"Don't give me that crap. You looked anyway. What is it?"

I looked at her sheepishly. Her blue eyes bored into me as she absentmindedly played with the string on her silver bow.

"Alright, alright. It's some dude named Dionysus. He seems kind of familiar, somehow." I frowned at my hamburger thoughtfully.

Riptide gave me an exasperated look. "You looked?"

"Wouldn't you have if you were in my position?" I said defensively.

He rolled his eyes. "Well, yeah, but —"

"Then hush," I said, putting my hand up and taking another bite.

"Wait a second... Dionysus... he was the director of Goode Prison!" Silver said.

We both looked at her blankly. "What?"

She sighed. "You know... Goode... the prison that those eleven juvenile delinquents broke out of? The ones that caused this anarchy?"

"Technically, we caused it," Riptide pointed out, but Silver rolled her eyes.

"They started it."

"That was over a year ago, Silver. Why would I have to kill him now?"

"Um... Who cares?" Riptide tried, but we both glared at him.

"Maybe he's a threat."

"Maybe he knows where those people are."

"Maybe we're connected with him somehow."

"Or maybe... you should stop questioning MONSTERS and just do it?" Riptide suggested.

I sighed in frustration. "Why must my patience be tested in this way?"

"Because Riptide is an idiot," Silver answered, and I nodded in agreement.

"Guys, I don't know... but I have a bad feeling about Dionysus. That name... it doesn't have a good connotation with me."

"Wuss," Silver said mildly.

"Hey, I just don't want to die," Riptide said in defense.

"That escalated quickly," I muttered, and Silver snorted next to me.

Riptide raised his hands. "I've just got a bad feeling, is all." He stood up and went to dump his tray.

As soon as he left, I turned to Silver. "What if Riptide is right?"