𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐟𝐢𝐚 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 ✍︎

56| 𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚕𝚘𝚝𝚝𝚎

Guess who's back! I know it's been months since my last update. But I promise I'm not abandoning Dove or any of you.

If you're still here. Thank you. Your comments and votes mean the world to me.

Ayla/Dove's POV
Age: 10
Location: Base

Three Months Later

I'm alive.

I have to say that multiple times a day to remember that I truly am still breathing. That my heart is still beating.

In the beginning, I held out hope that maybe I would be found. Maybe Ella or Donna would figure out where this new Base is and come to save me.

I don't think I still believe that anymore.

Sometimes, I like to think about it, though. I imagine running into my parents' arms and hiding in our mansion forever. I imagine being back in my room or sitting at the dinner table with my brothers.

I think about it often. But I no longer believe in it.

I never told anyone about my hopes. Not even One. I trust him, and I love him like a brother, but I know better than to tell him something like this.

He would try to convince me to stop thinking about these kinds of things. He wouldn't understand.

The first day of being back was brutal, but I've gotten used to how things are done here. I had to relearn what it's like to constantly be fighting for your life. It's brutal, and some days I just want to give it all up. But I grit my teeth and tough it out.

That's what One taught me when I was a little kid.

I never thought I would have to ever remember the small lessons of survival that I learned as a child. I also never thought I would be back in Sir's control either, yet here I am.

I tried to fight back initially. I didn't listen to anyone and I disobeyed in every way that I could. But then I remembered that there's no point.

Vincent always wins. He will always beat me. The harder I try, the happier he gets and the more pain I end up in.

"It's easier to give in, Dove," One said to me. "Don't fight so hard. You'll only hurt yourself."

It was only a month ago when I nearly shouted at both him and Five for being so submissive. How could they be so subservient?

Then I remembered. I used to be just like them.

I am just like them now, as I walk up the steps to Vincent's office.

This base not only has a different layout than the one I was raised in, but it also has different rules. Rather than being escorted around, assassins are allowed to roam whenever they want. The only requirement is that we make it to our designated classes or trainings on time. 

I was exempted from morning training today. Vincent has summoned me, and I must obey the call.

I knock on his door once before crossing my hands behind my back. He prefers us to stand a certain way.

Overcontrolling ass.

The door opens immediately, much to my surprise. I'm usually left waiting in the cold hallway for at least a good ten minutes before he allows me to enter his office.

"Welcome, Thirty-Two." Vincent is sitting at his desk, staring at me from behind it. I nod wordlessly in response as I enter the room and stand before him.