𝐔𝐋𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐕𝐈𝐎𝐋𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄, 𝗆𝖺𝗋𝖼𝗎𝗌 𝗅𝗈𝗉𝖾𝗓

001. 𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗒𝖻𝗈𝖽𝗒 𝗄𝗇𝗈𝗐𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗂'𝗆 𝖺 𝗆𝖾𝗌𝗌, 𝗂'𝗆 𝖼𝗋𝖺𝗓𝗒

"DON'T LOOK LIKE NO PSYCHOPATH TO ME." Willie proclaimed as the five of them stood lined up in-front of their newest recruit.

"Can't judge a book by its cover." Saya says in conversation.

Billy's face contorts into a look of disgust as he cringed. "But you can judge one by its smell." He muttered whilst Willie removed the black bag from the boy's head.

"He's cute." Maria added, smiling at her own words.

Inez remained silent, scrutinizing the boy from her place amongst her peers, she tilted her head slightly, watching as he somewhat shrunk beneath her gaze. "This is the boy I spent my night saving?" Her eyebrows raised, she let out a hum as she nodded her head. "Doesn't seem like the mass-murdering type." She observed, folding her arms over her chest. "Interesting."

"Yeah." The F.W.O leader scoffed. "You'd know all about mass-murdering, wouldn't you, Angel?" Willie chuckled as the sentence left his mouth. "He's your people's now."

He'd meant it as a joke only Inez never found anything funny.

For the first time since Marcus got there, she moved her sights away from him and produced the deadliest glare the world had ever seen. "At least I'm not pretending to be something I'm not." The brunette spat. "Fraud."

Maria giggled, Billy joining her. "I have my money on our sweet psycho, Angel." He mused, his eyes shifting between the pair.

Inez jabbed Willie in his ribs as she strolled past. "Tell Master Lin I'm in the shop!" She vocalised before exiting the closed room.

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚

The fluorescent lights flickered above her head as she sat at a table with a book in her hand. She shifted down as Chico took place next to her, a scowl on his face.

Inez hadn't looked up from her book, but she could feel Chico staring, he was burning a hole right through her head. "What the fuck is wrong with you, Ilieva?" He sneered, gripping her wrist and pushing her hands down so that the book was no longer obstructing her view of him. "Master Lin will have your fucking head." Chico whispered as he looked around the room to ensure nobody heard him. "What did I fucking tell you about going after those guys."

All emotion in Inez died as she stared back at Chico, not at all phased by him or his temper. "Then so be it." She retorted. "I don't care about Master Lin's stupid rules."

"No. You don't care about you. You're fucking selfish, Eva. You know that?"

"I know that."

"Why do I fucking bother?"

She lifted her shoulders and dropped them just as quickly, shrugging at the boy. "I don't know, Chico. Give up." Inez simply stated, bringing her book back into view. "I have."

"You have a fucking death wish, Eva." Chico stood from the table, smacking her book out of her grasp. "I'm sick of caring for you, you don't even care for yourself. Get better, hermana."

The girl should've felt upset with the words he said. Should've cried, should've reacted in any capacity— she didn't. Her eyes trailed with him as he slowly descended from her vision.

Chico was right. Inez did have a death wish, she didn't care about herself and she should get better.

Inez didn't want better. It'll hurt less this way. Setting herself up for failure— forcing people out. This way when the day finally came and she was gone. It wouldn't hurt him as much.

Because he'd have hated her by then.

This way was easier for both of them.

Maria watched from a distance, she was sent out to give Inez a new assignment, but watching Chico whisper with Inez put her off. She'd been in similar positions with Chico many times, the angry whispered conversations— she almost expected him to hit Inez. It never came.

That left Maria to wonder if it was a fault of hers that caused Chico to treat her the way he did— then she'd remember Chico was a psychopath.. and the only person capable of matching him was the brunette ahead of her. They were the same. Even if they wouldn't admit it.

In simpler words, Maria waited out Chico in fear he'd find a way to take his frustration with Inez out on her. Once he'd left she approached carefully, hoping Inez wasn't mad at Chico which would somehow affect the way Maria was spoken to.

"Marcus said he didn't want in." Maria quietly spoke, praying Inez wouldn't snap at her. "Master Lin has assigned you a new task; he wants you to bring Marcus back."

Inez met eyes with her, running a hand through her hair. "He said he didn't want to be here. Let him go." She voiced. "If the streets is where he'd rather be, so be it."

"But—"

"Angel." She rolled her eyes when her name was called by a second voice. "Go."

With the simple command, she was sent out of the shop, wandering the bustling streets of San Francisco. Inez would never disobey Master Lin— at least not to his face.

Eventually she made it to where Saya said he was, she looked up at the building long enough to make the vague outline of a boy before she continued her journey to the top.

Marcus stood at the ledge of said building, tears in his eyes as he rocked himself back and forth. He seemed to be contemplating jumping, he seemed to not be able to go through with it.

Inez wrapped an arm around his torso from behind, both of them overlooking the world before them. "The stars are quite lovely tonight, aren't they?" She had a small smile on her lips as she breathed in the cold breeze, she turned her head to face him. "What are you waiting for?" She murmured, tightening her hold on him. "If you're going to jump, do it. We'll do it together." Her voice was so sweet, full of kindness, her words the opposite— daring him to take not just his life, hers too.

A silence followed and the brunette opened her mouth to speak again. "Master Lin can protect you from the cops. And once he's done with you, you'll be able to protect yourself from anyone."

Parts of her wanted him to commit to this. Master Lin can't be disappointed if they're both dead— and she'll be free from the turmoil she believed her life is. She'd be dead.

Marcus readied himself to jump again only now her lips were hovering above his ear, her warm breath combating the cold breeze against his skin and her grip even tighter than before. "You're taking me with you." Inez reminded him, still looking over the ledge. "Do me a favour. Jump."

"You're fucking crazy." He muttered with a tremble to his voice. "What kind of reverse psychology bullshit is this?"

Inez finally turned to face him, her eyes softened at the sight of his tears. She gently ran her thumb along his cheek. "I know about the terrible shit going on in your head." She mentioned.

"What do you know?" Marcus spat at her.

"I know that you weren't going to jump. You couldn't. I've been there." Inez took a step back, taking him with her. She pushed herself flush against him, her head tilted to the side as the tips of her fingers danced along his arm. "I know you don't have anyone."

Inez lifted her head up, finding herself lost in his gaze yet again. "Come back with me. Please?" Her hand moved to his cheek, his breathing becoming heavy and his heartbeat erratic. "Let us help you."

And it's as though he'd found the answers to his prayers in the girl before him. Marcus let out a heavy sigh, staring down at her.

"Okay."