Renegade

Chapter 3: The New Thing Called Hope.

Years ago, way before Sin was alive, the Maestro descended and forever changed the world. A strange voice calling himself a deity. There were multiple accounts of how he looked, a tall fair-skinned man with a top hat and colorful suit, or a centurion, or a man with a beard big enough to hide his face. Sin concluded he appeared differently to each person. But he always had the same voice. Orotund and dignified.

The Maestro created the floating city, The Arena, and selected a thousand people from different countries as Echoes to participate in his system, the Orchestra, he also referred to them as awakened ones. Sin read a few dozen novels with a similar concept to further his understanding. But that was where his interest ended. Despite studying in the same school (technically) as the Echoes, Sin had never spoken to one.

'Probably a good thing given my track record.'

Antagonizing an Echo sounded like a fast ticket to the morgue.

Which Sin was about to buy...

Koa was his best friend.

His one and only friend.

Which explained why Sin threw caution and reason to the wind whenever he was involved. Pranking the mathematics professor? Sure, why not! His grade took a dive but Mr. Finn had green hair for weeks. Skipping class to chase a lead in an old cold case? Sounds like a reasonable use of time.

But he should've drawn the line at: 'Spy on Isla Marlow.'

Isla was the redhead from the locker. Tamara's friend and one of two people who most likely knew of her location. She also happened to date Number 5 of the top ten Echoes of the academy. Torin Hearst.

'Do you know how scary you have to be to crack the top 5 at sixteen years old?'

Any person with a brain would not dare to follow Isla. But there was Sin, hidden behind a tree, watching Isla drink from a juice box.

'If only I knew it would lead to this, I would've... ugh. I would've still told him.'

Maybe he wasn't as smart as he liked to believe he was. His father used to spout about loyalty being the death of sense and he was beginning to see his point.

Someone in a black hoodie with red letters sat next to Isla, facing the other side. She paid him a glance and offered him a polite smile. The guy seemed to say something and she replied. A few seconds later, Isla stood up, and so did the other person but they headed in opposite directions.

Sin sighed scanning for the next hiding spot when his eyes landed on something else. A thick yellow envelope on the bench. He looked to the sides before approaching it. From the little slit, he could see what it was.

Money. From the thickness and color, loads of it.

The guy definitely didn't have anything that big on him when he came which meant the envelope must have been in Isla's purse.

He took it, his body was ahead of his brain in the next step. He headed after the redhead. Catching up to her, he halted at a reasonable distance.

Sin cleared his throat. "Hey."

Isla turned, a frown immediately occupying her face. Recognition and then apprehension as she raised a hand to her lips.

"I have a boyfriend."

Sin gritted his teeth, although he wasn't interested in her, it still stung to be regarded in such a way right off the bat.

"I am aware... I think you dropped this."

He presented her with the envelope.

Isla's face was drained of all color as she grabbed it and immediately buried it in her purse. "Oh, I am sorry. Thank you."