Without Silver Lining

Chapter 1

3 years later

Year 2060

Daniel saw a flash a thin shadow run behind him. He held his dual knives firmly in his steady hands. They were his fathers. It was tragic he never actually met him.

Ricky cursed under his breath beside him. It was pitch black in the abandoned building and there was no sign of this shadow.

Daniel stepped aside as something grazed his knee. It was sharp, but small. Suddenly, something pricked him on his neck. He reached towards it when Ricky cursed loudly. 

"I warned you" the figure said as he emerged from the darkness, facing Daniel. "We could have been great allies. Yet, you chose you chose him over me."

"Wow thanks for that vote of confidence" Ricky said sarcastically

"Unfortunately, your motives differ from mine." Daniel remarked. "You see, I think big." Daniel said as he yanked the needle from his neck and held it up for the figure to see.

The figure laughed. "Little is more, right?"

Poison. Obviously. He should have seen this coming. Based on his little to no knowledge on the most popular poisonous concoctions on the black market these days, Daniel guessed it would be 3-5 minutes before he was knocked out completely.

Ricky understood Daniel's plan without even having to look at him. Four years ago, Daniel confronted Ricky with his need in a partner in crime. Literally. Ricky and Daniel were best friends growing up in good ol' New Orleans. It was Ricky's family of con-artists that took in Daniel and his siblings when his mother died.  After his older brother Jason has passed away when Daniel was 15 and Cassandra was 13, Daniel and Ricky had a bit of a falling out. Daniel wanted to make a difference in this world of mercenaries and hooded figures but, despite growing up with criminals, Ricky genuinely had a kind heart and didn't approve of Daniel's ways. He still doesn't.

Ricky dived to grab the figures neck and landed a solid punch as Daniel turned a corner. Ricky yanked on the figures collar and threw an uppercut followed by a bleak hit on the temple until the figure was on the ground. Rick snapped his wrists behind his back as his firm grip held them in place. He was starting to feel woozy with the poison kicking in.

The figure however, was still had something left in him. He yanked forward, flipping Ricky onto his back as he held a dirty leather boot to his neck.

Ricky heard a gasp and scarlet leaked from the figures chest. The boot on his neck loosened and he threw the figure off.  Daniel stood behind figure and yanked off the man's black hood.

"It's Marsh. I remember him, although, we only met once." Daniel lightly commented. "Oh, and call Karen before we pass out." He said casually, like murdering someone was just no big deal.

"Did you scale the building?"

"Yes. It's all clear. She should have no problem entering without being spotted."

"Was murdering him necessary?" Ricky asked slightly annoyed.

Daniel sat down in silence. Ricky didn't understand the how this worked. No, he didn't want to understand. Out here, it was kill or be killed. There was no third option. Daniel didn't like doing any of this. But he had lost too much to believe that there could be another way to survive in this world anymore.