The Forgotten

It's a Third World

Jersey's face is the first I see. After that, I soak in all the other murderers surrounding me. I see her brother, standing roughly a yard away, too close for my preference. I girl I recognize as Ebony Wouser, the target of many of Shain's cruel pranks. Some of my other fellow students are here, including one of Raven's ex-boyfriends.

My sister was a Forgotten magnet, wasn't she?

"Hello, Eris," Jersey says pleasantly, "Lance." Lance continues glaring at her. I'm guessing his cover is blown. Shame. It was, in my opinion, quite an asset.

"I'll take this to mean you're not killing the Banks," Ebony states. Lance turns his attention to her.

"I'll take that to mean you will," he retorts.

York says, "Their lives aren't ours to take."

"For once, you got something right," I snap. York grins.

"Feisty. Have you told her Lance? Her mark?" I half-glance at Lance, but decide York is better worth my bad attention.

"And who might that be?" I inquire.

"In good time, Eris," a voice I've always dreaded says.

"Well, Brace, there's no time like the present," I reply. He snorts.

"Ah, you always were cocky. A few years of intense training would have smothered that little quality of yours." I cross my arms.

"Yeah, I doubt that, highly." He looks impressed.

"Eris, I must admit, I am surprised you've made it this far. I believe you are finally ready," he says.

"Ready for what exactly?" I ask suspiciously, although I already suspect. They want me to kill my "mark".

"All of the information," Brace states.

I reply, "News flash. Thanks to the fact that you guys suck, I already have all the information." Of course I'm bluffing, but they don't know that. I can't let them know how valuable their info is.

Unfortunately, Brace calls my bluff rather quickly.

"Oh really? So you know who your mark is?"

I'm busted.

"I didn't tell her," Lance admitted. "She doesn't need to know."

"That is quite incorrect," Brace tells him, "if she is to eliminate her mark."

"I'm not," I remind him. "I've made my choice. Now leave us alone. Or kill us. It won't matter either way, because I can't vouch for Lance, but I'm going to fight you until one of us is dead." Brace snickers. This causes others, including Jersey and York, to chuckle as well.

Do they ever have an original thought? Oh yeah, how they kill their "marks".

Jersey says, "You might change your mind when you learn the truth."

"Just shut up, Jersey," Lance says. "Leave her alone, or I'll shoot you and your brother."

"Our lives don't matter," York speaks up. "The only thing that matters is the greater picture, which Eris will help us achieve."

"He warned you," I state. Then I shoot Brace in the arm. He exclaims in agony. I grin. "Now Daddy's got a nice new injury to match his son's."

He looks up at me, malice filling his normally composed face.

"What have you done to Will?" he demands.

"Why? Was he your favorite killer?" I ask playfully. "Don't worry. I'll tell him you died valiantly."