After The Arena

The First Rule

It had been easy. 

      Far easier than Dixon had expected. Once he slipped into the crowd, his mind switched to kill mode, and everything become instinct--Use that family walking past to get closer, hide behind this merchant's booth. Safely within the shade of the stand, the apprentice slid his three needlepoint knives through the spaces in his fingers. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes, memorizing the target's face. 

      He'd have to time it perfectly to get the tavern's window a clear view. Counting down to five, his dark eyes flew open, and one word erased all other thoughts from his mind.

Kill.

     Dixon moved like a shadow. Feet barely skimming the ground, he was behind the man in moments. He exhaled the breath he'd been holding, locking eyes with his mentor for a heartbeat before beginning. He had to move quickly. 

One to the spinal cord, severing the ability to escape. Two seconds before collapse.

      The blade made no sound as it slit the cloths and buried itself in his flesh. 

One to the heart, stopping it quickly. One second before collapse.

       Before the target could cry out, Dix plunged the other knife through his back into his heart. Then, with long practiced finesse, the maroon haired teen freed his weapons of the body, and stowed them in his jacket. Always have a spare. The brute collapsed, and after waiting until the market froze entirely, he stepped forward cautiously, like he was afraid. 

       Kneeling down, he pressed his gloved fingers to the man's neck, searching for the life he'd ended. Snapping his head up, Dixon's eyes met with the nearly glowing turquoise of a slightly older boy a few feet away. He could see the terror in his dilated pupils. Not at the body, his strange eyes had barely grazed it--the boy was afraid of...him. 

       Dix mentally cursed. Who'd think the killer would respond first? Had he not been fast enough? Had the strange, pale boy seen him?       "Is anyone a doctor?!!?" He called, tearing his gaze away from the other boy. There were more urgent matters at hand. Using the commotion, he slipped the gauntlet off the corpse. Melting into the shadows, Dixon hesitated. 

       What would Ada do to him if she'd seen him break the first rule?

Never leave a witness.

          It was useless now, anyway. The male had vanished, like a ghost. Sighing inwardly, he gathered his courage and slipped back inside the tavern. Plopping down noiselessly into his seat, he looked up at Ada cautiously. Her face was a stony mask, and inwardly he quailed at the thought of her punishment.

         But after five heartbeats, the woman's face split into a huge smile.      "You did it, Dix. Just as good as I thought you were." He handed over the gauntlet under the table, and the look of satisfaction on her face was unbelievable. She really hadn't seen anything???? Dixon maintained his passive look, nodding slightly.

     Then...he wouldn't have to kill the boy. It didn't matter. If that guy saw what the assassin could do, then there's no way he'd go the the authorities. A small smile wandered into his lips. Finally, he could get some time off. He'd finally be able to dig into that growing 'to be read' pile in his room. 

***

     Cy hummed cheerily to himself as he unlatched the window. Securing his sickles and chain to his back properly, he swung out onto the window pane, carefully closing the glass without a sound. Every inch of him was covered in black, so he blended in to the night perfectly. He was a shadow singing quietly to itself. 

     When he got the the fifth floor, movement inside a window caught his sharp green eyes. Shimmying over, Cyrus stopped just the the shadows, and gasped quietly. Inside the window...was the absolute cutest little girl he'd ever seen. Controlling his squeal of delight, he slid his knife through the crack in the panes, and drew it up. The latch came undone, and the excitable teen swung into the shabby room.

     With a flourishing bow, he said      "Sweet angel, I'm here to take you away!!" Looking up with shining eyes, the girl squeak-screamed in surprise, dropping the bandages in her hands and falling over herself to scramble away.      "G-g-get away!!!" She said hoarsely. Staying where he was, but standing up straight, Cy said gently    "There's no need to be afraid, little princess. I mean you no harm." He opened his black gloved palms to show he had no weapons--at least, none that she could see. 

      The girl didn't calm down, her pupils dilated in sheer terror, breathing erratic. The assassin's trained eyes began to see her more clearly now that he was closer. She was thin--much too thin, the cloths hung off her like drapes. And the way she stood, slightly hunched...even her size could be considered stunted, he figured it was malnutrition. Her cheeks were still rather hollowed, and her big, pretty brown eyes sunken in. Her hair was lackluster, her hands were half bandaged--he could go on. But the fear radiating off of her...it wasn't right.

     Frowning, Cyrus took a step forward. Tears began to leak out of her eyes, and he froze. "H-hey, now..." He said "Don't cry, Beauty, please. I just wanna help. Look," Slowly, hands still where she could see them, Cy bent down to the floor, and picked up the disheveled roll of bandages. "I'll help you. If your pretty little hands need these, it'll hurt to do anything. Right?" 

    After about a half hour, he managed to coax her out of the corner. Cyrus sat on the floor cross legged while she sat on the couch. He got her to talk to--when he tried to persuade her to leave with him, she explained why she had to stay. The boy she was living with had left everything behind, to free her, the last of her people, from slavery. 

    Finally, it was time for him to leave. "Are you absolutely sure I can't spirit you away, fair maiden?"     "Yes." She replied quietly, firmly. Cyrus sighed "Fine, then. But I will be back to check on you. She gave him a wondering, exasperated look.    "What? You've peeked my curiosity." Sending her a cheeky grin, he vanished out the window. 

    Technically, Cy thought as he hummed to himself on the way back I didn't break the first rule. I wasn't on an official job after all...