Woods

FIVE

"Crounch down! Now throw your head back and kick."

...

...

"Oi! I said to stay in movement! What's up with your right leg, it looks like its dead, move it already! No, not like that, you will fa-"

Thump

"Told you so."

Sighing, I walked towards the fifteen years old boy that just fell as he didn't listen to me. He seemed kinda at death's door, after only three hours of training.

I know, I was supposed to rest until I was sent in another mission. But as master reminded me earlier (quite harshly I must say), whilst holding said young boy by the collar, apparently 'resting' didn't mean 'taking naps all day long in trees'.

The big greasy man demanded me to train this guy. It was his first day in the camp and he needed to be operational as soon as possible.

What a pain, the poor dude was terrified. Even though he was trying to hide it, he was litterally exuding fear.

I didn't know how he ended up here, nor did I want to know. Most of us had been kidapped then sold. Some were slaves once sentenced to death and rescued by fate. Everyone had had a rough time. Few were the ones who lived a peaceful life and willingly decided to rot in here.

This kid's past was none of my concern. All that mattered right now was the fact that he was a newbie I needed to train to become a ruthless assassin. Just like me.

"Hey kid, you alright? Seems to me that you could use some rest time. Let's have a break." I said, tossing him an apple.

Without saying anything, the boy caught the apple and came sit next to me on a tree stump, dusting his pants.

He was tall for his age, I could look him in the eyes without bending my head down. His hazel orbs matched his short wavy hair. He was thin, yet with some training he would do a great athlete. His face, even if still childish, would be the weakness of many women in the future. He could become a perfect assassin.

A pleasant silence fell between us only interrupted by the sound of the boy munching his apple. I could feel his eyes on me as I cleaned and sharpened my set of daggers. I heard him fumble, hesitant to open his mouth. After some time he finally found the courage to speak his mind.

"...What's your specialty? I mean, what is your... favorite... way to..." He was unable to end his sentence and pathetically stared down. Without looking at him I finished what he couldn't.

"My favorite way to kill. Is that what you wanted to ask?"

"Ye..yeah."

"I prefer using my daggers and creep up behind my target so that they are not aware of my presence until it's too late." I answered with a neutral tone.

Every assassin here knew how to use every type of weapons, but as we sharpened our skills, we developped our own speciality. Some of us liked to mingle in their target's life before killing them, some prefered using axes or swords to fulfill their job. I personnaly was more of the shadow type, keeping myself hidden.

"Don't you feel guilty? Can you sleep at night at all knowing you ended the life of someone who didn't do anything to you?"

I abruptly looked at him, my eyes piercing through his.

"Look kiddo, that's what we are. We kill people because others don't have the courage to fight their own battles and much prefer relying on filthy assassins like you and me. If you can't handle it from day one, you will be of no use for this community and should leave."

Although 'leaving' wasn't possible, or at least extremely difficult if you wanted to stay alive, I knew some who prefered to try their chances in another world than in this one. My words seemed to sink in as the teen's eyes widened from my sudden outburst. As tears began to gather at the corner of his eyes he spoke.

"I am sorry, I never asked to be here, some assassins killed my parents and now I am supposed to be like them. A monster."

"We all suffered. We don't have anybody waiting for us to return. Now stop crying, you can't appear weak here, not everyone wants your well being. You have to stay alert at all time."

Drying his tears he clenched his jaw hard. I could see he was trying to appear stronger. This kid reminded me a lot of myself on my first year here. I couldn't help but feel sympathy for him. I knew exactly what he was experiencing and if it wasn't for my friendship with Ethan, I probaly would have quit a long time ago.

"What was your life before living here?" The boy wondered out loud, probably hoping I would share my darkest secrets with him.

Without answering I stood up from the tree stump and walked to the training field.

"Break time is over, now bring yourself over there, shrimp." I said over my shoulder.

I could heard him hurrying to catch up with me. "Kyle. My name is Kyle." He said firmly.

"Whatever, shrimp."

The boy grumbled causing me to chuckle.

We might get along just fine.