Into The Shadows

CHAPTER 3

"What are you saying?" Helda asked. She was one of the Empire's main fences.
"I'm saying that boy is a spy for the UNSC Empire," Mist repeated, twirling the diamond in her hands before handing it to Helda, ready for her pay.
"Why would Savini do that? We're just thieves!"
"That's exactly why, because we can control wars. Controlling us is an instant ticket to winning anything." Mist began pacing, lightly rubbing her tattoo.
"It hurts again, doesn't it?" Stanton asked as he walked in. Mist grunted and rolled up her sleeve.
"Aye, when I get uneasy it pricks," she muttered.

"Why don't you go talk to that boy? See if you can get anything out of him." Stanton suggested. Mist glanced up, as she realized that she had no idea where the spy was. "Where did you put him?" she asked.

Stanton waved his hand and began to walk away. Mist quickly accepted the discs from Helda with a brief smile of thanks, and followed him out of the Dome. When she caught up with him she glanced at his tattoo. It was the one for training. People who were good at teaching received it to become trainers. It was a square with a line through it.

"He's in there." Stanton said, and nodded to a cave with two guards posted in front of it. Mist smiled at him and stepped inside.

Honestly, she really shouldn't be here at all. Usually a guard or high-ranking thief took care of the dirty work like interrogation and such. But when it came to an issue of spying? It was her responsibility to stay informed and to protect her people. She saw the boy sitting on a rock, his brown hair tousled and his eyes red and puffy.
"I'm not going to hurt you," she said.

He turned his head over to her.
"I know," he said, tucking his knees in tightly and muffling his response.
"I just want to talk with you" she said calmly, when he suddenly raised his head and glared at her. She raised one eyebrow. Where did this anger come from?

"Why would I talk to a thief? Our leader always said thieves were worthless and you're living proof of that," he spat.

Jeez, he's got some fire for a twelve year old, Mist thought, desperately trying to keep her cool.
"You're from the UNSC Empire, aren't you?" she asked.
"Oh look! The thief finally learned how to think!" he said sarcastically, getting more and more angry. Mist took a deep breath and repeated in her head: Keep your cool and bury all anger.
"So you admit it. Great, but why spy on us?" she asked through a tightly clenched jaw.

He glared at her for a moment, and then he shapeshifted, his body and skin growing until he looked like someone in their mid-thirties "I'm from the HollowBridge Empire. I ran away to Savini's Empire to become a spy," he snarled.
"What's your name?" Mist asked. Perhaps if she knew more about him, she could talk to him.
"Steve," he said shortly. "Now let me out right now or else I'm going to fight my way out. Pathetic thief," he said.

Mist shut her eyes and thought of what Stanton once told her. 'If you show anger you seem weak, show patience and yo-'

"I won't tell you anything else," Steve growled. Mist felt something in her snap and her face contorted in fury, but she quickly hid it and allowed her face to fall into a mask of polite interest.
"Why did Savini send you?" she asked, her voice lowering dangerously as her anger grew.

"Are you deaf? I'm done talking to you thief," Steve shot back.
"We could do this for a long time. There are very few ways you can get out of this" she hissed. Then she leaned forward and grabbed his chin.
"It is your choice how long you will be in here. Now cooperate or I will make certain that you never leave this cell," she growled.

Steve crossed his arms in stubborn refusal, and she stepped back and walked away, muttering to herself. Stanton approached her and tilted his head.