How to Raise an Assassin

CHAPTER 5: I GET FRONT ROW SEATS TO THE HUNGER GAMES

I should've known Ash would find out sooner or later. Rumors spread, trickling down from parents who use my family's services to solve their problems, but then talk about us as if we're monsters behind our backs. Soon, their children overhear the gossip before their parents strictly forbid them from having anything to do with me or my family.

Oh well, at least I could say I had a friend for a full day. That was a new record for me.

When Ash sat down at my lonely cafeteria table he didn't hesitate to jump right into business. "A couple of girls came up to me and told me some interesting stuff about you and your family. Is it true?"

I deflected the topic as much as I could. "Is what true?" I took a bite out of my salad with croutons shredded cheese, cherry tomatoes, apple slices, and walnuts. Before you make fun of me by asking what seventh grader eats salads, I'll let you know that the one who is an assassin does. I don't do meat.

"Come on Zay," he said a bit playfully. "Is your family really a part of a gang?"

A gang I can deal with. Somehow, that was a couple of rungs lower on the ladder of evil. A family of elite assassins was much worse. It was slightly above a family who sings Christmas carols in October.

My silence was an admission to the truth.

"Oh my God, your family is a part of a gang." Ash suddenly was on the edge of his seat, leaning closer. "Which one? Is it the Locusts? I love those guys."

That surprised me. My face probably looked like I just saw a zombie riding a dolphin.

Ash explained himself. "If I'm being honest, I like what the Locusts fight for. They fight because even a bug's life is meaningful."

I decided to play along and not mention the fact that I was in the Locusts' rival gang and was in fact about to go slaughter a bunch of recruits after school. "Yes, a worthy cause."

"So it's true then. Zay, that makes you much more awesome. What division is your family a part of? I heard the Royden Hive is the strongest."

I tried to focus more on my salad than this conversation.

"No way," Ash read my need to change the topic wrongly. "You're a part of the Royden Hive! You must know The Queen then?"

By now I had finished my salad and had no way to distract myself. "Look Ash, I really don't feel comfortable talking about this. Can we chat about something else?"

Ash sat back and nodded. "Sure, I'm sorry. I just, I respect certain gangs for what they do."

"You mean murder, sell drugs, and gang banging?" I filled in. How could this son of a mayor be infatuated with the gang life? Was he insane?

"Well, that's a part of it," Ash admitted. "But it's not all. Most gangs are formed to protect the most vulnerable people. But, why am I telling you this. You know why the Locusts formed—to stop the Reapers who want to keep away the poor."

I wanted to rebuttal that the Locusts weren't all clean and squeaky themselves. But if I'm going to lead Ash to believe I was a part of them, then I couldn't appear to be siding with the Reapers at all. That was like a Cubs fan switching over to the Sox.

Luckily, I was saved by the bell signaling the end of lunch. As I got up to toss my food, Ash followed me with his lunch. "I was thinking we can do the math problems after school together. I'm not very good with volume and surface area."

There was nothing I would like more than to sit down after school and do homework with a friend like a normal seventh grader. But I had training, followed by my family project to get done.