The Awakening

Clarissa- Mother of Rebellion

Clarissa approached the assassin's house for the second time in twenty four hours, Oliver right next to her. She knocked on the door three times, and once again, the man opened the door and let them in.

"My child, I must ask you a question before we proceed. Are you loyal to the kingdom and its current ruler?"

"I think the King is unnecessarily cruel, and I think that there's no way he'll change. Take a look outside! Over half the kingdom is starving to death while the royals sit in their pretty castle watching circuses and sentencing innocent people to camps that will kill them! So I'm not loyal to the King, but I hope that we can fix our world into something better. For everyone."

Oliver nodded. "Same here."

The man smiled. "You have passed the test! Please follow me!"

The assassin led them through the house, and as he walked, he talked. "I'm sure you came here in search of Secretum Buntovnik. The thing is, Secretum is not a person, we are a movement. Our goal is to return our kingdom to a place that is fair, a place where a King's vote is not the only vote that matters. You could say that we are rebels."

"You're the rebellion?" Oliver asked.

"Yes. Everything we do has meaning, like our name! Secretum Buntovnik means Secret Rebellion in two ancient languages. We also did lengthy research to try and find out who you are, Clarissa, and we found someone I believe you would very much like to meet!"

"What should we call you, sir?" Oliver asked, allowed Clarissa to ponder what he said.

"Hood will do fine. Most of us use code names, if you would like to join, we suggest you figure one out soon."

"Join, sir?" Clarissa asked.

"Please, call me Hood. And yes, you did seek us out, did you not?"

Oliver and Clarissa shared a look, coming up with a decision.

"Yes." they said in unison.

"Well in that case, welcome to the cause!" they entered a large back room full of people typing on computers, walking to and fro with papers, throwing daggers and shooting arrows at targets, sword fighting, and a small shooting range outside.

Clarissa gasped. This was really a rebellion. It was amazing! Everyone looked up when they entered.

"Clarissa," said Hood. "Let me introduce you to your birth mother."

She had the same dark hair, the same face shape, and a very similar smile as she strode over and beheld her daughter.

"My god, you're really here! My dear girl!" Clarissa's mother sobbed as she held her, and a few seconds later, Clarissa was crying too.

"You're alive, I can't believe it! When you disappeared we all thought the worst." Clarissa noticed the gold streak in her mother's hair as she leaned back to take her mother in.

"And who is this?" Clarissa's mother looked to Oliver.

"Hi, I'm Oliver." he said, shaking her mother's hand.

"He saved me from a terrible situation. I owe him my life."

"Well, I thank you for your bravery, Oliver. Hood, what did you call my daughter?"

"She goes by the name "Clarissa", I believe her father at the palace named her that."

"Oh, my dear girl. Your real name is Keira Regina."

"Keira. I like that!"

"If you would like to keep the name Clarissa, that's alright with me, but if you want to change it..."

I think I'll change it. To Keira. In honor of you. Is my father here too?"

Keira's mother's eyes grew watery. "No, my dear. He died shortly after you were taken."

"Then I will change it in honor of him too." her mother smiled. "What should I call you?"

"Call me Rose. It was your favorite flower when you were a little girl."

"Alright! Family reunited, check! Oliver, Keira, I will take you to the rooms where you will be staying." Hood led them up a flight of stairs where there were two doors.

"Some of us stay here, but most go home at night. These are like dormitories, girls on the right, boys on the left. Training begins tomorrow at eight in the morning. Feel free to roam about the house!" Hood left them alone to chat.

"How many different names are you going to have by the time this is over?" Oliver asked.

Keira smiled. "I think this is it."

"So now I'm calling you Keira."

"Yeah, unless you want to call me Clarissa, that's fine too."

"Clarissa is the name the palace gave you. I think I'll stick to the one the people gave you," he smiled.

"You know, you would make a really great leader."

Oliver grimaced. "I don't think that's where my life is headed."

Keira held up her hands. "Okay, okay! I'm just saying!"

"So. Could you maybe show me how to use knives? Cause all I'm good at is running."

"And saving people in more ways than one," he smiled. "Sure, I'll show you. Come on!"

Keira dragged Oliver downstairs, where they grabbed six daggers and stood in front of a target.

"Right handed or left handed?" she asked.

"Right. You?"

"Both. I suppose it would help if one of them got hurt when I would be... out on a mission. Anyway, hold the dagger in your right hand, like a bike. Good. Rotate your wrist so the blade faces the target. Now keep your elbow high, like this," she lifted his elbow a little higher, and he turned to look at her.

"There are flecks of gold in your eyes. I never noticed." Keira blushed.

"Yep. It's hard to see from a distance. Anyways, just a little higher... there! Stop! Okay, when you throw, step with your left, flick with your right. Keep your eyes on the target."

Keira positioned herself correctly, then flung her dagger at the target. It hit the center of the bullseye. Everyone throwing daggers stopped to clap, then got back to work. Oliver stood gaping at her.

"Eyes on the target! Your turn. This is your first try, so if it doesn't go well..."

Oliver threw his dagger. It hit the outside of the center ring. Keira clapped as he smiled.

"That was great! Amazing for your first go around!"

Oliver took a bow. "Thank you. Your appreciation is well noted." Keira laughed at his impression. His smile grew.

"Go on, try again!" He took another shot, this time even closer to the center.

"That's great!" Shot after shot he got close, so, so close, until finally, he hit the bullseye.