"She hasn't been using her fire as much recently," A feminine voice, deep, a tad bit on the older side. "I'm surprised to say the least."
"Yes, but they're running out of time." A younger, boyish voice adds, anxious. "There's still so much more information to gather, and only two months to do it. They haven't even cracked the surface of this entire mission yet."
Three people, a small family with a tiny child, race through sandy hills and take shelter behind colourful boulders, the sun setting just past the horizon. Voices chip strangely in the distance, the explosive sound of motors speeding by taking over their subtle breaths. A little girl is pressed tightly against a woman's chest, her uncontrollable cries muffled by the fabric.
Someone speaks, a man, but no sound comes out. Not even after the group of modified vehicles, dusty and beaten, disappear into the distance, all sound fading with them, even the wind is muted. I watch motionlessly, invisible, as the man takes the risk and scans their surroundings, finding they have been abandoned; he takes the woman's hand and pulls her along with him, the child still pressed against her chest. The man gestures for the mountains, gradients of red, orange, and yellow, standing tall, piercing the clouds. They make a break for it, the man being forced to slow down to keep up with the woman and child, frantically scanning their surroundings. They're hardly armed, just a bat and a dull, rusty kitchen knife.
The Earth darkens as they continue sprinting for the mountains.
We've reached the end of the first month, Antonio had reported our findings to the school, breaking the no-contact rule. They haven't gotten back to us so far, but since then we've both had the lingering sensation of being watched.
We haven't made much progress over the past few days either, the herbalists have been busy producing and the other leaders have been scouting people and places to raid, though other than for food, they haven't found very many worthwhile resources. Meaning Antonio and I have been stuck in place, nobody to sell to due to no drugs, and the drugs likely taking a while to finally produce enough to sell. The order came in yesterday, no note or message from Eriq, meaning that if he truly is close to finishing his escape plan for the women, we won't hear about it for another long while.
Not like I'll need it personally, but the others in this country? It could mean life or death.
"Over there," Antonio mumbles against me, and a moment later, I find a truck speeding towards us, flamethrower on top and boosters beneath it, fangs in the front similar to a sabertooth tiger. It speeds uphill and stops a few feet away from us. The others come running with weapons, especially Leon and Shushi, prepared to shoot first, ask questions later, crossbows aimed for the windshield, until Antonio gestures for them to stand down. The door to the truck slams open, and out hops a man, clothed head to toe in clearly freshly washed garments. He's relaxed as he marches up, focused solely on Antonio and I, and when he speaks, his deep voice is like butter, relaxing, manipulative.
Pierre Guiere, four years later.
That son of a bitch.
"What's up, everyone? I hope you don't mind me parking here." He prances towards us, smooth, stable, confident.
What the fuck is he doing here?
"Who the fuck are you and what makes you think you can just waltz in here like you own the place?" Leon questions, voice seething as he refuses to lower his weapon.
"We'll skin you alive and make you eat your own guts!" Shushi adds, copying Leon's posture.
Antonio only says one word, steady and in control with his arms crossed, muscles flexed. Has he picked up on who this guy is yet? Does he know he, too, is an assassin? "Speak."
Pierre shrugs nonchalantly, "Just figured I'd join you guys."
"Huh?" I want to smack the fuck out of him.
Did he get brain damage since our last assignment together? He's beaten me a few times while I was stuck being a human punching bag, but never that hard or for very long. In fact, he spent most of it just staring at me and talking about his day.
Why did they have to send him of all people, though? Did they even send him or did he just show up?
No, he knows not to meddle in another assassins assignment, he must've been tasked to us for some reason.
Is it because we broke the no contact rule? Sure, I guess we could've found out more information on our own, but having the school to do research in the background would've helped expedite things and ensure we complete the mission on time.
At least, that's what Antonio says.
"So," He continues after no one has spoken. "Where should I start?"
"We don't allow outsiders in!" Shushi shouts, taking a step forward, finger tightening on his weapon.
"Especially not after last time!" Leon adds, doing the same.
Pierre eyes me despite his eye not being visible, then mumbles, "Comme c'est triste."
"What was that?" Leon yells.
"What disgusting, vile shit did you just say to us!" Shushi adds.
"Leave!" An outsider speaks up from the side lines, and soon more join in.
"You're not wanted!"
"Fuck off!"
"Kill yourself!"
They begin closing in, until Antonio and I step forward, cutting them off and placing our backs to him, Antonio speaks, "Hold it! What makes you think any of this is your call?"
"But Di-"
"No 'but Dima' anything, what makes you think any of you can decide what happens here?" When no one responds, he repeats, "Well?"
"Understood, Dima," They bow their heads, speaking solemnly and with a touch of fear.
"Good, now," We turn back to face Pierre once again and Antonio remains serious. "Join my wife and I in our office, since it's clear everyone else is unable to see reason. Leon and Shushi-"
"Yes?"
"Get back to work on raids, don't think I haven't noticed you two slacking. It makes me sick to be around you."
We arrive in the air conditioned office and my shoulders slouch upon feeling the cold air, my body shivering as my sweat turns cool. We all take our seats, Antonio and I on the side of the door and Pierre on the side of the small window. He removes his headscarf, revealing short, wavy, golden blond locks with silver tips, gentle blue eyes, thin perfect lips, an adorable button nose, and a well groomed goatee. But on top of all that, a scar on the left side of his forehead, deep and a tad paler than the rest of his perfectly clear skin. It doesn't appear to have been a clean cut either.
When it speaks, it's like a massage within my mind, focusing his attention solely on me. "My dear Disciple Two, it has been so long since we've worked together."
Dear? Did he seriously call me dear with that sweet, buttery—manipulative—voice? He turned me in to the higher ups and nearly got me killed in the end.
Antonio places a hand on top of mine as they are folded together on the table, his voice steady, protective, "Who are you and what are you doing here?" His hand is warm, a little sweaty, as it's rested above my own, it makes my heart pound. "Why were you sent here?"
"I don't answer to you," Pierre frowns, then focuses back on me, smiling once more, forcing the warmth inside me to spread to my chest, throat, and face. "But my dear, you really must be more careful. I hope there are no hard feelings between us after last time, but I hope you understand I was just trying to follow the rules and get everyone out safely. I'm sure someone as smart and strategic as you would be able to recognize that."
"Pierre-"
"So that's your name, huh?" Antonio cuts me off, but this time, Pierre's smile doesn't fade. "I don't appreciate you manipulating my partner with your pretty boy face and voice. It's honestly insulting that you think that would even work on her."
I turn to find Antonio tense, pissed off, as he holds onto my hands with a devoted strength. I focus back on Pierre to find his beautiful, kind expression, unwavering. "Enough." My voice comes out cold, and finally they both cease their macho war. "I see that you were sent here due to us breaking no contact-"
"Due to him breaking no contact." He cuts me off, nodding over to Antonio as he emphasizes 'him.'
"Like I said," I resume. "Due to us breaking no contact, it's clear the school decided to send another assassin to help out, but what exactly was the plan? You just show up, no background information, no sneaking or espionage. Do you understand just how much this could've fucked us up? And for your information, Disciple Five is my boyfriend and partner, so I do not appreciate you disrespecting him like he's some novice, womanizing pig like Brian."
Silence ensues, deafening and heartpounding. "Fine." He finally speaks, still soft, but now quieter. "If you must know, the school is losing faith in you two as a pair. It, no, we believe that Disciple Five is slowing you down, holding you back. But they can see that you two are now intertwined, so I was tasked to come in and follow your orders, Disciple Two, no matter what it is, to assist in the completion of the mission." His eyes meet mine, and they glisten with moisture. "You two have really earned your titles and respect, you know that? You both really make things look easy from the outside. To be honest, it makes some of us in the background kind of jealous. I'm attending the university, if you didn't know. I'm taking the steps to work harder and earn my post-graduate title, yet even after all this time, your ranks are still unreachable." His hands shake, but only for a split second before he clasps them and stabilizes himself. "I just don't get it, you both are such terrible people, you hardly even follow the rules anymore—fuck, you guys even contacted in a no-contact mission—yet somehow you're still the top ranked? Have you heard from Disciple One at all yet? They are fighting for their fucking life in school. Everyday for them is like a death sentence, they can't trust anyone, not even the teachers because even they are trying to raise their ranks."
This is so stupid.
"We don't care about your tactics," Antonio speaks coldly, and for the rare occasion, I actually agree with him.
"So you're here on an assignment for school? Like a work studies thing I guess?" I ask, adjusting my hands so then I'm also holding his. "Then if so, I need you to look into a few people for me. You'll be traveling around Rapard a lot, so make sure you're stocked up on food, supplies, and weaponry."