4 Defining Scars

"... Her?!... What did... "

Even as my breathing had became unsteady, I still heard the muffled sounds of three other people.

"Bring her here?! Are you insane?! "

"I'll take responsibility... You just make sure she doesn't die. "

Moving my aching head as I opened my eyes to a dark sight. Blindfolded as I sat up and movedy head around to the echoes of the strangers around me.

"Hey... She's awake! "

The conversation on the other rp or far away suddenly stopped as the subtle clicking of boots came closer to me. Stopping, I flinched as a cold hand grazed the side of my cheek. Lifting my hands and removing my blindfold, my eyes adjusted as I was in disbelief as I saw three strangers in an old building.

"Wh-where am-"

Feeling uneasy, I suddenly turned and threw up the meal from before as I began feeling uneasy again.

"Oh... Twenty, she passes out before saying another word! "

"Deal! "

As I finished, I turned and got a better look a the three of them as it was two men and a woman dressed black, tactical get up.

"Who are you people? "

As I sat up against the cold wall, I caught my breath while waiting for a response. Turning my gaze as theam infornt crouched besidee and showed himslef in the honey bright light from the setting sunset.

"I'm Rez... For the moment, I was passing by when I saw you collapse ontl the road... I didn't want to leave you there, so, I brought you with me. "

Lowering my gaze as I had already begun shifting my emotions out of my head as I got the feeling these guys were dangerous. lookkng as the two in the back exchanged money at the bet they placed, I turned to face the boy who was no older than eighteen and asked where we were. "

As he was aboit to speak, he suddenly stopped as the three instantly changed in behavior as they reached for theory sides as a mam came shouting at the top of his voice.

"Hey! I brought takeout-whoa... what's with the tension in the room? "

His laid back style and manner of speaking suggested they were all teens. As the strange boy turned, he asked me for my name. Looking at him as I felt a familar replay from before, I spoke, giving him my fake name. "

"Mistela... Who are you people? "

Smiling while chuckling slightly, he raised his gentle gaze and spoke with such warmth.

"We don't exactly seem like normal people, given that, if I told you, I would have to kill those three in order for you to continue knowing our secret... "

Lowering my gaze and closing my eyes, I remained unfazed as I opened my eyes and caught him offguard as I spoke.

"As long as I do not know who you are, I am free to go... Correct? "

Lowering his gaze, his whole demeanor seemed to change as the girl behind him supported my statment.

"That's right, doll... If you are done here, bye! "

Pushing my aching body as I used the wall to stand, my breathing became uneven as I excused myself. Making my way to the doorway as I passing them by, I saw the light of the doorway. Letting go of the wall for support, I felt my legs and arms burn in pain as I had pushed myself past my limit.

Suddenly, I could no longer bare the intensity of my pain and collapsed. However, to my surprise, as I fell backwards, the boy gently caught me as I struggled to keep my breathing under control.

"Doesn't seem like I can very well let you go on this state now can I? "

Pushing my limits and tocuhing his face, I kept a heavy gaze as I spoke while my voice was soft and low.

"What's... With you... Men... Always getting in... My way... "

His soft grin became the last thing I saw as my vision faded from around me and I blacked out into an empty dream. All the while, my mind was wandering as I heard the boy begin to order the other three around.

"Get the first aid kit, Lizzy... "

"Agh? Why should I? She's just a civilian... "

"This is not a request, its an order. "

"Hmm! Fine... But you'll owe me, Rez. "

"Dav, Jin, go on ahead without us, well meet up at the rendezvous... "

As the sound of heavy boots passed me by, my hearing began to waver as the boys voice became more distant.

"What's with you Rez... This isn't the behavior a leader should exhibit infront of his men. "

"She faught many battles... When I saw her struggling at the base of the mountain, I wanted to go help her... "

"But? "

"She continued through the pain as she was falling apart... I've never met another girl, besides you, who fights so hard... It was as if she was not fighting for her own life... Hmm... Then she turned into the city and I knew, she didn't care what happend to her, she just wanted to save someone or something by running away... "

A moment of silence passed then both as the girl exhausted a heavy sigh while ordering the boy to help her.

"You know the consequences for the involvement of a civilian... Rez... Rez! "

"Hmm? Sorry, I was lost in thought for a sec, don't worry, I know what will be waiting when we get back... "

"Is this girl really worth risking your life, bro? "

"Hmm... I can't believe it myself, she just hold a special something that made me want to protect her no matter what... That's all the reason I broke protocol."

"She'll face more hardship the longer she's with us..."

"She's smart and strong... Besides, I figure she will fit right in where we come from. I'm sure she won't turn us down. "

"You mean... You plan to recruit her?! Rez! "

"What?! Its not like she'll survive out in the world alone... It doesn't even look like she was heading anywhere specific. I want to help, and recruiting her is her best chance at a life. "

A short moment passed as Lizzy spoke with such hurt behind her words.

"Rez... You know what we do in our line of work. Do you really want to this girl with the burden of that? "

Remaining silent for a minute, she spoke again.

"I thought so, look, after we finish our mission, we leave her back where you found her... Rez... Are you listening? "

"I am... And you are right. We had no choice but to get dragged into this life, its not right for me to do the same to this girl either... "

As I heard the boy stand while feeling the girl touching my arm, his footsteps hung above mg head and left as he faded into the distance.

"Hey... Mistela or whatever, you heard all that right? I bet you did... Its your choice... You have an hour until they come back for me. Before then, I expect you'll be gone. "

Opening my eyes as she punched a sharp pain into my leg, I sat up while catching my breath. Brimming with energy, my mind and body were sharper than ever before. Getting up as she looked at me worth glistening eyes, I turned to the doorway and back as I ram from the building. Finding a shortcut into the forest, I rushed through the branches as quickly and recklessly as possible.

Running as if I was presented the opportunity to leave behind my troubles, I pushed myself as I over over fallen trees and stopped at the edge of a cliff overlooking the entire city.

Collapsing on both my knees, I caught my breath while the breeze rolled past my face and questioned whether my life was mine to life as I wanted.

The constant fear and uncertainty of it all made my head scramble to try to understand what it was I really wanted...

Sitting down, I turned my gaze to tbe horizon as the sun finally set and night began creeping in. Looking ahead, I touched my chest as I wondered if what I do would matter when faced with what wipl make me happy.

A sudden flash of the boys smile crossed my mind and as I clenched my shirt, I felt the same, fluttering echo from before. In that moment, I eased my hand from my chest and coldly gazed out into the night sky.

What I decided to do next was a gamble on whether I would invite warmth back into my life or something much more colder and darker than ever before.

Standing up, I closed my eyes as I lifted my head in the breeze and made my decision while being certain that it was what I decided I wanted to do.

I would become stronger so I would stop relying on other to keep me alive. If anything, my mind had never been clearer as looking back at my life, I had always been aided by others.

Heading back to the old building, I walked in through the front door and noticed as I met Lizzys gaze that I had made my choice. Looking away in disappointment, she pushed forward as she sat me down and asked me what I wanted to know.

"Who exactly are you guys? "

Inhaling a breath, she spoke with a distant look in her eyes as if talking about it brought her pain.

"We're a small cell brought up by a large company shareholder to execute jobs for the right price... The leader of our squad is my older brother, Rez... We also have Dev and Jin. Though, those two are relatively talented idiots at best... "

"You work for someone else... And you get paid-"

"No... God, no. We are given a fixed amount of money when executing every mission... Once the mission ends, we keep what we made for ourselves... You are taking this pretty well for someone who is supposed to see reason. "

"Believing and accepting are two diffrent concepts... However, whether what you say is true, denying it after seeing how you and your group behaved when that guy walked through the door, I would rather not doubt you are lying first the same reason you gave me a choice in the first place... You need more people in your group to survive as I noticed the equipment on most of you was half torn and worn out... "

Shocked by my response as her expression suggested I was right about everything, she started out laughing and stopped to meet my gaze.

"I'm Liz... But you can call me, Lizzy... Hmm. I neber would have expected you to figure that much out in no time at all. I'm impressed. "

"What will happen to me now that I know all these things? "

Looking ahead as she sat up straight and laughed as she spoke.

"What? Its not like we are gonna kill you or anything... I mean, unless its ordered, otherwise, you'll be fine! "

Lifting my legs, I turned to dace the door and asked about Rez.

"My brother? Hes the leader of our group. Without him, we would have died long ago from lacking funds... Hmm! He's going to be so happy you decided to stay with us! "

Turning to meet her glistening gaze as it was somewhat more beautiful than before. I smiled lightly as she went on about how amazing her older brother was.

"Oh! That reminds me... What are your strengths?! "

Turning to meet my gaze, I stood my head up from my knees and tilted mg head slightly as she asked in more detail.

"What I mean is, what are you good at? "

Thinking about her question, I turned and spoke.

"I can tell the truth in a form of a lie... "

Looking at me with teary eyes, she bursted out laughing as I blushed into my knees as she stopped and apologized.

"What do you mean by that? "

Turning to her, I moved my body to face her and as I held her hand, I pit it toy stomach and spoke while holding her gaze.

"I was worried that I wpildnt have anyone who would tale care of my child... Please, will you become my woman and run away with me.. "

As her smile dissapeared while shifting her eyes to her hand and then to my face as I continued.

"This was the only reason I came back, I want you to come with me and be mine, Lizzy! Will you come with me?! "

As she met my shaking hands, it became clear as she lowers her guard from before.

"What are you-"

Letting her hands go, I gave her a soft smile as she soon reilized I was joking.

"You-that wasn't funny! "

Sitting back as she fanmed herself, I sat looking at the moonlit doorway. Not long after, Lizzy sat beside me as she rested her head on my shoulder.

"That's a dangerous skill... What will I do of you use it on my brother? "

Talking softly as the might began setting in, I spoke honestly.

"Your brothers an idiot... He let himslef get taken in by a damsel in distress... "

"Hmm... True... Hey, what is your real name? "

She reilized the name I gave before was not my real name. Smirking, I continues using the fake name.

"Misty... "

"Hmm... Sound slike a stripper name. "

Chuckling for the first time in weeks, I rested my head over hers as we continued talking about what will eventually happen once everyone gets back.

"Ugh... I can't wait to get home and tale a nice, long bath. "

"Are you the only girl in your group? "

Looking off in the distance as we moved to sit out in the rooftop and carried on our conversation.

"Since before you came... Yes. Can't tell you enough how many guys got their junk smashed in for looking at me funny. "

"I bet. "

While gazing out into the night sky, Lizzy yawned as her brother and the others were taking longer than usual.

"Hey... Misty, think you can wake me when my brother gets here? "

"Hmm. "

Smiling as she rested her head over my shoulder again, I looked out onto the colorful city as the lights brought me comfort. Not long after, I chuckled as Lizzy began to talk in her sleep.

Resting my head over hers like before, I felt at peace and in that moment, I took a slight nap as I closed my eyes.

As I exhausted a heavy breath, I reilized more than an hour had passed as the moon was in a diffrent place than when we went to sleep. Realizing her brother or squad had not returned, I lifted my hand to wake her when suddenly, the sound of a click echoed in the vast forest as I turned to fave down the barrel of a silver sidearm pointed at my face.

Unable to move as he had me pinned, I saw my life flash before emy eyes as I saw his finger steadily love with the slightest pressure. My mind had suddenly started scrambling as my heart was beating out of my chest.

A loud gunshot was the last thing I heard as I hit the ground without knowing what just happened.

As I regained my composure, I looked down and saw the man holding the gun motionless on the floor. As I turned to look at Lizzy, she had pulled her sidearm and fired before the man could kill me. Holding her stomach as she was also shot, I realized the single gunshot I heard was two seperate shots that rang out at the same time. In other words, Lizzy pushed me out of the way in the last second as she took the hit.

Collapsing onto the ground as I rushed over to help her, she pushed throught he pain as she asked me to go get her med kit in the first floor.

Returning and seeing her in pain, she ripped open her shirt and asked me to take the bullet out with the pliers. Nodding intently, I picked up the thin pliers and dug into her wound to retrieve the bullet. Letting out a slight scream as I took out the bullet, she then told me to sanitize tbe wound and then sow it together with a needle and thread.

Without delay, I clamed my nerves and closed up her wound. Afterwards, I pushed forward as she gasped and dug her nails into my shoulder. Finally, I cut the thread and dressed her wounds.

Inhaling a deep breath, she had me take her down as she knew her brother and squad were in trouble. Going downstairs slowly, we arrived at the first floor and as she stopped infornt of her equipment, she picked up a radio and shouted for her brother.

As silence passed, I looked down at my hands shirt as I was covered in her blood. Shaken and claiming back down, I turned to met her gaze until I felt the full impact of the situation as streams of tears were falling from her face as she kept herself composed.

Walking forward, I suddenly heard a loud gunshot from behind. Looking down, I saw a stain of blood grow in my stomach while looking up at Lizzy. Falling forward as Lizzy turned and fell from her wound, I dropped onto the floor as I watched three men pin Lizzy down and inject her with a sedative as they took her away.

Losing my sight, I suddenly felt cold as my hearts rythum began to slow down. Forgetting about where I was for a moment, I stared as a man stopped infornt of me asked if I was with the cell. Unable nor wanting to reply, I was turned around as I whaychdd the mans blurry face tilt his head.

In that instance, I lost consciousness and blacked out while I wondered if I made the wrong choice afterall...

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