One - Take me with you.

JADE

I tossed and turned then finally gave up trying to sleep. The bright morning sun was high in the sky now, disturbing my sleep.

Ugh, right when I thought I could finally get some shut-eye. There's no use in trying anymore.

I sat up and stretched, satisfied hearing a lot of cracks and snaps. I sighed and rubbed my eyes again. I stood up from my sleeping place in an alley behind some old pottery and packed up my bed which was torn cloth then stuffed it into my shoulder bag I stole from a woman.

Running my fingers through my dirt-matted and knotty hair, I stepped out of the alley, barefoot and smelt the sweet morning air.

Today's the day, huh? Happy 13th birthday to me then. And to you, Jasmine.

I sighed.

No one cares.

I walked through the streets in my usual brown tattered rags I called clothes then the sweet scent hit me and my stomach reacted rather angrily.

I hadn't eaten in five days and I could make it for a few more days but then I turned. That was a mistake. My gaze collided with the sight of the grand-looking bread. My stomach argued with me further and I must say it put up good points.

What am I going to do?

I used the last coin I had last week and I'm still a little sore from being beaten for stealing fruits from a vendor yesterday.

What to do. What to do. What to do. Aha!

I walked slowly into the crowd of bustling people on the streets. They bumped into me without saying sorry or even looking back.

Just because I was a street kid.

When I came out of the crowd, I patted my shoulder bag and grinned when I heard the jingling of coins in it. Ha! At least I benefit from being bumped into. I walked over to the man selling the bread and looked at them carefully. When I looked up at the man he was looking at me very closely, probably thinking I came to steal.

"How much for the cross-bun?"

He gaped at me for a moment before he quickly recovered. He rose a bushy eyebrow at me.

"Fifteen revi."

"We both know you can't cheat me. What's the real price, mister?"

He frowned.

"Five revi."

I nodded and dug around in the bag and pulled out a silver coin then handed it to him. He inspected it very closely then sighed. He wrapped up a bun and gave it to me, still looking at me closely. I smiled then walked away from the stall and went back to my alley.

I sat by the old pottery and shut my eyes for some moments, giving thanks to the gods.

"Happy birthday to us, Isis Jasmine. I hope you have a better life than I do here. I hope you and Mama are happy in the Afterlife. I just hope", I whispered.

A lone tear rolled down my cheek as I bit into the bun, trying not to recall the memory of when my mother and twin sister were brutally killed right in front of me. I wiped the tear away and bit into the bun again that is until I heard the hurried shuffling of feet coming towards the alley.

I stuffed the rest of the bun in my shoulder bag and hid behind the old pottery as the footsteps got nearer and nearer. The person who was clearly on the run from someone walked into the alley and was about to walk past where I was when two bulky men also entered the alley, both holding swords.

Soldiers.

The men rushed, sword raised, at the person who was wearing a hood. He didn't even react in fear or anything. One man attacked first and the hooded stranger punched the soldier square in the jaw, grabbed his sword then slit his throat with a dagger that came out of nowhere.

The other man didn't hesitate to take a swipe at the hooded stranger who just parried with the sword he took from the dead soldier. The soldier attacked again but this time the stranger ducked then thrust the sword into the soldier's chest.

My heartbeat increased whilst watching this. The danger. The excitement. The thrill of death. I felt all that as I watched the dangerous act before me. I made the mistake of moving and the pottery that was stacked on top of each other fell, causing a racket. The person finally noticed me and all I did was stare.

He stared at me and I stared right back, trying to show I was brave and not afraid of him. The stranger then did the strangest thing. He removed the hood to reveal....a woman?!

Whoa! Never saw that coming.

She squatted in front of me and watched me for a while, tilting her head a little, before she asked,

"Aren't you afraid of me?"

I shook my head in the negative. I wasn't afraid just amazed. She quirked her brow at me then said,

"Really? Even I show you this?"

Then she pulled out the bloody dagger and showed it to me. I shook my head again. She nodded then said,

"What if I do this?"

Then before I knew it she had the dagger pressed against my neck. I sucked in a breath at her swift movement but continued to stare steadily, not frightened. She smiled and said,

"You are something, kid. What's your name?"

"Jade."

"Jade what?"

"Jade Jasoum", I said using the temporary name Mama, Jasmine, and I used.

She nodded.

"Where's your family, Jade?"

I clenched my jaw before I answered,

"They're dead."

She just nodded like it was normal for her.

"You know what I just did is illegal and I could go to the dungeons because of this."

I nodded and she continued,

"I trust that you won't tell anyone about me or anything you just saw."

I nodded again. She smiled then stood up and was about to leave when I said,

"Take me with you."

She stopped in her tracks then looked at me seriously and asked,

"What did you just say?"

I swallowed and said,

"Take me with you. Please."

"Do you know what you are getting into by asking me to take you with me?"

I nodded.

"Do you know what I am? What do I do for a living?"

I nodded and said,

"You are an assassin and you kill people for money."

She watched me for a while then I added,

"Please."

She frowned and asked,

"Are you sure?"

"Please."

Then she said in all seriousness,

"You know this is not a joke. You will have to become like me, an assassin. You will no more be the innocent girl you are now, you will be forced to kill and even be killed in the process. This isn't a decision to make easily."

I thought of it. I will have to kill people but I can get stronger. I may be killed but I have nothing to lose.

"Take me with you."

She grinned then pulled me up and said,

"Welcome to your new life, Jade."

________________________

Whew! Finally, the first chapter is complete! I had to type all this on my phone and let me tell you it's not as easy as it seems.

.......

Jade Jasoum is about to become an assassin, what do you think about that?

.......

Gotta stop typing my arms and my fingers hurt. Bye.

~Sayonara~