CHAPTER 9

Earlier by three years...

"Jonathan!" Before he left the training facility, I cried out to one of my trainers as I sprinted to catch up with him. Despite being drenched in sweat from head to toe, I gave him my best smile as soon as he turned.

How may I help you, Ava? While I was merely tightening the bandages on my hands, he questioned me while staring at me.

I was leaning on the door. How is my request progressing?

Jonathan's eyes immediately shifted from me to the complex. My friends continued to practice together. Some of them delivered pinpoint strikes to the punching bag. Some missed.

"Jonathan!" He sighed when I called to him again.

Jonathan said, his eyes now pleading with mine, "He doesn't want to meet you, Ava." I put my palm on my hip and squinted my eyes.

Did you even mention me to him, Jo? I pushed.

"Ava, why does the Leader need to meet you? You've just recently joined the Assassins, and you haven't even accomplished any noteworthy tasks." Despite how much it hurt, I tightened my fist.

"I graduated at the top of my class of trainees, and I've finished every fucking job you guys have given me since then!" I use my fingertips to lightly tap him on the chest. He shoos it off. "I want to talk to Mak, this so-called leader, who is our boss. I want to talk to him.

"Why?" He asks me a question with a narrowed gaze. Why are you so eager to meet him?

I pull at my bun. That's my concern. Jo, if you could just do me this favor, please," I pleaded, tracing my fingertips over the top of his chest as I gazed longingly into his black eyes, which appeared to soften as his pupils became larger. He gave a quick nod.

I smiled, wanting to jump for excitement as I felt my skin begin to glow. "I'll see what I can do, Ava, but I can't promise you anything," I said. I restrained myself because everyone was around and chose to settle for a gentle hand squeeze instead. He pulled on my arm.

I don't care who I need to kiss up to at this point; I'll meet this Leader, Mak, and I'll negotiate my freedom at whatever price.

At this moment...

I had a damp face. I was highly irritated by the strange sensation that kept engulfing my face, and I strained to open my eyes. Something that repeatedly covered my face reminded me of a wet towel. I twitched from the dampness, and when I was able to open my eyes, I jumped.

I had people all around me. Around me, a semi-circle of curious individuals with brilliant eyes had formed. There was a part of me that wanted to shout since they were dressed mostly in white clothing from head to toe. Then I heard something nearby. When I turned around, a dog was there, and I wiped my face after realizing why it was wet. I'd been licked by the dog. It began to bark at me as it fled from me and became lost in the crowd that was encircling me.

Everyone looked at me warily, ducking behind themselves as though they were frightened to approach me or touch me because they thought I could bite them. I sat up, feeling the grass tickle my legs. They ought to be, I suppose.

I immediately experienced severe headache pain, doubling over and writhing in agony. To rub my head, I raised my hand. Before they could say anything, I dropped to the ground once more as two females approached me.

Everything went dark.

***

My body ached all over. That hurt a lot. My entire body started to tingle, from my feet all the way up to my neck. I also started to tremble, the quivers being nothing less than overpowering. My eye muscles hurt as I tried to open them, and I moaned in agony.

I was able to open them slowly.

My head felt like a ton of bricks had been dropped on it, as my room was pitch black. My back suddenly shot with stinging agony as I attempted to sit up. Once more, I moaned.

Avoid sitting. I glanced to the side as a girl lit a candle on the small table next to me after hearing her say, "Lie back." She then assisted me in lying back down. She ignited three more candles that were attached to the wall and moved to the wall at the other end of the room while her deep-set hazel eyes sparkled brightly. This illuminated the space with candlelight. Sweat dripped from my forehead in large drops.

She smiled and said, "I'm Tinley," carrying a bowl with her from the larger table at the other end of the room. She was dressed in a long, big blue skirt that tucked into an equally full white shirt that was cuffed at the wrists. Her brown skin glowed endlessly through the candlelight, and her long black hair was pulled back into a single braid that ended just over her ass.

She took the towel out of the water-filled basin and sat down in the chair next to me. She carefully massaged it into my skin as she cleaned, applying it to my face, forehead, and chest.

"The old ginseng root's curative power is in this water. She continued to rub the towel into my skin and said, "It will make you feel better. As the water left a cool sensation across my sore skin, I felt myself starting to unwind. Additionally, it contains oils that will hasten the healing of your wounds. Stupid thing. I hope the moon brings the wolf who severely battered you to justice.

I debated what to say as I stared at her. Mesa informed me that the purpose was to appear defenseless so that this pack would accept me and I could accomplish my objective more quickly. I guess I just wasn't aware of the methods she used to plan this until now.

Anyway, what am I really supposed to anticipate? After all, Mesa is here.

The question, "Who are you?" Knowing that is the most reasonable question to ask, I ask. "And just where am I?" I try again to stand up by asking a second question.

Tinley tries to hold me down in an effort to stop me. "Stop moving and calm down. She says, "Please just lie back; your injuries need to heal, and you're obviously in a lot of agony. Just listen to me. She is somewhat younger than I am. She is, in my opinion, at least three years younger, making her twenty or even nineteen. When she reaches my arms and begins to rub the herbal water into my flesh, I realize I'm wearing a dress. How did I find myself in this dress while I was wearing my pajamas just before falling asleep? Given that this pack is unlikely to have a dress with such short sleeves and a short length, it is most likely from Mesa.

"You are in my house, and my name is Tinley. Well, officially, this is my cousin's house, but since I grew up here, it's also mine, says Tinley, extending her hand for my other.

I inquire, "Your home?" "Where?"

I'm very sorry. I make an effort not to retaliate when she remarks, "You are in the Blue Moon pack," while grinning. "Earlier in the day, the farmers discovered you lying in the cornfields, badly bruised. You woke up but fainted again, so the men carried you here, where my cousin asked me and my friends to take care of you because it is late and everyone is in bed. I shake my head, a little perplexed but trying to appear even more perplexed than I am.

Before she could finish her sentence, I cut in, "But who are you?"

"Who am I?" you ask. I ask as I divide my lips and look directly into her eyes. "And what on earth was I doing in a cornfield?"

She removes the cloth, re-dunks it in the bowl, and then sets the bowl down on the side table.

"You have no idea who you are." I shake my head as she asks. She brings her hands to her mouth and lets out a gasp as a result. I'm just staring, hoping she'll get it.

We ask ourselves, "Where are we?" I ask again while acting like I wasn't listening to her the first time. I turn my attention from her to the surroundings before returning to her.

"The Blue Moon Pack," she repeats.

What's there? I pose as someone who is ignorant and ask.

Between the Sapphire pack, the Goldstone pack, and the Blue Water Pack, it's a big pack. Are you a member of any of these three packs? I shake my head as she asks.

"No, who or what are they?" I inquire, making sure to gaze directly into her eyes this time so she won't question me.

"Do you remember anything at all, like your name or what happened that you got so many bruises and ended up in that cornfield?" I shake my head and claim ignorance. Technically speaking, I have no idea what caused the injuries. I'm not lying about that, at least. "Not even your name or pack?"

I shake my head one more time, closing my eyes as it starts to tremble once more, and then I make a little noise. When Tinley returns from the table, she hurries to the table and shoves a cup in my mouth.

Take this. She holds my head up and adds, "It will make you feel better. I'm drinking slowly." The mixture has a creamy but spicy flavor. It's not terrible, but it's also not very good. I completed it. I lie back down once she removes the cup from my lips and places it on the nightstand.

How are you able to forget anything? She asks out loud, but it appears like she is asking herself rather than me, so I choose not to respond.

What is the last thing you can recall? After a while, she inquires, and I shake my head in response.

"I-I-" I make a pretend hand motion, putting it up to the back of my head, as if to say that the questions she was asking were starting to hurt my head. I yell, "I don't remember anything," and then I turn to face her. I keep asking myself, "Why can't I remember anything?"

As her lips begin to separate and her eyes widen in surprise, Tinley rushes over to me and grabs me by the shoulders.

Why am I unable to recall my name, my address, or anything else? She gently shakes me while I scream out and start to shake again.

"Slow down. Just make an effort to rest. Don't worry; when we meet my cousin tomorrow, he'll figure everything out. I take deep breaths to control my hysterics.

"Promise?" I speak softly to her while maintaining eye contact. In any case, the eyes are the window to trust.

"Promise," She says while nodding. "Now, try to get some sleep."

I nod in agreement as she gets to her feet, and she then pulls the sheets over me. She then uses the cloth and dish to extinguish each and every candle in the space.

Tinley says, "Goodnight," and closes the door behind her.

I find it difficult to sleep since I don't like the darkness in this room. My body ached more than it had in a long time, and all I could think about was what Mesa had done. I suppose she had to make it plausible. My features tense in anguish as I roll onto my side.

The moon's light filters across the tiny space, barely illuminating it. My Assassin's ring is still on my left second finger when I grab it. I'm relieved to have found it. I can't be discovered. I have no idea who this Tinley's cousin is, but I need to persuade him to drive me to Alpha Storm in some way.

The sooner I obtain the moonstone from Alpha Storm, the sooner I may do my work, secure my release, and vanish from existence.

Soon, one day.

I snooze while clinging to my Assassin ring.

***

My cheeks get warm as intense sunlight drips across my face and gives me a slight burning sensation. I gradually opened my eyes. I sigh as the sun beats down on me from the window. My eyes groaned from the brightness.

I then turn.

When I turn, the most stunning set of black eyes I have ever laid eyes on startles me, causing me to jump a little and almost fall out of bed.