Category : Stories

Sub Category : Thriller

Finally ready. I thought to myself as I geared up for my mission. I was grateful that Angel would be coming with me, at least I wouldn't be alone for such a big task. I looked at my reflection in the mirror as I focused my mind and calmed my nerves. It was then that I truly saw myself. My hazel eyes looking back at me, my wavy brown hair laying just over my shoulders, all of these features but yet I didnt recognize this woman standing there. This woman had a determined gleam behind that gentle hazel gaze. Her hair now flowed freely as her soul felt, instead of trapped in a bun. 

It amazed me how much more empowered I felt with the Crows. Before them, I had only known fear, abuse, both emotional and physical, from all aspects. I would go to bed every night begging to die so I could be reborn and try a new life. I had that now. Except, instead of a rebirth of sorts, this felt more like a truth. Like I was finally being true to the me who was always there. I didn't recognize the woman in the mirror, but I liked who she was.

A gentle knock tapped my door. 

"It's Bunny, may I come in?"

I was shocked. Bunny was our hostess, she owned this magnificent chateau and though I never understood why exactly she let us hold our headquarters here, I like everyone else was grateful and owed her everything.

"Miss Dark, are you there?" She asked.

""I am sorry, yes please enter." I responded sincerely.

When she opened the door, I quickly realized that I in fact had never actually seen her in person. Her voice would come over the intercom to make announcements or to summon people to one of the leaders offices, but never had I seen her face. Her small stature matched her gentle voice but was not to be mistaken. She had a fierce glow to her like she was ready to take us all on at once. She had brown hair like me only it wasn't wavy, more straightened. Something about her being here now made me understand why every man in this group talked about her. Hell I might start too.

"To what do I owe this pleasure?" I asked with a humorous smile.

"Cuffs has requested you to see him, privately." She peered around the room making sure nobody was here with us. "He asked me to get you in person instead of make an announcement."

"Me? Why?" I asked shocked.

"He did not say, but I would head to his office now." She stated. "But don't make a scene." She exited the room.

I was overcome by a rush of emotions. Excitement, Was I going to get a one on one pep talk before my first mission? Anger, I am going to keep Angel waiting because of this and this is a very important mission I am told, but most of all, I felt fear, did I do something wrong? Did I make too big a scene in the dining hall? Thoughts of my father came back to me. Was he going to do something to me? I started to tear up at that last question but quickly shook it off and reminded myself of that woman in the mirror.

Cuffs office was close to the spy dorms so it wasn't a far walk but in the hallway I passed the cat crew; Neo and Lil. They were named so because they were siblings that joined together and had become our best "cleaners." That is to say they disposed of the bodies and evidence. They "dumped the litter" Neo would say and I guess the name just stuck. Still don't understand his humor too much but at least they found their place here.

"Keeping busy you two?" I asked.

"Not as much as we'd like recently." Lil responded.

"It's been quiet but hopefully your success will change that!" Neo almost shouted. He was the younger of the two and showed it in his energy.

"Where are you headed anyway?" Lil asked.

I hadn't thought of a cover. "I'm looking for Hirori actually, I wanted a quick tip before Angel and I left for the mission. If you see him can you let him know?" I tried to hide the fear of getting caught in a lie.

"Actually, I haven't seen him since after lunch either." Lil responded.

"We'll keep an eye out Dark, good luck!" Neo said as they finally stepped away and continued to wherever they werw going.

Finally I arrived at Cuffs room. I knocked, hesitantly.

"Enter." His voice rolled through the door.

"You wanted to see me?" I asked. 

"Please, have a seat." He stated his expression more serious than his tone. I took my seat and waited as he closed a file he had been looking at.

"Dark, this family is my only family." He stated. "But there are others out there like us."

"Theres only one Crow." I said trying to keep the mood light. It seemed to work as he gave a half smile.

"I have reason to believe that we have a spy in our family." He continued.

"No offense sir, but I believe I am misunderstanding. There are plenty of spys here, Angel, Hirori, Proxy, myself? What do you mean?" I asked.

"I cant keep you long as you have your mission tonight. But I believe someone is falsely portraying to be a member of our family and giving up our leads and tips to rival mafias and mobs." He stated. "I don't know whom it is or which family they work for. It could be Afterlife, Deorum, Undead, or even Ravens along with countless others spread all over the region. Crow has been in power for ages and we have had many conflicts and families try to take us down and be the supreme mafiosos. All have failed but they have never infiltrated us before." He paused.

"Sir, why are you telling me this?" I asked.

"Do you remember the night we first met? I could have kept walking. But I didn't." He stated. "I knew back then of the rat in our home and something about you said you would be the key to finding them and calling an exterminator to vanquish them." His analogy was gruesome to picture but made it very clear.

"Why me?" I asked "I just started here, I havent even made my first mission yet, and you want me to spy on this family too? Our family? The family that you brought me to? The family that," I paused choking on my tears of some mixture of anger and I don't know what else. "The family that saved me." 

"No." He stated. "I want you to go and complete your mission, prove your worth to your doubters, live your life in the halls of this magnificent abode, and get to know your family." He said.

"Then why tell me all this?" I was beginning to feel defeated.

"Like I said I want you to get to know your family." He repeated. I couldn't tell but I believed that time he slightly stressed his statement. "Now carry on and go get Angel, I believe she and Cold are waiting for you."

"Cold's coming too? That wasn't part of the plan, he isn't even a spy!" I said astonished. I had no idea what was going on anymore.

"You will be glad he is there, trust me. I made the call to send him with you. Give him a chance, you will see." Cuffs said with that half smile breaking through again. "Now go." 

I left his office and headed to the front gate to meet Angel and Cold. Thinking about the meeting I had just had with Cuffs. About the spy and who it could be. About these other mafias and mob organizations. Not even a year ago I didn't even know we had one but but now I am told theres not just one but tens upon tens? Was all my previous life a lie? A lie! Oh my god If my lie gets found out then I will for sure be- 

*thud* 

I ran right smack into Hirori mid thought.

"There you are, Neo and Lil told me you were looking for me? I was at the gate to see you all off." He said. "What did you want to ask me?" 

"Oh um," i struggled to come up with a question. But then it hit me. "I heard Cold was coming with us." I struggled to figure out how to word it. "I guess I just wanted to know why such a timid guy was coming on a spy mission whwn he isnt even a spy." I said.

Hirori smiled. "Cold is timid in the sense that he will only kill if absolutely necessary. However when it comes to distractions he is our best ghost. You will see if he is needed what I mean." He patted me on the shoulder. "Now get going, Angel is getting a bit antsy." 

"Thank you." I responded as i briskly took off the rest of the way to the gate to meet my partners for my first mission, my first, but now made obvious not my only nor my most important one.