After searching through every crate, the only useful thing I could find was a thick piece of wiring. I began to toy with the lock, probing it’s few pins a crease forming in my brow. Impatience settled in and stress clasped my heart, causing it to throb louder, trying to escape the grasp. I cursed to myself. The wire’s end was incredibly sharp, and I pierced my finger, grunting as blood coated the metal. After what felt like an hour, the lock gave off a loud click. Sighing, I stood, legs stiff and fingers aching. I placed the wire into my pocket.

The door creaked in potest as I opened it slowly, checking the corridors for any guards. When it was empty I began to search through my brain, trying to recall the path to the traitor’s office. I moved slowly, checking my shoulder constantly as there were no shadows to lurk in and no objects to hide behind. When I got to the door, the study was empty, everything left in exactly the same way.

Where was he?

Suddenly, pain thundered into my back and a force pushed me forward, causing me to crash into his desk, all the air leaving my lungs. Something cracked loudly. I couldn’t move. Everything hurt. My vision blurred.

A hand touched my shoulder and rolled me onto my back. Gently, a finger lifted my chin up. Finally, I saw the vague picture before me, although spots blocked the corners.

Elias, knelt on the desk over me, smirking. I couldn’t tell if I was glad to see that smirk or not.

“You think you can sneak up on me like that?” He shook his head as I tried to pull away. “I was an assassin, remember.”

I tried to push him off but he placed a knee on my stomach carefully. “I was…too. Until you ruined it.”

“I am sorry, Ryn. I thought you were dead so I put it all behind me.” His smirk faded but his grip still held.

“And now I’m here to remind you.” I managed, still trying to regain my breath.

He chuckled but it was devoid of joy. “You haven’t changed a bit. Still just as determined.”

“And your still as dim-witted!” With as much force as I could muster, I kicked him in the stomach, forcing him back as I stood, swaying slightly, head spinning. When Elias tried to approach, I grabbed a pair of scissors from behind me, pointing them toward his throat. “I’m still here to kill you.”

“Please, you have to understand-” He began.

“How am I supposed to understand something that was never explained to me in the first place!” I slashed at him with the scissors clumsily, stumbling. Quicker than the eyes could comprehend, he disarmed me, grabbed my arm and forced my back into the wall, his knee digging into my stomach, causing me to loose all of the breath I had struggled to regain.

His face was so close to mine I could almost taste his clean breath. “It was for us.”

“How?!” I struggled but he grabbed my arms.

“I…it went wrong. My plan was to get us both an even better life than the contract said.” He swallowed slowly. “I planned to betray the clan, get extra money, kill the king then live a happy life….with you.”

My eyes softened for a millisecond before sharpening once more. “Why would you even think about betraying our clan?!”

“They planned on killing us!” He yelled. His breath shook and he let go of my arms, turning from me and tugging at his gloves, a habit when he was stressed that still remained from years ago. Taking another shaky breath, he continued, “I heard them plotting. I tried to make a deal with them but they wouldn’t listen. They said on the night we killed the kind, would be the night I killed you. Instead, I couldn’t and they told the palace guards about us and got them to come and they took you away and…and I couldn’t do anything about it…and…and.” He dropped to his knees and began to cry into his hands.

“I did everything I could to forget…” he whispered between sobs. “I knew you were dead and it was all my fault. I…I’m not making any sense. You should kill me. Get your revenge then leave before the guards can capture or kill you.”

I knelt down beside him, placing a trembling hand on his shoulder. “I don’t really understand…but I know, you…you were doing the right thing.” I cupped his face with one hand and wiped a tear with the other. “Thank you, Elias.”

“There’s no need to thank me, I just-“ before he could finish his sentence I brought my face closer and pressed my lips against his, tears running down my face. He clutched my hand tightly.

I pulled away, smiling for what felt like the first time in years. Cheeks blushing, he ran a hand through his hair.

“Let’s live a normal life, together.”

(I’m sorry, this was a rushed and weird ending! I was planning to add another flashback but just couldn’t find the right place. Please give feedback!”