“Lock her up in the storage room.” The Lord grimaced, as if remembering who I was increased the amount of disdain churning within his selfish heart. I began to protest, but a large hand pressed itself over my mouth as I felt the cold sting of a blade to my throat.

All I needed was something to reassure me the old Elias was still there, or just an explanation of why he did it. Everything that lead to this.

The guards shoved my into a tiny room roughly, and I fell to my knees, grazing them on the rough stone floor. Before I could react, they slammed the door and locked it shut. I screamed as I banged on the door, cursing everyone I could, but I knew it was hopeless. Looking down to my shaky hands, my eyes blurred. I sat by a crate and hugged my knees, silently crying.

The night was silent. The sun’s last light had dissapeared behind the cobbled buildings, and the stars began to glisten above. I looked up, watching them twinkle beside the moon, legs dangling off of the rooftop of the clan’s hideout. Night was the only time we could be free to take in the beauties of lives, at day, we killed and stole for money, worsening others lives to survive. The world is cruel but beautiful. Our clan were just street rats, until we found each other. We could help one another.

Elias sat beside me, staring off into the distance as if something better awaited him in the future. I never believed any of that. I followed his gaze, watching the sky grow darker. He placed a hand on top of mine and I smiled, leaning on him.

“We have a job tomorrow. The two of us.” He looked at me with a warm, yet somehow stern, expression. “They-they’re telling us to assassinate the…” he paused. “The king.”

“From who?” I asked, eyebrows raised, clutching his hand tightly.

He frowned slightly. “A local merchant who’s richer than he plays on. He apparently speaks for the people, since they all want that tyrant king dead.”

“How much money is that bastard’s head worth?” I asked no fear entering my voice, although it bubbled behind my mask.

“More than we need to get out of this Godsforsaken place! We have to risk it.” He offered me a smile as nervousness creeped into my face. “We can pay for the whole clan! We’ll all be able to afford houses, get jobs, marry and have kids! Have a normal life!”

I shook my head. “You’re to optimistic, Elias.”

“I have a plan. With it, nothing can go wrong! We stick together. If we follow an exact route, and we do exactly as planned, we can all live knowing we heroes!” Elias beamed, cupping my cheek in his hand.

“I know I can trust you.”

He nodded and altered his gaze to look back at the sky.

I wiped the tears from my face. Standing, I barged the door once, twice, three times until giving up, pain blooming in my arm as cuts reopened. I looked to the crates.

Once I found a way to get out, that traitor would get exactly what he deserved.