The sound of bodies falling to the floor reached my ears, and I blinked. All twenty guards were dead; they shot themselves with their own guns. The only one left standing was Dr. Buler, his white coat now dotted with fresh blood, a horrified look on his face. My eyes met his, dark and filled with hatred.

He didn’t need any more warning. He bolted down a separate hallway, his shoes tapping along the now suddenly quiet hallway.

“O-Oria?”

I turned to find my friends staring at me in terror. 

“What?” I asked, making my way around the new graveyard.

Vincent came up to me and grabbed my hand, trembling. “Why? Why did you kill them?”

I tossed my hair back, and looked straight ahead. “What’s more important? Our survival, or theirs?”

“But, that’s messed up. You-”

“So?” I hissed, “I was messed up from the beginning. And whose fault was that? Theirs. Only fitting that they die at the hands of their greatest creation.” I jerked my hand away. “Besides . . . they killed Asher. An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. In this world, it’s kill or be killed. They deserved it.”

Without addressing the rest of my friends I made my way out of the building. My friends followed at a distance, and I could practically feel their fear. Opening the doors, I stepped out into the night, a soft breeze blowing. Like Asher had promised, Ronan sat in the front of a sleek black van.

“Well dang,” he said when he saw me. “Who would have guessed. The plan actually worked.”

I climbed in the front besides Ronan, not wanting to face my friends. 

“What’s bothering the little kitten?” Ronan asked, taking a pull on his cigar.

“They killed him,” I said quietly. 

“Who?”

“Asher.”

Ronan looked at me then shrugged. “What a shame, but I guess we can’t do anything about it now.”

“Shut up.” I growled. “Clearly you’ve never lost a loved one.”

Ronan smiled at my feisty temper, but said nothing. “Everyone here?” he yelled into the back. 

I heard confirmation from each of my friends and felt a twinge bit better. At least everyone else was safe.

Ronan hit the gas and we went off. “I’m taking you to a warehouse that I sometimes use for big imports,” he explained. “The cops haven’t found it yet, so it should be pretty safe.”

I merely nodded as emotions started tumbling around me. Hate, anger, sadness, pity . . . and guilt. I felt so guilty. What happened at the Facility finally crashed around me. Asher was dead . . . and I killed twenty men. And, what’s worse, I did it without caring about them. Sure, I showed them who’s boss, but at what price.

I couldn’t help it. I started crying right there next to the biggest criminal in the world.

Surprisingly, Ronan didn’t make any snarky comments, and I was extremely grateful. I felt a pair of hands wrap around my shoulders and instantly knew that it was Vincent. I sobbed through the streets of the City, feeling the pity radiate off my friends.

I was only able to collect myself when we stopped at the warehouse. I refuse to cry in front of people other than friends. Is Ronan my friend? I guess I’ve reached that level with him.

“There’s a spare room in the back, you guys can stay there as long as needed,” Ronan explained as we entered the warehouse. A few other workers stood around, drinking and smoking. They looked at us but once they saw Ronan turned away instantly.

“Thank you so much,” I said in a quiet voice. “It means a lot.”

“No problem kitty cat,” he said, reverting back to his “hilarious” self.

I took a deep breath, knowing what had to be done. I was done crying. I turned to address my other friends. “Look, what happened back there, I-I don’t know what really happened. I didn’t mean to kill those men, and I don’t know what came over me.”

“It’s okay,” said Angel, giving me a big hug. “Like you said, it was for survival.”

“What you really should be worried about is mourning,” said Lia, taking my hand. “We all miss Asher, and naturally when they shot him, you felt really sad and angry.”

“Don’t worry, Oria.” Vincent put an arm around my shoulder. “Let’s just focus on something more positive. At least we made it out, and our escape wasn’t necessarily a waste.”

“Are you calling Asher a waste?”

Vincent removed his arm around my shoulder. “No,” he said carefully, knowing his next words could set me off. “I’m just saying that the rest of us were able to escape, and know that Asher died noballey trying to rescue us.”

“So, who’s this?” Vincent asked coldy, glaring at Ronan.

On the other hand, Ronan gave a snarky smile and tipped his hat down, eyes sparkling. “Do I really have to spell it out for you?” Ronan asked, leaning on his decorative cane. “I’m a thief, a mastermind, a criminal. Ronan Knight, pleased to meet ya pretty boy.”

Vincent clenched his fists, knuckles turning white. “You teamed up with Ronan Knight?” he asked, staring at me with disbelief.

“Don’t call us a team,” I snapped back while Ronan gave a little chuckle. “He was willing to help us, so I took the opportunity. If it weren’t for him and Asher, we’d all still be at the Facility.”

“That’s right pretty boy,” said Ronan, grinning as he walked to a makeshift bar. “If it weren’t for me and Smoky, you’d still be in “Happy Land”. 

“Smokey? Wait, do you mean Asher?” Vincent turned to look at me again. “You told him?”

“It had to be done,” I said in a low voice. “He wouldn’t have helped us otherwise.”

“Got that right,” Ronan said, pouring a glass of wine. “Rule number one: Never do something for free. You had a special case, and that’s why I helped you.” Suddenly, Ronan gave a mischievous smile. “Actually, now that you mention it . . .”

“Ronan,” I said dangerously.

“Ah, remember my rule,” he said, wagging a finger in my direction like I was some sort of child. Then he smiled. “You know what’s best for sadness? A drink.” He poured me a glass and slid it over to me. 

I angrily pushed it back to him, not wanting to change the subject. “Don’t expect me to do one of your nasty jobs when you promised you’d help me for free. Plus, I’m underage, and I don’t want to drink that crap anyway.”

“It’s a tiny job sweetheart,” said Ronan, taking a sip from my glass. “I’ll even join you on it. The rest of you friends don’t have to join. After all, you were my client.”

I clenched and unclenched my fists. “We had an agreement,” I said. 

“I don’t recall making any promises.” He took another sip. “Like I said, it’s a tiny job. It’ll be my payment. You should be lucky; most of my other clients pay big bucks for my help.”

“But we just got back from being tortured, plus we had to see our friend die!” Vincent exclaimed angrily. “It’s not as if she’s going to just spring up after that.”

“On the contrary, the job is actually in a few days. Plenty of time for rest.”

“What happens if she’s caught?” Vincent asked.

“Then that would be bad,” replied Ronan, shrugging as he poured himself another glass. 

“I won’t allow it,” said Vicent.

“Vincent,” I said quietly, “if it’s just a tiny job-”

Vincent looked at me in disbelief. “You’re actually gonna let him walk on top of you like this?”

“If it’s just tiny, and it happens in a few days . . . I do feel obligated to owe him something for all he’s done for me.”

“Excellent!” Ronan clapped his hands together. “I’ll send you the rest of the details later, after you’ve settled in.”

Vincent glared at Ronan. “If anything happens to her, I’ll sic a dog on you.”

Ronan chuckled. “I’d like to see you try.”

Before Vincent could do anything else, I stepped in. “I’d take him seriously Ronan,” I warned. “That’s his power: he can communicate with animals.”

Ronan rolled his eyes. “Facinatining,” he said, his voice practically dripping with sarcasm. He drained the glass then looked at the rest of my friends. “So, I assume all of you have crazy powers like your friend Asher, Animal Boy, and Miss. Nightshade?”

“I’m not a Special,” Jenna jumped in quickly. “Oria found me and took me in, but I’m not anything super amazing.”

“Okay then, you’re boring,” Ronan said, dismissively waving off Jenna. “Please tell me that the rest of you are actually interesting.”

“I can create ice,” said Angel, frost forming on her hands. 

“I can create heat,” said Elliot, and the air wavered over his hands. 

Lia and Toby also demonstrated their abilities. I could see the surprise in Ronan’s eyes, but he kept his composure.

“Well, I’ll tell you one thing,” he said to me once they were finished. “Kids these days just keep getting weirder.”

I glowered at Ronan. “You sure are the gentlemen,” I hissed.

Ronan put his arm around my shoulder. “I’m a criminal mastermind sweetheart, what did you expect?”

I shoved him away. “You know what, I’m done. I’m going to take a shower.”

Ronan watched me as I left. “You are not the brightest banana in the bunch, are ya kitten?”

“Neither are you,” I retorted. 

“Best comeback ever,” he yelled as I stomped into the spare apartment and slammed the bathroom door.

I let out one of the loudest groans in the world, leaning against the door with my hand on my head. I slid down the door and landed roughly on the ground. A wave of emotions came over me. I was angry at Ronan for going back on his deal, I was happy my family was safe, and I was sad that Asher died at the hands of psychopaths. I buried my face in my hands and screamed angrily. Asher didn’t deserve to die.

It wasn’t surprising that I cried myself to sleep that night.

 

* * *

 

“So, what’s the plan?” I asked, looking at Ronan with contempt. Today was “heist-day” as Ronan annoyingly loved to call it. I managed to get over the memories of the Facility, and resigned myself to playing poker with Ronan’s buddies.

Just a little word of advice: don’t play poker with a mind-reader.

“Here’s the deal kitten,” Ronan said, bringing up blueprints of some sort of building. “You see this? This is Ovelton Bar. The owner owes me quite the amount of money, and has yet to pay me. So, we’re stealing it.”

“Of course we are,” I said, rolling my eyes. “What’s my job?”

“Accomplice,” he said, “Right hand girl. You’re joining me on the front lines.”

“Meaning . . . ?”

“Meaning you’re gonna come with me straight up to the bar, looking all cool and fierce, and demand the money.”

“So in other words, you have no plan.”

“Do I really look like a guy with a plan?”

I looked at him with as much disappointment as I could muster. “I hate you,” I said casually.

“The feelings are mutual kitten,” he says, lighting a cigar. He suddenly gets up, hands me a suspicious bag. I raise an eyebrow at him, but he just grins in return. I reach inside, and my hands touch cold leather. I pull out the material and hold it up, gasping with delight. 

It was a long, sleek, black leather coat. There were plenty of pockets, both inside and out, able to hold all sorts of gadgets and trinkets. Along with the coat, there was a pair of black pants, boots, and gloves; all my ideal style. 

“Wow, Ronan, it’s . . .  amazing,” I whispered, running my hands over the coat. 

“One more thing,” he said, and pulled out an umbrella. It was dark and silky, curved as delicately as Ronan’s cane. I looked at Ronan questioningly. 

“Place your finger on the small screen on the pole,” he instructed. 

I turned the umbrella over in my hands, and found a small screen. I placed my thumb over it, and immediately the weapon came to life.

“You can use this as both a long-ranged and short-ranged weapon,” Ronan explained, coming up from behind. “You can use the umbrella closed as a sort of sword, and use it open as a shield. The fabric is actually a sort of metal, very flexible, but very strong. If you flip the other side so the bottom is facing the intended direction, it acts as a gun.”

I ran my fingers up and down the disguised weapon, feeling the polished wood beneath my skin. “It’s beautiful,” I whispered, placing it reverently down on the table.

“Thought you’d like it,” Ronan said, fingering his own cane. “I’m a bit handy with weapon making, and believed that this would be your type of weapon.”

“It is, thank you.” I looked at Ronan’s cane. “I assume that’s also a weapon?”

He snapped his fingers. “Bingo.”

“How does it work?”

“It’s a secret,” he said, smiling mischievously. “You might just find out how it works depending if the job gets compromised or not.”

I gave a genuine smile. “Okay then,” I said. “I’ll quickly change, then I assume we’ll be ready?”

“Yes, we have a car waiting for us, so hurry up.”

I quickly went into the bathroom, and threw on the clothes. It was thrilling to feel the cold leather on my skin; I almost felt like my own self again.

I heard angry voices from the main area of the warehouse, and I opened the bathroom door to find Vincent and Ronan in a heated argument.

“You’re making Oria steal from a rival gang with you!?”

“Yep,” said Ronan bluntly, throwing on a fresh, white coat. “Is that a problem?”

“Geez, what do you think?” Vincent asked.

“I think that you’re taking this way too seriously, and that you need to realize that I’ve already done so much for you, so you should just shut up and act like a good dog, okay?”

Vincent threw a punch at Ronan’s face, but Ronan sidestepped and grabbed Vincent’s wrist, twisting it painfully. Vincent gasped in pain, and winced as Ronan’s face came close to Vincent’s. “You think you’re soooo powerful, with you magic powers and your tough attitude, but in truth, you’re nothing but an insect beneath my boot.”

It was at this moment when I back-handed both Vincent and Ronan in the head. “Will you two knock it off? You’re just embarrassing yourselves, and I’m not in the mood to deal with two knuckleheads right now.”

“Really?” Ronan purred dangerously. “You seem to be enjoying this.”

“Just shut up,” I snapped. “Don’t we have a deadline for this thing?”

“Oh, that’s right.” Ronan checked his watch. “7:26, our job will begin at 7:45. All aboard the criminal express!”

 

* * *

 

Never in a million years will I ever agree to spend a night out with Ronan alone, because I swear the next time someone in this car tries to cozy up to me, I will send them straight out the window. Just because I’m a girl, doesn’t mean I’m the type who lives just to cook, clean, and look pretty. I have my standards, and frankly guys don’t meet them at all. 

I mean, legit everyone in this car is singing some sort of drinking song except me and Ronan. Luckly, the criminal mastermind invited me to sit up front with him after a little while.

The first thing that I noticed about Ronan were his hands. They were white and trembling on the steering wheel. Then I noticed his face, his eyes were staring ahead, and didn’t meet mine.

“Do you always get this nervous when you’re anticipating a robbery?” I asked playfully.

“Oh, no,” he said, turning away. “Why would I be scared?”

I began to ask him another question when suddenly Ronan made a sharp turn and parked skillfully in front of Ovelton Bar. “Looks like we’re here,” Ronan said. He climbed out of the car, and stood in front of the building. With his coat flapping in the wind, and his fedora perched on his head, he looked like a classic movie villain.

Then again, with my black-leather lay out, I wasn’t much lower than him.

“Okay, here’s the plan,” said Ronan, clasping his hands together.

“I thought you didn’t have a plan,” I teased Ronan. 

“Maybe I did,” said Ronan, smirking at me. “I do have many secrets. Anyway, here’s the plan. Group A goes around back, Group B stands by windows. Group C covers me and Oria. Understand?”

Ronan’s friends nodded then split up, a handful of the men staying by our side.

“You ready for this kitten?” Ronan asked, a dull look in his eye.

“Yes,” I said, full of determination. “Let’s get this show on the road.”

Ronan stared at me, giddy with anticipation. “May I?” Ronan asked, extending his arm. 

“I thought you’d never ask,” I replied sarcastically, but took his arm nevertheless.

The moment we entered the bar, my senses went on high alert. There was something familiar about this place, but I couldn’t remember where. Amber light illuminated the bar, and people sat around tables, drinking to their heart’s content. Everywhere I looked, I felt like I was being watched, but I couldn’t find the watcher.

Ronan suddenly pulled me up to the bar, and aimed a gun at the poor girl running it. Suddenly everything went eerily silent. “Do you have any idea how deep in trouble you are sweetheart?” asked Ronan to the girl.

The girl didn’t say anything; her hands were in the air, and she was trembling. I felt a twang of pity, but knew that this was what Ronan did every day, and if I couldn’t handle it, then who was I?

“I demand thirty million right now,” Ronan said, smiling despicably. The girl nodded, then quickly started handing random wads of cash over the counter. The men around Ronan grabbed it, counted it quickly, and shoved it into a briefcase. After a few minutes, Ronan got his thirty million. Ronan tipped his hat as he turned to leave. “Tell your boss I said hi.”

“Why don’t you tell him yourself?”

I froze. I knew that voice. A figure emerged from behind the counter.

“Dr. Buler,” I whispered.

“Experiment 404,” replied Dr. Buler cooly. 

“I killed your men,” I said, mustering courage, “and I’m not afraid to kill you.”

“That’s why I brought backup.”

Windows around me crashed, and armed police came through, holding large guns. I yelled at Ronan to run as I made a dash for the exit. But suddenly at hand locked around my wrist. I turned to find Ronan rooted to the spot, a shadow over his face. 

“R-Ronan?” I asked amidst all the chaos. 

“I told you I was a criminal, kitten,” Ronan said, giving me an intense look. “And criminals always go back on promises.”

The shock of Ronan’s betrayal slammed into me, but with fear came adrenaline. I kicked Ronan where it hurts with as much anger as I could muster. He let out a grunt of pain and released me. I dodged through a spray of bullets and managed to jump out a window, glass slicing my skin. I fell for a few minutes, before landing on my feet. A burst of pain shot through my leg, and I yelped as I rolled off my feet. Stopping only to examine the damage, I realized that my ankle was twisted. But it was either stay here and die, or runaway to survive another day.

Despite the pain, I ran for the alleyways of the City; my safe haven. I turned through corner after corner, getting nowhere but everywhere at the same time.

Suddenly I felt a whoosh of air as a bullet flew by my ear. I peered through the darkness behind me. “Who’s there?” I called.

“Just like old times, isn’t it kitten?” a sleezy voice purred. Ronan stepped out of the darkness, his cane held out in front of him, the end smoking from the bullet. His stupid cane was a gun.

“How could you?” I asked, tears spilling from my eyes. “I trusted you.”

“Really,” said Ronan, glaring at me. “Then you never learned Rule 0: Never trust anyone. The real world is cruel, and will take advantage of any and all kind people.”

“You let them kill Asher!” I yelled at him, my rage increasing. “He was my brother!”

“I’m sorry you now don’t have a brother who loves you, but I’ll let you in on something.” He stood up straight. “I had a brother who hated me. He was my half brother; we shared the same mother. That was the only thing we shared. I was always the one who got in trouble, and my brother was the genius older brother, the one who got awards and praise from every adult he met.”

“Who’s your brother?” I asked, curiosity getting the better of me. 

“Will Buler,” said Ronan, not looking at me.

“Dr. Buler?” I asked in disbelief and fear. 

“That’s the one,” he said, snapping his fingers. “He’s my half brother.”

I started at the criminal. It only makes sense he betrayed me. He was always my enemy.

Suddenly, Ronan aimed his cane at me and fired. A dart struck my shoulder. I sank to the ground as my legs turned to lead. My vision started to blur but I snarled all the same. “I hate you,” I growled.

“Same here kitten,” he said. “Same here.”

 

~Final Chapter Coming out Next Week! Stay tuned Folks