"Damn, he pulled a gun out on you?! What a dick!" Elie proclaimed.

"Yeah, I know, right? I thought everyone in this city was supposed to be nice! It got even crazier, though, once I infiltrated their headquarters," Cindy said, slumped back in her chair and sipping on her coffee.

"Oh, wow. I didn't know you were so brave, Cindy! Tell me more, tell me more!"

"You really wanna know? Fine, I'll tell you if you buy me another drink," the half-elf said smugly, waving her empty cup in the air.

Cindy continued to rehash her tales to Elie, picking up when the young man placed a gun to her head.

※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※

"Drive. Now!" Kai demanded.

As the barrel of the small revolver lightly touched the back of Cindy's neck, she began to breathe heavily and instantly broke out into a pool of sweat. Her mind began to race rapidly, wondering if she would survive this encounter. Would she get to see her good friend Elie again? Would she ever get revenge for the way her family treated her? Although extremely anxious and unable to think straight, Cindy gathered herself quickly, knowing the gravity of her situation.

I'm not gonna die here. I'll just do what he says, drop him off at that damned place, and never go near there again.

"Y-yes, sir. Right away."

As they made their way back to the headquarters, Kai quickly pulled the revolver away from Cindy's neck and started to murmur quietly:

"Shit, shit, shit. It wasn't supposed to go down like this. H-he was resisting! It wasn't my fault!"

Although quite perplexed and still extremely anxious about her situation, Cindy could tell... that the man was not a real assassin.

I don't even know what's happening anymore. Do people like this really protect Baldimore? Was the person he killed even a bad guy? This city is...this city is...

In order to ease her stresses by at least a fraction, Cindy asked Kai:

"D-do you mind if I play some music."

Kai, still deep in thought and murmuring to himself, quickly popped his head up with a startled expression, when he heard the sound of Cindy's voice.

"Huh? Music? Yeah, whatever. Just get me back to the base as fast as possible!"

Cindy began to play music from her phone. The sounds of smooth, melancholic jazz quickly filled the small car.

"Huh...this is nice."

"Yeah..." Cindy said quietly.

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Almost there. I can leave this mess behind me soon.

As the two anxious individuals approached "The Fam" headquarters, the tension that was holding on to Cindy slowly started to loosen. She couldn't wait to be rid of her belligerent passenger in the back of her car. After this was all over, the young half-elf wished for nothing more than to just laugh the whole situation away, along with her friend Elie over coffee.

Everything will be fine. I'll just drop this guy off right now, then scram. I'll never come here again!

Cindy was thinking to herself; until, the two angsty youths were greeted by a man as soon as they pulled into the headquarters.

"Oh my, oh my. What do we have here? A young elf and my recruit up to no good? Nice car! Is that the new Beetle model, miss?"

"Y-yes sir. I was just dropping off my passenger."

Standing beside Cindy's car was a tall and lanky human male. He was a Caucasian man, looking around his mid-thirties. He seemed very relaxed, wearing a smile on his face while both hands were in his pockets, making casual conversation. He surely knew that something was amiss, however. His beard was scruffy, his tie was loose, and his black suit looked as if it hadn't been ironed in days. Despite his casual appearance, Cindy could tell almost instantly, that the man before her was the real deal; a true killer.

"Oh my, oh my. That just won't do, I'm afraid. Ya see, I heard about what happened to you and my cute little recruit in the back. I'm soooo sorry for the trouble he caused you, miss. Please, let us make it up to you! We'll clean out this car and treat you to some coffee inside while you wait! It's a three-way date!"

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

I'm dead.

As the trio made their way inside of headquarters, Cindy began to think about the various ways she could be killed.

Will they torture me, or will it happen quietly? Dammit.... I know that I haven't lived the most upstanding life, but God please, if you're out there...please don't let me die today!

The building was as impressive inside as it was on the outside. There were rough looking guards at the front. Two massive ogres standing at seven feet tall. Behind them were a plethora of desks with people busy at work, almost resembling a normal office. "What could they be working on?" There were elves, ogres, and humans all working together in harmony. "Just like it should be," Cindy murmured.

The building was painted all white, with multiple unique portraits displayed across the wall. There were lounge chairs, couches, bars, and vending machines. All on the first floor.

"Amazing. I wonder what the other floors are like." Although she was in a dangerous situation, Cindy couldn't help but to be impressed by such a lucrative scene before her eyes.

"Impressed, I take it?" the man said jovially. "Well, my office is on the third floor. We'll have coffee there, while my assistants handle your car."

The trio found their way onto the third floor of headquarters. Inside the strange man's office, they were having a chat over coffee. Surprisingly to her, no harm had been done to Cindy yet, as the lax man sipped away at his drink without a care in the world.

"Just who is this guy?" Cindy whispered, wondering when her demise would come at this man's hands.

"Ahhh, that's good coffee! How's your chocolate milk, Kai? How's your tea, miss?"

"D-delicious, sir!" Kai said, nervously.

"Wonderful, sir," said Cindy.

"Excellent, excellent!" the man said, taking another sip of his coffee. "Ahhh! Damn, that's good shit. So Kai, how'd you mess up your assignment so bad, dude?! Your hit was just some junkie, right? You even got this cute little elf involved now."

"I-I'm so sorry, Director Ben! I didn't think he'd put up that much of a struggle. Things just got really messy, so I had to-"

"Oh my, oh my. That person didn't even have a contract on him, little Kai. If the police were to find out about this, you'd be in jail for life!"

"Sir, I-it wasn't my fault! If it wasn't for this dumb girl, then-"

"Oh my. Shifting the blame onto this sweet little elf over here? Maybe you're not cut out for this job after all, little Kai!" Ben said, lightly touching Cindy's shoulder.

Ben's eyes sharpened as he said those words to Kai, with an almost chilling smile still grazing across his face. Meanwhile, the look upon Kai's face was one of pure fear, as if he had seen the devil himself. His lips were shaking, and he had started to sweat profusely, trying to figure out how to get out of this predicament.

"Jeez. Calm down, calm down. Amy's already taken care of it for you," Ben snickered. "No need to worry! You'll get another chance, kid. We'll make it an easier mission for you next time, little recruit. Now, as for you; Cindy, right? How does an elf end up as an Ubear driver? That is very curious indeed." Ben continued, taking a glance at the half-elf's ears. Cindy usually tried her best to hide those ears. But now, they were slightly more revealing from her bushy, short hair; perhaps due to her anxiety, which usually made her hair rise up a bit during stressful situations.

"W-well, I'm just a half-elf, sir....err, Mr. Ben. I-I'm nothing special at all! I'm just trying to survive in this cruel world!"

"Amen to that, sister, ahahaha!"

"Y-yeah...aha," Cindy said, as she mustered up a nervous laugh.

"So, you say that you're nothing special, but that right arm of yours looks mighty impressive. Very curious indeed."

Cindy gripped her right, mechanical arm tightly, recalling her past and how her family abandoned her. Memories that she would much rather forget. But, they did in fact, increase her resolve.

"M-my mother's family. They abandoned me after she passed away. We were... in an accident. This arm was their last parting gift. I've been on my own ever since, surviving by any means necessary. I've stolen a bunch of things, gambled, scammed people. Hell, I was even involved in a gang for a while. I'm not special at all, so... if you're going to kill me, please stop tormenting me and just get it over with!"

What am I saying? I don't wanna die! I just want this to be over with....but I guess it felt good confessing before I die.... I guess. Dammit, I never even got to get my first apartment!!!

"Sniff-sniff.."

"Sniff-sniff..."

The two men had small tears in their eyes after hearing Cindy's story. Although Cindy was confused, it made her feel somewhat less tense.

"Ah, dammit!! Why'd you have to go and make me cry?! Listen, Cindy, never give up! You're gonna make it big one day and stick it to those bastard family members of yours!" Ben exclaimed.

"Yeah!!!" Kai exclaimed.

"Y-yeah!" Cindy followed.

Cindy became even more confused. She even started to tear up herself, while chanting along with her enthused associates.

"S-so, you're not going to kill me?"

"Hell no! Well, we were... but things have changed now! Listen Cindy, every assassin here...we were just a bunch of thugs too. Running the streets, committing crimes, fighting in gangs... We were lost just like you, until Father came along and took us in. After he decided to go legit and open up 'The Fam,' we were able to get off the streets and get a new lease on life. If it weren't for him, I'd probably be dead in a ditch somewhere, mhm."

"Mhm, mhm," Kai nodded, while his eyes were closed shut.

"I see. This Father sounds quite impressive."

"Father is the best! With a story like that, I'm sure he'll let you in, no problem! Hell, I'm letting you in right now! We could never turn away someone that's so lost in this cruel world.... you'd make for an excellent assassin, Cindy, I'm sure of it!" Ben exclaimed, while jumping out of his seat.

"W-wait. I-I-I-I could never do tha-"

"Welcome to the team, Cindy! Sniff-sniff'," Kai exclaimed, with slight tears in his eyes.

"Is Amy back yet?? We'll get you all set up and start your training immediately! Sniff'. Cindy, welcome to the fa-," Ben shouted, before he could get his last word out.

"Kai!!!!"

As the two men enthusiastically welcomed Cindy to "The Fam," A loud voice began to screech throughout the hallways. Soon after, a young girl barged into the office, swinging the door wide open, and knocking Ben to the ground.

Dear mother, please watch over me.