Cindy was met with two choices. Give power to a former mafia boss who could potentially take over the city. Or refuse to do so, which would result in Elie's death. She would not let Elie die. To sacrifice her best friend, that'd been there for her ever since she moved to Baldimore, would be inconceivable.

The Directors and Father, as well as the other assassins... there's no way they could lose to these guys, even if they got aura... right?

The half-elf's mind raced furiously, as sweat rained down across her body. She was thinking of any possible way to escape.

If I can move fast enough with my aura, I can rip that thing off of Elie and destroy it before it explodes. How big is the bomb, though? Does he have more than one? Shit, that won't work!

She could not come up with a concrete plan. So, she made a final plea to Keith. “G-get that thing off of Elie and let her go. Put a bomb on me instead. Then, I'll tell you all you want to know.”

Keith just paused with a dumbfounded look, his eyes dilating through his thick foggy glasses as if he was about to erupt. “Do you take me for a fucking chump?” he said, crushing the cigarette in the palm of his hand. “I'm sure with your powers, you could easily avoid damage from a fucking bomb!”

Yeah, that went as well as I thought it would...

Elie just sat there quietly with a morbid look on her face. She must've been completely rattled and confused, still trying to process what was happening, Cindy thought.

Elie... I'm so sorry. Just... hang on a bit longer.

“Ok, you got me,” Cindy said, finally succumbing to her situation. “I-I'll tell you... about aura.”

“About goddamn time,” Keith said. “So, it's called aura, huh? How do we attain it?” he asked.

“I-it's an ancient technique. It can enhance your strength, speed, and even vision,” Cindy shuddered. “A-and, it can only be transferred to someone else, if the catalyst is an ancient elf. The only ancient elf that I know of… is the Warden of the State, Miss Elanor.”

“Oh, so just talk to Elanor, huh?” Keith said with a chuckle.

“Y-yeah, you'll have to get into contact with her. She's the one that gave me aura!” Cindy said, returning a nervous chuckle. “So, now that everything's been cleared up, please let Elie g-,”

Before she could finish her sentence, the sound of a bullet leaving its chamber echoed loudly throughout the small, dark room. Following the sound of the bullet, came crying screams of pain from Elie, who had just been shot in her leg.

“You're a horrible liar,” Keith said, his face becoming strained with veins in the sides of his head. “You know what, I don't even care if you're telling the truth. I will gain control of this aura before leaving this room. If I don't, your friend's blood will be on your hands. I hope I've made myself crystal fucking clear! Now hurry the fuck up, or your friend will bleed to death, understand?”

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Cindy nodded nervously, her flustered face washed with sweat and tears. The painful screams of Elie haunted her in the background.

***

“If anything happens to me, your friend dies on the spot,” Keith said, standing face to face with Cindy.

“I-I know that already. Just… stand still,” Cindy said, as she reached her hand out, placing it on Keith's shoulder.

A shroud of aura surrounded Cindy's left hand as she passed on her abilities to the braided man. She held her head down, full of shame and remorse. She just wanted it all to be over. She just wanted to walk out of that humid, dark room with her friend still breathing. So, she obliged and granted the man an unimaginable power.

“There, it's done,” Cindy said, removing her hand from Keith's shoulder, her head still lowered.

“Hm, I don't feel any different,” Keith said, staring at his hand in confusion. “You better not be fucking with me again, girl.”

“I'm not,” Cindy said as quietly as a mouse. “T-try focusing on one part of your body… and releasing that energy in a way that you see fit… basically.”

I'm… so pathetic.

“Shit explanation, but I'll give it a go,” Keith said as he balled up his fist. A small amount of aura started to emanate from his hand. He focused even more, then the aura in his hand grew more rapidly. “Holy shit. So this is the power that you pricks used to wipe us out,” he said, becoming entranced by his new-found power. He punched the ground beneath him with his aura filled fist, shattering the cold concrete below as debris flew around the small room.

“A-are you satisfied now? Can you stop my friend's bleeding at least?!” Cindy pleaded.

“Hm, let's see if I can do that,” Keith said, approaching Elie. He knelt down and placed his hand on her left leg where she'd been shot. He shrouded his hand in aura once more, instantly stopping the bleeding pouring from Elie's leg. Elie just sat there and didn't say a word to the devious man. “Well, I'll be damned. It looks like I'm a natural,” he said with a grin.

Don't you fucking touch her. The half-elf thought, but would say no more of her rash thoughts out loud, in fear of the worst outcome.

Keith approached Cindy after he closed Elie's wound. “Thank you, miss Cindy. The Don will be very pleased. Such a sweet child, you are,” he said, patting her on the head. He proceeded to walk straight past the half-elf toward the only door in the small room, without freeing Elie from the shackles of the heart shaped bomb.

“W-what are you doing? You can't just leave! I gave you what you wanted, so… so hurry up and remove the bomb from her!” Cindy demanded.

“And after I've removed the bomb, what stops you from killing me, miss Cindy?” Keith said, shrugging his shoulders. “After all, I just got this power. You've had training. Yeah, pretty sure I'd lose.”

“I-I don't kill people.”

“I don't kill people,” Keith repeated in a mocking tone. “I'll have my buddy watching through the camera deactivate the bomb, once I'm far enough away from this place. He'll inform you through the once it's done. Until then, sit your ass down and don't make a single move. That's my last warning to you, sweet Cindy.”

“You're a bastard, you know that, Keith?” Elie said.

“Oh, she talks!” Keith responded. “I'm so sorry for tricking you, darling. But, I think it's time we broke up,” he said with a devious grin. “Oh, and Cindy,” he paused. “I do look forward to seeing you again, once The Don comes back to reclaim this city.”

The man departed, leaving the two friends alone in that dark room. Cindy felt an unshakeable fear, wondering if they would leave the room alive.