Night fell on the City of Hatlynshire. Just as the moon rose above the skyline and Bellmont, the city clock tower, chimed at the strike of nine Anna found herself feeling quite bored. She was but thirteen years old yet sitting in a bar having a chat with the bartender, whose name was Brutus but everyone just called him Bon.
“Do you seriously believe she’s coming Anna?” asked Bon as he served a regular customer.
“I do believe so, my sister doesn’t break promises” said Anna, but then she paused. “At least, not that much”
“Well I hardly doubt some of the patrons here would find it fitting that a young lass is sitting in a bar alone. And I’m sure calling you my daughter would be too far a stretch” said Bon.
Anna knew what he said was true. Bon was a tall and fit man with black hair and thin moustache. He had a wide chest and strong arms. Meanwhile Anna had ginger hair and had a round face with a body thinner than what most would assume was normal for her age. She wore a slightly worn brown coat over her red long sleeve dress with long but thin skirt. She had small red sunhat with a brown strip and a purple rose made of cloth which was an odd thing to wear at night but she only did it because she despised bonnets with a passion.
“You know I have every right to be here. Who cares what you human customers say. Besides, even if you told me to leave I would just give a complaint to Mr. Howards” she said while toying with an empty glass. Bon gave a smile and a small chuckle at here passive threat.
“Like Howards would care if you filed a complaint. He’s too busy a posh snob to give a care what we mere peasants say”
“Well maybe I have more influence on him than you think. After all, my sister works with him after all. Dispatching of all the nuisances on the street so he doesn’t have to waste he own Circulion soldiers” said Anna circling here finger in front of the glass. The glass then began to move and soon it lifted itself off the ground and hovered about an inch from the surface of the counter. Bon quickly reacted and grabbed the glass and put it away before anyone saw. He raised his eyebrow at Anna, an expression Anna perceived as a warning.
“What have you been told about using your abilities in public, huh?” he whispered.
“Oh, don’t worry. It was just an inch. Nobody noticed. And besides, I have to keep practicing every once in a while or I’d lose my focus” said Anna not taking what she did as a serious offense.
“Well I suggest do your ‘practicing’ in the Hamlet. No here” Bon whispered back while gesturing towards the hallway behind the behind the bar leading to the backdoor. A door that led to a secret side entrance to the Hamlet.
He then straightened himself and went back to serving patrons, He then continued to talk casually as though nothing had happened.
“And about your sister, you don’t think she can go on forever do you? Howards knows aiding rogues is against the rules. And when your sister becomes less useful or dead. He’ll just pretend like he never knew her or her band of vigilantes”
Anna went silent. She knew what Bon said was right. Her sister, Caroline, was a rogue. She was not a regular Circulion soldier. Nor did she ever want to be. She had found that her favored brand of just came by hunting down the Hunters herself with no rules to hold her back. She had assembled a small band of rebellious people like her and they ran missions hunting down those who sought to kill Circulions. Mr. Howards, the Lesser Noble in charge of Anna’s home, Anatoli Hamlet, had originally tried to stop her. But her actions had protected the Hamlet costing Howards no expense. So he eventually agreed to turn a blind eye every time Caroline did something questionable. Anna wished she could join Caroline’s group, who called themselves the Nighttime Crows, but Caroline had forbidden her from doing so even though she knew Anna’s thirst for revenge was as strong hers.
But more than her wanting to join her sister, part of Anna wanted her to come home and be safe in the Hamlet. But she knew convincing Caroline was fruitless argument. Anna knew she would rather die than cower under the sheets as Hunters tore apart her family again.
Just as Anna was pondering those feelings she heard the bell above the door ring meaning that someone had come into the bar. She looked at the new patron, she hoped it would be her sister but no. In walked a man wearing a dark coat and a bowler hat. Anna looked closer and realized she recognized the man. He was one of the Nighttime Crows.
“They’re here. That means Caroline must be nearby”
She was about to approach the man when she saw a second man coming into the bar behind the first man. She couldn’t see the second man’s face for it was obscured by a hood and top hat. All she saw was a glimpse of the man’s cheek. It was pale white and looked cold as stone. The man quickly draped his hood above his head and took a seat facing the table where the Nighttime Crow sat.
“That’s an Angel-face” thought Anna knowing that no even humans had skin that pale. She watched cautiously as the two men stood on either side of the bar. The Nighttime Crow didn’t even order anything and neither did the Hunter. Anna gestured towards Bon and when he came she pointed to the man with the hood. Bon’s eyes widened when he realized who the man truly was.
“Is that?” he whispered to Anna’s ear.
“Yes, and that one is with my sister. I think they’re in the middle of a job”
Bon reached down from the counter in order to grab the revolver he kept there. But he didn't pull it on the Hunter just yet. Instead he and Anna both observed this tensely as the two men did nothing.
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“Why is he waiting?” Anna wondered.
Just then, the Nighttime Crow raised his hand and gestured towards the bartender. Bon immediately went to him to take his order. Bon then came back to the counter and began preparing a drink.
“It’s best you leave, this might get ugly” he said quietly to Anna as he squeezed lemon into a glass of gin.
“No, I want to see where this goes. I want to know if Caroline’s here” said Anna. Bon realized arguing with her was useless so he just took his glass of gin and served it to the Nighttime Crow. The Hunter didn’t order anything, instead just waiting silently.
The Crow finished his drink quickly. Anna heard the rattle of coins as he dropped money on the table and stood up. The Hunter too stood up at the same time. The Crow swiftly walked through door and disappeared into the streets. The Hunter too quietly walked along and followed him.
Anna quickly got out of her chair and she stated walking to the door hoping to follow the men.
“Hey! Where do you think you’re going?” asked Bon noticing her leave the counter.
“I’m following them. Don’t worry I’ll be sure to keep my distance” said Anna casually, a tone Bon didn’t appreciate.
“No! You could get yourself killed. And I don’t want to have to deal with your sister’s wrath”
“You’re right” said Anna realizing that going in defenseless wasn’t a good idea. “Give me your gun” she said.
“What? NO!” said Bon in outrage.
“What? Don’t worry, old friend. I bring it back. I promise” said Anna. “Unless of course you want me to go without it”
Bon must have realized he was in no winning situation. So he took his revolver and slid it silently across the counter where Anna quickly took it and shoved it into her coat.
“Thanks a lot old chap!” she said giving Bon a wink before bolting out the door. And Bon was left pondering why he let her stay in his bar in the first place.
Outside, Anna entered onto the stone sidewalk next to the street. Above her was a sign that read The Anatoli Café. She had seen the man turn right before the door had closed so that’s the direction she took.
She walked quietly along the streets which were near empty aside from the occasional stray cat. The houses on either side of the road were packs together like a wall. Some still had light coming from the windows. But Anna knew that it was around this time of night that the Hunters roamed. She could remember hearing gunshots in the distance every few nights from her room in the Hamlet and every day the newspapers simply reported it as ‘gang violence’. And it was oh so convenient that there were never any living witnesses to these crimes that could prove them wrong.
She walked along the streets, looking for any alleyways or small lanes. She kept looking until suddenly she heard a vice from in front of her. The closer she went the more it sounded like a discussion.
“I heard some of your men burned down a Circulion orphanage a few days ago…” said a voice judgmental tone.
“Is that true...?”
Anna knew that voice. It was her sister's. She quickened her pace and turned and nearest alleyway to her. And there she saw it.
Six people each holding either a revolver or a rifle. All pointing at the Hunter, who was surrounded on all sides in the middle of the alleyway.
Anna sister Caroline stood in front of the Hunter. She too had a ginger hair and a round face like Anna. But she wore an all-black coat with a bowler hat and black gloves. She was telling the Hunter something but she immediately stopped when she saw Anna’s shadow appear behind the Hunter. She turned her head and her eyes widened with shock when she saw Anna standing there.
“Anna, what are you… doing here?” she asked while still pointing a revolver at the Hunter. All the other Nighttime crows diverted there attention to her and Anna froze on the spot realizing that she hadn’t thought this through.
“I… well… I came…” she mumbled but before she could say anything the Hunter had realized that attention of the Crows was elsewhere so he took his chance and bolted towards the street and towards Anna. He pointed his rifle at her but Anna felt like she couldn’t move. The Hunter’s mask which looked like an angel but with hollow eyes and a hollow mouth filled her with fear. She tried to reach for the revolver in her coat but her hands fell numb.
The Hunter pointed his rifle directly at Anna’s head but before he could shoot something struck him in the back and he fell over with a howl of pain. Anna looked and saw that it was Caroline. He walked closer to the Hunters with her hand hovering over her revolver’s barrel in order to deafen the sound. The Hunter turned around while lying on the ground and tried to reach for he fallen rifle. But Caroline shot him again and again to various parts of his body, her face stricken with deadly rage. He emptied her entire barrel on the Hunter and he fell dead on the ground. Caroline didn’t even flinch as she felt no remorse.
She then turned to Anna and her anger somewhat subsided. He gave her a tight hug and examined her body to see if she was injured. But when she realized Anna was fine her rage came back.
“Oh Anna, what were YOU THINKING COMING OUT HERE PAST DUSK! You know the rules!”
“Not like you ever followed them” Anna thought remembering that it was Caroline who had taught her how to sneak past the rules.
“I was waiting for in Bon’s place and I saw your mark. I thought you might need my help” said Anna trying to come up with an excuse. She saw Caroline exhaled deeply in disappointment.
“And what were you doing in Bon’s place?” she asked. Now Anna was made mad at that remark.
“I was there because YOU said you would meet me there, remember? You said you wanted to talk!” she said while taking a step back from Caroline. Caroline gave her confused look as though she didn’t know what she was talking about. But then gasped slightly as the memory came and back to her. She then gave out another sigh.
“Damn it, you’re right. I did forget. And I apologize for it. But you have to go home now” she said.
“But can’t we do it now. I haven’t seen you in weeks!” said Anna. Caroline shook her head.
“I sorry my little Anne, but I can’t right now…” she gestured to the dead body behind her. But then she grabbed Anna’s cheek and grinned.
“How about tomorrow? I’ll come by the Hamlet. We can talk as much as we want then. I promise.” she said in a hopeful voice.
Anna felt like she couldn’t trust her anymore. But she nodded anyway. Caroline grinned and patted her on the shoulder.
“Good, now go home” she said softly and Anna reluctantly obliged. She turned away from her sister and started the long walk back to the Anatoli Café. By the time she reached and walked inside. Most of the patrons had left and Bon was pretty much the only one there.
“Oh Anna, your back!” Bon said in relief as he polished another glass.
Anna said nothing. She just felt disappointment. Caroline had broken so many promises. So many. Anna didn’t feel like talking to anyone at that moment, even to Bon. She took the revolver out of her coat and placed it on the counter and slowly made her way to the back door avoiding Bon’s concerned look. She sulked her way behind the counter and disappeared behind the back door of the Café.