I ran swiftly through the trees, my black hair flying behind me, as I leaped over a fallen log in the darkness, with my green and blue eyes shining brightly in the moonlight.

“Va...Vanessa…” My friend, Edith, huffed as she tried to catch up with my running. “Wait… up!”

I came to a halt, as I tapped my foot, waiting for Edith to hurry.

“You’re… so… fast!” She said, trying to catch her breath as she caught up with me.

“I mean, I need to be, for my missions.”

“You’re good… at… everything!” She huffed.

“Not true.” I retorted, starting to walk about to headquarters, with Edith walking behind me. “I need to find out my new mission soon.”

“As in…?”

“As in if I need to steal something, to kill somebody, et cetera.” I answered, opening the double doors to our headquarters, hidden in the trees, the place behind half in the base of the mountain, half hidden within the trees.

“I still don’t understand why you need to do this as your job- you could work as a seamstress or cook if you wanted to!”

“No thank you.”

“V, please report to the head office to receive your next assignment.” The automated speaker said.

“There it is.” I said, waving to Edith, and jogged down the hall.

The door scanned my face, emitting red light across my face. The door swung open, and I walked in.

I did a slight bow, and said, “You needed me, sir?”

“Yes. I have your next assignment. You must steal a relic from the palace tonight, and make it out, undetected.” He held up a picture of a vase. “It’s an ancient vase that is worth priceless money.”

“Of course. Will this be a mission on my own?”

“Yes, it will be. The fewer people, the more discreet it will be, and easier to get out if you get caught.”

“How do I get in?” I asked, focusing on the map of the palace set on the wall. “It looks like there will be multiple guards out.”

“Tonight we will launch a sleep-smoke to put them to sleep, so you can get in. Once you are in, get the vase from the Grand Staircase and go. You will probably get caught, so when you get the vase run.”

“Do I need to kill anybody?” I said, straightening up.

“If they get in your way, preferably leave the injuries treatable. Don’t let anybody see your face.”

“I will succeed, and I will get the vase.”

“I have no doubt you will.” He said, nodding firmly at me.

And with that, I left.

“So?” Edith asked me, when I sat outside on the fallen log I jumped over, in my race with her.

“So what?”

“What’s your new assignment?”

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“Steal a vase from the royal palace.” I answered. “Don’t get caught, grab it and go, all that stuff.”

“What time?”

“I’ll be leaving at around eleven at night. And right before I come, they’ll sleep-smoke the guards so I could sneak in, undetected. Then I run.” I explained.

“Ahhh. At midnight you’ll be done?”

“I think so.” I said. “There might be people in the way of the vase, though, so I need to knock them out and leave their injuries treatable.”

“Ohh…”

I glanced at my watch. 10:40 pm. I have 20 minutes until I need to go. “I have twenty minutes before it’s time.”

“Oooh! Wanna annoy-”

“Nope. I cannot ruin my reputation with those kinds of shenanigans.” I interrupted Edith, shaking my head, black hair flying.

“Awww! Have some fun, Vanessa! Like, you don’t need to work on being the best agent, all the time!”

“I do, if I want to get anywhere near being the best.” I laughed shortly.

“Ugh, so boring.” Edith muttered, pouting. “Learn to live a little.”

I laughed at her expression. “Aw come on. Don’t give me that.”

“Boring woman.” She grumbled.

“If I’m boring, why are you friends with me?” I countered.

“Because you have no sense of humor and I thought I should give you some.” She rolled her eyes. “Duh.”

I rolled my eyes too. “Uh huh, sure.” I glanced at my watch again. 10 more minutes. “Edith, I’m going to go get ready now. I have 10 minutes.”

I walked off, ignoring Edith’s frown, and left.

I glanced at my clock on the wall, as I did a quick check of myself.

Hair in a bun, check.

Black hoodie, check. I pulled the hood up onto my head.

Black mask, check.

Knives, check.

Grappling hook gun, check.

The knives were around my belt, and my hair was tucked into my hood. I had black combat boots on, and I stared at my eyes in the mirror. One eye was green, one was blue. Very uneven.

I walked out of the hideout, my feet crunching against the gravel path, as I walked to the palace. Walking past trees, silent houses, an asleep town was behind me in seconds, as I started running, the palace slowly coming into view.

I slowed down, as I got closer to the palace wall. A grey smoke lowered down on the unsuspecting guards, and I held my breath. They looked around, confused, then dropped to the floor, like flies. I let myself breath after the smoke cleared away from me, and up into the night sky.

I grab onto a vine hanging from the wall, yank on it once, to make sure it’s sturdy enough to climb on, and start to scale the wall, quickly and quietly, like a spider. I reached the top, and jumped down the 39 feet tall thing, landed in a pile of hay, and rolled to avoid impact. I popped up quickly, and started running. I ducked through the entrance, and ran past sleeping guards, approaching the Grand Staircase.

My eyes darted all over the place, looking for the vase. It was in the center of the two staircases, and I reached over. I grabbed the vase, and ran up the stairs, to get to my escape route.

“-Kill you, using poison. That’s why I said to not eat anything they give you.” I heard coming from the room I was supposed to use to escape.

The prince and a random princess were in the same room, and I cursed to myself.

Damn it, they’re in my way. I need to create a distraction.

I hooked a knife around my grappling hook, and shot it at the princess in the leg, piercing the fabric of her thin dress, when the dong striked 12 pm, yanking it back, so no knife was seen and found. I tucked them both away, and ducked past them, as the prince rushed to the princess.

“Kala!-” He cried, trying to stop the bleeding. I ran over to the window, his back turned to me, and I creaked open the window. I got it open with many cringing creaks, and the prince's head shot up when I got it fully open, and turned to me.

My face was hidden, but his face flashed to terror, fear, and then shock, his eyes darting around the large room wildly. And when that wore off, he turned mad.

“GUARDS! INTRUDER!” He screamed, as I stood in front of the window.

The awakened guards rushed in, looking dazed, but that look disappeared when they saw me. They pressed on me, and I backed up on the windowsill, grinning to myself.

“Sorry, boys.” I said, smirking under my mask and hood, raising one eyebrow, all concealed by my hood and shadows. “Party’s over.” And with that, I fell backwards, falling out of the window, arms open, with my mask flying off as I fell.