Chapter 1

-A New Assignment-

“WAKE UP! I don’t have all day!” The morning light shines in my eyes, burning them instantly. A searing headache couples the blinding light amplifying my dread. “ALICE! You’re going to be late!” My roommate yells once again from the main room. Finally getting my attention, I pop out of bed, cracking every joint and bone in my body in the process. I tug off my tank top and shorts and pull on my best pants and a nice blouse. Once I finish the process of dressing, I half stumble to the bathroom bracing myself on the bathroom sink.

“Well, it isn’t terrible,” I grumble, massaging the bruise on my neck. I splash water on my face washing the last bits of sleep away. Placing a skin-colored bandage on my forehead, covering it with my bangs. Inspecting the littler bruises that had sprouted, I start the process of coverup makeup, carefully hiding any signs of a fight using the cheap foundation and concealer I got from the sale section at a drug store. It doesn’t hide everything, but it does enough that people won’t ask too many questions. I throw on mascara and light eyeshadow before half-sprinting to the main room. 

“Hey, Leaf.” My roommate glares at my presence. He is leaning against the only kitchen counter with his caramel-tinted arms folded. There is a beat of silence, “So, what’s for breakfast?” 

“Cereal to go.” He says curtly motioning to the time, which is now a quarter to nine. 

“OH SH-”

“Yeah, now get going before you mess up another one.” He says, grinning at my distress while handing me my packed bag. This is the only time I see him happy when I am in pain or need of his assistance. I mutter a genuine thank you to my only friend before bolting out the door and down the three flights of stairs. The city morning once again stings my eyes, smells of coffee and breakfast food stands waft through the streets. 

I’m going to be so late! I really should’ve listened to Leaf last night. I sprint through the hustling morning crowds in the western district. Everyone on this side of the city is struggling financially in one way or another. From single mothers and struggling college students to gamblers and hopeless performers, in the mornings these people become some of the most ruthless, in the desperate pursuit of not messing up another job. The swarms of people make navigation through the city impossible for anyone not used to doing so, luckily I was built to slip through crowds almost unnoticed, making what would have been a fifteen-minute walk to the train station, a five-minute sprint. 

The busy streets are mainly surrounded by apartments that were built in haste after the last population spur, making most buildings along the way to the train not up to code. More and more local businesses rent out the first floors of buildings the closer you get to the station. It takes most of my willpower not to snatch a breakfast sandwich from a stand run by a sour lady. She sets up shop near some of the boutiques and dessert stores, which happens to be the perfect distance from the train station allowing a customer to finish their sandwich right before stepping into the station. This note of convenience makes the line for her sandwiches longer than most food stands.  “OI! Watch where you’re going!” She yells at me as I sprint past her current customer. 

“Sorry, Sallie! I’m late again!” I yell back at the lady. She grumbles, likely cursing the current generation for having no manners and a lack of respect for their elders. I dodge a few telemarketers as I make my way through the last stretch of the block. I’m careful to note who has a drink in hand at this point, knowing none of them are beyond bothering security over spilled coffee. 

“Finally.” I gasp breathlessly, feeling accomplished after the last stretch. The final trial is getting onto an actual train. 

“State the district.” The automated ticket operator sounds. 

“Eastern district,” I say trying to be as clear as possible. A little jingle plays as the system processes the information. 

“Train ID.” I scan my only district identification which took way too long to get my hands on. “Clear, Eastern District, Train Seven.” The operation voices, I let out a sigh of relief before entering into the morning rush once again.

The train arrives pretty quickly since it is one of the lesser bustling trains. I step on sitting in an available seat breathing properly for the first time since waking up. Interns and office workers step on the train, all either scrolling on their phones or talking on one. One of the luxuries of the middle class. I bounce my leg in anticipation, looking out the window to keep my mind busy. The train drifts over the west district, which is riddled with apartment complexes that were cramped together. As the train glides above the apartment buildings, the rest of the city comes into view, skyscrapers tower over the city from the east district. Slowly the apartment complexes become more and more fancy and further apart. We glide through the central district, advertisements for products and entertainment are now glittering on the screens of buildings, overshadowed by the morning light. Everyone in the district is trying to be someone or is someone. 

“Your enhancement can save lives!” The poster for the city’s agent academy reads I roll my eyes at the notion. “They don’t even pay attention to the western district, let alone the southern district.” Suddenly I feel tears wedding up, I close my eyes, pushing down the memories of growing up. 

<   …   >

“So, tell me. What about this internship interests you the most?” My interviewer looks up from my resume adjusting her purple-rimmed glasses and pursing her red-tinted lips. She stares at me with her piercing acorn eyes studying every move I make.

Money, “I find the enhancement technology research fascinating and something that I want to pursue long-term.” I hold a practiced smile in place, “I have always had a strong fascination for Enhancement technology and what that could mean for our future.” I hear myself say, that is technically true, but I am still more interested in the money. 

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She pauses, studying me momentarily, like she is debating my destiny. Which she is, but I’d rather believe I have a little more control over myself than that. She smiles sending shivers down my spine as she does so. “Thank you for your time, Miss, Blackbird. We will reach out to you in a few business days. Please feel free to get a glass of water on your way out.” She motions to the door before folding her hands. 

My heart drops as I step out of the room, I can hear quick scribbling from the office before the heavy oak door completely shuts. holding in tears, and the sinking feeling that it didn’t go well I exit the hall. Maybe, I misinterpreted her. I set my hope in that thought, leaving the sage-colored hallway and entering the elevator. 

It was a glass elevator that showed the city. The eastern district was the business and technology district, everything was up-to-date and pristine. No tree was misshapen, and most of the sidewalks had no signs of unwanted vegetation. Everyone had somewhere to be, all walking with the confidence people strived for. Even the overworked interns had a sense of purpose, scurrying from one place to another. These people felt important and had little need to use their enhancements unless it was for more comfort, like having your coffee at the perfect temperature or caring heavy objects lightly. Although more important people on the corporate ladder have manipulation enhancements that allow them a little more power over an average person. There was a reason most vigilantes and extremists strayed away from facing corrupt leaders directly, electing to expose them from the shadows. 

The glistening sidewalk and buildings seem slightly gloomier than they were when I arrived, a taint on what seems perfect. No longer feeling perky, I slowly wander to the train station, stepping out of the way of a few rushed interns. The ride home is dull accompanied by a pit of anxiety as I play through the responses that Leaf would most likely have. My mind is clouded with thoughts of uncertainty, so much so that I again bump into the messy line that the sandwich lady has. This time she notices my disdain, waving me off without comment. She glances worriedly towards me her pity stinging the back of my head. 

The crowds even out to a few people, all walking sluggishly. Most of them are disappointed with the first half of the day. It isn’t until I turn the corner to my street that I notice a lady in a scarlet coat following me. She isn’t lost given how long she had been in my peripheral vision, meaning that her purpose lies with me or someone in the neighborhood. Either way, I would have to confront her. 

“What are you doing here?” I ask as she approaches where I stopped. I mask my anxiety with confidence talking in a manner that is a little sharp. 

“I have come to hire a person to complete a job for me.” She says simply, putting her hand in her left pant pocket exposing a pretty white handgun. Her outfit doesn’t fit the rundown environment I live in, she is wearing a nice scarlet red coat over a white blouse that has buttons made out of crystals. Her long black boots stretch just above the knee, with black pants tucked into them. Her ears are adorned with gemstones, she has a sapphire nose ring on the left side of her nose. Her musse-colored face is protected by a red-detailed black hat, and her brown wavy hair frames her confident countenance perfectly. “It would seem you can complete my job. You can, can’t you?” 

I pause before replying, “Depends on what it is.” 

“The details will be disclosed in the letter you received. All you need to know is that I have been watching you for a while, Alice.” I stiffen at my name, my pounding heart feels like it is on the brink of exploding. She continues smirking at my reaction,  “You will be obtaining a serum in a research lab. Nothing else. This will be done within the next month.”

“And why should I follow your request?” I snarl, my voice quivering. 

“I will pay 50,000 flies in total, you’ll receive 20,000 flies as a down payment, and the rest will be paid at the exchange.” She fiddles with her gloves, tightening them, “Should you not complete the job or fail while doing so, I will have my dogs hunt you and your friend down for both the money and your heads. You have two days to decide. I expect a response tonight.” She smirks before a puff of scarlet-red smoke engulfs her, revealing her exit.  

<   …   >

“Just like that? She disappeared, and there isn’t a business card or proof of her existence.” Leaf glares at me from the table, his disbelief written all over his face. 

“Yes!” I say exasperated. 

“Right.” He takes off his purple-rimmed glasses, cleaning them with his yellow cardigan sleeve. His hazel eyes focus on one particular smudge causing him to concentrate harder. “It is a large sum of money.” He says putting his glasses back on and fixing his brown curls as a distraction, “If we do the job, whatever it is, we would be out of our debt for a bit. If she exists, and has the money.” 

Silence seems to creep from every corner of the apartment, adding to the growing feeling of uncertainty.

KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK.

The sound disturbs the silence, a letter fluttering through the letter door. It is in a scarlet envelope stamped with gold wax, like something out of a mystery novel. 

“There’s the proof.” I mutter, avoiding Leaf’s glare. I walk over to the door grabbing the letter off the floor. “From your client… There isn’t a mailing address, she probably had someone deliver it directly.”

“Let me see it.” Leaf says in a hushed tone. He opens the envelope pulling out the contents within. “There are a few pictures, one of you leaving for your patrol,” He glances up worry written on his face, “and a building in the Southern District, by Ghost Town. She also left a note and a few documents. They look like files on a few different substances.” 

“What does the note say?” 

“I don’t think this is a good idea. How much does she know about us?” Leaf paces out of habit, his anxiety clear in every movement. 

“We can’t know if it is a good or bad idea unless we read it.” I make up an excuse to get him to read the note.

“It says, Dear scouts, 

I have intel that you both happen to be new vigilantes. I must say, your enhancements are very useful. Manipulation of gravity, and technology manipulation? A lot of people would want you in their deck. As I said before, I will pay you 50,000 flies to complete the job. You will be retrieving ten flasks, of the formulas provided, from the high-security research facility within the next month. What I know about the facility is on the second document. I will pay more for a quicker retrieval. Should you fail to do so after accepting the 20,000, I will hunt you down. If you succeed I can guarantee to send recommendations to more clients. I have others that have been looked into should you turn this down. Please send your response to the Glass Hotel room 707. I’ll be waiting.

Your choice, 

Miss. Scarlet.”