Avery's face is pressed against the window. Devyn is sitting in a butterfly yoga pose next to him and Julian's tucked up into the couch, reading a book.

Avery and Devyn talked to me before and mostly just said 'don't shout at him again' and something like that, which was tiring, because I obviously knew that.

But here I am anyway, picking at the dirt under my nails. I don't want to see Julian, so I'm behind his couch. From here, I can't see anyone unless I try. So it's obviously the optimal position.

"Delfi, get your ass over here," Devyn calls. I sigh and crawl out from my seat on the floor. He raises his eyebrow at me and I just want to brood in my room.

They're sitting in a circle again, like last time. I don't want to be beside anyone, so I just rest my head against the couch.

"So, we've been... discussing. If we're going to earn Estella's trust, we'll need to know how you did it last time," Avery says. I blink.

"Did... what, exactly?" even though I already have a feeling of what it is. Julian laces his fingers together awkwardly.

"Earned the trust of Theseus Forrest." Devyn mutters, looking down at the carpet. Theseus Forrest. My last target. Someone I never want to think about.

I cross my arms and turn away, deciding whether or not I should tell them. I mean, this is for the outcome of this mission, right? It's no big deal.

There's snow falling past again. I stare at it for a while before I turn back to the others. "Fine. Okay. I'll tell you. But Estella and Theseus are really different."

They murmur their agreement. I stretch my arms and lean back against the couch, closing my eyes, trying to remember. And I can. I'd never forget him.

"My last mission was to kill a man named Theseus Forrest. He was a..." I twirl my hand around, "a threat, according to the organisation. But first I had to ask him... what did he know about Neo Steel."

They listen in silence. My arm drops to the floor and I remember that rainy day in Boston. Man, why have I been having so many flashbacks recently?

~

Footsteps echoed down the hallway. I knew who it was immediately - and I wasn't looking forward to seeing him.

"Delfi Nieve," he said simply. He knew my real name. Both of them. I adjusted the sleeves of my leather jacket and turned around.

"Theseus," I replied lightly, coolly. He ruffled his short, black, curly hair, a smile already forming on his face. A scowl appeared on mine.

He stepped closer to me. "What, are you afraid of me? Yeah, I know I'm great and all." he shrugged. I almost laughed. Me, scared of him? Ha.

Theseus pushed open the door to his room. "See you next time, Nieve." I grimaced and clenched my hands into fists.

~

"And then, Nieve, did you know what he did? He punched me - right there - when I was just about to win!" Theseus threw his hands into the air.

I forced a laugh out of my mouth. "What an idiot," I said, "hey, do you know Neo Steel?" it wasn't discreet at all, but Theseus wasn't particularly observant.

"Yep! Businessman, ain't he?" he rolled his eyes. "I knew him personally - but I never liked him, you know? Too fancy. But he was smart."

I dug my nails into my arm until I started to feel shots of pain. "Yeah, but you know what I heard? This is just a rumour, of course, I mean. I don't know if it's true."

I did. But I couldn't tell him that. Not when I was on the verge of victory. "He's a murderer. His business, at least, according to what I've heard, is failing, so he turned to killing," I reported, as casual as I could muster.

Theseus didn't seemed surprised. He just sighed. "It's true. He told me. What a shame. If he just stuck it out a bit longer -" he held his index finger and thumb very close together, "- he would've been an amazing man. But he didn't."

I stayed silent. Nothing was going to get in my way when I was so close to success. I sucked my breath in quietly when he said, "he's in Cyprus now."

I shook my head, but I was cheering on the inside. Finally. Victory. There was only one last thing to do. And it was going to be easy.

~

Maverick shook his head and grabbed Theseus' wrist. "That was a mistake," he murmured through his own blood. Theseus laughed.

And I stood, paralysed, by the door, watching as Theseus stabbed my teammate repeatedly. "Awwh, Nieve. Hey."

He didn't seem shameful, or embarassed, or anything. Just calm. "I'm afraid I'll have to kill you too, can't have you running off to -"

It happened in a second. I snapped out of my dazed state, kicked him backwards, and stabbed him. I left the knife there, and crawled over to Maverick.

His eyes were glassy already. His face was white except for the splatters of blood. The stab wound was just a giant hole in his chest.

I sat on the ground there. I didn't cry. He was gone, and I knew that. But I felt empty. Blank. I took my knife out of Theseus' stomach and raced out, shutting the door behind me.

I walked through the hallways, still feeling dazed. I burned my rubber gloves. Got rid of everything, so nobody would ever find out.

Destiny and Gwen were waiting for me in the room. They smiled tiredly, and neither of them cried when I told them Maverick wasn't coming back.

~

My hair rippled in the wind. The noise from the plane was deafening. Gwen took my hand gently. I squeezed her callused hand.

"Your private plane." an air hostess gestured to the plane. Destiny nodded and buried her hands in her skirt. We walked onto the plane.

It was big and empty. All ours. Stocked with champagne and wine and all types of food. But I didn't feel like eating or drinking. The three of us sat in the seats next to each other.

I stared out the window, imagining the new life I was leaving behind. It's not like I had a choice. I stared at the airport until it was out of view.

It was all over. Everything was over.

~

I take a deep breath. "And, yeah, that's it. I guess you just have to... agree with everything they say. Change yourself to be their ideal person."

Devyn stares at me. Avery rubs his eyes like he's been staring at a computer screen for too long. Julian just looks away.

I look around. "What?" I say, suddenly feeling awkward and self-conscious. I hug my legs to my chest. Devyn shakes his head.

"Nothing," Devyn answers, averting my eyes.

"Maybe we should meet again after this?" Julian suggests. Avery and I agree, and soon Devyn gives in and agrees too.

Avery's already at the door, tying the laces on his boots. "Well, I have to go. Bye." he waves at us slightly before the door clicks behind him.

The snow's mostly stopped, only fluttering by every few minutes. I look out the window. The mountains, the buildings - everything's covered in white.

Julian gets up silently and retreats into the bathroom, locking the door. Devyn and I just stare at each other until Dev stands up.

"Going to gym." then he pushed open the door, still smiling sadly at me. Before the toilet in the bathroom flushes and I'm left alone with Julian, I quickly hurry out after Devyn.

~

"What do you think?" Estella waves the dress in front of my face. It's bright purple, covered in glittery sequins. It's sleeveless and tacky.

"No." I shake my head. She's deciding on what to wear for this evening's party celebrating the hotel's 20th anniversary.

Estella digs around in her closet, humming. I drum fingers across my thigh, feeling awkward. Finally she comes up with something.

"This?" she holds up a dress. It goes a little past her knees. It's cotton candy pink, with a bit of gradient, fading into a lighter shade towards the top. It has bubblegum pink sleeves.

She looks down at it. "I like the lace." she points towards the blush pink lace on the bottom of the skirt, along the sleeves, and around the neckline. I hadn't even noticed it.

"Um - I -" I clear my throat, blushing the same colour as the dress, " - I really like it. I think it would look nice on you."

She gives me a bright smile. "Yeah, I think so too." she twirls around, folding it, and placing it on the bed, where I'm sitting. She sits next to me.

"What are you gonna wear?" she asks softly. I shrug. I didn't even know I was going to come, but whatever. It might be a chance to get her to talk to me.

Estella shoots up. "I could help you! There's a boutique just downstairs..." I shake my head, but a smile is tugging at my lips. I can't help it.

"No, Stella, we are not going clothes shopping..." I start, but she interrupts me, standing up and pumping her fist into the sky.

"We're going clothes shopping!" she says cheerfully, rushing out the door. I smile and go after her. Oh boy. Clothes shopping.

I catch up with her. The boutique, just like she said, was just one floor down. This time we take the stairs, since why not? She insisted.

We reach a store with a white sign near the top. It says Ritudo Boutique on it in gold. Estella pulls me in excitedly, her eyes sparkling, and I smile wider. She's like a child.

I stand by the entrance awkwardly while Estella runs around, picking dresses and skirts and tops for me. She was always the fashionable one - for formal events, anyway. Finally she skips back to me, piles of clothing in her arms.

"Come on!" she leads me to the dressing room. I hide in stall 3, naked except for my underwear and bra, looking at all the clothes I have to try on. I pick up a dress at random and look at it.

It's a lemon yellow silk dress. I step into it, feeling weird. I haven't done this in a long time. I zip up the back and look at myself in the mirror.

Nah. It's... alright. I mean, I kind of like the cross straps at the front. But other than that, nothing else looks good. Estella yells at me to go out and show her.

I do. She tilts her head left and right and left and then right again before shaking her head. "No. It's not bad but there's something better."

"Yeah, I know," I agree, stepping back inside the stall. I unzip the dress and let it fall to the floor. I pick up another one.

Blood red. Reaches just above my ankles. Nope.

Sky blue. Ridiculously short - just barely the middle of my thigh. Nope.

Flamingo pink. Evening dress with too much bronze beads and glitter. Nope.

Finally, I reach the last one. This time it's a top and a skirt. The top is a pretty blonde yellow, with a grecian neckline. The skirt is a marigold orange, which reaches above my ankles with a silver tulle layer underneath, slightly longer than the fabric.

I look at the mirror and almost gasp. It... actually looks nice. I turn around and around, searching for an angle that makes me look bad. There's nothing. I smile.

Wait until Estella sees this. I step out proudly, waiting for her to squeal and gasp and smile and sparkle.... but she's gone.

I sag. And then I remember what I'm supposed to do. Not hang out with her - get information and then kill her. I buy the dress and walk out.

She's nowhere to be seen. My fingers brush the dagger underneath my jacket.

Soon.

I love this update-every-Wednesday schedule since I have loads of time to write the next chapter and it makes me feel so prepared, you know?

Sorry this is a bit late, by the way! I was v busy yesterday, lots of stuff to do. Hope you forgive me!

QOTC: What's your favourite flower?
AOTC: I can't choose, I love them all, but one of them is the Hibiscus flower. There are a lot growing around here so I see them a lot.

~ Shadow