Hi there! This chapter is a bit shorter, but I'm actually considering making them all about this length. Regardless, enjoy! 😈

           I contemplate life because I'm bored
I quickly walk to the safe house in stilts. Once there I sit up and basically burn my homework for firewood. I've already passed high school, but I was the only one who looked young enough to be a student. Even Tristan, who just graduated, doesn't look right, but we might need him there anyway. And we obviously couldn't have Barrow do it.

The safe house is more of a rickety shed more than anything. Still, it looks just like the rest of the houses around here. And certainly better than some of the secret slum towns some rich people, or slivers I suppose run. Disgusting. Still, I clean up as much as I can, pulling out the small cot and blanket, as well as some food provisions. I eat quickly, aware I have a schedule and my next appointment is within minutes.

I quickly pull out my phone and type in the secret code into my numbers. The phone begins to ring and almost immediately someone responses.

"Lamb, report?" a familiar voice barks at me. The Colonel immediately is conjured up in my mind's eye. The scarlet eye from a bad fight and the gun at his hip. I refuse to think about his other features, the ones that look like mine. I respond sharply.

"Colonel.You are aware that my name is huntress now, correct?"

"I am quite aware Diana." The name feels like a whip cracking against my skin. "Now, the report," he demands. I quickly hide the burning pain inside.

"Some of the students seem interested in rebelling against the almighty 'slivers' of the town, however most are too cowed to do so. And the 'slivers' I met seem to fear nothing about the guard, they just call us and I quote "a wicked, and cruel menace preying on innocents". So, Colonel will Bones be joining me on this mission?" I say finally, already anticipating his response.

"Yes, Huntress. Bones will be meeting you in the safe house tomorrow morning. Be alert at all times and keep an eye out for trouble. Tomorrow you will receive another assignment. Over and out."

"Over and out, Sir." I hang up the phone, cuddling under the blanket. Now wouldn't be such a horrible time for the Barrow to show up. Ah, well. A girl can dream. Now, that I think of Barrow, his sister wouldn't make such a bad addition to my team. I think she has just about all the assets out team needs, other than her surly attitude and no connection with slivers.

If only we had a woman on the inside. Or man, I suppose. We could use all their weaknesses to our advantage and make them repay all the poor who live in Norta, Piedmont, and Lakeland townships. As I fall asleep one phrase echoes through my mind, over and over, Rise, red as the dawn.