PHOENIX

I was back in Chicago—the city of thieves, Ravens, and the stench of shit.

Home sweet home.

I could sense Tressa's presence behind me as she carefully drew a fake Raven tattoo on her arm. Though the heirs were hiding behind the dumpster farther into the alley, I could hear every single word they shouted to each other. Mostly, it was Damien babbling and Arielle telling him to shut up.

"Should I draw one for you too?" Tressa asked as she finished up.

I shook my head. "Already drew it."

Tressa nodded and threw her used supplies into the dumpster before joining me at the mouth of the alley. She took a deep breath, fiddling with her multiple hidden weapons.

It was my idea to add Tressa in the plans. As the others schemed, I joined in—despite my father's protests—and suggested that we use Tressa to get more information on the Ravens. I knew she would look deeper and investigate Lucas's betrayal. She hated the Ravens and couldn't help herself from pursuing them.

I was right. She used our many connections throughout the city to piece together security camera footage of Lucas's operations as a Raven. Mostly, he seemed to haul supplies in and out of the Raven base, and probably gave them a cut of any stolen goods in hopes of getting promoted. It wasn't much, but it was all we needed.

Hiding along one of the paths Lucas used to enter the Raven base, the Crowns, Tressa, and I would hijack a supply truck and enter the Raven base. Once inside, Damien would find the Ravens' servers, extract any information he could find, and place bombs around the base. The rest of us would find Indigo Fluor and break her out. As soon as we get out, Damien would detonate the bombs and topple the Raven base, setting them back for at least a while.

"Damien, that's not funny!"

Damien laughed in response before hissing in pain. "It was a prank!"

"I could've died if I tried to use them."

"Oh, come on! As soon as you realized the bullets were toy darts, you would've sliced people to bits with your blades."

"I don't care! Don't touch my guns!"

Damien mimicked her in a high-pitched voice before hissing in pain again. I rolled my eyes. They never change.

Tressa eyed them over her shoulder. She wasn't too keen about working with the people who threatened her life only days earlier, but her thirst for revenge on the Ravens won out.

"Target incoming!" Damien shouted from where he was tracking the trucks. The alley fell silent.

I closed my eyes, forcing myself to conjure up tears as the hiss of the moving vehicle echoed through the silent street. It was the factory worker side of the city, so everyone was either working or napping. But, it was still ripe with crime. The perfect conditions.

I let my hair cover my face and opened my eyes. Tears started to slip down my cheeks.

When the truck got close enough, I stumbled into the street, acting panicked as I looked side to side. I raised my hands in front of my face in feigned shock as the truck screeched to a halt. The main driver jumped out.

"Are you all right?" he asked, approaching.

I shivered as the memories from long ago came rushing back. There were too many similarities.

As the passenger stepped out of the truck slowly, I shuddered out, "Yes, but—I just—"

"It's okay," the guy said gently as he slowly knelt down in front of me only a few feet away. I almost pitied him. "What happened?"

"Wait," the other man said. "Wait. You look familiar."

He stepped closer, trying to get a better look.

Just keep walking.

I stayed silent.

"You," he gasped, "you're a thief."

The first man took another look at me before cursing.

"Shit."

He stood, ready to run back to the truck, but he was too late.

I jumped up and looped an arm around his throat, choking him. He thrashed against my grip to no avail. The second man ran towards us, trying to help his friend, but Tressa emerged from the shadows, tackling him before he could get far.

I choked him further and the man slowly fell limp in my arms. I let his body collapse to the ground. Tressa and the Raven struggled on the ground, both throwing punches and kicks every which way. As the Raven managed to roll on top, I saw a flash of metal.

I ran forward, reaching for the Raven's arms just as he was about to stab Tressa. As he struggled against my grip, Tressa punched him straight across the side of his face. Tressa got to her feet as his head lolled to one side. I dropped him. He did not move.

I signaled to Tressa and she stepped into the truck, checking for any hidden cameras or recording devices. I ran to the back and pulled the large doors open, checking to make sure no one was hiding in the back. Nothing. Tressa stepped around the corner of the truck and nodded.

"All clear," I shouted into the alleyway. The Crowns stepped out from their hiding spot and got to work.

Xavier injected each of the Ravens, making sure they would be passed out for at least a day, as Arielle and Damien dragged them into the alley behind the garbage. They straightened them up, making sure they were slumped against the wall. I sprayed them with beer and smashed a bottle against the ground, placing it only a foot away from them. They looked properly drunk.

The Crowns climbed into the back of the truck. They were too recognizable, so they would hide amongst the crates of food until we entered the base and then sneak out once inside. Tressa and I would play the role of transporters and provide them cover.

Hopefully, Tressa would be the one to drive the truck back out to avoid suspicion and I would find a way to stay within the base. After that, finding Indigo Fluor and a way out would be all improvisation.

Tressa closed the back doors as I climbed into the cabin.

"I'm driving," I told her.

She crossed her arms. "You hate driving anything besides motorcycles."

"Consider this a miracle then."

Tressa climbed into the passenger seat and I drove us through the streets. She pointed the directions which Lucas followed. He ended up at a warehouse, which the truck would disappear into for at least an hour. The Crowns were convinced there were tunnels leading from the warehouse to the Willis Tower.

I drove around the corner and the warehouse came into view. The doors were flung wide open as we approached and I slowed, entering the warehouse. As soon as the cabin entered the warehouse, a few Ravens appeared, telling us to stop. One approached us, gun in full display, as he carried a scanning device of some sort.

He knocked on the window and I rolled it down.

"Tattoo," he said.

I rolled up my sleeve and showed him my tattoo. He placed the scanner over the tattoo, the cold metal biting into my skin. I held my breath.

It flashed green and stepped away, motioning to the other Ravens. I released a small sigh of relief. Another Raven pushed a button on a remote.

With a quiet whirring and a gust of air, the floor of the warehouse tilted forward, revealing a ramp into tunnels below the city. I started forward, driving straight in. The tunnel was astoundingly spacious.

The ramp closed behind us, leaving us to the orange night lights, and I followed the straight tunnel. After a moment, Tressa spoke.

"What did they scan for?" she whispered.

I shrugged. "I think they were just making sure it was drawn precisely. I stole a shipment heading for a tattoo parlor that I suspected made the Raven tattoos a long time ago. I just used them to draw the tattoo this morning."

"So it's going to be permanent?" Tressa asked.

I nodded. She stayed silent.

The tunnel started tilting up, before we entered a series of right turns.

Damien slid open a small window to the back. "I'm right. We're driving up the Willis Tower right now."

I rolled my eyes. "No one asked if you were right or not."

Tressa slid the window shut in his face and I smiled to myself.

White light started to pour in and I slowed down, going on high alert. One last incline and right turn, and we were emptied out into a large white warehouse. Ravens ran back and forth between the dozens of trucks already there. I slowed, watching the fray, trying to figure out what a typical Raven driver was expected to do.

A Raven with a red glowing stick waved us over into a parking spot near a door. I turned toward it, making sure the back of the truck was facing the door. Meanwhile, Tressa looked around the warehouse, her jaw slack.

"If they were hiding between the floors," she said, "how the hell did they manage to build a room this big?"

I tried to provide a feasible answer, but found none. "I don't know."

The Raven directing us pounded on the door. "Unload."

He left, walking towards another truck entering. I turned to Tressa.

"I'll unload. You watch the Ravens and figure out how to exit."

She nodded and I jumped out of the truck, slamming the door behind me. No one paid any attention to my movements. They were too focused on their own tasks. I flung the backdoors open and walked towards a crate in the very back, pretending to be checking it as I spoke.

"There's a door just to the right of the truck. I'll try to make the crates give you cover," I whispered.

A slight movement from the dark corner told me they agreed.

I started carrying the crates from the truck and onto the ground outside, stacking them up next to the truck doors. At the very least, I just needed to cover them until they snuck out of the truck. After that, they should be able to blend in with the crowd until the door. If they couldn't do at least that, they were talentless fools.

As I picked up the fourth to last crate, I whispered, "Now."

They stepped out from behind the last few crates. As I carried the crate, they followed behind, Arielle in the front. I set down the crate and nodded to Arielle who slid out of the truck, landing silently behind the stacks of crates. She paused for a moment. There were no signs of anyone sensing her. She nodded to the others who followed her lead.

Once all three were firmly hidden behind the crates, still under the truck's awning, Arielle took a step forward.

At once, the lights turned red. Loud speakers crackled to life.

"One intruder detected," a female voice echoed through the building. Arielle's eyes went wide.

Damien cursed. "How the hell-"

"Stay calm," Xavier hissed. "We can still blend in. Just walk."

They started from behind the crates as I looked around, pretending to suspect the other Ravens just as they looked around in confusion. As Xavier and Damien took a step forward the voice spoke again.

"Three intruders detected."

And then the light shone down. Three spotlights pointed straight at the Crowns. Every face in the warehouse turned toward them. Guns clicked.

Shit.

Quick Alert: I have changed my username!

~Sreenija Paruchuri