I didn't dare stop as I dropped onto one of the fire escape platforms and jumped again, hitting the ground running. My weary bones begged me to stop and my wheezing lungs tried to slow me down with their breathlessness, but I ignored every instinct telling me to rest and ran on.

The Elrods would be looking for me no doubt. I had seen the true, broken family behind the perfect picture they set for the public, and with a single word I had the power to ruin the Elrod name.

Of course I wouldn't, but my reputation and the rumors of the Outcasts would certainly make them think I would.

To them, I was just a dangerous and selfish person, a risk and a criminal, but nothing more. And maybe I was, but maybe I was something else too. Something better, something more. At least, I had been. Before everything in my perfectly knitted together life had unraveled with a duet of flying bullets.

And yes, my parents' deaths were partly the Elrod family's fault. And yes, the majority of the High Ranks were cruel, merciless, selfish, and awful.

But who's to say that their lives weren't worse? Being forced to pretend everything was okay when it wasn't? Having to keep the horrible, unrelenting truth stuck inside them, doomed to haunt them and spread cracks until they shatter into nothing more than small, jarred glass pieces of their previous selves?

___

Why was I so dizzy?...

Everything was red...

My arm was bleeding again...

I could barely see...

I think I was in a forest...

I heard a stick snap behind me...

Who's there?...

Who's that?...

What're they doing?...

Why can't I move?...

Help...

Help.

___

I was running again - all I ever seemed to be doing was running lately. Running to, running away.

Coward

There was something behind me...

I didn't dare look back. It would slow my run.

I was so tired... It felt like I had been moving for hours. My legs sparked strikes of pain with every contact to the ground, my lungs wheezed and strained to breathe. Fear was the only thing keeping me going now.

The monster was gaining on me... coming up close like a deadly shadow.

It occurred faintly in my mind that I should scream for help. But when I opened my mouth, no sound came out. And then there was this helpless feeling, something that made me want to sob and mourn the loss of strength.

The monster's darkness surrounded me, overwhelming and it's scent was like death and corpses. It sparked a certain fear in me, a terrified, unrelenting fear that made my heart still and my body freeze like a deer caught in headlights.

It clamped its blood-covered claws over my neck, and I choked and struggled until I fell slack, a far kinder darkness descending upon me.

___

"Osir-ow! Osiris, stop!" That voice - but no, it couldn't be.

I opened my eyes and glanced around at the plain green curtains, the gray, almost bare room, the blanket covering me, and the uncomfortable bed I was laying on before my eyes landed on his brown, sun-kissed skin and dark, tousled hair. I stiffened.

He laid close to me, his head propped up with his hand and a cautious expression, close enough that I could smell the refreshing scents of a streaming river and a faint smell of wood."Ash?"

___

"What. The. Hell. Ash," I gritted through my teeth.

He didn't smile, or crack a joke, or even insult me in that weird, loving way. Instead, he was silent, lost in his thoughts. So I knew... something was wrong.

"Ash!" I pushed him, misjudging the size of the bed. He fell right off.

But he popped right back nup, glaring. But not unkindly. It was downright playful.

"Most people would say "long time no see" or "how are you" but no. You decide to push me off the bed!" His sapphire eyes shone with joy.

"Don't you start that crap with me, Ash! What the hell is going on?" I sat up quickly, and immediately regretted it. Unbearable forces of pain came from both my arm and my head. I rubbed my temples with my good arm and looked down at my other. Bundled up in bandages, circulation cut off, and everything, was my arm. While it was mostly wrapped with a mountain full of bandages, a bit of a blue and purple color peeked out from underneath. I spoke, staring down at it. "Ok, before you answer, what happened?" I pointed at my arm, dumbfounded.

He followed my gaze. "I'm still not sure. I saw you entering the Wrangled Woods, about half a mile from the city. I followed, wondering what you were up to. It was only when you stopped, lowered your hood and took off your mask, looking ill, that I realized it was you." He looked puzzled as he spoke, and expectant to hear my experience. But I honestly barely remembered a thing. And I told him so.

"All I can remember is running, along with seeing a lot of red. And then," my mind flashed back to the snapping of a stick, and the unrecognizable figure - who I now knew was Ash. "you, hurrying towards me." I looked back at him.

His face looked older than when we last saw each other. But he still had that scar. It stretched from the back of his neck, all the way down to his collarbone, which was hidden underneath his navy shirt.

That scar took me back to all those months in the basement, ones full of constant defeat and falling down, then getting back up each time with slightly less determination and confidence. That is, before... before he helped me. It was thanks to him I was still breathing.

Ash nodded along as I spoke, eyes closed as if reminiscing that night.

He added, "You were seeing a lot of red because you were bleeding out through your injured arm." He opened his eyes and raised his brows. "What had my mother explicitly explained was important to always do?"

"Your mother never explicitly explained anything," I pointed out. "She always spoke in short and irritating metaphors."

Ash didn't smile, instead looking at me sternly. "What do you think "a cub cannot play with a thorn in its paw" meant? She was telling you that taking care of yourself should always be your first priority!" I flinched at his sudden, harsh tone. He noticed. "I'm sorry for yelling, but it's important, especially when you work alone, to be aware of what's hurting or affecting you negatively."

"And I always am-"

"Apparently not always. Or else you wouldn't be here." He gestured to the room and bed.

"Geez Ash, give me a break and shut up." I said, rubbing my temples again. "What's up with you? Why do you care so much?"

He fell silent, and when I looked back at him, he wore a sincere expression. "Just be more careful, ok? I'll go get you something to eat." He walked out before I could answer.

A moment later, he appeared again with a tray with a plate covered with a sandwich and an apple. He handed it to me.

After quickly thanking him, I asked, "Which food won't make me sick?"

"Neither," he chuckled. "I guarantee that the sandwich meat and lettuce is moldy and the apple is filled with chemicals."

I made a face, and set the tray aside.

"So where's your mother?"

He winced, "Well, she disappeared."

"What?!"

"Yeah, about two months ago. One minute she was there, the next there was an awfully blunt note in her place." He was fiddling with his thumbs, a habit of his I remember well.

It used to annoy me. Now it just caused a faint case of deja vu. It's strange. During those times, I always imagined looking back and feeling glad they were all over. But now, I remember those days fondly. They made me who I was today. And I had made mistakes in the past - I still did - but I could've become a lot worse.

"Damn. She just left? With no notice or anything?" I furrowed my brows. Shadow wasn't the type to leave her son alone, especially without saying anything. But then again, she never completely made sense, and her ways were a mystery.

Ash's matter-of-fact expression fell, and his gaze dropped to the floor. "Yeah..." was all he said, but a hint - almost completely concealed - of hurt betrayed his will.

"Ash..." I reached for his hand, feeling the worn calluses. He stared down at our joined hands for a moment, and squeezed mine gently.

"I guess," his voice was thick. He coughed, clearing it. "I guess she's done with me now."

"You're her son. She can't just be "done" with you."

"Apparently... she can."

And we left it at that. The mood was a little more sober after, and a silence had befallen on the two of us, only rarely broken with the occasional, short exchange of words. Ash began cheering up as the hours passed, the topic of his mother mostly out of mind.

But I could tell it still dwelled on his mind occasionally. Not just the betrayal of his mother disappearing, but the helplessness of not knowing whether she was dead or alive.

___

A quick dinner, a change of clothing, a bit of chit chat, and then bed. This was the routine that night.

As I laid wide awake in bed, watching Ash's chest rise and fall, I couldn't help but wish this would never end. I had never realized how lonely it had gotten, roaming the streets and killing without having a shoulder to lean on. And Ash was a great companion.

But he could never come with me. The past was too much of a divide between us. And he would be too much of a distraction. We never worked. This would never work.

I fell asleep watching his beautiful face resting in peace.

___

"Why?"

"Ash..."

"Why?! I want to come with you, keep you safe?!"

"You can't come."

"Why?!"

"Because Ash," I sighed. "I work alone. Besides, there's no keeping me safe and out of danger. I am an assassin, after all."

We were standing in the middle of the bleak room. The day was completely still. No wind ruffled the dully green curtains, and only silence hid outside.

Ash was standing with his back taunt and his hands clenched into fists. He seemed to notice this as I did. He flexed his hands, loosening the tense muscles so his hands were hung loosely by his sides. He inhaled deeply.

"Osiris, please. I saved your life. Twice. Can't you at least do this for me?"

"No."

"Osi-"

"No."

"Why the hell not?" he snapped.

I resisted the urge to flinch, "Because I work alone." I repeated.

"Like hell you do! I remember a time when you couldn't be alone for five minutes before needing someone to jump in and save you!"

A quick flashback had me reminiscing of that horrible night, the night I saw the color of my parent's blood firsthand, was left fending for myself, and got myself into an awful situation. And that's when Ash appeared.

I shook my head, as if trying to shake the memories away. "Don't you use that against me, Ash! That was all in the past, don't keep digging it all up! I was a little girl who had just lost her parents, I had every right to need some help!"

"You're right..." he said, calming down. "I'm sorry."

"Thing is... I don't think you are." I glared at him, before grabbing my bag and walking right out.

___

Arguing. Too much arguing. It was the first time I had seen Ash in years, and all we did was argue. I felt like hitting myself. But I did some dangerous things in my life, and I would never purposely lead Ash into danger.

It was late afternoon, late enough that the wisps of sunlight in the sky were beginning to dim, and the clouds were blooming in the sky, with every color from blood red to a soft violet.

That's when I heard my name, called by the last person I wanted to see right now.

"White Shadow! White Shadow!"

I stopped, whipping around and stalking towards Adofo as I forced every emotion but annoyance from my face, "What have I told you about downright yelling my name? I do have enemies, you know. And I need to be discreet!" I growled, glaring at him.

A faint whirring came from him, from the gadgets hidden underneath his dark winter coat - why he chose to wear a winter coat in this humidity, I do not know - and his dark face lit up into a grin, oblivious of my irritated expression.

"Check out my new invention!" he said in a cheery voice, holding up a flashing, square device.

I hit his wrist with the palm of my hand, making him release his grasp. The invention dropped to the ground. "Would you be quiet?!"

"Hey! Be careful, this is a prototype! You could've smashed it!" he said, either ignoring or not hearing me.

I looked at him with an annoyed expression, and stomped on the weird invention once, destroying it with one try.

"White Shadow!" he whined.

"Adofo, a little louder! I don't think the whole city heard you!" I whisper-shouted, sarcasm thick on my tongue.

He looked confused, "but... why would I do that? Don't you want to stay discreet?"

I just stared at him for a moment. "Sometimes I just feel bad for you."

"Thanks!"

I rolled my eyes, and stomped away.

He followed me, pestering me with questions and insignificant facts. "So what are you doing here? Did something happen? No one ever tells me when something happens... Did you just finish a mission? Who did you kill? You know, killing isn't a good thing. I've never killed. I wonder what it's like. Hey, what's it like? Are you listening to me? Did you know a lot of people ignore me? Do you know why everyone ignores me? I don't. Though they do pay attention to me when I have cool gadgets that they want to use. Does anyone ever do that to you? Does everyone pay attention to you 'cause your The White Shadow? How did you get that name anyway? Did you know there's another legendary assassin out there named The Shadow? Do you know them? Is that why you-"

Soon, his questions were hitting way too close to home and I said sharply, "Don't you have somewhere to be so you can blow something up?

"No, actually... Lately," he sighed, suddenly solemn. "A lot of Outcasts have gone dark. They've just... disappeared."

My mind immediately flashed back to Ash.

"Well, she disappeared."

"What?!"

"Yeah, about two months ago. One minute she was there, the next there was an awfully blunt note in her place."

"Disappeared, you say." I said vaguely.

"Yep. I get resources from some who've been gone for months." For the first time since I've known him, Adofo looked miserable. "Every Outcast can only hope they won't be next."

"Do you have any idea on what or who could be doing all this?"

"No..." His voice was serious and low now. "But there have been rumors... a mysterious assassin has appeared, and whoever it is is not looking too friendly."

With that he bounced off, skipping happily and looking cheerful once more. I shook my head. I just don't get that boy.

___

Fire. There was fire everywhere. It was a living, breathing thing. And it was here to kill. It was a suffocating, blazing-hot monster, guilty of murder and the worst kind of beauty.

It couldn't be extinguished, and its life was like a god's, immortal.

It surrounded me, like fear itself, and choked me until I was no longer breathing.

I was no longer a human, with profound emotion and an important past. I was no longer worthy of any recognition. I was only prey. Meaningless, irrelevant, insignificant prey.

Screams echoed around me, telling me to run, and only stop until safety embraced me with a mother's kindness and a father's love.

But they were lost in the flames, burned to ash like thin, fragile paper.

So I was left alone... again.

Sacrifice. Sacrifice was more powerful than the surrounding flames, than any fire. Someone had cared. And they had made a sacrifice, one I now owed my life too.

I blinked the memory away. That night had been lit alight with those death-ridden flames. An attack had been played out. Against me, and the only people who had bothered to help me. That was an act of war. And it had launched a huge series of battles. No one had won. That's because no one lived.

I wasn't involved in The War. I was too young, too inexperienced. Only a child, they said. But even as I grew frustrated of being patronized so often, I now can only thank those who turned me away. Even if it was short, I was able to be a child a little longer, before the crushing pressure and responsibilities fell.

Still, adultery came too soon, as I began to learn what were the best ways to kill someone and what the consequences of looking a gang member in the eye the wrong way.

I was sitting in the bathroom of an inn, taking medical supplies I had swiped from a parked ambulance, and changing my arm's bandages. The bathroom wasn't exactly clean, but I've been in worse places.

Dark mold was growing on the walls and corners in the bathroom, the toilet had obviously not been cleaned in quite a while, and the sink only allowed a trickle of water through, so washing the blood of my hands took a much longer time than it should have.

Just as I was about to leave, blaring lights and loud sirens filled up the inn.

The Keepers of Peace were here.