My eyes burned, tears beginning to form in my eyes. Perhaps I should blink? No, no these bubbles are far too important to not look at, watching as they slowly pop from exposure to the air, barely even making a sound. How long had a been staring at these bubbles, I slowly looked up and blinked making the burning sensation slowly leave my eyes. I looked over at the window- it was dark, but it had been dark when I got in the bath so that did nothing to help me determine the time.

There was no clock in here either, or in any room in my apartment. I hated the ticking. It always made me feel like I wasn't here, like this was some big hallucination or nightmare and the ticking would lead to me waking up.

Jolting up out of the bubble bath suddenly no longer interested in staring at the bubbles. I looked over at myself in the mirror. My dark auburn hair that nearly fell past my waist, my porcelain skin from never being able to see the sun, and of course my cold, dead, black eyes. I was once told that when I looked deep into someone's eyes it made them feel as if I was string into their soul.

Rolling my eyes I grabbed my robe and slipped it on and headed towards the kitchen, not really having an appetite but knowing that the clock on the oven would help tell me what time it was. 5:49, in the morning no doubt, which meant I had a little over on over before I had to be at my next debriefing.

I blinked and suddenly the clock said 6:05, had I been standing here for 15 minutes? I was never like this after a kill, so why had that girl affected me so damn much- I didn't even kill her!

I closed my eyes trying to calm my breathing, but all I saw was the young girl and her face as it fell when she finally realized that I wasn't there to save her but take her away once again.

Her folder was still sitting on my kitchen table, I was supposed to shred it once I had either killed or captured whoever's name was unfortunate enough to be mentioned. I flipped it open and there she was, 13-year-old, short honey blonde hair and stunning blue eyes, Dakota Brone. A face that would no doubt keep me up for quite a while, and here I thought I had no more remorse left for these people.

Maybe it's because for the first time, this one didn't do anything wrong. Her family did though, she's just leveraged to be used against them and then eventually killed off when she no longer becomes useful to them. Must be a sad life. Never knowing who to trust or who she could turn to, always looking over her shoulder for the rest of her life.

A delicate knock at the door pulls me from my despairing thoughts, I couldn't see the clock from this angle, but I could only guess that it was after 7 and I was late for my meeting. I glanced down at my robe and knew that I wouldn't get out of this day unharmed.

Another knock sounded against my front door, before abruptly stopping. I had almost reached the door before it flung open revealing a very worried looking Abbi. My partner in crime, or my bff as she affectionately liked to call it.
"Next time you're late for a meeting at least answer your phone!" She all but screams. "You were out most of the night on some sketchy ass mission- by yourself might I add. Then, you're late for our morning meeting and refuse to answer your damn phone! Next time you do this shit you'd better be dead, or I'll kill you my damn self." By the end her face was bright red, and her chest was heaving from her rant.

"Sorry." Is all I managed to reply.

She took a deep breath and heaved in one of her signature dramatic sighs before rolling her eyes and brushing me to the side so she could waltz into my apartment like it was her own. Her hair was done up in tight braids dropping down to her waist, any other time they were in rows held tight upon her head, so they didn't get in the way when she goes on missions. Abbi was truly one of a kind, at least in our business that was, she was still so happy and joyful even after doing this for over 20 years. She never went anywhere without a smile, "You're never fully dressed without one." She would say every morning when she noticed that I didn't have one.

"So, what happened last night anyway?" She asked no doubt her curiosity was slowly killing her.

"Nothing you'd be interested in," I muttered back to her. She was used to my lack of conversation skills by now and merely brushed me off.

"Must've been pretty bad for you to still be in your bath robe," she said with a grin. "And you rarely ever miss a morning meeting unless something went down the night before."

I merely shrugged and walked away from her, off to go put my clothes on for the day. If I even gave the slightest hint that I could be turning rouge or had lost my edge id be out. Either laying on a slab in the morgue or locked away in a nice, padded room for the rest of my life.

I slipped on a long sleeve black T-shirt, and black jeans. Combat boots were a staple in all our outfits, we never went anywhere without them. That, or our countless knives and small guns we kept always hidden on our persons.

When I walked out of my closet, I noticed Abbi was looking over at the envelope, she hadn't looked inside it or if she had I couldn't tell.

"That's supposed to be nothing but shredded paper by now Eve," Abbi lightly scolded. She hadn't even looked up at me when she spoke, still staring at the envelope hoping it would give her the unspoken answers she wanted.

I didn't answer her, instead I grabbed an energy drink from the fridge and plopped down on the couch with it. Sighing, Abbi turned and sat down next to me as delicately as she possibly could. Abbi was like a ballerina; she was graceful and delicate so small and yet so mighty. I was almost her complete opposite; I wasn't delicate or graceful-l I was small barely five four but that was where our similarities ended.

"Are you going to tell me what's wrong?" Abbi pushed; we were both staring at the wall with mock interest. Neither one of us wants to turn on the TV.

"Nothing's wrong." I argued, but I could practically taste the lie in my mouth, and I knew she could hear the lie as well.

"Fine. Continue to lie to your best friend, but whatever it is just know I wouldn't hold it against you."

Damnit! This girl knew me way too well, I wanted to tell her but frankly I didn't even want to admit it to myself. What I was honestly considering, setting the girl free...
If I did this it could mean the end of my life, maybe even her own. Knowing Abbi though, she may insist on helping me which could risk her life too. Could I do that to her?

"She's only 13." I finally snapped and bolted off the couch no longer content with staying still.

"So?"

"" So?" Is that all you can say? No how could you say that? She's just a young girl, being used and almost every turn in her life. And soon when she is no longer useful, they're going to take her life away, how could I let that happen to someone so young? Someone who has so much more life to live." The words rushed out, more than Id ever said before at once.

Abbi's eyes widened ever so slightly, telling me my reaction had surprised her but not by much.

"Damn. I can honestly say I think that s the most I've ever heard come out of your mouth- and you didn't even swear." The humor in her voice was clearly very evident. She then turned very serious as she looked back at me, "So are you going to do?"

"I think I'm going to help her escape." I whispered.

"Then I'm going to help you."