"Eve!"

I ducked down right before the blow; I already had a bloody nose and no doubt a black eye, though I couldn't be sure considered I hadn't had time to look at myself in the mirror. But it certainly hurt like hell anytime I went to blink. I was really off my game today, too busy worrying about tonight. I straightened and swung back, unfortunately I misjudged the distance and how fast William was moving and completely missed him, giving him the perfect opportunity to grab my wrist and flip me onto my back.

"Alright, let's take a break," William sighed clearly disappointed with my skills and focus this afternoon.

I laid there for a moment staring up at the bright lights embedded into the ceiling, they hurt my eyes, but my pride was even more wounded. My breathing was ragged, and I hated myself for showing weakness, knowing that even the slightest thing would be a stab in the back.

"No, I would like to continue." I fought back after a moment and sat up, we've never had to take a break before and it's a sure sign of failure. 'If we can't even continue in false battle what are the chances we could survive in an actual fight', William used to say.

"No." He said walking over to get some water. "At this point it's less training and more of a beating. I mean just look at yourself." He gestured back towards me. I looked down more in shame than anything else, I needed to get myself together.

"My apologies, my head seems to be somewhere else today." I offer my apologies hoping that it would distract him from my poor display only a few minutes ago.

"You know I've heard; you weren't even in this morning's meeting- or so I've heard." Willaim begins, and I can immediately tell his fishing for something from me.

"Nope," I replied, putting emphasis on the P sound, telling him he wasn't getting anything out of me no matter how hard he tried. I wasn't interested in games this afternoon.

"Why?" He said with mock curiosity.

"None of your damn business," I snapped finally getting up from the floor and walking over to where my towel and water bottle were waiting for me on a bench.

"So touchy, Eve. I'm hurt I thought we were friends," he says giving me the best puppy dog eyes he possibly could.
I hated puppy dogs eyes, or really using any part of your looks to try and get what you want. Perhaps it's because I used to fall for it quite often when I was younger, and it always left me feeling used. I've been used enough in this life time, and I didn't need to deal with from my very own coworkers.

"Well, you thought wrong after all almost everyone knows you're a snitch. Gathering information, pretending to be all nice and understanding, only to use it against those people to get a higher standing with the people higher up." I huffed out, more annoyed that'd I'd have to monologue for that long. I also hated talking to William about anything other than different fighting techniques, you got to keep your wits and secrets to yourself when near William- or anyone else really.

He said nothing, merely looked at me with a hard unwavering look.
Clearly, we were done with our conversation, having nothing more to do down here I promptly picked up my things and left.

I had barely made it five steps out the door before I could hear quick steps following me. He barely made a sound and without my years of training I doubt I would've even heard him. I whipped around to face him, our faces only separated by a few inches.

"What?" I asked far more aggressively than I would have liked, but I was stressed out and William wasn't making it any easier.

"I just wanted to apologize; I was rude."

"You were. Bye." My tone thankfully now more even, I was in complete control of my emotions or at least of the outside it looked that way. I turned and attempted to take a step, before I could I felt a hand abruptly grab onto my shoulder, preventing me from walking any further away.

"Move the hand before you lose it," I warned darkly, I was at the end of my rather short tether.

Normally I and incredible patience for people like William, for people in general. I simply didn't care enough to be bothered, or annoyed but now I had no sleep, and poor girl in the dungeons fighting for her life. I had something to fight for, something finally worth dying for and it had caused this gut wrenching feeling like something exciting was about to happen- that or something incredibly terrifying and/or stupid thanks to William here. I took a deep breath willing myself to calm down, if not for my then for Dakota who will need my full capabilities and skill level to get us both out of here alive.

"What do you want William?" I gritted out. He finally lowered his hand giving me that chance to turn around and meet William head on.

"We've never really got to know each other, Eve. I was just wondering if you'd like to have dinner with me...tonight perhaps?" He asked taking me completely off guard, so off guard that I began to crack a smile, and then a slight giggle bubbled up from chest. After a few more seconds I was hunched over, laughter pouring out of me like never before.

"Why are you laughing?" William asked and I could hear the frustration in his voice.

I stood up, wiping the tears that had fallen during my laughing fit. He was completely red in the face, and I could practically see the veins bulging out of his forehead and his neck. It nearly made me burst out laughing again but I managed to maintain my composure.

"The fact that you think I would trust a snake like you enough to consider a future with enough to willingly go out on a date with you. What the hell brought this on anyway?" I calmly explained to him, no longer stressed and anxious.

"You're a bitch Eve," William spats back at me, before storming away.
I couldn't help myself I busted out laughing, laughing just as hard the first time. I stumbled back to my room, trying not to pee myself along the way with how hard I had been laughing.

After I relieved myself, I went to go check on the time. It was only 4:30 in the afternoon, I still had plenty of time to prepare and panic. I suppose I could take a nap; my lack of sleep could be the reason I was so on edge. What's that smell? I silently ask myself before taking a hesitant whiff of myself, oh shoot it was me. That would explain why my eyes were burning, and here I just thought it was from the black eye.

Abbi was waiting for me at the door after my shower, not giving me any chance to put anything on other than my robe.

"Can you let me change please?" I ask opening the door.

"Fine, but I'm going to raid your kitchen in the meantime. Because of your sudden change of heart and career change my entire day has been stress filled and devoid of food." Abbi brushes by me without giving me a second glance.

I don t bother getting fully dressed because its still far too early, not to mention I'll sweat my ass off in full uniform. Instead, I put on a simple pair of black leggings and a dark green t-shirt. I head back into the living room only to find it empty, no Abbi in sight. A quick turn on my heels and I can faintly hear someone in the kitchen making popcorn. So that's what she went to make.

"You'll never guess what happened earlier," I suddenly said striking up a rare conversation with Abbi. It was rare for me to even talk this much but now here I was actively looking for stimulation with a person.

"Oh, do my ears deceive me or is little miss couldn't care less actually filling me in on gossip?" Abbi asked with a mock surprise. She sat down on the couch, her bowl of popcorn bouncing slightly causing a few kernels to scatter onto the couch around her.

"Don't be ridiculous, this happened to me. William asked me out." I blurted out no longer able to wait any longer. I was standing up directly in front of her, I still had far too much energy to sit still.

"No. Fucking. Way." She gasped out, pausing in between each word.

"Did you just curse?" I asked more surprised over that fact rather than her reaction.

"Yes- back to you though, when did this happen?"

"After our sparing session this afternoon," I replied offhanded, I was now actively pacing the room, I wasn't exactly stressed- I did this normally before any mission. It was a simple way for me to get my blood flowing but not enough to trigger my adrenaline

"Damn, I wonder what brought it on?" Abbi asked aloud, she was off staring into space now.

"I don't know, it was actually right after I had stormed out of the room."

"Do you want to sit down and talk about all this?" Abbi asked and I could now tell her curiosity was starting to get the better of her. I shot her a look that told her I was no longer in the mood for pleasant conversation, not exactly harsh but one more full of begging and desperation.
"Ok-ay, I guess not." She said drawing out the 'okay'.

Rather than continue to pace I decided now was the perfect opportunity for me to start getting ready, Abbi seemed to hesitate for a second and I couldn't tell if she wasn't to say something more about our pervious conversation or what was going to happen.

"Yes?" I prompted her.

"Nothing, nothing. I was simply debating on what to wear tonight. I could wear a dress that shows off my glorious ass, or perhaps my boobs. I just have so many wonderful qualities." Abbi wistfully sighed.

With a quick roll of my eyes that I made sure she saw. I headed back into the bedroom. I had laid out my clothes before I even got into the shower, though staring sown at them now brought out something else in me.

Anger.

I closed my eyes letting my emotions wash over me in waves, during training we were always told never to let our emotions get the better of us, we were told to be unyielding and to never show emotion. My trainer always used to say use emotions to your advantage, just never your own. Emotions can cause you to be reckless and if you are reckless, you were dangerous and not just to your targets but to yourself as well.

Tonight, will be different. I would use my anger, my own emotions, they would help empower me and push me through I wouldn't be taking a life tonight I would be saving one. And that thought alone helped me put on my uniform hopefully one last time.

I was now dressed properly for this evening's activities, in full black with gear strapped onto me as if I was going to war. I was dressed to kill; the irony was not currently lost on me. Abbi was dressed in black as well, but she had an entirely different style to her all-black outfit, seduction was her end game.

Abbi was busy touching up her lipstick in the bathroom while I continued to pace, my ritual still in full effect even though it wasn't my usual mission.

"Hey, you already for tonight?" Abbi asked coming over to stand beside me.

"As ready as I'm ever going to be." I mumbled back to her.