“Yup.” I say it bitingly. The words taste bad in my mouth. “Can we talk about this later? He’s going to start the palace assault soon. I want to kill him before he gets what he wants.”

“M-Myrr?” Meera’s eyes are wide with fright. She tugs me close and wraps me in a hug before I can react. Maybe I’m a bit slow at the moment. I let Meera have this moment for just an instant. She lets go when she realizes I’m not reacting. “Boss, are you…okay? Are you hurt?”

“Not at all.”

“Then…then…? What’s wrong?” She checks me over for injuries. But there’s nothing to find. Nothing on the outside anyway. You won’t find what’s broken. No one will. “Why are you like this?”

“Like what?” I tilt my head. “Like what, Meera?”

“Like…like this!?” Meera waves her hand over my face angrily. “I can see the tears on your face, you know! Stop pretending to be okay! The Stranger can wait! You’re not you right now! The Boss I know wouldn’t be so cold. He wouldn’t rush off like this. You’re supposed to have a plan first! Isn’t that what you’ve been telling me this whole time? You cared about, Kisa! Don’t f*cking try to deny it!”

…

“I do have a plan,” I reply. “It’s called, I put my knife inside of him. And then he dies. Sound good? Now are you going to help or not? Jeez, for an assassin you really don’t understand that these things happen.”

“T-These things happen?!!?!”

*Tug*

I finally break free of Meera while she’s distracted. Stepping away, I start running again. She flickers ahead of me and blocks my way. I dodge around her only to find her matching my pace.

*Tap Tap Tap*

“I’m coming,” she says quietly. “If only to keep you from doing something stupid.”

“Great,” I tell her. “Oh…by the way…I forgot to mention. Echo is Natalia. You remember her, right? My demi-sister? The one you don’t like?”

*Ta-*

Meera slips on a tile. She falls sideways, tumbling off the edge of the roof-

“Gotcha.” I say as I snag her hand and yank her back up. Slowing for a second, I give her a once over. It’s not like Meera to trip. “Are you, okay?”

“N-Natalia?” she whispers. “Did you say, Natalia?”

“Yea it’s a bit weird, huh?” Sighing, I roll my eyes and tug on her hand. “No idea how he found her, she’s supposed to be back with Elina, but you know how persuasive the Stranger can be.” Meera doesn’t move. It’s like she’s glued to the roof now. “Hey, come on! Let’s go kill him! He messed with my family!” Something’s wrong. My henchwoman isn’t budging. I take a second look at her. When our eyes lock together, she…flinches. Her face turns white. “Meera? What’s wrong? Aren’t you pissed off for me?”

“I…I…” She doesn’t seem to be able to talk. Her voice is soft, barely audible, “I didn’t mean it. Why would she…? I just thought…why…?”

“What? You’re not making any sense,” I lean in, confused. “What didn’t you know?”

“...I didn’t mean it.” Something’s really wrong with Meera. She’s never looked this afraid before. Ever. Not even when she thought she was going to die. “Myrr, you have to believe me. I just wanted to help you. You left her alone…I thought she’d hate you.”

“What are you talking about?!”

“You have to believe me.”

“Believe what?” I’m beginning to catch a bit of Meera’s fear. Somehow, despite everything that’s happened, I’m getting a very bad feeling. Call it a Boss’s intuition. “Meera, what the hell is going on?”

“You won’t…be mad?”

“Just say it already!”

…

“I…I sent Natalia a few letters.” She gulps. Her eyes are wide, watching mine for any sign of a reaction. She reaches for my hand. “You, you forgot her birthday. So I…I sent her some cheese. And told her about what you were doing for her. She told me when your birthday was! Please don’t be mad! You just left her there. I know what it’s like to be abandoned. I thought…maybe…maybe if she heard about all the things you were doing for her, she wouldn’t feel so left out. Boss…Boss! Please please please believe me! I always had the best intentions in mind for you-!”

It was you?

You told her I was in Merekeep?!

“Hold on.” My brain is on fire. Trying to process Meera’s confession. “Wait a minute, Natalia’s been here for months. Elina has to have noticed. Why didn’t she write to me?”

“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you!” Meera’s desperate smile, it’s just hoping that everything is going to be okay. Pleading for forgiveness. But I’m starting to realize she doesn’t deserve it. She reaches into her pocket. Pulls something out. “Elina…she’s been sending letters. To me. We didn’t want to worry you considering your condition…errr all that you’ve been dealing with. I mean, Elina’s been training her, and she says Natalia is strong enough to take care of herself now. But she’s been gone so long…we were getting really worried. So I…I decided to tell you yesterday. But then the Stranger came…and Kisa was gone…and…please don’t be mad!”

So…what you’re saying is…

You went against my express orders.

Told Natalia where I was.

Realized you messed up.

Then hid the evidence from me.

And so this whole thing.

Even Kisa’s death really…

Considering it never would have happened if Natalia wasn’t here…

This is all your fault?

…

…

…

Unbelievable.

You are truly…truly…

Irredeemably selfish.

“Meera...you know, I’m sure you only had my best intentions in mind.”

“R-Really? You’re not mad?”

“Yea. I mean, you’ve always saved my butt. And I really like you so I’m going to forgive you this one time…”

“Boss? You really believe me?” Meera’s eye shines with hope. Her black eyepatch still has Elina’s cute pink heart drawn on it. But it’s all smeared and faded now. She reaches out to me, trying to grab my hand. “Myrr? I’m so sorry. It won’t happen again! Thank you! I know it sounds bad…but I-I’m sure we can fix this together-”

“Yea, Meera. I totally believe you. You just told Natalia about all the fun things we were doing without her. Out of the goodness of your heart. You wanted to make sure she wouldn’t feel left out. You definitely didn’t want her to feel jealous. She definitely didn’t come to Merekeep because of your letter. I think Kisa’s perfectly fine too! Imagine that, it’s a miracle! Nya…is going to grow up with a sister! And I…well I never really liked you much in the first place-”

Meera’s face drops.

“No…no no…it’s not like that! Just let me explain!”

I step away.

Meera follows.

So clingy.

She keeps trying to touch me.

Why?

It’s not going to change anything.

“You’re worthless, Meera. Kisa’s death is on you-”

“...I…didn’t want-”

“-And if I die trying to fix this? Well, that’s on you too.”

I let it all out. Just like before, when Natalia killed Kisa, I’m seeing red. It’s probably because I’m looking at the real reason all of this happened. To me, Meera isn’t even a henchwoman anymore, let alone an employee. Filthy traitor.

“Leave. I don’t have any use for trash. I’m already cleaning up your mess. Don’t tell me I have to throw you out too.”

“Please, Boss!” Meera shivers violently. She shakes her head over and over. But it’s too late. “Don’t make me leave! I can help you fight the Stranger! I’ll…I’ll make this right! Just give me a chance! I…I’m your number one employee, remember?”

“No, Meera. My number one employee is dead.” I sigh as she breaks into sobs. “This…all of this? It’s your fault. You’re just a useless idiot. You’re so selfish. You do whatever you want, never thinking about anyone else. And now I finally see it. We don’t need you anymore. You really are an assassin through and through, bringing death to everything you touch. I don’t want to see you again. This is your last warning. Leave!”

“Boss…is that what you really think of me? I…I’m just useless…and selfish?”

“Go.” I take a deep breath…and shove Meera off the roof.

“N-No!” Her boots slide on the tiles, trying to hang on. But the edge gets closer and closer. She pinwheels for a split second, still holding on “B-Boss?!” Meera reaches out for me, but I’m already gone. Her hands find nothing but empty air. So predictable, always trying to drag me down with you. “Myrr! Don’t do this!”

“Last time, I only took one of your eyes. If I see you again, I won’t make the same mistake.”

*Whoosh*

Meera’s distraught voice gets farther and farther away-

“Forgive me! I’m so sorry! Please! PLEASE BELIEVE M-E-E-E-e-e-e-e-”

…

…

…

*Shua*

The wind blows on the empty rooftop. My ex-employee doesn’t come back up. I couldn’t care less if she’s okay.

“Goodbye, Meera.”

…

…

…

[Dreamer, don’t do something you’ll regret.

I chose you not to suffer, but to save!

Forgive! And if you cannot, forget!

You’re going down the wrong path!]