My squadron broke in through the back door, me going in first with my weapons drawn. It seemed like the way we came in was some sort of emergency exit that wasn't used often, so I doubted anyone would check it everyday. From what I saw last night, they didn't have too much security around here.

Nodding to the others, they followed me through the small room. While they piled in, we were forced to squeeze in tight, the six of us. I could feel Levi leaning in closer than he should've , but paid no real mind to it. We were too busy for me to get mad over the small things. Besides, I think he was doing it unconsciously.

I raised my finger over my lips, signaling for them to be especially quiet. They nodded in understanding.

Placing my hand on the cold, brass doorknob, I slowly turned it. It opened less than an inch, just enough for me to peek out. Looking both ways, I caught the shadow of a human wandering in this direction. I kept quiet, calming my breathing as he passed by. Luckily for us, he didn't even look in the direction of the small building we were hiding out in.

Taking a minute for him to walk away, I did one last check before opening the door wider. I peeked my head out to get a wider range. When I knew it was safe, I motioned for the others to follow me out. We made a cramped line, me in the front and Theo in the back. It only made sense for the best fighters to be the rear and front guard.

I lead them down and alley a few feet to the right of the door we emerged from, on the other side of a path. I walked sideways as I fit into the little opening. The others fit as well, but it was close.

We popped out after a few buildings later. It took twenty minutes before we safely reached the large building in the center. Still hidden behind the back wall, Levi had taken charge of watching our backs while I motioned to the others that we'd wait here for a while. They nodded in agreement.

We waited ten, fifteen, and then twenty minutes in patient silence. I had a feeling, based on last nights events, that our target made it his business to check his 'wares'. A vile taste rose in my mouth as my small dinner from last night threatened to rise in my mouth. A scowl came to my face at the thought of that.

A warm hand fell on my shoulder. I looked over to see Theo looking down at me. However, his gaze wasn't focused on me. It was following something in the distance. I followed it to find that man heading towards the large building. I felt like a vulture as I watched him enter the room.

The last of his guards went into the room, closing the door behind him, and I heard the first shout. A smirked, knowing that everything was going according to plan. Another few guards headed to the door, and Squadron Five made it's move.

I motioned to Mercy, who nodded, smirking. She crept up behind the soldiers who were banging on the locked door. She came up behind them, like a shadow in the night. She made me so proud. Drawing her daggers, she nailed the first two in the back of the neck with the hilts of her daggers. They fell to the ground, unconscious.

The second two were already reacting. Air was ripped past my right ear as an arrow whizzed by, nailing the last soldier in the soft space below his ribs, away from his spine. The man grunted and fell to the ground. Doing a double check, Mercy waved us over and we followed.

I knocked on the metal door once, then waited ten seconds and knocked twice. It slid open, making the screeching sound it made the first time. I smiled, looking one of Baylee's trainees in the eyes. He nodded, acknowledging us and then moved to the side to let us in.

By the entrance of the room, Baylee's trainees were tying up two guards and the man, Samuel. He was being bound by two people, one holding him down while he other tied his hands. Good to know they were prepared.

"It's just like you said," Baylee commented from the side where she was watching the kids finishing their jobs. She had the same smirk as before our match. Triumphant and proud, but some of that was pointed at me. "He came in around one in the morning to check on the kids. Two daggers, as you described, along with two guards. And skilled, though no where near as good as you."

No where near my level? I glanced over to him. He should've been near my level, especially if I was set here to die. Now that I mentioned it, this mission was going much too easily.

When I finally caught his expression, it sent chills down my spine. Collected, calm...murderous.

"Get away from him!" I yelled. The two tying him down jumped and looked up at me, ignoring my warning. In a second, two fists shot up and hit them both right under the chin. They jumped back, tears edging at their eyes as they grabbed for their weapons.

The man, Samuel, stood, smiling at me. Chills racked my spine, making the hairs on the back of my neck stood on edge. "So you're the ring master of this little operation, huh?" His voice was just as calm as his demeanor. "I have to admit, I was a bit surprised when you realized that I wasn't caught. I'm sure you know me, but may I have the pleasure of knowing your name, beautiful?"

I hated that the two criminals we'd worked with has this courteous way about them. They seemed so proper, respectful. All the better to hide their murderous intent with, I suppose.

Taking in a breath, I put all my acting skills into good use. I smiled at the man, giving off all the bloodlust that I knew Theo hated. Sorry Love, but I need to make him think I'm the most experienced one. If anything happened, the others could run while he cut up my skin.

"Most of the time, they just call me Shadow."

He smirked now, revelaing unusually sharp teeth. I half expected a snakes tongue to slip it's way out. This was a terrifying man I'd have to fight. My chances of surviving seemed to be dropping by the minute.

"Shadow?" He asked, trying the word on his lips. It sounded horrid. "Shadow. I know you. You're a big shot in Lament, aren't you? Well, it's a pleasure to meet you. I haven't heard anything about you in a while. What's happened?"

"Got myself into a bit of a mess with the government."

"The government? That sounds horrid."

"It's not that bad. Good food whenever I feel like it. Best of all, they have cute guys that make for good company."

He let out a loud, hardy laugh. "I suppose those are some good things. However, I don't think I'd be too much against it if there were girls like you there. Just kidding. While I may not be the government type, why don't you convert back into a criminal. Work with me. I promise unique cuisine every night. And I'm sure I could make for good company, if you ever feel lonely."

I'd pretty much gave him that one. "Sorry, but I think I'll stick with these guys. I already made friends here, and I'm not exactly the best at that."

"Pity. No matter, I suppose killing you here will have to do."

Without a warning, he took several steps towards me. From the sides, I could see Squadron Five closing in on him. They were ready to back me up, if I needed it.

"Don't get involved!" I ordered in a stern voice. They stopped moving, startled by my serious tone.

Our daggers met an instant later. Metal clashed metal with tremendous force. My feet slid on the stone ground as I was pushed back. When I saw no point in continuing this useless push, I twirled out of the way, wanting to stumble. He didn't.

Instead of falling, his weight shifted back at the movement of my own, as if it were the most natural thing. The split second thought gave room for a split second attack.

Samuel's left dagger shot up, aiming for a killer blow that would've ended up inside my ribcage. Luckily, I'd managed to move back, and only ended up with a small cut right where my ribs ended. His right hand was coming at me now, aiming for my neck. I brought my left arm up, barely reacting fast enough to catch the dagger with the one hidden in my sleeve.

With both his hands distracted, I switched to offense. My knee came up and hit him in the stomach, hard. He coughed a bit while backing up, trying to make space between us. I was relentless. My right hand came around, dagger ready to puncture his neck. He reacted quickly, for a big body like his. In a quick movement, he'd dropped to the ground.

Shit!

His foot came around, swiping my feet with a move I've used thousands of times. I lost my balance and began to fall. With catlike grace, I turned my body and landed on my hands, though I had to drop my daggers.

From the corner of my eye, I saw him readying to attack. Using all the strength in my stringy little arms, I bucked, nailing him in the chest. He was pushed back, but didn't fall.

I had to move fast. I lifted my body off the ground and readied for his next attack, which was already coming at me. He used his overwhelming height to attempt to plunge a dagger into the top of my skull. My body gave a fearful reaction and retreated. The attack left a small trail of blood on my nose.

It was clear he was a better fighter than me. But maybe I didn't need to kill him. If I could get him to drop the daggers, I could take him to the ground without any real worry about a fatal injury.

Smirking, I charged first this time. He was ready, daggers raised to defend himself. Having no real weapons, I pulled the dagger out of my right sleeve. I needed more protection on my left anyways.

Pulling my arm back, I struck like a whip. My arm came around, dagger in tow, and went for a full on offense attack. It was nothing but a feint so I could get another hit on his already bruised stomach. In the millisecond where he'd be focoused on the dagger, I'd come in with my left knee.

He saw through this and only used one dagger to attack. With the other, he aimed an attack on my left side. It wasn't exactly what I had planned, but I could deal with it. Using my left knee, which would react much faster than my arm, I shoved the dagger away.

In the next second, I let my right dagger slide away from it's distraction and made a full on attack to his right hand. Blood spilled onto the ground from Samuel's wrist.

And from my right arm. He got me good, but I'd managed to avoid a horrible attack. I'd only flinched away in fear, but it really saved my hide. A straight line of blood had formed where my arm had been sliced. Any closer to the center, and I'd have lost my arms.

I squeezed my fingers to make sure they all still worked, and was relieved when they did. Still, the pain in my arm was horrid, but I'd had worse.

On the other hand, Samuel's hand would never work again. Not how I'd cut it.

"Smart," Samuel commented. "You're quick on your feet." He took a few steps back, and so did I. Mine, however, was me moving protectively towards the others. I glanced behind me to see the two archers that had come with us pointing arrows at the target. "Alright. I give. I clearly lost."

"Drop the weapons," Baylee ordered.

"Of course." He smiled, tossing the dagger gently in our direction.

In that moment, when everyone was distracted with the harmless flying dagger, I saw the movement. His hip twisted in a way that I recognized and was very familiar with. I was already moving. His right ankle came out, sending a dagger flying.

Right towards Mercy.

Taking a huge step, I'd made it in front of her.

I closed my eyes and clenched my teeth.

On my right side, right above my hip bone, I was met with a horrible pain.

I grunted, feeling the warm blood leave my side as I was left with nothing but the coldness of a dagger.

I staggered and fell into a warmth.

I heard yelling. Someone was calling my name. No, someone was calling Shadows name. In the next second, I heard two whizzing sounds and then a thud.

"Shadow," a warm and familiar voice said. "Stay with me. Shadow. Please."

"I'm here," I replied, clinging to consciousness. I wouldn't let it take me. "I'm here."