"Tania, where are you going? Don't leave me, please." Alara pleaded weakly, her voice hoarse. She was still forced to remain in the infirmary for she was still under observation. It had been another week since the attack, and she did not realise that her wounds were so severe.

Apparently, undergoing two weeks' worth of major surgeries and two blood transfusions meant that she was practically a disabled person for a week.

I hate this feeling of constant loneliness and hopelessness. I hate feeling helpless. I feel well enough to fight and kill. Why won't they let me out?

She couldn't believe that she was missing her vigorous workouts with Maren.

Maren.

She sighed, and lay back on her pillow.

Ever since she had revealed the darkest part of herself, Maren had not visited her. Instead, he had kept a distance from her as if she were the very plague itself. He had wanted me to find inner peace within myself, but he's too naïve and pure for this world. A person like me who has death stalking me at every part of my life can never be at peace.

"Alara, I'm going to go now."

She looked at the hospital clock, and frowned when she noted that it read 6 AM. "Tania, where are you going so early in the morning? What's with your hooded cloak?"

Tania laughed dismissively, adjusting the straps of her teal cloak as she handed her a cup of water. As Alara sipped it, Tania smiled kindly. "We still have missions, you know? Rest well, Alara, and don't worry your pretty little head. Rest well."

The next thing Alara knew, she was slowly dozing off even before Tania had left the infirmary.

She found no joy in deceiving her friend and if she were a stronger person, a better person, she would not still be under the thumb of her family.

She had lost count as to how many times she had sincerely wished for the ability to stand up for herself, for her true beliefs and for her friends.

Yet even the best of us are weak. There's always something, someone, that we are forever tied to and that is all of our weakest link. When that link is threatened, when that fragile link is falling apart, we will do anything to save it.

My love for my family is my weakest link. My bizarre desire to be the best daughter is my weak link.

Kissing her emerald ring, Tania brisk walked to the fields of the Ascendancy Agency, and hid behind a willow bark tree. It was likely 6.30 AM, and yet her uncle was still not at their meeting point. Could something have gone wrong?

Tapping her feet impatiently, Tania reflected on her actions while she waited for her uncle. I'm a true, heartless wrench. I framed Jonek for my crimes, and I still play the loyal friend to Alara. I am shameless.

But then again, I never wanted Jonek to die. I only wanted to foil the Agency's plans, let Operation Ner be a failure. And I succeeded in my goal- Maren believed everything I relayed to him so easily. I protected and secured my family's fortune and status, but why do I feel so empty inside?

"Psst! Is that you, girl?"

It was her uncle.

"Hello, uncle."

"There isn't time for cordial exchanges, foolish child. Did everything go smoothly as planned?" The stout man questioned, his green eyes clouded with worry.

"Don't fret, uncle. You know I am a true de Allura through and through. Everything went as planned." Tania handed him her emerald ring which was only to be given if the mission was a success. The ring was no simple ring- before the first dance of the gala, she had suddenly visited Alara on a guise that she was there to help Alara with her fashion choices. That had never been her intent.

She had only went there in search of the ring, hidden under Alara's pillow, and getting it into her hands without being detected by anyone meant that she had successfully retrieved her mother's 'safe ring'- a ring that guaranteed that if it was returned to her uncle, her family had naught to worry about.

Her family's wealth and prestige were irrevocably linked to the Governors', which was why Operation Ner had to fail. The only reason Tania had let Maren burn it down was because the burning of the palatial mansion meant that the Governors had to purchase more items for construction to rebuild the damaged parts from the de Allura family.

Everything she had ever done was for them.

Her uncle's eyes sparkled with relief when he saw the ring. "Bless you, child. If you had failed, your mother would have had my head. Goodbye, and I'll see you for the next mission."

Nothing, not even a bit of praise of my efforts. I truly mean nothing to them, save for my being a pawn in their game.

I am nothing to them. Not their flesh and blood, not their child.

Just a pawn.

"The next mission? I don't know if I'll be alive by then. I don't know if I'll still do your bidding... can someone please give me a sign and guide me to the right path? I am sick of my life."

Leaning against the willow bark tree, the girl in the emerald hooded cloak wept.

She wept for a life she never had.

She wept for herself.

She wept for her friends.

She wept.

"Don't you think she's behaving peculiarly? Like she has something to hide?"

Surprised by the sudden voice, Alara awoke from her sleep, asking, "Who?"

"Tania."

"Tania?" At that, Alara couldn't help herself but chuckle. "You're crazy! Tania is the most faithful person I've ever met. Who are you by the way?"

"Then why did she change the topic when you asked her where she was going? Why did she leave with a hooded cloak? You know well that we only leave with hooded cloaks when we want to do something in complete secrecy.

And you know who I am, Alara. It's me. Rielle."

The moment the voice revealed her name, Rielle appeared, free of wounds or slashes, looking in better shape than she was when she was alive. Rielle sipped from her red wine, tapping her fingers as she gazed at her with eyes full of sincerity.

Alara shook her head, getting increasingly upset and confused as the minutes flew by. "Rielle... you're dead."

"Alara... I can hope that your trust in her is not misplaced... and that she does not stab you in the back."

She got the gist of Rielle's meaning, but to imply that her friend was doing something sneakily... perhaps even something that could break her heart... no, not Tania. Never her.

"But... Rielle- wait!"

Panting heavily, her heart raced as she woke up from her nightmare. To dream of Rielle in such a bizarre fashion terrified her. Is this an omen? Is Rielle looking out for me, or is my paranoia surfacing in my dreams?