This is going to be fun. Each group assigned to securing different manners... The former best friends, my nemesis's former crush and the goof are grouped together. Just when she thought things couldn't be more interesting, a man made his way to them.

Keyla was glad that the group she was in was not too far from them as she could see everything happening clearly. There was something about the new guy that had her thinking that he could be the Assassin.

Could it be? Could it be ?

Heart beating wildly, she focused her attention only on the scene unfolding before her very own eyes.

She was so vexed right now as the fan who believed that they were the Resistance refused to leave them alone. Especially me. Usually, she would welcome any supporters she had with open us, yet firstly, they were not the Resistance. Secondly, Alara's gut feeling told her that something was off about him- she could feel his eyes following her every movement, and that made her skin crawl.

"I can't believe how blessed I am! To be working with the Resistance! How did you come in here?" How did he become the leader of our group? What if he actually knows about our true identity? Is he just trying to guile us into complacency with his empty words?

Neither of the four of them knew what to do with this unexpected situation- had they not successfully blended in with the rest of the security team? Had they already failed?

Her silence did not even cause the fan's efforts to communicate with her to waver. "You must know that I wholeheartedly support your cause. It is ludicrous that we are using kids from other families to give our neighbors like Serium and Harmonia the impression that we are doing well. We don't need to prove crap to them- we should only prove to our people." The fan finished grandly, grinning widely. "By the way, my name is Sicarius."

"Man, listen to me. Yes, we are the Resistance. You support us, don't you?" Eli bear-hugged the crazed fan as he spoke to him. When Sicarius nodded, Eli patted him. "Good. Then act like a darn leader of the Governors' security team and at least pretend to lead us. At this rate, you are going to blow our cover."

At Eli's scolding, a flash of sadness appeared in his black eyes, but he nodded his head meekly. "Yes, sir. Sorry, sir, I won't be a hindrance to you."

I do not like this guy.

He waited until Sicarius left, and quickly whisked his teammates to a more secluded corner for privacy. "There's something very off about Sicarius."

"I know. He's as fishy as the Amorals," remarked Eli as he stroked his chin. "Isn't it funny? I mean, one of the leaders of the Governors' security team supporting organisations like 'The Resistance'?"

"Maybe there is good in all of them." Maren turned around, surprised to see Keyla approaching them. I had forgotten about her. Gosh, sorry Keyla.

"What's the matter, Maren? Are you okay? You look frustrated." Keyla's tone of concern and her genuinely worried expression touched his heart. It had been long since someone was so soft and gentle with him- these days, he had to tolerate a prickly attitude.

"There's this guy- Sic- and he seems sketchy. I don't know if we've been found out, or if I'm just paranoid."

"He's annoying; you're paranoid." Alara pointed out, her arms akimbo.

"Alara, I know you're anxious. I know you hope to find Ren here- don't look so surprised, we're friends. I know you. We understand how you feel, but Alara, don't take it out on Maren. He's our leader and he has an onerous burden to carry. Picking fights won't let you find Ren soon."

He knew Alara was guilt-ridden by the look of shame on her face, and he patted Keyla in a way to express his thanks.

"You're right, Keyla. You'd make a good leader. I'm likely just paranoid of all of your safety... Sic's probably an alright person. Let's just move on- we've got enough on our plate."

One of the things she hated most wasprocrastinating, which was what they've been doing all these while. She had a visceral feeling in her gut that something was wrong. To her, accepting that Sic was 'an alright person' because of Keyla's naivete and Alara's urgency to find her brother seemed to be an unpropitious omen.

I had stayed quiet about it because I was afraid of backlash. But I won't endanger their lives again.

Catching up with Maren's fast pace, she questioned, "Why did you accept him? Don't you think that it's quite risky? That something is off?"

She stopped walking and grabbed his shoulder, looking him dead in the eye. Maren halted in his tracks. "Is a part of me still fretful? Yes. But does Keyla have a point? Definitely. Tania, even if Sic turns out to be a spy or something, there's bloody five of us and one of him. If he tries anything, we can take him down as quickly as a snap. Let it go."

Satisfied by his answer, she let him go.

I hope I did the right thing. I really do.

I should have been the leader. We need to have a core of steel to do such a challenging job. Watching him closely, Alara observed that he was often shaking his head and sighing heavily, and it couldn't be more clear that he was being crushed by the weight of his decisions.

The fleeting hurt in his eyes when she had accused him of being tactless remarks was seared into her mind. She had taken out her stress on him and had forgotten her place. For some reason, she had an instinctual feeling that she would finally reunite with her baby brother today. However, she had a mission to finish and no time to waste and became determined to focus on the mission first.

The mansion, like many others, had uniformed grounds and every plant was groomed to the point of exquisite perfection. The outward appearance of the mansion where she was stationed was of burnished gold masonry, the large front doors ornate. As if that wasn't enough, there were gold plastered on the walls, clearly implying that the owner was important and of a high-status.

Nearby, there was a group of well-dressed women crowding around the children, embracing one another tightly.

"They must be family," mused Tania in a whimsical tone. "The children must be the ones for us to pick up."

"Ah, is that your job for today, then?" Sicarius commented. When Maren nodded, a grinning Sicarius suddenly made his way to the ladies. Unable to be next to her former friend, she followed Sicarius.

"Ladies, we have to evacuate all of you to safety. The protesters are gaining ground and getting out of hand. Your safety is of utmost importance to us and we do not want you to be hurt." Gesturing to her, he continued, "this is my right-hand man- well, woman- and she will defend you if need be."

Alara stood stiffly as the crying women thanked them, shaking her hand before heading into the caravans provided. The women had every right to cry, but not for the reason they were crying for.

The children, who the Agency had confirmed were all stolen from their biological families, were in the caravan that would lead them to the Agency's safehouse and eventually their real families' homes. As for the women, they were in the Governors' caravan.

They will finally be reunited. I can only hope I will have the same too.

The peace that she felt vanished when pandemonium ensued at the next moment, for everyone was caught off-guard by an unexpected explosion.

"They have really gained ground." The Captain whispered, clearly shocked. "How?"

"Captain?"

"Ah, sorry. Everyone, it's US versus THEM. There are many important people here, many of them wives of the Governors'- we must do our job right and protect them! Fight!" the Captain commanded, and at that one word, all the Leaders of their assigned groups led them to the direction of the protesters.

"Fight against our own people? Maren, are we really going to do this?" Alara grabbed his shoulder tightly, and he could taste the trepidation in the air.

"Of course not. We can turn this change of scene into a blessing in disguise. When the fight is intense, feign attempts to save a fellow guard but kill them discreetly. Try and angle yourself in a manner that will come off that will use the protester as a scapegoat."

"As a pawn, you mean. Are they like me now then, Maren?" Tania queried, her tone frosty.

"There is nothing we can do. We cannot try and save these people when we have so many things to do! Do you-"

"Everyone! To the gates!" Sicarius bellowed, and Maren sighed resignedly as he knew that they had no chance but to follow suit.

One would think that it was impossible to have two battles happen simultaneously.

Life proved her wrong again.

If Alara had not been fighting off a protester and sneakily slitting a guard's throat, she would have been utterly petrified when a Commander of the security team made his way towards her.

"You there!" He yelled as he slashed two protesters while he brisk-walked to her. That level of skill- to not even look at his enemies... he's really something. That is no easy feat. "There is an extra caravan of ours meant for the blessings and gifts. Where are they? Why is that caravan still sitting at the damn parking lot?"

Damn it! Our own security team forgot about that crucial part! "Eh?" Searching for something to busy herself with, Alara seized the chance to fight off a nearby protester, throwing him onto the ground and forcing herself to stab him in the stomach before retrieving her dagger back.

Seeming somewhat appeased with her performance with the protester, the Commander's broad shoulders relaxed slightly. "Where are they?"

"I am very sure that we brought the blessings and gifts in those caravans, Commander." It hurt her to use the Governors' and Amoral's terminology, but she had no choice. Survival first.

"Who is your Leader, girl?"

"Sicarius, Commander."

The moment Sicarius's name left her lips, the Commander grinned like a cat that had just eaten a canary. "Men! Let's finish this once and for all!"

He charged towards her, baffling nearby protesters, and Alara withdrew her trusty blades and prepared herself for the fight of a lifetime.