"So," I said to Rosy in a low voice, "how you decide to answer me may decide your lifespan."

"You don't have to worry about that, Ms. Shadow," she replied just as quietly. "See, you're a bit of an idol to all us criminals. I'm sorry about earlier by the way, but business is business." She gave me a cheeky smile that didn't fit a thirty year olds face.

I slowed the horse down even more so that I was even further behind the others. Theo glanced back at me, giving me a look of suspicion. I waved him off with an innocent smile.

"What's it you wanna know?"

"Back at your base, I saw a shipment crate that interested me. A red and a blue sword. Who are they?"

"Hm... I'm sorry but I don't know much about them."

I lifted my knee a bit, hitting her in the head. She let out a startled yelp and glared at me.

"Alright, alright. No need to get feisty. Like I said, I don't know a lot about them. Ill tell you what I do thought. They're a nameless organization based in Lament. I'm pretty sure they have some allies in the government, but I'm not sure who. Maybe a chancellor? Actually, now that I think about it, they might have a name but I'm not really sure what it is. Sorry, please don't knee me."

I nodded. The words based in Lament hit me. When they came in ten years ago, guns raised and showing no mercy, the words local criminal organization had never struck me. If the government really did know about them, and they knew of the 'incident' from back then, they wouldn't have let it slide.

Unless it was a government organization. Allies in the government was total bullshit. The government was the head pf this little organization.

The very idea in itself was terrifying...and exhilarating. If this scandal got out to the public, they'd be ruined. Lament would fall into a state of chaos and disrupt. And everything would be mine for the taking.

"Ooh," Rosy said, bright eyes looking up at me. "I like those eyes. They just scream murder! Hey, if you ever need my help and I'm not, you know, dead, you can come break me out. I'm always in for a good murder."

"Alright, but I heave another question."

"Fire away."

"What were transporting for them?"

"Actually, I've sold a few of their materials. Narcotics, weapons, some stuff for hormonal teens. That low class thievery stuff. Except, when we first made contact with them, they tried getting us to sell gunpowder. I didn't except, that kind of stuff gets people like me pretty high on the list. Usually gets you killed."

"They wanted you to sell gunpowder? To who?"

"We backed out before anything got too serious, but I think they wanted us to sell them to other cities."

Other cities. The idea was horrifying. Gunpowder sold publicly in other cities would lead to a revolution. War would break out and the citizens would be left to fend for themselves. The government didn't want control over their city, they wanted other cities. And a revolution would be the perfect time to strike. I was getting into a serious scandal.

"How long ago was this?"

"Three years or so. I have to admit, I was expecting something big to happen, and then everything was just calm."

"That's all for now. Remember, if you tell anyone what I asked you about-"

"I know the gist of it, I die right. And then you emptily threaten to kill all my allies?"

"I've never given an empty threat."

"Noted."

I nudged my horse, speeding the piebald stallion up to meet with the others. The sand made riding a bit awkward, but acceptable. Just like it was on the way here.

"Sorry about that," I said, rubbing the back of my head, "she was starting to get a little feisty so I calmed her down a bit."

"Please don't go into detail," Bryce complained without making eyes contact, "we've already seen enough of your cruel side."

That's right, I haven't been paying attention to how they've reacted after they watched me murder a young girl. Gods I was awesome when I got mad. They, however, might not've thought that. Bryce had already made his opinion clear, and that was that he didn't hate me.

Mercy seemed to be gaining a certain trust for me, and I hadn't seen any signs of distrust before or after the murder.

"I think she was rather beautiful," Levi commented , throwing in a dramatic hand flare.

He seemed utterly unfazed. That didn't surprise me at all.

Theo wasn't there to see it, he wasn't conscious at least. Theo, I noticed, was the one least affected by change. I don't think he would've minded even if he had seen.

Luckily for me, Mila wasn't there. That hamster, would've been scared shitless. I doubt she would've even stepped near me. Thank the gods for lucky breaks.

"Hey," Mercy's voice called, "if you're done contemplating whatever shit your contemplating, we're here."

The city gates screeching open made me jump. At some point, we'd reached the city. The gravel walls of the city, smoothed over the ages by harsh sandstorms and random showers in the rainy season. Yeah, Orchid was not the best place to live during the rainy season. The water crept in from your walls and from the roof and dropped on you. Unless you were smart, like me, and moved in with you black market friend for this time.

Before we entered the city, I sat Rosy up in front of me, as not to draw attention. She may not look it, but this lady was probably around the two hundred pound area. Lifting her up, was quite a process.

After going through a couple of bitchy security guards, we finally made our way to Pacific Rose.

"So, what now?" I asked. While the question was meant for no one specific, I still looked to Theo, knowing he had the answers.

"I'll bring her to the main jail."

"Not by yourself, you won't," I replied. "This is a dangerous criminal we're talking about. There's no way I'm leaving you alone with her."

They all gave me a you're-seriously-the-last-person-who-can-say-that look.

"Alright Mom," Theo sighed, a smile playing on his lips.

I played a long. "Don't give me that attitude, young man. No dinner for you tonight!"

The other laughed along as we brought out horses to the stable in the back of the Center. Laugh now, but I wasn't kidding, if he so much as tried to eat tonight... Well, I'd be gaining some weight. And he might loose a few pounds. Mwahaha!

The horses were left with the stable hands as not so gently grabbed Rosy and pulled her off.

"Why don't all of you head back to the main room for some well deserved rest," Theo said, taking my job as leader. My middle finger saluted him, and her knew exactly what for.

I held Rosy's hands firmly behind her back while we marched her to the prison.

We walked in awkward silence until we reached the prison. We were welcomed by even more guards who reminded me of teenage girls during that time of the month. Seriously, the very mention of Squadron Five sent all eyes to me. I mean, normally I enjoy the attention but even I get tired of it sometimes.

"Name?" The guard I'd assumed was the head prison keeper was called. Was there a shorter name for that? I can see head prison keeper getting old fast.

"Theodore West with Shadow. Bringing in the narcotics dealer Rosy Carnez."

"And there you go again being all formal like," I said, glaring at the guard as he eyed me suspiciously. "And you, why in the hells are you more suspicious of me over the criminal that I'm bringing in. I mean, come on, at least I'm making a difference here nd what do you do? You sit here, behind this counter, giving everyday law abiding citizens a hard time!"

"That's enough from you," Theo said, looking at me. "And you're seriously the last person who can say that. Law abiding citizen my ass."

I handed Rosy over to the prison head person, giving him the same suspicious look that he gave me. So how does it feel now? He was purposefully avoiding eyes contact with me. Smart person.

"I'll have to ask you back for a debriefing, but that can wait for tomorrow," Prison Head said. "You deserve some nice rest."

We each nodded thanks as we made our way out of the front office of the prison. I didn't give Rosy a second glance or any words of advice, knowing that Theo was always watching closely.

"I can't believe that guy," I said, waving my hands dramatically in the air to prove my point. "Eying me all suspiciously and all that. How rude."

"You can stop that," Theo said, looking at me seriously now.

"Stop what?"

"Acting like everything's alright. I know that you didn't want the others to notice so I didn't say anything, but I noticed. Ever since you came back from your recon mission. I'm here for you if you need me." He cheeks lit up a bright red color. "Ah, I don't mean it like that it's just...you know."

He kept walking, but I'd stopped. Had I really fallen that far that even he'd notice? Had the others noticed How bad was it?

He turned back at me, looking over his shoulder. His eyes were calm and serious, any hints of his earlier embarrassment gone. He gave me a look that said, what now?

"Kids these days," I sighed. "reading me like an open book."

I approached him, forced to look up to fully see his face, noticing very light freckles that dotted his cheeks. He looked down at me curiously. Giving him a final fake smile, I tousled his hair. I'm pretty sure he was happy when I did that earlier.

"Don't go acting like you're all high and mighty just because you read something about me," I sighed, looking down. "I won't let it happen again, so don't get used to it."

Taking hold of his long sleeve, I dragged him off in the direction I remembered as the cafeteria. I sat down, ordering Theo to go off and get me pizza. After Bryce, formerly known as Collin, had taken me out to dinner I'd acquired a taste for the stuff.

He came back, a worried look on his face. Still, he had two slices of pizza in his hand, and I choose pizza over teen hormones.

"Weapons," he whispered. "I forgot to take back the weapons. Come on, I can deal with the others later, but you're my first priority. If the higher ups found out the I didn't take your weapons back this late after the mission, I'll be in huge trouble."

"Okay, but will I get in trouble if I take this pizza with me?"

"Since when do you care?"

"Good point."

I followed him back to where we'd been given the weapons. Two new guards stood on either side of the door.

"Names," the girl said.

"Theodore West and Shadow. Come to return weapons after mission codenamed Rosy Carnez."

Nodding, the woman unlocked the door and slid it open with a creak. I set the no empty plate don the ground, hoping that no one would remember I'd put it there so I wouldn't have to pick it up. As I set my dagger back in their different places, immediately hating how light I know felt because of it.

I noticed that the daggers I'd given Mercy and Bryce were already back in place. Turning, I noticed that Levi had all ready returned his staff. I'm sure Theo had already noticed as well. He knows all, after all.

"Twenty," I said quietly.

"Hm?"

"I'm twenty years old. I figured after all this work, you deserved a reward." His face lit up with that same childlike smile I was used to. Even as we walked back to the room, that smile didn't leave his face.

I collapsed onto my bed, not wanting the conversations that I could ignore until tomorrow. I didn't fall asleep that night, too many questions edged at my mind.