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<br>No One
<br>Date: Spring 20, 10
<br>Time: 5:30
<br>Mood: Hungry, Victorious
<br>TAG: Ace
<br>
<br>
<br><br>The forest was calm and quiet on this warm spring afternoon. For all intents and purposes it appeared to be completely deserted. There were no sounds save for the sounds of evening and no movement to show that something was out of place. In fact, there was very little at all to even suggest the movements of a dirty young girl as she made her way through the woods a ways off from the road. As her chosen name suggested No One liked to leave places much as if no one had ever been there and here along this path back to town she took special precautions to hide her movements and go unnoticed even though the road seemed completely empty at the moment.
<br><br>
It was more from habit than fear that she did this now days. When she had started out on her own this had not been the case or course but bad experiences had a way of hardening a person to the effects of fear. No One rarely felt scarred or alone anymore though she did often feel resentful, angry and even sad for the family and friends she had lost. 'They were all stupid.' She would think. 'They just gave empty words that ended up in broken promises and broken dreams.' The girl had learned long ago trust and hope and dreams were all false. The only people who who believed otherwise were children or fools and she wasn’t either anymore.
<br><br>
A child grew up or if they didn’t they became a fool themselves and fools ended up dead one way or the other. In life there was only survival and death and the dirty little girl stalking through the shadows was not going to die today. She would survive, she had too.
<br><br>
Part of survival though was eating and as of yet she had not eaten today. Up until this point she had survived off nuts and and berries and really anything else she could find. When she got to buy the food that was the best but money was hard to come by and stealing was something she tried to do only on rare occasions. At the moment though, her prospects were looking pretty grim. The berries she had been picking were all but gone and these woods wouldn’t sustain her forever. She was going to have to venture outside her comfort zone eventually so here she was searching for something to keep her alive. She still had time before that end though and the young girl was confident she would find something before then.
<br><br>
The sound of approaching footsteps up ahead of her made the girl come to a sudden stop. Immediately No One withdrew behind a big bush that would provide her with adequate cover for the moment. Whoever was coming towards her would not know she was there and as they approached she would be able to watch. If she thought they were a threat then she could remain hidden but if they weren’t then maybe this would be her chance to get some real food.
<br><br>
It was a man coming up the road which was good. Women had purses which were sometime difficult to snatch and run but men carried wallets, usually in their pockets, and it was simple enough to walk up behind one, slip it out and be gone before they ever noticed. This particular man didn’t look like much of an athlete so No One felt pretty confident about her chances to out run the guy even if she did get caught and with him all alone out here on the road there wouldn’t even be anyone to help him.
<br><br>
With the threat assessed No One prepared to take advantage of this opportunity. As the man got close to her No One put on a happy little smile and ran from her spot giggling and looking over her shoulder as if she was being chased. Her sprint led her into a direct collision with the man that nearly knocked the two over and with a quick move of her wrist the man’s wallet was out and tucked safely into her baggy sleeves. An expression of complete fear appeared on the No One’s face and apologizes immediately began to pour from her mouth.
<br><br>
The man bought the ruse hook, line and sinker. He gave a good natured chuckle, told the girl to be more careful when playing and then gave her a pat on the back and sent her on her way which just happened to be sprinting right back into the forest. He never suspected a thing and as she watched him walk away from behind another bush No One grabbed the contents and dropped the emptied leather wallet on the ground.
<br><br>
It didn’t get easier than that. Apparently it paid to be young and look innocent. With a remorseful look back at the poor guy she had suckered No One turned towards town to find some restaurant to buy a good meal. She might as well put this money to good use before she got caught with it. She would not be going back to an orphanage again.

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It was rare when Ace decided to venture out during the day, even with the sun beginning it’s downward descent. The day was for Amelia and Craig. To go about their normal lives, pretending they were normal and doing their best to forgive themselves of their past sins. But no. Not Ace. Such a mediocre, boring routine was not for him. It had never been. During the day he practiced the skills that had kept him alive all these years. Then when his mistress called when the moon had taken over, he began his stalking. His predatory nature kicked in and he was out. Blending to the shadows, watching, learning. It was what Ace did best.

But not today. He was feeling particularly…hungry. Not for food. But for a challenge. It was one thing to travel at night but the day…He couldn’t blend as easily. It took all his skills to make sure he couldn’t be seen. Specially with the distinguishing mask and goggles he wore at all times. Ace breathed quietly as he counted out his knives, connecting them along his belt and usual spots on his clothing. He brought a hand to his face, raising his index and middle finger, speaking a few words. Just one of his usual rituals before he left the apartment.

The usual easiness of escaping the apartment was changed by the sun still burning outside. It took much longer to simply escape the apartment building unnoticed but it was a welcome challenge. A change of route here, a few moments to watch the movement there. But it still proved to be no true match against him. It was nothing more than a delay.

Where to stalk though for tonight was the question. There were more then enough hunting grounds in this island despite its size. He could stalk the circle for late night shoppers or store owners closing the night. Stalk them, learn where they live. Of course, no killing. Unless they were an annoyance. He had the urges. The desire to shed blood. But there was no true enjoyment in killing someone helpless. No. He needed to hunt a hunter. Someone just as dangerous as he was. There was a true thrill in that.

There was also the wild areas. The forest and woods. That would be a change of pace…He had traveled to them over a few times. There was never much activity. Peace and quiet when he wanted to train in an open area but not much more. But for now since he was changing his schedule, he would change the location. It took a while to factor in the light but he arrived in the forest quietly.

He made his way through the woods, keeping to the thick trees so he was blended in. As he traveled, a peculiar sight caught his eyes. A girl running into a man and a very swift, skilled pick pocketing. For a reason, it made him grin. This girl was not new to the game of thievery. She knew exactly what she was doing. And the man was none the wiser.

Ace moved to a closer spot, hiding behind a tree. He peaked around the edge just enough to clearly watch what was going on. The man just chuckled and thought no harm was done, sending the girl on her way. The masked man watched as the girl sprinted straight back into the forest, off the path. He managed to not lose track of her as she entered a thick, bushy area. He gave one more glance to make sure the now poorer man left the area before he began to quietly move.

His feet carefully stepped around fallen twigs and leaves, making sure to not make any noises that could tip the girl off that someone else was around. He didn’t want to spook her. At least quite yet anyway. This girl had caught his attention. A very bad thing if the girl proved to be an annoyance. Or perhaps a good thing in a strange way…

Ace carefully approached where the girl was, him silently watching her. The girl dumped the contents of her steal on the ground. Considering she was distracted with looking over her steal gave Ace adequate enough time to see just how much a threat this girl could be. She was young, late in her child years. She was rather dirty, her hair a mess. A girl with a family or a home wouldn’t look like that. No…Ace knew the signs to well. This girl…she was certainly an orphan.

The familiarity of it caused the masked man’s face to subtly twitch underneath his second face. It brought back old memories of a filthy boy with blood stained hands. For a second, he saw it again. The boy was kneeling down, holding another boy in his hands. The forest didn’t exist. There were only rocks around, a river close by. The clear water began to carry away the crimson that began to invade it as the boy just stayed there.

He didn’t move in the slightest bit, just watching. He just held the other boy in his hands, watching as the cracked skull continued to let the life force leave. It must have known there was no point in inhabiting the vessel anymore. The kneeling boy, after watching for a while, laid the lifeless one down before rushing off straight through where Ace stood. Then he snapped back into reality. …That boy has long been gone…

He watched as the girl began to turn toward town, him deciding to not let this interesting girl go quite yet. “You, girl.” He spoke in his cold, emotionless voice. “I saw what you did.” He spoke once more, his eyes watching her through those demonic goggles. “…You were quick. In and out before he knew the truth.” His comments ended after that, the man simply standing there and waiting for the girl’s responses. In a strange way, he was looking forward to seeing her react.

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<br>No One
<br>Date: Spring 20, 10
<br>Time: 5:30
<br>Mood: Alert, Aware, Angry, Embarrassed
<br>TAG: Ace
<br>
<br>
<br><br>So intent was the girl on collecting the prize that she had worked so hard to get that she let her defense down however so slightly. It was an amateur mistake but she was so hungry and the thought of cashing in her ill-gotten gains served as a very welcome distraction. Still, the fact remained that she had opened herself up to a world of trouble and that was why when she heard the cold, emotionless voice break the silence of the forest that she was so embarrassed.
<br><br>
The embarrassment was worse than anything else. She could handle fear, anger, pain but the embarrassment of letting someone sneak up behind her when she had survived so long by being constantly aware of her surroundings hurt her worse than any weapon ever could. To be caught red handed too. It was like throwing salt on the wound. She couldn’t let it end like this. She wasn’t going to get captured ever again. She would never let herself be that weak. No, if this person wanted to turn her in they were welcome to try.
<br><br>
No One wasted little time. Just as a wolf’s first instinct is for survival the girl’s danger mode set in and she let the cherished money fall from her hand. All thoughts of hunger left her mind and all that remained was the need to survive and the will to fight. With an uncanny combination of speed and agility the girl spun to face her accuser. Where once she had stood clutching her meal ticket now in her left hand she held her long, slender knife, her stance was a well-practiced sideways defensive stance of a knife fighter. Let this man come if he wanted. She could take him because she was the wolf, ready and poised to strike.
<br><br>
To say it was a knife was really misleading. The blade was longer than a common knife, almost as long as her forearm from elbow to the tip of her middle finger. It was easy to see that the blade was made for the purpose of causing damage and not cutting one’s steak. A quality weapon if ever there was one which might lead to the question of how one so small and dirty might have come by such a tool. Still, it looked as if the girl carried it well and knew how to use it. Her grip was strong and she seemed to be comfortable with the weight so it was reasonable to assume she had received at least a reasonable amount of training from a skilled teacher.
<br><br>
The girl stood and examined the masked man in front of her with a trained eye that missed little. She was sizing him up, gauging her chances and determining what kind of threat this strange man was. He wasn’t a cop that much was clear but the rows of throwing knives connected to his belt and on his body said all she needed to know about what kind of person this was. One word stuck in her mind ’dangerous’ but dangerous to whom?
<br><br>
She didn’t back down however and wouldn’t so long as she suspected the man as a threat. No longer was she the defenseless girl of a few years ago and looking into her eyes eliminated any questions as to what exactly her intentions were. She felt no fear. ’Fear cuts deeper than swords.’ was one of her mantras and she held true to it now. Once she might have been afraid of this man but she had learned over the years that all men bleed and all men die no matter what color, shape or size. A knife through the heart or a knife through the throat while they might cause different reactions would eventually end in the same result.
<br><br>
If the girl did feel anything at all it was anticipation. She was not going to make the first move. Instead she was going to stand protectively over her stolen money like a wolf standing over a kill. This man was might have come thinking he could take what she had already stolen but she wasn’t going to let that happen. She had worked too hard and was too hungry to let it all go now.
<br><br>
A long moment passed in silence as No One watched the man. Why should she speak and give him anything to use against her? Besides, words were cheap and accomplished very little…unless, of course, this man did not want to turn her in or take her money. “I don’t need people to tell me what I did, I already know. Now what do you want?” The girl finally asked as she glared at the man watching his every move. She still kept her stance as she still was not willing to drop her defenses just yet. This was the type of man who would wait for her weakest moment to strike and she was determined not to give him one.

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The man seemed somewhat amused as the girl swung around quickly. He could tell she was instantly flustered that he had succeeded in sneaking up on her. Skilled but still making childish mistakes. However, I can tell she has potential. The girl couldn't have been more then eleven or twelve. It wasn't a surprise that she made a mistake. The man had many more years of experience sneaking. No matter how hard you tried, I would always get close before you noticed.

However, even the masked man was a little surprised when the pickpocket whipped around, carrying a large blade with her. The mere sight of it made an eyebrow raise underneath the mask. How peculiar. Perhaps you are deadlier than I thought. His eyes quickly glanced over the blade, examining it in detail even from the distance between them. “Excellent weapon choice.” He spoke suddenly, continuing to eye it. “Definitely a dangerous one. I can tell it is taken care of regularly. No signs of rust. However, it is large and cumbersome, even if you hold it well. If you can keep the necessary distance between you and your opponent, you would do just fine. Your grip is skilled enough with it.”

The man spoke, now going quiet to examine her stance. It was a well refined one showing the girl knew what she was doing. It was a solid defensive stance. She would be able to quickly defend herself from attacks. However, he could tell it was just that. Defense. That stance and that weapon would make counterattacks unnecessarily difficult up close. He assumed because of her choice in stance, she had little experience in attacking. What an interesting girl, this young one was turning out to be.

He glanced upward, carefully and intently eyeing her face. She had the familiar look. The look of a predator, ready to pounce. He could tell there was no fear in her eyes, even for someone her age. Most kids would have always have some hint of fear in their eyes if they ever saw him. But not her. It was truly a peculiar thing to see. He dug it a bit deeper, seeing the familiar sight. That hint of…darkness within. Darkness knows darkness.

He was curious as to why someone her age already had that darkness within her. He could tell it was a deep rooted one at that. Perhaps your dark passenger came early like mine. The man thought inside his mind, continuing to look at the girl. He kept the silence between them for now until his curiosity was sated for now. So far, he could tell she was a dangerous little girl with a dark passenger along for the ride for whatever purpose. This will be interesting.

“I don’t need people to tell me what I did, I already know. Now what do you want?”

The man grinned slightly when the girl broke the silence, keeping his eyes on her. “Simple. A conversation. And perhaps a test of your skills.” The man spoke as he crossed his arms in front of him. He took no particular stance, not going to let the girl get ready. If she wanted to defend herself, he needed to see if she could handle surprise attacks and charges. “I do not desire the money you stole. That is your trophy.” The man lowered his head, looking down to the ground but truthfully, his eyes glanced at her from the goggles.

“You are not a regular child. You carry a weapon, you appear to be trained to defend yourself, your look is not one of fear, and on a truly interesting note, you have a dark passenger. How very interesting.” The man spoke, standing there so still but ready to move at any moment. He didn’t care for children and found them practically worthless. Except this one. This one was like him. This one could be useful.

“Why? What purpose keeps you going, young one? It is mere survival or something…more?” He inquired, his eyes carefully staring at her face, ready to pick up any clues that his comments were affecting her. Even if she was skilled, she was young. She had already made one mistake. He was sure she would probably slip and unknowingly give away exactly what he needed to see. “Satisfy my curiosity and there may be something in it for you, young one.” His voice, though dark and emotionless, carried an interesting tone that was intended to stir the darkness residing within her. To make it rise up and begin to take the reins…

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<br>No One
<br>Date: Spring 20, 10
<br>Time: 5:30
<br>Mood: Alert, Aware, Angry, Embarrassed
<br>TAG: Ace
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<br>
<br><br>’Calm as still water…’ The words echoed in her head even as every survival instinct that she had honed in her years of being alone set off warning bells in her mind. She had been told one time that while there was no real sixth sense there was a sort of ‘hunch’ thinking that developed primarily in fugitives, wanderers and those on the run. She was all of those and over the years her hunch developed into quite the reliable ability. Right now her hunch was telling her that this man was dangerous that she needed to escape but it was also telling her not try…yet. If she ran now she would not only probably be run down but she would probably be hurt…maybe even killed. Yes, this man was dangerous. No, she didn’t like him but that being said she didn’t think that he wanted to hurt her at the moment.
<br><br>
As the man spoke the girl found herself more annoyed than anything else. If he wasn’t going to turn her in and if he wasn’t going to try and take her money then why was he here? Did he just want to comment about her weapon and insult her? She didn’t have time for this but what other option did she have? She also couldn’t leave safely so for now she would just have to play along. Still, that didn’t mean she had to like it. “It’s fine. It works well enough. If I stab you with it you’ll die all the same…I’ll do it too. I’ve killed before and I’ll kill you too if you don’t leave.” She spit back at the man with a cold indifference that showed she had no inhibitions about doing what she claimed.
<br><br>
In truth the girl didn’t know if she could kill this man. She had been trained, she could kill if she wanted to but her hunch was telling her that this man was stronger than her. He was eyeing her up even now, examining her stance, finding her weakness. He was preparing for something and she needed to be ready for it. Still, if her words did nothing else perhaps they would give the man pause. Fear, after all, could cut deeper than her blade ever could and if she could make this man question just a little then maybe she could get out of this.
<br><br>
“Words are just wind.” The girl said as the masked man spoke about talking with her. She didn’t want to talk with this man. She didn’t want anything to do with him. All she wanted was to take her money and be left in peace. Still, the man liked to talk and that could prove to be an advantage for her. If she could keep him talking then she could use that time to watch, think and make her plan of attack and escape depending on which one she needed to use.
<br><br>
The man had no weapons in his hand but she could see the knives…multiple knives the man had all over his body. The man was confident and sure of himself but if he wanted to attack her he would have to reach for at least one of those knives. She had no false inclinations that he could do so as quick, if not quicker than her but no matter how fast he was she had the advantage here and she would be ready to give him a good fight if he tried anything.
<br><br>
’Dark passenger?’ He was trying to confuse her with his words but the girl would have none of it. She had no passengers, it was just her. It had always been just her. She had no family, no friends, she didn’t even have a name anymore. She was no one and this man didn’t know anything about her. How could he? He was just a stupid man in a stupid mask saying stupid things. Yet even as she thought these things something in the back of her mind told her that maybe this man did know what it was like.
<br><br>
Still, she couldn’t tell him, not what he wanted to know. How could he understand? How could anyone? And for what so he could give her a warm meal and send her on her way? Send her to an orphanage or the police station more likely. She didn’t need this man’s charity if that’s what it was, she didn’t want it, so why did she feel so compelled to tell him?
<br><br>
The girl calmed her mind again. He was trying to trick her but she wouldn’t let it work. She would be ready. This man was not a police officer and he had no quarrel with her so she would tell him as little as possible to satisfy him and make him move on. “I survive because there are things I need to do. Certain things were taken from me and certain people need to pay.” That was all she would say. This man didn’t need to know the names that had become her prayer each night before she slept. He didn’t need to know about the hole in her heart that could only be filled with blood. He just needed to move on. “Now leave me alone.”

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“It’s fine. It works well enough. If I stab you with it you’ll die all the same…I’ll do it too. I’ve killed before and I’ll kill you too if you don’t leave.”

“You are more than welcome to try.” The man spoke darkly and matter of factly. He knew full well she wouldn’t yet. She was playing more to a defensive nature than offensive. If she tried to be the first to attack, she would lose her advantage and spell her own doom. “Pick your battles wisely child.” He spoke once more, continuing to keep his still stance, just watching her to see how she was reacting to his presence and words.

“Perhaps,” The man spoke in response to the girl’s comment about words being nothing more than wind. It was true. In his eyes, most conversation was pointless and just something naïve people did. But, there were certain conversation that had a point. If you could find something out, something important than it was worth it. And perhaps this one would be. He wanted to know some things from his particular, dirty child. Most children were nothing more then annoyances but when one could be useful…

“I survive because there are things I need to do. Certain things were taken from me and certain people need to pay.”

He raised a brow as he listened to her, slightly nodding to her. She wanted revenge and he knew the exact feeling. How amusing. There was one target he wanted to kill, to hunt down and slay him for his betrayal in the military. He was the only target that had escaped him but his days were numbered. One day, he find that man and kill him. But back to the matter at hand. He focused back on the girl once more, his curiosity about the girl growing all the more.

“Revenge. A worthy enough goal.” He spoke quietly, bringing a hand up to slowly rub his chin. “How interesting.” So that’s where her dark passenger originated from. Someone her age… The man continued to think about it, keeping his eyes on this peculiar girl. He wouldn’t let her get out of sight just quiet yet. He was still curious about her and that wasn’t a feeling he wanted residing. After she satisfied his inquiries and he decided if she could be of use, then he would dismiss her.

“Now leave me alone.”

“No,” The man spoke quickly to the girl, a slight grin on his face. “Don’t be so quick to throw away an opportunity when it’s staring you in the face.” The man let the words sink into the girl’s mind as he carefully eyed her reactions. “You are young and looking for revenge. You have a weapon and some experience and knowledge. I am giving you that much.” The man spoke, adjusting himself slightly but making no hostile movements to the girl just quite yet. “But you must expand your skills and experience if you want to be successful.” He spoke once more, crossing his arms across his chest now.

“You know am I right.” He spoke, eyeing her carefully. “Your dark passenger wants to see you succeed. To have your targets blood on your hands. It screams at you from the depths of your mind to the point where you feel like you are going to be split apart if you don’t listen to it.” He continued to speak, staring at the girl as he continued to send the probable truths her way. “It won’t rest until that day comes.”

“You have piqued my interest, young one. And that’s not a common thing.“ The man spoke, curious on how the girl would take that one. Would she say nothing and shove him away once more or perhaps just inquire about what was in it for her?

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<br>No One
<br>Date: Spring 20, 10
<br>Time: 5:30
<br>Mood: Alert, Aware, Angry, Embarrassed
<br>TAG: Ace
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<br>
<br><br>The child judged her options which at the moment were quite few. This dangerous man had called her bluff and now here she was faced with the choice of a standoff or making an attempt at an attack that would most likely end in failure. They weren’t options that she liked but when faced with them she would choose the one that led to life every time. This one at least didn’t have to be told to choose her battles wisely because she had been doing that for a long time now. It was how she survived.
<br><br>
Why was he bothering her? What could he possibly want? Surely it wasn’t just to learn her name and who she was. A man like this would expect her to lie about such simple things especially when she held a knife out to defend herself. Surely a man like this would know that he was wasting his time on her. So what was it then? He had some kind of secret motive but the girl without a name couldn’t figure out what exactly it was.
<br><br>
In any case the time for intimidation and fiery comments was past. She couldn’t intimidate this man and she couldn’t run from him so she would stand her ground and hear him out. She could give him that much. “Revenge is the only goal...” Her voice was soft but not so soft that it wouldn’t be heard. It kind of surprised her that she had even said it considering how little she actually talked about it but it was the truth. Everything else, everything that she had gone through was leading toward that one goal.
<br><br>
Then the man was telling her things that she already knew again. Of course she needed to train, to become stronger, faster, to learn more than just how to stab someone with a knife. It was going to take more than being some sneak, hiding in the shadows and waiting for the right opportunity to attack. She needed to know how to fight, how to kill. Going back and trying to kill the people who murdered her family, who captured her and treated her worse than a dog would be the height of stupidity and if there was one thing that the girl wasn’t, she wasn’t stupid. Why did she have to hear this from him? What was he offering?
<br><br>
“What opportunity?” She asked as she narrowed her eyes at the man suspiciously. She didn’t trust anyone especially not someone who came upon her stealing in the forest and then stopped her with talk of dark passengers and revenge. Then again maybe he didn’t expect her to trust him and instead just wanted her to listen to what he had to say. In any case it was best to keep her words few. This man knew too much already.
<br><br>
Talk of dark passengers aside she understood what the man was saying and did indeed know that it was true. She wouldn't stop until all her debts had been paid in full. What troubled her so much was that this man seemed to know so much about her. Was she really that readable? If so then she was going to be in trouble.
<br><br>
If only she knew what this stranger wanted. Could he really teacher her something? Could she even trust him that much? In any case she was interested and maybe just maybe she should listen to more of what this man wanted to say. "What are you proposing?"

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“Revenge is the only goal...”

“Good.” The man spoke simply. This girl was indeed quite interesting. Definitely not like most her age and constantly reminding him of himself. His own current goal was revenge. The Traitor. The one who betrayed the squad, ruined the mission, and damn near got them all killed. Ace would find that man one day and when he did…He’d enjoy driving his knife into that man’s throat. And sure enough, this young girl wanted to do the same to her targets.

"What are you proposing?"

The masked man grinned widely, seeing the girl had taken the bait and became interested as well. “It’s simple. You appear as nothing more than a normal girl. People don’t question you being around. You can do a lot more then I can because of that one fact alone.” The man stated the facts, obviously enough to make a point. “I could use you. You could be my eyes and ears where I can not go. You can get into places where I can not.”

“And in return…” The man paused to let his words sink in. “You become my apprentice. I teach you how to wield that knife more efficiently. How to kill more efficiently. How to become nothing more then shadows and never be seen. How to become a living force of terror, an angel of death. I will teach you all I know to make it easier for you to hunt down your targets. All I ask for you is for you to listen and obey my instructions. A simple enough objective, wouldn’t you say?”

The masked man ceased speaking for now as he began to back away. “If this sounds good to you, return here to this location next week, around this time. This will be our meeting place.” He kept his eyes on the girl though as he continued to step away. He wouldn’t turn his back on her, just incase she wanted to drive her knife into his back. Even if she was interested, she could still easily try to kill him and he didn’t want to lose a possible apprentice.

“If you return and you do not see me, do not think I did not come back. Just speak the words…” The man backed away into a collection of trees, now blocked from sight. “Memento Mori.” With that, his voice ceased and what felt like the presence of death himself, disappeared from the area.