Chapter 1
Someone is screaming at me, I have collapsed on the ground. The yelling and crying is coming from my parents. Blood drips down my arm as I reach out to them. “Mama! Pa!” I call out desperately wishing for this nightmare to end.
“I told you to shut-up ребенок.” A man’s voice rings out and I look up in fear to see a metal arm raise a gun and shoot my parents twice each. “Stand up.”
I obey and stand proud as my father taught me. A hand is held out to me holding a gun. I look the man in his eyes and cautiously my hand reaches out to take it. His eyes trail over to our butler, Daniel, and my eyes sting with tears. I drop the weapon as if it was on fire.
“No, he’s my friend,” I state unmoving. The metal falls faster this time across my face and another shot is heard.
My head pounds as I struggle to get up this time the three voices left filtering through my head in a jumble before a blindfold is brought over my eyes and I am struck in the back of the head.
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The dance seemed to never end. However, my legs and arms continued to move in perfect rhythm with the music not a falter to them. My toes were bloodied and sweat was streaming down my face. Still, commands were being thrown out, “Again, but better this time.”
I was used to the stern voice and calculating eyes and didn’t even glance her way as the men watched on eager to see who would be the ones to fail and face their wrath. Dancing has become second nature. My teachers say it teaches discipline and perseverance. I agree, after all, they saved me when I was a child. Or at least, that’s what I was told and who was I to disagree. My breathing stayed even and my eyes remained dry. Other girls broke down and stopped or begged. They were called out and left with the most vicious of the buyers, some to never be seen again.
We were told that they were going home but I know that there is no home. There is only here or certain death unless you manage to impress the rich men. The academy is thorough, there is no room for mistakes. I risk checking the clock and regret instantly hits my stomach as grey eyes meet mine but not a word is uttered about it. My mind in i’s exhaustion drifts again and I can only hope muscle memory will get me through at this point. After all, this is graduation day, make it to the end and you’re an official agent. I have wanted this my entire life and don’t plan on failing now…
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A bag is ripped off my head and I am hanging upside down by my ankles, hands tied behind my back. A woman with a tight bun walks up to me with a wicked smile and water is dumped on my small shivering body. “Hello, trainee six, you will tell me your name. Understood?”
I shook my head as best as I could, my lips trembling. I knew this game. Don’t reveal anything and maybe you can stay. Most girls are excited to go home but all that awaits me is my family dead on the floor of our house the blood seeping into the wood the second their bodies hit the ground.
I received another drenching for this. Except this was colder than the last. I still did not speak. I simply looked my interrogator in the eyes and smirked knowing this makes them angry and angry people make mistakes.
“I gave you an order. You will tell me or you will regret it.” She spoke with such relish that for a second I considered it.
Instead my lips remained sealed knowing that if I fail this test I will be left on the streets for the first old man who fancies small bodies like mine to warm his bed. A knife grazed my back trailing my spine leaving a burning line from my shoulder blades to my hips.
“Your name prisoner,” she commanded impatiently.
I again refused to even try speaking as my battered body swung back and forth from the rope before I was dropped onto the floor and released from the ropes. My mentor smiled at me and gave me a meal pass. I scrambled up and walked briskly out of the room planning on spending it before they took it away.
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There were only six girls left now. Twelve had arrived in the room today. We started as a group of sixty when I was four. Now I am seventeen on graduation day and I plan to come out on top. Only five of us will survive today. I don’t dare to lose my focus as a difficult turn is approaching. Naturally, I am flawless. Unfortunately for my bloodied feet and bruised body so do the other girls. The song ends and a new one begins with no time to rest in between. There is one man left and he has money, you can smell it off him.
We all know that rich men are the worst though. No one ever returns from a rich man. My long hair was drenched as if I had been swimming but my body aches as if I am in war and right now I am. A war between my mind and body. One crying out to stop and just end my suffering but the other wanting to prove it’s worth and that I am not a worthless body they can afford to lose.
I know the other girls are as nervous as I. We don’t even know what happens for the last event of graduation. We only know that usually no one dies and I’m not sure if that’s worse. I think of the life I could have had if circumstances had differed as this song continues on, it's a faster pace straining my entire being as my energy is rapidly depleting…
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Madame, as she has told us to call her enters the room her eyes finding mine. My hands are freed from their restraints before she leaves the room and I follow silently behind my head warring with itself. I hope I am not being murdered.
They had told us they only sent Grace home but I know better. She had been my best friend and I had gotten angry that she didn’t come to say bye. So, a week ago on the night, she was supposed to return home I snuck out to the field that they said the car arrived in to drive you home. There was a fence but I simply peeked over. Grace was standing in a hold covered in the dirt crying. My stomach contracted as she was shot in the head and the earth was filled in over her. They were never allowing anyone to go home. That night, I returned to my bed and decided to never make a friend again. I have stayed true to that.
So, for a second I wonder if they found out but I do not falter. My eyes stay trained ahead and my face it’s a constant blank look. We entered Madame’s office and she sat down in her chair gesturing to the one across from her. Seated next to me were two people, a man, and a woman. I looked closer at them and realized that the winter soldier and Natalia were the two people seated at my side. I calmly placed my hands in my lap looking expectantly at Madame waiting for her to explain why I, at six and a half years old was seated next to the two most deadly people ever to walk the Earth.
“You three, have a mission.” Madame graciously explained and instantly my nerves rose higher willing to do anything to prove myself worthy.
Three days later and we were in Sokovia spying on some high-priority targets. I was their kid and socialized with the children around the area as the adults talked. The targets hadn’t brought their daughter today because she was ill but still wanted to meet with Natalia and Edmond as I was told. I didn’t think that was his real name though.
I walked over to the swings watching the adults before two other kids ran up to me giggling. They both had brown hair and eyes and seemed eager to play.
“Want to play tag with us?” The little girl asked while her brother was giggling.
“Uhm… sure. I just can’t go far.” I answered glancing back at Natalia and Edmond. They both nodded in my direction and I ran around with the twins, as I learned, for the rest of that visit while occasionally checking in with Natalia. She was watching some men across the street while Edmond talked to the couple before announcing that we had to leave. I waved a last goodbye at the twins as we left.
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Suddenly, Amanda hit the ground and Madame called out our final command, “Stop!”
The rich man smiling wickedly picked the unconscious body up and walked out with a hop in his step. I didn’t dare flinch at the door slamming closed behind him and instead focused on not falling over myself as my muscles had stopped moving and were now trembling from the constant torture they had just endured.
“Congratulations, you all have passed. Trainee sixty, enter through those doors now.” Madame stated with a smile that was rarely seen.
One by one the girls entered the room until I was left alone with Madame. For a minute I wondered if I had secretly failed and she was waiting for the others to leave so she could kill me. Instead, she stepped towards me and I held my head high despite the strain it took.
“Trainee six, I am proud of you. You are the top student of your group. Every year, you have persevered no matter the circumstances. Be proud, you’ve earned it.” she says resting a hand lightly on my shoulder. My chest swells with pride as I find the strength to stand even taller and finally talk after hours of nonstop dancing.
“I’ll make you proud,” I answer as I enter the doors following those before me.
“Name?” the woman standing alone in the hall asks me.
“Azrael, trainee six, reporting for graduation.” I proclaim as a needle is stabbed into my neck.