Silent Night

by Emma Couette

  Huh.

  I guess they decided to go through with the plan I fashioned for them, even though they think I’ve turned on them. Well, they won’t have to worry about that.

  I realized something last night, something I’ve been hiding for a long time. Everything I’ve done in my life has been for survival. Silent Night was a disguise I threw over myself to keep me safe when I entered the Guild, but it wasn’t who I was. It isn’t who I am. For a long time, I fell prey to that disguise; I lost myself in it. My time at the Resistance hadn’t been a nightmare, it had been a glorious reality, but the assassin in me tried to drag me back under.

  No more.

  The assassin was a survival tactic, but I no longer need it. I can survive just fine on my own, the way I am. The Resistance taught me that.

  I stand up and start picking my weapons up off of the floor. I rearm myself as I come to terms with my decision. The heavier I get with weapons, the lighter the burden on my heart feels. This is right, I know it is.

  My time at the Resistance was happy. I laughed, loved, and did things I haven’t done since my mother died. I returned to the old me and she isn’t weak. No, the old me is strong, an ever-burning light within my heart all these years. Against all odds, she survived and the assassin can never fully extinguish her spark. I coax those flames now and smile.

  I look to the bed for a second, silently thanking Lincoln—I mean Jean—for everything. That’s when I realize something. I never took the pillows off the bed last night before I slept. It’s a miracle. I haven’t slept with a pillow since... Well, since my mother died, what, thirteen years ago?

  Wow. Has it really been that long?

  I look at the pillows, and for the first time in thirteen years, I don’t see my mother lying there, blood spattered across the pillowcase. I’ve finally managed to let her go, and my fear went along with her.

  “I love you, mom,” I whisper to the empty room. “I love you and I miss you and it all ends today. Either I kill the Charger or I join you in whatever comes after. I hope... I hope I can be forgiven for all I’ve done.”

  Another boom sounds like a rumble of thunder and the house shakes. I head downstairs, grabbing the banister to keep from falling. I pause in the doorway, taking one last look around, before I step out onto the porch and close the door behind me.

  “Goodbye, mom,” I whisper. “Goodbye, Uncle Jean.”

  I wonder for a second if I have the right to call him that, but somehow it feels right. I still can’t believe he was my uncle, hiding in plain sight all this time.

  What if I opened the box with the album the first time I visited his house? Would I still be where I am today or would everything be different?

  I look down the street. Dawn will be here soon. It’s time to move. Hopefully Jenson’s forces are already on their way to the tunnels. I need to join them.

  I leave my uncle’s house and start walking, toward the Guild and hopefully toward a better future.

  …

  The sun has just risen when I come upon the old barn leaning in the field. It seems like forever ago that I followed Rachel here. I wonder if I’ll meet the same fate, torn apart by the people I once considered allies.

  I won’t let it come to that, I’ll kill myself first.

  My fingers hover over the spot on my abdomen where Rachel’s name is etched into my skin.

  “I’m sorry,” I whisper.

  I can’t take back what I’ve done, the people I’ve killed, the lives I’ve destroyed, but I can become something better and never perform those despicable deeds again. I will change, will leave Silent Night far behind, but first, I must become her one last time.

  Silently, I approach the barn, wary of enemy forces within, though logic says it should be empty. Rachel died two months ago, her tunnels should be forgotten.

  I creep up to the door and listen. Hearing nothing, I push it open an inch and peer inside. A yawning darkness beckons me and I take an involuntary step back.

  It’s okay, I tell myself. The darkness will not claim you again.

  Resolved, I push the door open the rest of the way and step inside, leaving it ajar. My eyes soon adjust to the lack of light, my time in the Resistance not hindering my basic skills. I locate the trapdoor easily and enter the tunnels beneath.

  An earth-shattering boom interrupts the silence of the morning once again and soil rains down on me from the ceiling above. I close my eyes and keep walking, hoping none of Jenson’s bombs land on this tunnel, trapping me forever.

  Twelve minutes later, after navigating through the treacherous pitfalls and traps of this particular tunnel, I turn a corner and find myself in the section lit with bulbs every few feet.

  Almost there.

  I walk to the end of the tunnel and climb up the ladder to the Guild above. Easing the trapdoor open, I watch and listen.

  No one passes by the tunnel entrance and I hear no footsteps on the stairs above, though I can make out the sounds of a distant battle. I guess the fighting has already begun.

  Well, I’m of no use here. Let’s get moving. I have a certain Master Assassin to take out and it will not be easy.

  Quiet as...well, as me, I exit the tunnel and crouch under the stairs. I stop and listen again before creeping out and making my way up. I pause at every landing, slowly making my way into the Guild proper.

  I duck into a doorway as I enter the first hall and reassess the situation. The sounds of fighting are louder now, closer, but I still appear to be alone. I say appear because I’m in the assassin palace where things are never how they seem.

  When I’m as sure as I can be that I’m safe, I step out of my hiding spot and continue down the hall. I stay close to the wall so I can hide if someone comes.

  The fighting gets louder the further I go on—the closer I get to the centre. Most of the fighting will be down in the Grand Cavern and the halls surrounding it. I need to get to the Charger’s office, where I know he’ll be waiting, leaving the fighting to his agents and letting them die for him.

  Selfish bastard, destroyer of lives.

  It is his turn to feel the sting of betrayal and loss and pain, before he feels nothing ever again. I will end him, but first he will suffer retribution for the hundreds of souls he ended through torment. I am going to his office, but first I will have to get past the Grand Cavern and past the fighting. It isn’t going to be easy.

  True to my word, I meet my first enemy agent in the next hall I turn down.

  At first the assassin, a younger one, looks at me in relief thinking I am an ally. Then I draw my gun and point it at his face.

  He raises his arms in surrender, fear jumping in his eyes like a scalded cat. “Hey now,” he says, “we’re on the same side.”

  I laugh. “No, we’re not.”

  “Please...” he says.

  My finger brushes the trigger.

  Wait. What are you doing? I ask myself. He’s surrendering.

  Kill him. He deserves to die for showing such weakness as to beg for his life. My old voice echoes in my skull. Kill him.

  He’s innocent, I tell myself.

  He’s weak.

  Yeah, well, I’m strong, stronger than the darkness.

  My hand shakes, but I lower the gun.

  “Go,” I tell the boy. “Leave the Guild and don’t come back.”

  “I... What?”

  “You heard me.” I raise my voice. “Go! Get out of here before I change my mind, and if you breathe a word to anyone...you’ll be sorry.”

  With one last glance at me, he turns and scampers away like a scared rabbit.

  I keep going.

  Soon, I start walking over dead bodies, through halls spattered in blood, Resistance agents and assassins alike having left nothing but carnage in their wake. I don’t look down at the faces, afraid to see someone I know. My stomach flips at the thought of seeing Blake, Bast, or Ajax lying there unmoving, glassy eyes staring up at the ceiling, lost to me forever. I never even said a prope
r goodbye.

  I shudder and then freeze as I hear the scrape of a sword being drawn behind me.

  “Turn around, little lady,” a rough voice orders.

  I obey and come face to face with a line of six male assassins, all of them armed to the teeth. I recognize one face in the crowd, the boy I spared not five minutes ago.

  Bastard.

  Well, his life is forfeit now. I will not spare him a second time, not after he led all of these men here to kill me.

  “What do we have here?” the tallest one says and I know from his voice that he’s the man who first spoke. “A pretty little lady. All alone. You lost, girl?”

  “Not in the slightest,” I purr, smiling.

  “Is that so? Tell me, how did you find this place? You one of them resistors?”

  “Not in the slightest,” I repeat, seeing frustration flare in the man’s eyes. “I’m one of you.”

  “You? An assassin?” He laughs and his men join in.

  I stare them all down with cold, dead eyes and their laughter cuts out.

  They stay silent and I say, “Now, boys, shall we do this the hard way or the easy way? I’ll give you one chance to get lost.”

  The men don’t hesitate for a second. They draw their weapons and sink into ready stances.

  I sigh. “Have it your way then,” I reply.

  I shoot two of them in the head before they even know what’s happening. Then I trade my gun for my sword, wanting to get a little more personal with the remaining men. They recover quickly, realizing I’m not going to be an easy target, and take up the defensive.

  They could surround me easily, but they hesitate, standing back as they study me for weaknesses.

  Well, I don’t have all day.

  I lunge into their midst, slashing and swiping, forcing them to fight back, reminding them with every stroke of my sword that they chose this. The boy could’ve walked away, but he didn’t.

  I pivot, fending off a sudden fiery attack from one of them, leaving my right side open for a second.

  I regret it as soon as one of their swords slams into my shin.

  I go to scream until I realize that it didn’t puncture me. I look down and laugh despite everything. The poor fool’s sword is stuck in the brace. Guess the stupid thing is good for something.

  Shaking off the blade, I run the man through with my sword.

  Three down. Three to go.

  The remaining men surround me, circling slowly.

  I smile at them, daring them to come closer.

  Finally, the boy rushes me.

  I snap my good foot against his knee while my sword parries the blow aimed at my back from the man behind me.

  The boy collapses to the floor, screaming, and I turn my attention to the two men left standing, drawing a second sword.

  My dual blades flash, zipping this way and that, blocking, thrusting, parrying, slashing…

  I miss a beat and cold steel burns against my arm, tearing through my sleeve.

  I hiss, but don’t let the injury slow me down, not when my leg is pulsing beneath me, urging me to sit down, to take a minute. The stinging in my arm is a mere inconvenience.

  My retaliation is swift and brutal. Blood splashes on the floor and two more bodies join the other three.

  I rip some cloth from one of their shirts to tie around my arm. It’s only fair. I kneel down beside the boy as I cinch it tight. He’s gasping for breath, fighting to stay conscious against the pain.

  “Who...are you?” he manages to get out.

  “I have many names,” I tell him, “but you would know me as Silent Night.”

  His eyes go wide for a second before I put him out of his misery, sword burying itself in his heart.

  I resist the urge to scream.

  Wiping my swords off on my coat, I continue on.

  CHAPTER FORTY

  I’m nearly to the Charger’s office when I realize I’m being followed. I’ve run into many assassin parties since the first, killing them all and sustaining nothing but the occasional scratch or bruise. I’m just a few halls away from my goal when I realize something isn’t right.

  Everything has gone silent, way too silent, and I haven’t seen anybody in a long time. This close to the Master Assassin, I suspect some kind of guard.

  My suspicions are confirmed when the hairs on the back of my neck stand up and a chill runs down my spine.

  I am not alone.

  Still walking, I turn my head slightly, barely catching a black form as it darts behind a pillar.

  How long have they been following me? How have they been following me?

  I stalk people, not the other way around.

  Who has the capability to...?

  And suddenly I know.

  Agent One.

  I really should’ve killed him before I left the Guild.

  I stop and turn around. “Show yourself, Assassin,” I say. “I know you're out there.”

  I hear a deep, bone-chilling chuckle and a man steps out from behind a pillar, not the same one I watched him disappear behind just moments ago.

  His spiked blond hair is flecked with blood and so is his black leather jacket. He puts his hands in the pockets of his ripped jeans as his eyes study me, dancing with glee.

  “It’s great to be noticed finally,” he says. “You’re losing your touch, Silent Night.”

  I roll my eyes. “Hello, Hai,” I reply.

  He smiles. “So you know who I am. Excellent.”

  “What do you want?”

  “Well, ever since you disappeared, someone had to do your job. I became the one to sniff out the traitors and I tell you, you reek of treachery.”

  “Is that so? Maybe that’s because I’m the one who was betrayed.”

  He laughs. “And how is that?”

  “I found a document, a record of all our kills. We’re not just killing Resistance members, Hai, we’re killing innocent civilians and that’s not the worst...” I trail off as Hai laughs again, longer and harder than before.

  “Of course we kill innocent civilians,” he says. “We’re assassins. The innocent ones are more fun, snuffing out their bright lights. It makes the blood rush, don’t you think?”

  I feel sick. I guess I wasn’t the only monster.

  “As I was saying,” I go on, “that wasn’t the worst part. The Charger killed my mother.”

  He smiles. “Aw... Poor Silent Night thought the Resistance killed her mommy. How do you think we get our Guild Wards?”

  I try to keep my stomach inside me. “So you knew,” I choke out.

  “Of course I knew,” he scoffs. He starts to circle me. “He killed my mother too, but I suppose the old man neglected to tell you. I wonder why? But then again, there are lots of things he’s neglected to tell you.”

  “Like what?”

  “Oh, it’s not mine to tell. Don’t want to risk his wrath.”

  My temper is dangerously close to snapping so I decide to throw a wrench in his plans. “Well, did you know he wanted to kill you?”

  He freezes and I smile.

  Checkmate.

  “Who?” he asks.

  “Oh, you know who,” I reply. “The Charger. Your beloved master.”

  His eyes go dark. “When? Why? Tell me!”

  I cross my arms. “Anger issues much? It was the day before I left. He called me into his office and we had a cryptic yet interesting conversation. He didn’t tell me straightforward to kill you, but he mentioned how you were the only one standing in my way and that he wouldn’t be upset if you were found dead the next morning.”

  Hai’s face is red. “Bastard! Why would he want me dead? I am his favourite!”

  I snort. “Hardly. He said he had grown tired of you and that you don’t have what it takes. Not so sure of yourself now, are you?”

  “You... You bitch,” he spits. “You don’t deserve to be Agent One. You don’t deserve anything, not the way you’ve been taking everything from me all this time.”

&
nbsp; “Me? I haven’t stolen anything.”

  “Oh, you are so oblivious. I never understood why he would want to give you...” He stops himself. “But again, it’s not my story to tell. Unlike you, I will stay loyal until the end. I won’t betray my people. I’m not stupid, Silent Night. I know it was you who led the Resistance here and for that, you shall die.”

  He draws his sword and I draw my two.

  “Is that so?” I ask him. “Well then, we’d better get on with it. I have places to be, Master Assassins to kill.” I grin, sinking into a crouch.

  “Traitor,” he spits out. “The Charger would give you everything and you’re going to throw it all away because he killed your mother?”

  “Yes,” I say, “and that’s the difference between me and you. I still have a heart.”

  “Then you’ll bleed just like anyone else,” he says, and then he lunges.

  I block his thrust with one blade and push back, sending him staggering.

  He laughs. “You know, you’re strong for your age.”

  “I’m young. You’re old and decidedly more breakable.”

  I go for him this time, sending one blade arcing toward his head, the other to his feet.

  He blocks the one blow and jumps over the second.

  My blade comes back and he sidesteps it, slashing at my face.

  I dodge and stab.

  He parries it with ease.

  Faster and faster we dance.

  Block, parry, and jab.

  Slash, stab, and dodge.

  Our feet and swords are mere blurs across the floor and through the air. Never before have I fought like this, never have I been so challenged.

  My fractured leg is starting to feel it.

  No. Dammit. I don’t feel anything. Just another brawl. Keep going.

  Then I hear a thump as his sword meets my brace.

  Shit.

  “What in the hell is this?” he yells out, trying to free his sword from the brace. “What is this bloody contraption?” He pauses and then, “Oh.”