Her eyes were so dark. Someone once told her it was like looking into a black hole. They were depthless and endless. She blinked and stared into her own dark eyes. He saw so much in her eyes but when she stared she saw sadness. Maybe because when she was with him she was rarely sad. But now he’s dead. She no longer heard compliments from him. No more whispers that how beautiful her eyes were, how soft her hair was, how perfect she was, how much he loved her. His voice was silent. He had been silenced. She turned away from the mirror, no longer being able to stare into her own eyes. She quickly pulled her black hair into a ponytail and grabbed her bag and was out the door. She would have to run to school now, in order to be on time. That is if she wanted to go to school. Her eyes clouded with tears and her feet pounded the pavement. When she was a child, she imagined what it would be like when she was finally a teenager. She imagined such fun and excitement. She had been smart for her age and read a lot of Young Adult books. They told such wonderful tales of being a teenager. Tales of such joyous times and forever true friends. But that wasn’t the case. Now the tears subsided as she rationalised with herself that those books were written long before this new age. Those books took place in a time very different from her own time. Things were different then and nothing like now. She ran up to the old building, which was in dire need of repair, and walked inside. An old bell rang shrilly somewhere in the building and she began to run to her first class. She didn’t want to be late. She couldn’t be late.

 

~.~

            He breathed the smoke in deeply and felt the tobacco burn his throat. Smoking was a disgusting habit but one that he enjoyed. Pleasures were a rare treat and one he wasn’t going to give up. He inhaled some more and shuddered. God, he hated cigarettes. Someone walked up to him and looked him up and down. His only response was to take another drag of his cigarette.

            “Loki, we lost another man. I think they are becoming too wise to our mode of operation,” the companion said. He was younger than Loki and his voice shook as he reported. Loki dropped his cigarette and crushed the still burning tip against the cement.

            “I see. How many operatives do we have left?” he asked as he began to walk. The boy hurried to keep pace.

            “Not many, sir. Ten at most and some are saying they want no part of it. Too many are being caught. Too many are dying,” the boy’s voice still shook. Loki nodded. He understood that fear but it didn’t change his determination. If people didn’t do something they would never be free. Over fifty years ago a militant government came into power and was able to unite the whole world as one peaceful community. They called themselves United Global Community or UGC. For the first while everything was peaceful but soon the world became very much like the universe described in George Orwell’s 1984. Everyone had to follow the letter to the law or face severe punishment. Everyone had to act the same, dress the same and belief the same. It was a global penitentiary. There was no freedom, no choice, no free will. It made Loki sick. Several years ago, just before he entered college, he and several friends formed a group to try to bring down this evil government. Lately the government had been getting the better of them. They had been capturing them and killing them, mercilessly. It was really no wonder that the guys wanted out. The government, lately, had been trying to find out who the leader of the group is. They hadn’t been able to even to find his name. According to Loki’s resources the closest they have gotten to his name is that his name has something to with the Norse gods. Even that knowledge was to close to the truth.

            Loki looked at the boy and said, “I see. Do they wish to give up? Are they content with the lives they will live? If they are, tell them that they may do as they pleased. If they are not, they know the missions in front of them.” With that Loki dismissed the messenger. Now in front of him the old high school loomed. This is where all the rich children went. The children of government workers. Children who would follow their parents’ footsteps and continue the evil. Not that they would have a choice. They would take over their parents’ jobs or face death. Loki stared at the high school. Each of those children would have blood on their hands, if they didn’t already. Once they were ready to enter the work force they would eliminate their parents and take over. This was a young society. Rarely did people live to their sixties. It was law to have children. If they didn’t have children they were killed. Loki shook his head. He didn’t have time to stand here and become angry. There were other things he had to do. He lit another cigarette and continued on his way.

 

~.~

            “‘God is love!’” a young man cried. His hair was longer than regulation length and was wavy. It looked like it needed to be washed. He wore a long brown robe and old brown sandals, “‘God showed his love for us when he sent his only Son into the world to give us life. Real love isn’t our love for God, but his love for us. God sent his Son to be the sacrifice by which our sins are forgiven. Dear friends, since God loved us this much, we must love each other!’” The young man was standing on a street corner. People walked passed him. No one looked at him. They were all afraid to. If they did, the UGC might think they knew the young man and think they were in cohorts with him. If the government even thought that, their lives would be in jeopardy! But that didn’t scare the young man from preaching what he thought that needed to be preached.

Two police officers walked up to him and smiled at him. The young man smiled back.
            “Hello there, sirs,” the young man greeted, “Are you interested in listening to the Word of our Lord?” The officers looked at each other. This was their beat. They knew this man.

“No thanks, Samuel. Besides you know the rules, it’s only because we feel sorry for you, you haven’t been reported,” the taller of the two officers said. Samuel laughed, making the other people around him, jump and hurry by at a quicker pace.

“Dear sirs, please don’t feel sorry for me. I know what true freedom is!” The shorter officer glared at the young man.

“With words like that we should report you,” he snapped but the taller shook his head and continued on his beat. The shorter tossed Samuel around glare and said, “Go home and be thankful that Moe has patience for the likes of you. I would have beaten you to death a long time ago.” Then he left. Samuel smiled and left the street corner. He glanced up at the sun. It was almost noon. He headed towards the high school.

~.~

She stared out the window and sighed. The sun was bright today. Her teacher, Mr. Woodsworth, was at the front of the class, passionately teaching them about polynomials and other such formulas. She watched the cars drove by. She supposed she should be happy that she was in that classroom, learning. Her father was a top level accountant in the government and it was because of that she was allowed to be in school, instead of out there working. Yet in a way, she rather to be out there, learning the real world instead of being here. She knew what would happen. Her life, like all her classmates, was planned out. She would graduate (hopefully at the top of her class, but that was looking more doubtful with every passing day) and go on to university. Once she graduated from that, she would receive her diploma and a gun. She would have to shoot her father and take his job. If she didn’t, she would be the one shot. Others took the gun and faced the bullet onto themselves. The family had to pay the funeral bill.

A ruler slapped down on her desk, missing her hand by a mere centimetre. She woke up from her daydream and saw that Mr. Woodsworth was glaring at her.

“Is there something more interesting out there?” he asked, now wearing a pleasant smile. She was unnerved by his sudden change of attitude.

“No, sir,” she mumbled. The glare returned and the ruler came down again. It, once again, missed her hand but by much less than before.

“Then why,” he asked, again with the smile, “is your attention captivated by the outdoors, inside of in the classroom? You must learn this if you hope to get a job.” She nodded but had no answer. What could she say? The prospect of growing up and having her father’s career wasn’t what she wanted? But in this society, it didn’t matter what she wanted. She would do what she was told. She would do it with a grin on her face or do nothing at all. Pushing up daisies, as it would seem. She wondered if that’s where her life actually led her. If her parents have given birth to their only child for that child to die without a person. How did George Orwell put it? She would be an unperson. It would be like she never existed.

The ruler came down again, this time on her hand. She flinched and went to pull her hand away when the ruler hit it again. Now there was no jolly look on his face. Only anger and impatient was written across his face.

“I asked you a question, Miss Keith. What has captured your attention?” he asked again.

“Nothing sir. Sorry sir,” she whispered. He glared at her and marched back to the front of the class. No one looked at her. She pulled her hand, now red and throbbing, closer to her. No tears filled her eyes, through. Those tears would be reserved for something else. She had cried enough about her destiny.

The bell ran shrilly throughout the school and the students automatically got up. It was time for lunch. They would all pile in for their regulation lunch and eat it without saying a food. That bell would ring again and they would all return to their classes. She stepped out the classroom, still rubbing her sore hand. She looked at all the empty faces around her. They were all following the rules. Did no one have any of their emotions, feelings? Did none of them crave the opportunity to make their own choices? She passed the door and hesitated. Students steamed by her. Only a couple of them were reading. Everyone else was going towards the cafeteria, just like they were supposed to. She looked around her and ran for the door and pushed it open. Another bell screamed next to her but she kept running. Her messenger style bag thumped against her thigh but she didn’t stop running. It wouldn’t be long before the school officials found out it was her who had set off the alarm and ran. They wouldn’t be pleased. In their minds they had given her enough warnings. She might not be given anymore chances. She didn’t care. She was out of there. She had to keep moving. Maybe she could get away from it all.

 

~.~

            Loki flicked the excess ash off the cigarette. He breathed the smoke out through his nose. He realised that he probably smoked too much and would most likely get cancer or some often tobacco related disease before he was thirty but he had no desire to quit. Loki breathed in some more smoke and glanced at his watch. Tobias should have been here by now. Loki hated waiting. In fact he hated being in one spot for very long at all. It could be dangerous.

            “But now God has shown us a different way of being right in his sight—not by obeying the law but by the way promised in the Scriptures long ago.  We are made right in God’s sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, no matter who we are or what we have done.  For all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet now God in his gracious kindness declares us not guilty. He has done this through Christ Jesus, who has freed us by taking away our sins. For God sent Jesus to take the punishment for our sins and to satisfy God’s anger against us. We are made right with God when we believe that Jesus shed his blood, sacrificing his life for us. God was being entirely fair and just when he did not punish those who sinned in former times. And he is entirely fair and just in this present time when he declares sinners to be right in his sight because they believe in Jesus,” Loki heard a preacher yell out to the empty street.  He sighed. He had heard of this preacher from some his men. He went by the name Samuel and the only reason why he hadn't been killed is because he was crazy. Loki didn't doubt that claim. Anyone who believe in a higher power had to be crazy. Just looking at the his disorientation of modern society proved that there was no God and if there was, He'd left behind His people a long time ago and had no intention of helping them out. Loki breathed out a puff of smoke. Total and complete delusions.

Samuel stepped out and touched Loki's sleeve.

"Young man," Samuel said in a hushed tone, "I feel a strong urge to pray for you. The Lord wants to do great things with you!" Loki shook the preacher off. He dropped his cigarette.

"Preacher, leave me alone," Loki spat. Samuel's eyes grew sad.

"Young man, name after the Norse god of mischief, you have a very dark path if you continue your journey. Let the Lord light it up." Loki rolled his eyes and walked passed. He dismissed the words as ranting of a mad man. He quickened his pace. Too many people- even if it was only a few- had seen that encounter. Loki entered a mob of people and disappeared in it. He allowed the crowd to carry him to his destination. He stepped out of the crowd and entered a glass covered high rise. The lobby wasn't very crowded and those who were in the lobby wore expensive suits. Loki didn't feel out of place in the least in his combat pants, jacket and snakeskin boots. He walked up to the elevator and pressed the button for floor number 13. The shiny doors slid open without a noise and he stepped inside. He was itching for another cigarette, just to take the edge off, but being inside a government building, he was already calling too much attention to himself. A bell dinged and the doors slid open. Loki stepped out. His boots clicked against the tile flooring. This floor was full of offices and cubicles. Several employees looked at Loki strangely. Finally Loki located the office he wanted and entered inside.

A balding man sat on the other side of the desk. Several file folders were stacked next to him. One file sat open in front of him. The man jumped when Loki opened the door and quickly shut the folder.

"Ah Daniel!" a fake alias, "You scared me. Come in, Daniel. Sit." Loki sat down on a plush chair. The office door swung shut behind him. Loki lit a cigarette and filled his lungs with the refreshing tobacco. The balding man's name was Winston, or so he said. Loki didn't question it. Winston curled his nose in distaste at the sight of the smoke filling the office.

"Daniel, please, put that out," Winston said. Loki blew out more smoke in response.

"Sir you called me here?" Loki asked, pretending innocence. He knew why Winston had called him. Winston was in charge of truant students and was suppose to administer the punishment for those students. Winston was also a double agent. If he saw a student who was a good candidate for Loki's organization he would report them to Loki. Winston re-opened the manila folder.

"I found you another student. I don't believe this one has any outward intentions of actively rebelling against the government but i know you can convince her."

"Her?" Loki asked. Never before had Winston referred to him a female. Normally Winston didn't think women were suited for Loki's line of work but then again was old fashioned in his thinking.

"Yes a girl. Her name is," he glanced down at the file, "Eve Keith," he tossed Loki the file. Loki caught it and opened it up. The girl was about 17 years old and from the file had no experience with... anything. In the past year her truant record had skyrocketed but other than that there was no indication she wanted anything to do with Loki. Loki studied her picture. She was pretty, through. Loki had never seen such dark eyes before. He shut the folder and stood up.

"I doubt she will be any use to us," and threw the folder on the desk before he left the office. Winston would believe that Eve Keith would be left alone. Loki would go visit the girl and make his decision from there.

 

~.~

            She landed on the tiled flooring without making a noise. Her cheery red hair was pulled back, out of her face. Her name was Kirako Naito and technically she was an unperson. But that didn’t matter right now. She was on a mission. She scanned the room. The office door was still closed. He hadn’t returned to his office yet. She glanced that the clock on the wall. She had five minutes to find the files she needed and to get out. She pulled open a desk drawer. It wasn’t locked so she knew immediately the files she was looking for weren’t going to be in there. She was right. Only pens, pencils and a couple of bottles of White Out were in the drawer. She shut it. She wanted to glance at the clock again but willed herself not to. It would waste too much time. She pulled at another drawer. It was locked. Kirako tugged on the drawer and snapped the lock. She pulled out a couple of files and flipped through them. No, none of these were what she wanted. She placed them on the desk and grabbed another pile. She flipped through them more quickly. This was taking too long. She swore as she realised none of these were what she wanted. She placed the files back and shut the drawer. She knelt down and was about to break the lock when she saw a manila folder peeking out from under the desktop calendar. She slid it out and looked inside. She smiled. This was one of the files she was looking for. She glanced at the clock. One minute. She needed to get out of the office. She hoped that her superiors wouldn’t be too upset at her for not finding all the files. She glanced at the file’s name. This would be enough evidence to get more information legally. She jumped up back in the vent and shut her exit hole. She heard the office door open and the man coughed. She quietly began to crawl through the vents towards outside. The broken lock would be the evidence she was there and no one could prove that a person that didn’t official exist was even there.

 

~.~

 

~.~

 

~.~

            Kirako stepped into the office building. This time she wasn’t sneaking in. she smiled at the security guard, who ignored her, and walked up to the elevator. She was heading up to the 13^th floor again. She was happy not to be crawling up through the air vents. Her muscles still hurt from the climbing. The elevator’s bell rang and the metal doors opened. This time she was to confront the bald man and get the information she had been requested to find. Most of the offices and cubicles were empty, except for a few people who were working late. The balding man was one of them. She approached the office and opened the door. She stood at the doorway, watching him.

            The bald man was reading through a yellow legal pad, pausing occasionally to make a note or to cross reference it with another legal pad. Kirako watched him and was amazed how completely lost he was in his own world. She wondered if he was catching up with his work or doing more illegal work. Finally, after watching him for several minutes, she cleared her throat. He jumped and swore.

            “Who the hell are you?” he demanded. She smiled.

            “I am nobody,” she stepped into the office. He jumped to his feet.

            “Get out of my office or I’ll call security!” he cried. Kirako’s smile disappeared. Some situations called for playing with her assignment before she began to get information out of him, but this one didn’t. She knew she should get the information and leave.

            “Who is Eve Keith?” she asked, knowing that dropping the girl’s name would prove to the bald man she was more than what she appeared to be. The trick worked. The man paled.

            “W- who?” he stammered, trying to play dumb. Winston was never good at lying. Kirako said nothing and waited. Winston swore again.

            “She’s one of the truant students I’m watching,” he said. Kirako just stared at him.

            “That’s all! Just a student, nothing more!”

            “Watching for who?” she asked.

            “No one! For my job! She is going to be arrested, I swear!” Kirako studied him. He wasn’t going to say anymore without a little persuasion. She pulled out her gun. It was a Walther P-99. It was her favourite belonging and was given to her as a birthday gift.

            “Thank you for your time,” she said as she pointed the barrel at him.

            “No! Please! Don’t!” he begged.

            “You have nothing to offer me,” she answered, allowing him to see that her finger was tightening the trigger.

            “Loki!” he practically shouted, “Eve Keith was for Loki!”

            “Who is Loki?” Kirako asked.

            “I don’t know, really. He told me his name was Daniel, but I knew it was the kid rebel named Loki. He was recruiting Keith.”

            “Are they any more?”

            “Yes. I have files about all the ones that has been referred to Loki,” he was sweating heavily now.

            “Where?” Kirako, keeping the gun trained on Winston, walked over to him. He pointed the file and she opened it.

            “There is a false bottom,” he said.

            “Take them out.” He nodded and removed the top files and lifted out the bottom. There was another stack of files. Kirako flipped through the top file, and then scanned the rest of the files. Nathan Moore was in that pile. She found what she was looking for.

            “Thank you,” she said then pulled the trigger. Winston slumped to the ground, staining the carpet. She picked up the files and left the office, closing the door behind her.

 

~.~

            She stayed the whole day at school. She was almost afraid to go home early. She couldn’t concentrate in class and all her teachers noticed. They weren’t pleased. One, a more caring of her teachers, pulled her aside and warned her if she didn’t shape up she would get in big trouble. She had nodded dumbly and left the classroom. She knew she had received a disappointed look from her teacher. She couldn’t help it. She couldn’t care about what she was doing and with this letter on her bed; now being carried to school with her, her mind was more distracted than ever. She could barely stand it. Who was this Loki and what did he want with her? She stepped outside and looked around and then tried not to laugh at herself. There would be no one walking about with a sign that said, “LOKI” in big neon colours. She began to jog, hoping to get to her house faster. Maybe if she was moving faster, then Loki wouldn’t be able to see her. She pushed herself faster until she broke out in an all-out run. She looked behind her, checking to make sure no one was following her. She turned onto her block, her book bag banging against her thigh, suddenly grateful to see her house. Then she stopped running. She froze. Someone was at her porch. He wasn’t much older than she was, maybe a year or two older than she was. He had moose brown hair which was pulled back into a low ponytail. He was smoking a cigarette, blowing out the smoke. She began to walk slowly towards her house. He hadn’t noticed her so far. She debated whether or not she should keep going past her house or if she should confront him. She closed her eyes, allowing her memory to lead her home. She stepped onto her driveway, and looked at Loki. He was crushing his cigarette with his boot. Now he noticed her. He looked her up and down. She felt like he was trying to figure out if she was good enough. She stood at the bottom of the stairs and said, “Loki?” He smiled, his brown eyes lighting up as if she just told some kind of joke.

            “Hush,” he said, his voice not reflecting any sort of joyous tone. It was more business like and it made her uncomfortable, “Don’t say that name too loudly.” She nodded, just accepted the criticism. She didn’t know what to do. Loki stared at her then asked, “Well, aren’t we going in?” Again she just nodded. She pulled out her key and opened the door. Both of them stepped inside and she shut the door. Finally she found her voice.

            “What do you want with me?” she said, her voice quiet. Loki pulled out another cigarette and debated lighting it. He seemed to decide at the moment he was more content to play with the bronze lighter. He took a moment before answering.

            “What do you want to do with your life? Do you want to follow the path that is set out for you, or do you want to do something different? Are you disgusted at the fact you have to murder your parents? Do you wish things in society were different? Do you wish to take action?” he answered. She looked down at his boots. He had such a presence to him.

            “I want to know why,” she whispered. Loki frowned.

            “Do you wish to take action?” he repeated.

            “I want to know why we must kill. Why we are meaningless. Why are we chosen to live such lives of luxury while other people do not. Why do we suffer in our luxury,” she said.

            “Those answers are simple. Because no one has said no before. We just accept the proclamations of the government. We need to fight the UGC,” he said. She thought about this. It was true. She was even guilty of it. Was her only form of rebellion was thought?

            “What do you want of me?” she asked, staring into Loki’s eyes. Suddenly his eyes reminded her of his eyes. They were deep and full of passion. His eyes stared deep into hers and he turned away. She immediately felt hurt. Did she give the wrong answer? Suddenly she desperately wanted him to accept her. She didn’t want him to reject her.

            “You aren’t what I thought you were,” he said, “I’m sorry I wasted your time.” He looked at the door. She shook her head, blinking back tears.

            “No,” she said firmly, “I want to help. Let me help you. I don’t want to think anymore. I want to action. I don’t just want to sit up idly, thinking how things are unfair. Please.” Loki sighed and snapped, “Don’t fight just to fight. Don’t come with me, just to come. You have no passion. I see that now. You are just a fallen leaf.” He went to move past her. She didn’t move.

            “I have no passion. I have been drained. The government and its rules have drained me. It has killed my spirit. Will you just leave me to die?” she said. Loki sighed.

            “Enough poetic speak,” he said, “If I accept you, if I allow you to fight with me, what can you bring to me? Why would I want you on my team?” She faltered. She had nothing. She wasn’t anything special. She wasn’t a fighter. She was a thinker and he didn’t want that. No one wanted that.

            “You have my obedience,” she said, “That’s all I can offer. If you give me an assignment, I will do it. You won’t have to ask me twice.”

            “Even if I gave you an exteremly dangerous one?”

            “Yes. You have my word.”

            “Then this is your trial assignment. My contact, the man who gave me your name, was killed last night. I want you to find out who did it. Give the name to me, understood?” She felt her stomach drop but nodded. Loki gave her a sardonic smile. She moved out of the way and watched him leave. She shut the door after him and ran up to the bathroom and threw up. She looked at herself in the mirror, her black hair falling across her face. What had she gotten herself into? Why was Loki’s acceptance so important to her? Why did she want it so badly? She slid down on the cool bathroom floor and cried. Never before had she wanted him so badly as she wanted him now.

 

~.~

            Loki walked away from the house, his thoughts still on the girl named Eve Keith. There was something about her. Something innocent and breakable. He wondered if the assignment he gave her was too hard for her. Winston’s killer had to be a professional. Loki had gone into his office this morning. He was dressed as an officer and no one questioned him. No one knew what had happened, only that he had been shot, executioner style. Nothing from the office was missing, or that the real police had thought. Loki had looked through the desk and discovered the files were missing. Whoever killed Winston knew that he was a double agent and possibly knew that he was connected to Loki. He didn’t like that thought in the least. The feds were getting to close to him. Instinct told him it was time to lay low for a while but determination urged him to keep going. To find another contact, to make another double agent, to keep fighting the good fight. No matter how many lives it cost. His thoughts returned to Eve Keith. She never introduced herself to him. She was strange. That was his first impression of her. She was strange but innocent. He believed that if she wasn’t arrested for her truancy first, she would be because there was no way she would be able to murder someone.

            He passed the high school and saw the last of the students leaving. A quiet anger filled Loki as he watched him go. He hated them. Rich, snobby, perfect students with everything going their way. They didn’t care who they hurt as long as they made it to the top. He had longed to go to high school. He had wanted to make something of himself. But his father was a janitor and his mother an elementary school teacher, neither were good enough for post elementary school education and that meant he wasn’t good enough either. He was to kill his father at the young age of 13. He couldn’t do it. He disappeared from his home town and re-emerged in the bigger cities as Loki. His younger self slayed into order to find peace in the world. That’s it. Eve Keith reminded him of himself when he still lived with his parents. Young, naive and held hopes that mere thought will bring about answers and change. Loki walked away from the school. No. Eve Keith was wrong, just like he had been. But if she could find out who held those files, she would be invaluable, if she wasn’t killed first. Once he had the name of the killer, he would kill him. But time was against them, Eve Keith would have to find the name quickly or else his life would go up for a very high price.

 

~.~

            Kirako waited in the examination room. Her boss, and mother, was supposed to come and question her on last night’s activities. She had already given them the folders but it was late and they hadn’t wanted all the information just yet. Kirako thought about the name Loki. After her mission she couldn’t sleep last night so she crept into the library and looked up the name Loki. He was the Norse god of mischief and sometimes also called the god of fire. His brother, Odin, was the first god of the Norse gods and was called the god of war and death. She wondered why Loki hadn’t chosen that name for himself. She had also hacked into the files and looked up if there was any information on Loki. There was a reference of a leader of one of the rebel groups who called himself after a Norse god. She had no doubt that it was the same person. Kirako wouldn’t mention this to Mary Ellen; it wasn’t her job to make these connections. She was to gather information and to eliminate the threats. She would be into trouble if she was caught researching about Loki.

            The door opened and Mary Ellen stepped inside the examination room. She squinted for a second at the bright lights then put on her sunglasses. Kirako had been sitting there for a while, so her eyes were pretty much adjusted to the lights. The lightening was to make the one who was answering the questions uncomfortable and off guard. It was a tactic to make the person answer more honestly. It wasn’t that Mary Ellen doubted the honesty of Kirako’s answers, it was more of a training device. She was have to be comfortable in any situation if she was expected to succeed. Kirako wasn’t bothered by the lights.

            Mary Ellen placed a legal notepad in front of her and placed the files beside her. Mary Ellen seemed to be studying Kirako for a moment, but Kirako couldn’t be sure as she couldn’t see her eyes. That made Kirako uncomfortable. It was her natural instinct to see her prey’s eyes. The eyes were the window’s to the soul, after all and they revealed more than what the person wanted to. But Kirako had to remind herself that Mary Ellen wasn’t her prey and in this situation she wasn’t the predator. If anything, Mary Ellen was the hawk and Kirako was nothing more than a mouse. After a moment of silence, Mary Ellen began to speak.

            “Did everything go okay last night?” she asked, looking at Kirako to see if there were any injuries.

            “Yes, madam. Everything went as it was suppose to. Winston Steed needed little convincing before he gave up those files,” Kirako said. Mary Ellen seemed to stare hard at Kirako, almost as if she disbelieved what she had said. Kirako knew it was just Mary Ellen’s way.

            “Who were these files for?” Mary Ellen asked, as she quickly jotted down something on the legal pad.

            “A man named Loki,” Kirako said, offering nothing more.

            “Who is Loki?” her question echoed Kirako’s from last night.

            “Steed didn’t know. He had given a code name Daniel, but he suspected that Daniel was the famous rebel Loki. Steed had nothing more to say. He was a blind bat, so to speak,” Kirako said. Mary Ellen wrote now more notes.

            “What are your thoughts on the situation?” Mary Ellen always asked but didn’t really expect an answer.

            “I have no thoughts, madam. I await your orders,” Kirako responded. Mary Ellen and pulled a needle from her purse. She walked around the table and stuck the needle in Kirako’s arm. She didn’t flinch. The light yellow liquid entered Kirako’s bloodstream and suddenly everything become more defined. Kirako squinted at the lights, which were now hurting her eyes.

            “Marcus is waiting for you in the training room,” Mary Ellen said and left the room. Kirako followed. The liquid heightened her senses and increased her ability to feel pain. Training now would help her become more insensitive to pain and help her become a better fighter.

 

~.~

            Mary Ellen brought her notes to her boss, Mikkoku Jin, who was a fat Japanese man. He was the head of the department and was mostly likely going to be in charge of the government before he died. He was also the one who named Kirako. He was the only one who knew that her name meant. All Mary Ellen knew that her name was Japanese. One day Mary Ellen wanted to look it up but right now she was too busy. Caring and making sure the child succeeded at her missions was a busy job. If Kirako failed, she might be spared but Mary Ellen wouldn’t be.

            Jin’s secretary paused from her typing and looked at Mary Ellen. She was a petite woman with long blonde hair. This was also her first job. Mary Ellen looked at the desk and guess that the woman never had a secretary’s job before. She wouldn’t be surprised if she found out that the woman was a third or fourth child in her family. Mary Ellen smiled sweetly at the woman. If she was, she should have been killed a long time ago. Mary Ellen figured the woman was probably just eye candy for Jin.

            “Yes?” the secretary asked.

            “I’m here to see Mr. Jin,” Mary Ellen said, purposely omitting her name. She glanced at the secretary’s name tag: Katrina. How typical. Katrina glanced at an open appointment book.

            “He’s free. Go right in,” she chirped. Mary Ellen smiled and rolled her eyes as she walked away. She waited for it.

            “Wait!” Mary Ellen turned around, “I- I’m suppose to call him first. I’m sorry. I always forget,” Katrina was turning red. Mary Ellen nodded, pretending to understand completely. Katrina hung up the phone and said, “He will see you now.” Mary Ellen turned around and opened the giant oak doors. Jin’s office was huge and filled with cherry wood furniture and other such things to create the impression of rich and fullness. Jin looked up from his computer, which was, of course, state of the art.

            “Ah, Mary Ellen, what do you have for me?” he asked. He didn’t stand up or offer her a seat yet. She handed her notes over.

            “Our suspicions were correct. It is the rebel Loki.” Jin looked over the notes and frowned.

            “And the files? What have you surmised from those?” He turned back to the computer. Mary Ellen swallowed her rage. At least he could pretend to care about the results. Loki was becoming a huge problem for the department.

            “There were just students who have been marked as troublemakers. For example, Eve Keith, the first file which Naito recovered, has been red flagged for truancy. Her parents are important so the school has asked us to deal with her,” Mary Ellen reported. Jin narrowed his dark brown eyes at her.

            “I want Kirako on the case. Make an example of that Keith girl. Let the world know that if anyone deals with Loki, not only will they be killed, so will their family,” Jin ordered. Mary Ellen nodded. Jin looked at Mary Ellen, “Anything else?”

            “No, sir,” she knew she was being dismissed. She left the office and glared at the secretary. Jin never seemed to respect her. He was a sick pig who seemed to be obsessed with his experiment. But Kirako would follow orders. She would follow them blindly. She had been taught to do so.

            Mary Ellen stepped on the elevator and jabbed the button that would bring her to the training floor. She would tell Kirako her assignment right away.

 

~.~

            Samuel stood on the street corner, silent. He was praying for the people who were walking by.

            “‘Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honour, then honour,’” Samuel yelled out to the people. No one looked at him. The people rushed past him and looked at the sidewalk. Samuel stepped out further in the sidewalk. Now people had to move to get past him. He closed his eyes and began to pray for those who pushed past him. He prayed that they would hear about the love of God and turn to him. He prayed that they would be faithful citizens. He prayed for their families and their friends. He prayed that God would touch their lives. He, still with his eyes closed and still praying, began to walk. He accidentally would bump people. He heard people swear at him but all outside noises were muffled. He was solely focused on the Lord. He was thinking of nothing else. Various bible passages went through his mind. Promises of love, of protection, of heaven and of forgiveness. Now slowly the anger of the people around him began to bleed into his mind. Samuel felt weighted down by their hatred. He felt the evilness in the air. He tripped and for a second he thought he could taste blood. The blood of the people’s. Who was spilling this people? He wanted to open his eyes. He began to walk faster. He could feel the stickiness on his skin. He rubbed his arms. What was the Lord showing him? What was the Lord doing to him? Is this what He felt everyday? When He looked at His creation? Nothing but evilness, anger and hatred?

            A face became clear in his mind. She had dark eyes, almost burgundy in colour and her hair was chin length with a purple hue to it. Her eyes were emotionless and seemed to study him. Samuel stared at her. Who was she? She raised a black gun and aimed it at him. Samuel froze. His heart began to beat faster. Her facial expression didn’t change. “Who?” his mouth desperately wanted to ask but it couldn’t form the words. Her finger twitched and a loud bang was heard. Samuel flew back and crashed against the cold cerement sidewalk. His eyes were open wide and had a wild look to them. He was breathing hard. He slowly pushed himself up.

            “Get out of the way, your drunkard!” someone yelled at him as he run by. Samuel sat in the middle of the sidewalk for a moment, trying to calm his racing heart. Who was that? Samuel stood up and went to turn around when he bumped into Loki. The young man recognized him but went to move on.

            “No, wait,” Samuel said in a hoarse tone. Loki turned around and glared at the preacher.

            “Let me be, you crazy old man,” Loki snapped; then inhaled more of his cigarette.

            “Your life is in trouble. You are connected. Tied in a chain!” Samuel said, his thoughts coming out jagged. His thoughts were confusing. Whatever he just saw, he knew it had to do with the rebel Loki.

            “My life is always in trouble. It’s who I am, old man,” Loki answered. Samuel nodded.

            “There is a girl who is connected to you. You hold her life. You must hold onto it! It is about to be put out!” Another set of eyes crossed Samuel’s vision. Different eyes but still dark. These were the eyes of someone who was lost and scared. Samuel felt the longing of the Lord. He wanted her to know that He loved her and wanted to protect her from the pain of the world. He would hold her and keep her safe but only if she wanted Him to. It would have to be her choice. Samuel sensed her longing for Him but she didn’t know it was Him she was longing for. She was looking in all the wrong places. Samuel looked at Loki, who looked concerned. Right now the girl was looking to Loki for answers.

            “Eve?” Loki whispered, as if he suddenly believed that Samuel held the answers.

            “Yes, Eve,” Samuel agreed but he wasn’t sure if that was the right name, “She’ll look to you for help,” then Samuel passed Loki and conti