19. Oscar

I don't think I ever really fell asleep, I can only remember the piercing of the brand, from when I was 3 klicks away to the time it subsided three days later. 


It was Roun who got the closest to... our target. It was Roun who got Unc-... Chae's father. 


I think he just wanted it to be quick. I hung in the back,  I didn't want any part of it. None of us did, we were all branded. That didn't mean I just stood back tough, it was Chae's grandfather. I would have been okay at that. The man was horrid. 


But then, Chae's father engaged us first, ever alert and sharp witted Uncle Jin. I'm not sure if he saw me, but if it was Uncle Jin I couldn't- He was always so nice to me. I think it's why I took so long to leave.




Roun was closest, Uncle Jin parried. 


Pierce lunged. Rina struck.


Pierce withdrew and tried to regain composure.


I snapped Pierce's neck. Nobody noticed. 


Bayani thrust her balisong at his ribs. Uncle Jin deflected it, It caught his shoulder. Alway a hit. Bayani always practised.   

Roun took advantage. Killed... our unintended target and paid for it.

I twisted Rina's left wrist. Up and around, over her right shoulder and down her back. Crack.


I saw her surprised eyes. Too slow to realise, too slow to see the traitor. 


Kane saw me. Most observant. Most jumpy.


I think he knew though. Kane had the best survival instincts. But he understood. I think. I hope.


Kane took off. I was grateful.


Bayani thrust her balisong into our unintended target's heart. A confirmation. 


I saw Chae on the landing, then Tae, and then our target.


Bayani calculated and took off after Kane. 


I hesitated. The last of the six. 


She always used to follow me around. She didn't look so different. Her hair was wet, not tied up like it used to be. Much taller, and more tired, less bright, more wary, less cheerful. She didn't know it was me.


I ran.  


I caught up to Bayani, the slowest. But always practicing. It's a balisong not a butterfly knife. Flicking it out, snapping it shut, winding it through her fingers, switching hands. Part of my heritage. Even while running, practicing. 


I snapped. Is it immoral to stab someone in the back? Literally?


Kane was too far ahead. we were almost at the three click mark.


Then she stumbled. Uncharacteristic. Then she writhed and screamed on the ground. I frowned. 


I didn't stop.


I kept on running. And then my brand, was activated. Sharp and blistering. I choked and stumbled. Crashed into some foliage. kept rolling. But the searing unrelenting pain. 


There was a howl. Kane. 


None of us were going to make it.