Chapter 2

Brenna recalls the memory that lead up to her fate of becoming a Faceless Assassin.

“Liam slow down!” my eleven year old voice shrilled.  Panting as I bolted to catch up with my best friend. The sun was setting and it was getting closer to my curfew.  Colliding with a hard wall, I bounced back onto my bottom. 

                His blond locks were accessorized with brittle leaves and broken twigs.  “Bren, you need to be able to run faster if a gang is after you.” Liam’s startling green eyes danced with laughter. “Remember, those fellas are vicious, blood thirsty killers.”

                The look on my face revealed all. Terrified.  Grasping onto Liam’s extended hand, he pulled me up. Patting away the dirt from my clothes, I crossed my arms with a pout.

                “Oh is baby Brenny scared?”  With a shake of my head, an idea flashed threw his mind.  Liam drug me past the forest opening and behind the town pharmacy.  He was bringing me closer and closer to the South tracks also known as dead man zone.

                Digging my heels into the Earth’s floor, I desperately tried to pry myself from his death grip. “L-Liam stop it!” When he did not make any attempt to stop, “Please! Don’t.  I don’t want to go there!” My voice was getting closer to cracking as tears threatened to spill.

                Scoffing, Liam cocked an eyebrow. “Not so tough, Saur? I thought you were tough like your daddy.  Guess you’re just a chicken!” He began to cluck at me, poorly imitating the bird.

                “Fine! I’ll show you tough.” Marching towards the tracks, I let all the anger inside me keep my eye on the prize. Proving to Liam I was tough! “Look at me! I crossed the tracks! Where are the scary killers now, Liam?” I giggled while dancing around.  “Come on!” I squealed before running further into their territory. 

                No footsteps sounded behind me. “Brenna! Please come back here.” Liam’s voice was now shaky as he called for me.  “You are tough, you aren’t a chicken.  You proved me wrong, now come on!”

                “You got to come get me!” Jogging away from Liam’s eyesight, I let out a damsel in distress scream.

                “Brenna! Brenna where are you?” Liam hollered, his voice growing closer and closer.  As he sprinted pass me, I yanked him by the ankle. He didn’t bother to fight with me only clutched onto my hand. “Let’s get out of here before someone finds us.” His voice held so much worry and fear, it made my skin crawl.

                The two of us started our way back to the North tracks. Just as the parting trees towards our exit was within eyesight, the bushes rustled around us.

                A masked man darted out before us.  He looked dead behind the eyes as he grinned at us deviously.  “Lookie here fellas. Fresh meat.” The man stalked circles around us like a vulture. “How old are you?”

                “E-eleven,” I murmured trying to stay strong “How old are you?”

                Liam nudged me, “Shut up!”

                Husky laughs escaped the four men’s mouths. All their eyes seemed to glow like cat’s eyes. Each tribal face mask seemed to tell a story.  Black circles around one’s eyes with lightening strikes in electric yellow showed he was serious, another had half his face painted revealing he was a half member, the man beside him had the mirrored reflection showing he was the ‘other half’, and lastly was the leader.  Gray paint curved its way in delicate patterns around his face; it portrayed his independence and showed he was superior since no other member had his designs.  

                Gathering in a circle they exchanged hushed conversation while glancing over at Liam and me every so often.  Finally they all shook their heads in agreement.

                “Children. What are your names?”

                Liam was gripping me hand, “Liam Briggs and this is-“

                “Brenna, Brenna Saur.” I boasted now filled with a new sense of courage.

                “They call me Borchia; these are just a few of my men. With the black eyes is il Jolly and the other two are Giuseppe and Giordano, and we would like you two to join the Faceless Assassins.”

                Our fate had been dealt a heavy hand, one we could not turn down.  It was either do or die, Liam and I spent every second together after 8 PM when our mother’s would tuck us in for bed.  At night was the only time we could receive initiation.  For the strength test, we had to fight other members. Any object was available for the test including knives.  These men meant business, just because I was half their size and age didn’t mean they were going to go easy either.

                Liam left his match with a busted lip, fractured wrist, and bruised torso; I wish I was that lucky.  I received bruises all over my body, fractured ribs, and my arm got sliced from the elbow to the wrist.  None the less, we passed test number one. 

                Test two: Trust. We had to follow directions to a drug deal in downtown alleyways.  Successfully gathering and selling the illegal drugs proved our trust and dedication to the crew. Lastly, intelligence was the hardest of all.  Remembering all the rules of the gang and being street smart allowed the two of us to become members of FA. 

                The pain was unbearable from what I remember.  Liam and I clenched each other’s hands as if our lives depended on it. Searing metal caused my flesh to burn and the smell itself made me nauseated.  Only half of the gang symbol was permanently blemished onto my skin.  

                Years flew by and somehow we managed to keep our secret.  We had become lap dogs to Borchia ‘Boss’ and before I knew it the time had come.  Five years had slipped by quietly, Liam and I faced a difficult task.  Who would stay a member? After countless arguments, I had convinced Liam to save himself and to fulfill his dreams.  He was the one that wanted to go become a cop, meet a wonderful spouse and have children.  Liam deserved that life, so I sacrificed mine.