District 17

"I've been in for a year now...I'm sorry Eva..." Axel lowered his eyes. He sat at the table as Eva delivered the news to her mother. He waited around as he listened to the two. Axel reached into his pocket and pulled out a few large bills. He set the bills on the counter next to the register before he left to the Admiral. “It’s done sir.”

Elias smiled, “Perfect. She has 3 months to pay the debt.” He turned and headed back toward the headquarters.

**

Skylar stood next to her father, still shell shocked from the event. The memory. Was it a memory? It felt so real. What happened? Mavis gripped the podium as he looked out over the sea of people, he had called the Guild into an emergency meeting. Everyone was there. “My brothers and sisters of the Guild.” He began, “It is with a heavy heart that I bring something to your attention, the entire reason for the call of this meeting at such a late hour….” He paused and looked to Skylar for a long moment, “It has been brought to my attention that there are traitors among our ranks. A letter was apprehended from a pidgin messenger, our wonderful advisor Blake. Brought it to my daughter’s attention, as it had information on plans for my assassination.” Several members of the Guild gasped. “The recipient of such letter was our Second Hand.” He paused again as everyone stared to him, the room was dead silent, a few members shifted, the looks in their eyes became uncomfortable. “I have information regarding the other members that have been working alongside, Ainsley.” He pulled the paper out. “We will deal with you accordingly.” He watched as 4 people began to try to make their way to the edges of the room. A smirk came to his lips, “Thank you for making this easy for me. Guards, apprehend them.” He pointed out the members trying to escape. The two Goldhand Councilmen were cuffed by the guard and brought to the stage as well as another one of the advisors and one of the high lieutenants of training for the guild.

Mavis stepped down from the podium, “Blake, with me.” He called as he walked away and to his office. Skylar followed her father to his study. The guards had cleaned up the dead body, the stain of Ainsley’s blood remained in the carpet. Skylar stumbled as the memory of Ainsley stabbing and killing her father coursed through her mind again. She took in a quick breath. “Are you okay, Sky?” Mavis asked as he looked to his daughter. Skylar took in a slow breath and gave a nod. Mavis hugged her gently before he went and sat at his desk. “Blake.” He began as he looked up to the man. “Have a seat.” He smiled. “I want to thank you.” He began, the letter was still sitting on his desk. “I want to promote you, for such an excellent job. If it wasn’t for you and your diligent work, I would most certainly be dead.” He pulled the seal of the Goldhand from his desk. “I want you to be the only Goldhand of the Guild. I trust that you will not plan my assassination any time soon?” He smiled and looked to his daughter. “I also would like you to accompany my daughter, I am sending her to District 2 tomorrow to bring back the daughter of a friend of mine. I trust that you will keep my daughter safe.” He gave a nod. “That is all.” He then stood, “Sky.” He held the orders out to her. “I need you to deliver this sum of money as well. District 1 is at it again with their ridiculous charges.” He gave a smile and hugged her a moment before he disappeared into his room.

Skylar paced slightly as she read over the paper.

Target: Eva
Occupation: Baker
Location: District 2 – Brewster’s Bakery
Time: 8am-9am just after her normal rush of clients
Objective: Eva has been touched with magic, much like other missions I have sent you on to recover one with a magical ability, you are to find Eva, unlock her magic and return with her to the Guild for further training.

The Guild ran smoothly under her father. They had plenty in numbers and each and every day more came to fight in the resistance against District 1. Eva looked to Blake for a moment, “I’m exhausted.” She gave a nod. “I’ll see you in the morning, Blake.” She then slipped from the room. Skylar walked to the training rooms again. She trained most of her time, if anyone ever needed to know where she was, she was easy to find. Skylar pushed the door open to find Booker and Lynn. Booker chuckled as he pulled back from a kiss. Skylar looked to him and sighed, “Booker, you have a room.” She spoke.

Booker grinned as he held his arm around Lynn. “That I do.” He kissed the side of her head. “Come on, baby, the Warden’s little girl needs her training time.” He joked.

Skylar glared at him. “If you practiced half as much as I do you might be at least a reasonable assassin one day, Booker. You have incredibly abilities; how come you can’t just focus on that? Especially in the times we are in!” She snapped at him as he left the room. The words blew over his head, he didn’t even acknowledge her scolding. Skylar sighed softly and shook her head. She moved to a computer and started a training sequence. She used her tether and took out five enemies with one pistol shot, next she stopped time and killed several of the dummies before she returned the time to its motion. The bodies dropped to the floor after she resumed time. Skylar grinned. She trained for hours like this until she was finally tired. Skylar found her way to her bedroom where she slept until the early hours of the morning. She woke and found Blake outside her room, waiting on her. Skylar gave him a nod and a smile before they left to the port where her ship was. The small agile ship that she built. The fastest ship in the air. They took off toward District 2.

Skylar leaned against the wheel and yawned. She shivered slightly against the cool air of the early morning. The flight passed fairly quickly and soon they landed on the ground. Skylar smiled to Blake as she pulled the compass from her pocket. It spun around quickly for a moment before it honed in on the direction Eva was in. “Time to save a life.” She smiled as she stepped forward through the city. Skylar followed the compass until she found herself staring up at the bakery. She paused a moment before she headed into the shop. The bell on the door chimed happily as she pushed into the store. The smell of coffee and baked goods filled her nostrils. Skylar smiled, she closed her eyes for a moment to really take in the scent before she opened her eyes and looked to the display case. She was hungry after all, she hadn’t taken time for breakfast. Skylar stepped up to the case, “Hello?” She asked, “Anyone home?”

When Eva rounded the corner with the steaming scones Skylar stared to her. She looked to the plate before her and lifted the warm cup of coffee into her hands, the aroma from the coffee was delightful. She watched as Eva offered Blake the lemon scone and he turned it away. Skylar's eyes moved back to Eva as she questioned them asking where they were from, their purpose of being here. 'You look familiar though' Eva spoke. Skylar blinked a few times she remembered the moment in the bakery before, when she saved Eva from Charlie, when she used her power to bend time and run him off. Skylar furrowed her brows slightly as she pulled the compass from her pocket. She opened it and looked to the glowing blue needle that pointed to Eva. "Isn't it always more than just coffee when an outsider comes into your business?" Skylar spoke she took in a breath and sipped from her coffee. "You have a gift." She looked to Eva, to watch for a reaction as she spoke. She had done this several times in the past, introducing herself and gaining the trust of those who had powers that hadn't been awakened yet.

"I am daughter to the Warden of the Nighthand Guild, my name is Skylar Olyver." Skylar took a bite of her scone. "I'm not sure what power that you have, but I can help you learn it, develop it." She gave a smile for a moment, "Blake here can help you train. This compass...it points out those who are touched with the gift of magic, and the Order, the Overseer Soldiers, they have something like this as well. They can find you." She paused a moment, sipping from her coffee, "Believe me, when they do find you they will take you to District 1 and no matter what they promise you, your life will be filled with torture. They will rip you to shreds mentally until you finally expire." Skylar finished off her coffee, she looked outside, she could see a platoon of Overseer Soldiers headed their way from the streets. "Tonight, I will come back when it is safe. If you would like to come, meet Blake and I on the rooftop at dusk." Skylar gave a nod just before she snapped her fingers, time ceased and the two rushed from the bakery. Skylar left the bag of coins on the counter, more than enough to settle their debt with the Order. It was the money that Mavis had given her back in District 16.

Skylar stood perched upon the rooftop that overlooked the bakery, "Do you think they're onto us? Do the Overseer Soldiers know that we are here Blake? I've never been to District 2 before...the soldiers are everywhere, we stick out here, like we have a target painted upon our backs."

**

Admiral Elias came into the shop, he looked around a moment before he looked to Eva. "Have you seen anyone suspicious?" He asked as he looked over the scones in the case. "Someone that might be connected with the Thieves Guild? Hm? I caught word from some of my men that two vigilantes were seen traipsing through town. Assassins. You know, dark clothing. Tough look. Have you seen anyone that looks like this girl?" He asked as he reached forward and grabbed a scone, he shoved it into his mouth creating a mess of crumbs on the counter and floor.

"S-Sir I'm sure she wouldn't harbor a criminal." Lieutenant Axel stood behind the Admiral. He hated the horrible treatment that the soldiers gave to society.

"Oh? Well then." Elias pushed behind the counter. "She wouldn't mind if I search the whole place, would she?" He disappeared down into the basement, the sound of things being thrown could be heard.

Axel grit his teeth, "I'm sorry Eva..." He whispered.

Skylar sat on the edge of a rooftop, her feet dangled toward the ground below, she kicked her feet like a child. She held a book in her hands, an old tattered journal. She held a pencil in her hand, directing it to create letters upon the page. This was her journal, her father had given it to her when she was a young girl, she wrote everything in it, she drew pictures in it, and glued pictures of her family into it.

Skylar finished her sentence and sighed softly as she flipped around in the pages, she ran her fingertips over an image. She was young in the picture, she was held in the arms of a woman that had many of the same features as her. Mavis stood behind them in this picture, his smile was a wide as Skylar could remember it. He rarely smiled like this, but who could blame him? Mavis told Skylar that her mother died of an illness when she was young. Skylar ventured out into the cemetery in District 16 and brought flowers to her mother’s headstone each year. Though, she didn’t bring flowers on the date that her father told her that her mother died, no, she brought the flowers each year for her mother’s birthday.

“Who’s that?” Blake asked as he sat down next to her on the edge of the building. He held a bag in his hands. “I got you some lunch, I figured you might be hungry, you haven’t moved in hours. What do you write in there anyway?” He set the bag between them and pulled a huge sub sandwich from it and bit into it.

Skylar shut the small journal and returned it to its home in the pocket of her jacket. “My mother.” She spoke softly. “I wish I knew her.” She gave a small smile as she pulled her own sandwich from the bag, “Sometimes, I wonder what she would think, say or even do in some of the situations that have arisen in my life. My father has always said that mother would kill him if she saw me getting into the messes that I have gotten myself into.” She laughed, “Remember that time I fell from the climbing wall during training and the harness malfunctioned.” She shook her head. “My father said that mother would have choked him to death had she been alive for it….” She sighed slightly then before she took a bite of her sandwich, “I just wish I knew her, even a little, I can’t remember her at all.”

Blake chuckled to the event that she brought up, Mavis was so angry when Skylar fell. Though, it was a simple mistake, she had slipped and the harness didn’t quite catch her like it should have. It resulted in a broken arm for her, but she was young, she bounced back and soon after was scaling the wall faster than anyone else. “You were young, until a certain age it’s hard to remember things.” He let out a chuckle, “Hell sometimes I can’t remember what I did yesterday.” He took a few more bites from his sub. “Do you write the journal for her?” He asked as he took his last bite.

Skylar chewed on the food in her mouth for a long moment before she gave a nod, “So that I don’t forget.” She smiled, “If I were to ever meet her, in the afterlife, or however that works, I would want to tell her everything that she missed….maybe…” She shook her head, “I’m not sure how it all works, you know? But, if I could, I would tell her everything.”

Blake gave a nod, “I’m sure she’s proud of you, Sky.”

Skylar watched the guards below combing through the streets. “They’re looking for us, you know?” She finished her sub and looked to Blake. “When you were gone I saw them go into the bakery, searching. They’ve gone into nearly every shop. It’s unnerving. This is a rather touchy mission, my father didn’t warn me about it.” She kicked her feet, “He made this seem quite important though, I wonder who this girl is. I mean, someone from here, from District 2…”

“You never know with the Warden, he always seems to have a card or two up his sleeve to play, especially when you least expect it. One day, I know you’ll be just as amazing of a leader.”

Skylar chuckled and shook her head, “I don’t know if I’ll ever be ready to be Warden.” She stood and walked to the opposite side of the building. She was watching Axel. Following him with her eyes. He didn’t quite fit into the rest of the soldiers that combed through the streets. She watched his movements and watched as he slipped money to the poor behind the Admiral’s back. He was trying to help, to do what any good soldier should, to protect his people. However, District 1 only seemed to care that the soldiers treated them properly, they didn’t care how any of the other district residents were treated. The soldiers knocked people over, shoved them, tortured them, until they got their way, no matter the case. Skylar sat down on the ledge and pulled her journal out, in which she drew an image of Eva and wrote her name beneath it with a question mark on the page, she also drew the Admiral and the Lieutenant. She kept tabs of everything that she saw until the sun finally set.

Skylar was perched on a chimney at this point, she stared out over the beautiful lights of the city, she was completely silent, she took in a breath as the wind blew her hair slightly. She stared to the increased guard that surrounded them. The Overseer soldiers hadn’t given up throughout the day, she wondered what trap had been placed on their ship, if any. It wouldn’t be the first time. Skylar moved to Blake and nudged him gently. “Come on.” She gave a smile before she took off in a sprint over the rooftops, she was silent, swift, she moved within the shadows, her magic was seamless. To Eva, it would appear that Skylar had nearly appeared before her. Skylar stood in front of Eva with a smile on her lips. “Good to see you, Eva.” She spoke. “This may be slightly uncomfortable, but it is our safest form of movement, so just bear with me.” She grasped Eva’s shoulder and allowed the shadows to surround the trio. They moved along the rooftops toward the port.

Skylar got them into the alleys where she nodded to Eva. “Just stay behind me.” She smiled, “Blake and I will keep you safe, don’t worry.” She turned and sprinted ahead, Blake was just in front of Eva. Skylar peered around corners and would hold her hand up when they needed to wait and she would motion to move forward when the coast was clear. Skylar smiled back to the two and gave a nod, “Almost there.” She assured before she checked the passage, the last bit of alley before the port. Skylar gave a nod and sprinted forward, she cried in pain and stumbled, an arrow whizzed through the air and clipped her side, it stuck into the wooden support beam of one of the homes. Skylar regained her balance as several soldiers rushed in on them. “Blake keep Eva safe!!” She called to him.

Skylar turned around, she was surrounded. She took in a deep breath and pulled the blue glowing bow from thin air before she shot it at her feet. Tethers shot out from a ball that formed at her feet, six guards were caught in the tether. She rolled forward with her dagger in hand, as she stood, she brought her dagger up into the rib cage of one of the soldiers. The blade entered at an angle and pierced into his heart. The other five men dropped to their knees. Skylar stood in a circle of dead bodies as more soldiers ran into the area. It was a trap. An ambush. Skylar melted into the shadows and appeared behind one of the soldiers, her blade sliced quickly across his throat causing blood to spew everywhere. She was so fluid in her movements it was almost as if she was dancing with the soldiers as she killed them, one by one. Until, one managed to plant his boot in her chest. This knocked her to her back and before she could get up he pinned her to the ground. Skylar’s dagger clattered against the cobblestone ground as she wrestled with the guard. He held his own dagger in his hands and was trying to force it down into her chest. Skylar grit her teeth, this soldier was strong, her arms quivered against his strength as she fought to keep the blade from piercing into her chest.

Skylar gasped and leaped to her feet when the soldier was knocked from her chest. She fought a few of the men off before she nodded and helped them escape to the ship. She stood silently now at the wheel, her hands gripped onto the wooden pegs as she directed the ship toward home. Skylar watched Eva, her eyes analyzing her. She had picked up a few of the gifted in the past, and she had been cut off by Overseer soldiers before, but, she hadn’t seen fighting talent like that in the past. In the past she was lucky if the person she was saving could even run.

The flight passed quickly as Skylar kicked the ship into its quickest gear. She brought the ship to a landing at the port. “We have to walk from here, it’s just up the hill.” She spoke, there was a port just behind the mansion on the property. “The warden will want to see you.” She spoke as she led Eva along. “Don’t worry, he isn’t as frightening as he may seem at first.” She smiled. Skylar then paused a moment and stared into Eva’s eyes. “Thank you.” She gave a nod, “For saving me back there.” She smiled, a bit of a crooked smile for a moment before she continued inside of the mansion. The foyer was empty this time of night, though it was just as beautiful. Skylar gave a nod to Blake as he headed toward his own room. She led Eva up the stairs and down the halls to her father’s study. She gave a soft knock on the door.

“Come in.” Mavis’ voice came from the other side.

Skylar pushed the door open, she pulled the compass from her pocket and set it on his desk. He was buried in paperwork. “I had great success in District 2, father.” She smiled. She then turned and pulled the chair out for Eva. “Have a seat, make yourself comfortable.” She spoke before she left the room.

Mavis grinned from ear to ear as he looked to Eva he stood and moved to her side before he pulled her into a tight embrace for a long moment, “It is so good to see you, Eva, and to see you well no less.” He chuckled. He had kept his composure until his daughter had left the room. He was overjoyed to see Eva in good condition. “This second chance we have been given by The Outsider is incredible, isn’t it?” He moved and sat down behind his desk again. “Ainsley is dead, Skylar killed him herself. It was hard not to tell her of what was to come. But, she pulled through. She is so bright.” He sighed and gave a nod. “Right…now is the big moment isn’t it?” He pushed the compass toward Eva on the desk, the needle pointed to her and pulsed. “Your power. You know what it will be like, Eva. I cannot promise you that it will be any better than it was the first round. We have Tyrin and Dr. Knightley to support us. I am certain that they can manifest another device to aid you in controlling your power if you are in need of it.” He yawned and stood, “You may want to rest, and wait until tomorrow. The guild is rather full right now. I have arranged for you to stay in my daughter’s room. There is a couch that you will find well suited for sleep, if you wish. Or, go see Tyrin in the basement. It is your choice.”

**

Skylar stood in her room, she wore a black tank top and black lounge pants. She folded up her uniform carefully and set her dagger and pistol away in the dresser. The room began to drop in temperature rapidly. She turned just in time to see the flames in the fireplace snuff out. A dark shadow moved across the room. “Skylar Olyver.” The Reaper spoke. Skylar looked around the room to find his red glowing eyes within the shadows. She turned to grab her gun from the cabinet only to have the Reaper cup his hand over her mouth. Suddenly all of the memories of the Reaper in the spirit world rushed into her mind, flooding her thoughts, she whimpered as she fell to her knees before the Reaper. The last memory that she had was of the Reaper stabbing Eva through her chest with his scythe, and then she held the scythe in her hands. After that, nothing. She couldn’t remember anything. “That’s it.” The Reaper spoke as he lifted her to her feet. “I’m not here to hurt you.”

Skylar took a few steps back, her back pressed against the wall, her body trembled. “Get back.” She choked on her own breath that seemed to float in front of her face like smoke as she let breaths out.

“Skylar, you need to understand.” The Reaper held his hand up and his scythe appeared. “You have been given a second chance.” He spoke, “You’ll remember.” He set the scythe down in front of her. “Just grab it.” His voice was deep and distorted, demonic.

Skylar reached a trembling hand out and gripped onto the scythe, a burst of air shot out from her body, the fire filled her eyes as she stared at the Reaper before her. The handle on the scythe transformed as the Reaper released it. It turned red and a skull appeared by the blade the ribs of the creature wrapped around the handle and at the opposite end was another blade that stuck into the carpet flooring of her room. Skylar took in shaken breaths. “What….?” She looked up to the Reaper.

He lowered his hood to reveal his pale face and his stark white hair. “You are my protégé, The Outsider was grand enough to grant you a second chance.” He smirked. “You died.”

Skylar whimpered as more of her memories rushed into her mind, she fell to her knees and held her head as the memories of her father’s death and the years in succession after that stormed into her mind. She felt as though her body was being crushed. “St-stop….” She cried.

The Reaper took the scythe from her hands and held it up into the air where it disappeared. “I’ll be back, Skylar.” He spoke with a smirk upon his face.

Suddenly the ice within the room seemed to suck out, the flames within the fireplace grew back. Skylar was in the middle of her room on her hands and knees, her chest heaved, a bit of blood dripped from her nose. She blinked several times and shook her head. “I’m hallucinating…” She whispered and shook her head. She stood and moved to her bed where she sat on the edge of it, she wiped the blood from her nose and took in a shaken breath. “I’m dreaming…I have to be dreaming…” She whispered to herself.

Skylar looked to Eva when she rushed into the room, Eva’s hands on her shoulders were warm, comforting, reassuring. She stared deeply into Eva’s eyes, her expression of despair seemed to reach out to Eva. When Eva touched her thumb to her cheek warmth spread throughout her body, her breath caught in her chest, her jaw fell slightly slack. The fear seemed to melt away when Eva pulled her into the embrace, Skylar hugged herself to Eva as her face pressed into Eva’s chest, her breath shook. Skylar felt as though her body was pressed beneath a steamroller as she shut her eyes, when she felt Eva gasp she opened her eyes. She was standing, in the bakery, but it seemed different somehow. Skylar pressed her cheek against Eva’s as the other Skylar walked through them as if they were ghosts. Her body shuddered, her head felt as though it was being squeezed in a vice. She watched the memory, as she saved Eva from being shot, as she ran the thief off. She remembered, she remembered easily stopping time and moving Eva aside before she snapped her fingers once more and ran the thief off.

Skylar gasped when they teleported again, her body felt squeezed like a tube of toothpaste. She gripped tightly to Eva as she stared to the bloodstain that didn’t belong to Ainsley…it belonged to her father. She looked to the pain in her eyes, the torture that she must have gone though in this alternate reality. Skylar shut her eyes tightly when Eva teleported again. When she opened her eyes she saw the crowd of people that slowly disappeared leaving only her and Eva in the middle of the ballroom. A smile came to Skylar’s lips as she watched the dance take place. They were one. The laughter caused her to let out a slight laugh. Her cheeks flushed bright red as she hugged herself to Eva when she pulled her closer. Their cheeks pressed together.

When they teleported the next time, Skylar’s grip loosened slightly on Eva as she saw Eva beating against the glass, Skylar was fighting the Reaper inside. Eva was helpless it seemed in this scenario, though, somehow she used her magic through Mavis to help save her. Skylar took in a sharp breath when the image of the scythe through Eva’s body, holding her there, the look in her eyes. This is where it all went wrong.

Skylar let out a cry, she gripped tightly to Eva, her heart pounded within her chest. “Stop…” She whispered through grit teeth, her entire body felt as though it was on fire. “Please…Eva…” She buried her face into Eva’s chest once again, tears welled in her eyes. She held her eyes closed until Eva pulled from her. Skylar opened her eyes and looked up to the waterfall. I…haven’t been here before. She looked to Eva with her emerald eyes, she brushed away the tears from her eyes, her head was pounding.

Skylar looked around the place that Eva teleported them to, a small smile curved up her lips. “I’ve been here, a lot, actually.” She spoke as she came to the ledge. “I come here when I need time to think, when I’m not sure what to do, or when something challenges me. I come here to clear my mind.” She sat down on the ledge and allowed her feet to dangle toward the pool of water below. “It’s a really peacefully place, the most peaceful I can find besides my bedroom.” She let out a soft laugh.

“So….” Skylar didn’t look up, she stared down to the base of the waterfall still. “If, all of this is true…if…you…you died…?” She finally looked up to Eva. She stood and turned to her, Skylar stared into her eyes, her brows raised slightly, she was trying to understand everything. She grit her teeth slightly, her body still felt like it was on fire. “How is this even happening? How is it possible…I mean…the whole different world that we live in…my father…he died?” She moved to a small boulder and took in a slow breath as she closed her eyes, she imagined the visions that Eva put before her eyes. “I looked so sad, Eva.” She held her hands slightly, her brows pulled together. “That life can’t be true…”

Skylar looked up to Eva just as the sound of the waterfall became frozen. She felt a strong jerk on her shoulder and she fell back into the shadows. Skylar screamed before she landed on her back, though, it didn’t hurt like it should, falling such a distance should have broken her bones, caused immense pain. But, it somehow didn’t.

“Skylar.” The Reaper spoke from the darkness. He appeared before her, a smile on his lips. “You’ve seen more.” He knelt before her and chuckled slightly. “The sooner the better, the more you understand the better I can teach you.”

Skylar scrambled to her feet. She stumbled backward, tripping over a log. The world around them became visible at this point. Eva was frozen in time, standing right where she was when Skylar was speaking. The water droplets were frozen in the air, suspended in time. “You need to leave…” Skylar breathed.

Remi took in a deep breath as he leaned against his scythe. “Skylar, I’m not going anywhere, not for a long time.” He held his hand out toward her. “I’m going to give you a gift.” He smiled. “If you think controlling time is impressive, just wait until you see what you can do.” He gripped his hand into a fist.

Skylar choked, she felt as though he had a grip on her heart within her chest. A black smoke came from his hand and entered her body through her nostrils and mouth. She fell forward and gasped, blood dripped from her nose. Suddenly, the sound of water rushing entered her ears again. “Eva…” She stumbled to her feet. She rushed forward and nearly fell. She hugged herself to Eva. Her body trembled, the heat of her blood had been stolen away by Remi once again. She pulled back after a long moment, “The Reaper…did something to me.” She whispered, “I don’t know what’s going on, Eva.” Her hands gripped onto Eva, her arms were still around her. “I feel like I’m in a dream and I can’t wake up…I just want to wake up…”

Skylar stared to Eva for a long moment, she looked down to their hands, her fingers curled and held onto Eva’s gently, though her grip was tighter than it normally would have been. She tugged at Eva’s hand and led her along the stream that fed the waterfall. The world around them was beautiful, untouched by the hate of the Order. Untouched by murder and death. The grass was a lush green, the water a perfect blue with white crests in the rapids. Skylar pulled Eva along behind a huge tree, the trunk was a good six feet wide, it was older than the beginning of the districts. Skylar snaked around on a hidden pathway that she memorized years before now, she gave a gentle smile to Eva as she touched the leaves of a plant as they passed it. The plant began to glow a beautiful teal color, bioluminescence. Skylar grinned to Eva then, she knew that if Eva had been stuck in District 2 for her entire life that she surely wouldn’t know of these special plants. “This place is the most peaceful place that I have ever been, I’ve come here since I was a young child, I cannot tell you how I found my way here.” She touched another plant and a string of plants lit up lighting a hidden stairway that was made of small boulders.

Skylar led Eva down the boulders and to the base of the waterfall. “This place is as ancient as time, or at least that is what Sauri told me…she’s an elf, back at the mansion.” Skylar gave a smile, “She’s not there right now, but I’m sure you will meet her, she is Dr. Brooks, or Tyrin.” Skylar then furrowed her brows slightly, “Or, you already know of them?” She took in a breath, “My head feels as though a grenade went off inside of it, all of this information…” She shook her head as she led Eva through the rainforest like atmosphere. “I can’t remember what everyone was like before…” She stopped and looked to Eva, she held both of Eva’s hands in her own as she searched her eyes. “The memories that you’ve shown me, the fear the sadness…I won’t let that happen here…” She turned and crossed her arms, she shivered slightly, it was chilly to be outside in a tank top and pajama pants. She sighed slightly and led Eva to the opening at the edge of the forest, they were behind the mansion. “We should go see Dr. Brooks.” Skylar nodded, “So that we can make sure that you’re okay, with your power…” She led Eva into the mansion and walked down the staircase into the lab.

“Skylar.” Tyrin smiled as she looked up from her desk, the desk that used to belong to Dr. Knightley. “It is good to see you.” She looked to Eva. “Ah, our new recruit? Mavis spoke highly of you, told me that you would be in to see me…though he said tomorrow morning.” She laughed and shook her head. “Couldn’t wait? I don’t blame you, it is a fascinating thing to first discover your powers. Though, I should warn you, it may be uncomfortable…it usually is, if I am being completely honest, it is quite uncomfortable.”

Skylar hugged the doctor as she came forward, “Dr. Brooks, she has already unlocked her powers, somehow…tonight.”

Tyrin looked to Eva with a smile, “You seem well. This is good, come, sit.” She pulled Eva to the examination table and began to hook things into her.

Skylar stood idly by. She winced slightly as her head pounded. Skylar leaned against the wall and brought her hand up to her head. She let out a yelp as she suddenly felt the sensation of falling, she felt a chillingly cold hand upon her shoulder. Her back hit the ground and she gasped for air. Skylar scrambled to her feet and spun around to find herself staring into Remi’s eyes. She didn’t speak though she stood defiantly. Skylar reached out and ripped the scythe from the Reaper’s hands, causing him to stumble and fall. Remi began to chuckle as he stood and dusted himself off. “You are more of a surprise every time I see you, Skylar.” He held a note in his hand, a small square piece of paper. “I need you to run this for me. Take care of it. I need to see what you’re made of.” He smiled. Skylar looked to the paper, she swung the scythe at him though he caught it in his hand, the scythe burst into flames causing Skylar to let go and let out a cry of pain. “I’m trying to help you, Skylar.” He growled. “Take this.” He shoved the note into her chest. “You need to take his soul.” He then shoved her.

Skylar’s back hit the wall, her hands held the now crumpled piece of paper. She gasped as she slid to the floor from the force of hitting the wall.

Tyrin looked up, in the same position she was just before the Reaper stole her away. “Are you alright, Sky?” She asked, a worried expression flooding her face. “You look pale, dear.” She stepped forward and knelt in front of Skylar. “You’re freezing…” She furrowed her brows. Tyrin helped Skylar to her feet and led her to a bed where she tucked heated blankets around her. “What’s going on with you?”

Skylar looked to Tyrin and then to Eva, was she allowed to mention the reaper to those who did not know? What about the Outsider? “I just don’t feel very well Tyrin…” She lied as she looked to the note in her hands. She uncrumpled the paper and stared to the name that was written, Jasper. Skylar held her hand to her head as another memory rushed forward. She winced as she remembered thrusting the blade upward through his jaw, violently. The hate. She could feel the hate in her mind. Skylar gasped slightly, her eyes wide. Why did she kill him? He is such a good man. One of the trainers like Blake, she trained with him from time to time with her magic, when Blake was busy with his other duties. He didn’t deserve what she did in the other timeline…or did he? Better yet…why was he to die now? What if she didn’t take his soul like the Reaper commanded?

Skylar looked to Eva, she gripped the paper in her hand, “He isn’t bad…” She shook her head. “Jasper is harmless, he…he wouldn’t hurt anyone. What do you mean he isn’t exactly a good guy in the previous life?” She furrowed her brows her body quivered from the icy cold that seemed to blanket her being.

“Dr. Brooks.” Dr. Knightley, or Sauri as she was more rightly called in this world, came walking into the room. She had on an elvish jacket, her hood extended and stuck up into the air with a small pom on the end of it. She looked mystical in the clothing that she wore. Her blue eyes were full of life now. “Sky!” She rushed forward when she saw the Warden’s daughter on the table. She looked to Eva and drew her brows together for a moment. “Eva.” She spoke and studied her for a moment. “You are well.” She gave a gentle smile.

Tyrin looked to Dr. Knightley for a moment, “You know her?” She questioned.

“Yes, I met her when she was a just a pint.” Dr. Knightley smiled, “I know her.” Though this was a lie. Somehow, Dr. Knightley knew of the other timeline, she knew Eva. Her magic that she possessed must have allowed her to. In this world she lived the perfect life, the life that she always yearned for.

Skylar looked to Dr. Knightley for a moment, her body tensed. “I…” She furrowed her brows, a bright flash of fire came from her eyes, her powers as a reaper were coming to the surface. “I need to go…I…”

Tyrin brought a pen light up and searched Skylar’s eyes. “Are you alright?” She asked as she took note of the change. “Has anything happened, Skylar?”

Dr. Knightley placed her hand on Tyrin’s shoulder and gave a gentle smile. “Let her go.” She nodded. “She isn’t out of control.” She assured.

Skylar looked to Eva, determination in her eyes. She didn’t know what was to happen to Jasper, only that his fate was to die and that she had to reap his soul. How does that work exactly? Skylar slipped from the room and hurried upstairs to her bedroom where she paced in thought. She took in a deep breath, “Okay…” She breathed as she reached her hand up into the air like she saw the Reaper do when he summoned the scythe. She gripped her hand into a fist, a slight spark of fire spat from her fist. “Come on…” Shut her eyes tightly as she tried to summon the scythe.

The room became freezing cold in an instant. “Having trouble?” Remi chuckled as he leaned against the scythe toward Skylar.

Skylar looked to him. “What did Jasper do? Huh? He hasn’t hurt a fly and…and you want me to kill him? What do you want me to do?” She stood with her arms to her sides.

Remi smiled to her, “No, a Reaper does not kill. I made that mistake once….” He leaned more against the scythe and shook his head as he chuckled again. “It didn’t turn out so well…or did it? It honestly depends on who you ask….doesn’t it?” He stood and held the scythe forward toward her. “You just need to help his soul along into the spirit world. If you do not reap his soul we will be stuck on this one particular soul until it is reaped. Understand? It doesn’t matter who the person is. Good or bad. That is not your decision. What does matter is that you go get their soul, so that they do not suffer. Once the body dies the afterlife becomes quite painful if you do not separate the soul from the body and allow it to move freely into the spirit world.”

Skylar reached forward carefully and allowed her fingers to wrap around the scythe, a burst of energy rushed into her body. “How do I do it? How do I know when?” She asked and looked up, Remi was gone. The heat returned to the world around her. Skylar looked to the scythe, she studied the intricate design for a moment before she lifted it up into the air, she willed it to disappear. Nothing. “Great…” She frowned. She shook the scythe and it folded down, the blade nearly cut her hand. She shook it again and it collapsed a second time. Skylar carefully took the folded scythe and set it on her bed before she turned to her wardrobe. Skylar reached for the handle when a flash of red fiery light filled her room. She fell back onto her back as a light surrounded her. She lifted into the air as armor began to form onto her body. First she stared down to boots that began to form on her feet, the armored boots reached up to her knees where a large armored kneepad wrapped around her leg. Black leather pants formed on her legs, after that a crooked belt with huge buck shot bullets formed. A talisman hung from the belt, the image of a reaper scythe within the talisman that glowed a dim red from the middle, a jewel upon the scythe, much like her own. Armor covered and wrapped around her abdomen, hugging tightly to her body, shoulder pads formed with tight sleeves beneath that reached down to just above her elbow. She held her hands out as gauntlets formed on her hands. Skylar felt a cloak form as her feet touched the floor, and then she gasped as a mask formed over her face. It looked much like skull, she read about this skull in old history books, depicting the reaper.

Skylar looked to the armor on her body, she stared at herself in the mirror, she was a frightening sight. She looked to the pointy claw like fingers of the gauntlets for a moment before she moved to her bed and attached her scythe to her leg. “Okay…” She whispered as she went to her balcony. She stared down to the gardens of the mansion for a moment before she leaped from the balcony, she landed on a branch and slid down to the ground below, cloaked by the shadows. She ran in a direction that called to her, Skylar didn’t understand it, but somehow she knew she had to travel this way. She sprinted into the city, Skylar ran down alleys and slipped around within the shadows, staying easily out of the line of sight of any citizens. Skylar stopped behind a bar, she could hear chatter from inside. She climbed a dumpster and pulled herself up onto the fire escape where she peered in through the window. She searched through the group of people until she finally spotted Jasper. “What are you doing here…” She whispered softly.

Skylar watched as Jasper stepped outside with two other men. She looked down to the men, trying to recognize them. She winced and leaned against the wall as a memory forced into her mind.

“You will learn to respect me.” [i/] The voice was loud within her mind as the memory of Admiral Elias rushed into her. She gripped her fists into a ball and grit her teeth as she felt the pain of the shocks from the device around her neck in her other life. Skylar gasped and held her hands up to her neck once the memory released her. She found herself staring down to the Admiral, he had another man with him, one that she didn’t recognize.

“So, Jasper, things really haven’t gone as planned.” The Admiral spoke. “You didn’t uphold your end of the bargain. Not at all.” He slammed Jasper against the wall, holding him by his throat. “You were supposed to help Ainsley deliver the Warden’s head on a platter. That was your order!” He snapped. “How could you fail that?” He growled. The Admiral pulled his pistol and shot into Jasper’s head. His blood splattered against the wall. Admiral Elias spat on his dead body before he chuckled. “We need to return to District 1, Duke Greystoke will need to speak with me on our plans, now that we have lost Ainsley, we no longer have an inside on the Guild, we need to figure another way in. Without knowing their next move, we will stand defenseless.” The two then stepped off into the night.

Skylar slipped down from the fire escape. She stared to the dead body for a moment before the ice cold feeling surrounded her once again. She blinked and she was instantly in the spirit world. “No!” Jasper cried. He stood over his body. “No! I need to warn Mavis! I need to tell him!” He turned and looked to Skylar. “No!” He backed into the wall. “Please.”

Skylar pulled her scythe from her thigh and shook it, the folds came undone and the scythe formed within her hands, a red magic seemed to surround it. “Mavis will know.” She spoke, “Jasper, you need to come with me now.”

Jasper rushed forward and made to shove her, his body pushed through hers, stealing the air from her lungs. “What is this?!” He turned to face Skylar once again.

Skylar stared to him, she took in a slow breath, “You’re dead, Jasper.” She spoke before she swung the scythe. A burst of flames surrounded Jasper, he screamed as he vanished into ashes. Skylar stood her eyes wide, she breathed heavily. She couldn’t move, she felt frozen.

“You had no choice.” Remi spoke. “Once you swing the scythe, the soul will either burn to ash or burst into dust. It isn’t your choice. If the soul has led a damned life, well…you see the result of that.”

“He…he never…he…” Skylar’s voice shook. “Jasper…wasn’t…he…”

Remi placed a hand on her shoulder. “Skylar.” He sighed and pulled her into a hug. “You do not chose their fate, it is chosen for them. Clearly, he did something he should not have.” A burst of smoke surrounded them within the spirit world. When it settled they stood within the lab. The world around them was frozen. Dr. Brooks was at her desk typing away at something. Sauri was standing next to Eva at the bed, a smile on her lips. “Just allow yourself to take in your powers, you’ll see. Just breathe.” He pulled the scythe from her hands and shook it, the scythe folded up once more. Remi placed it upon Skylar’s thigh and he pulled the mask from her face. “Only wear this if you are on a mission for me.” He spoke as he shook it, it vanished into thin air. Remi then smirked, “See you soon.” He shoved her.

Skylar stumbled and fell into a lab table, she grasped at the equipment on the table as it came clattering to the ground with her. She landed on the ground with a thud. She blinked her eyes as her body shivered, her iris still glowed like the embers of a fire, the emerald color of her eyes had all but vanished. She stared up to the ceiling of the lab, her body felt as though she had ran three marathons. “Wh…what…” She managed to whispered.