Broad-Spectrum Assassin

Memory 2: The First Lesson

BunBun wiggles in excitement and then whispers in WarWolf's ear.

WarWolf nods then whispers to the shy girl.

BunBun blushes and turns away.

She looks at me next. "You want to trade too?"

"I don't have any secrets," I say, backing up.

Goopy dries his eyes. "Do you think if we don't have an answer, he'll kill one of us?"

"Stop being so pathetic! We all get punished if one of you fails," says BladEagle, pulling Goopy by his hair. "Tell me your secret."

"I like getting hurt!" he yells, loud enough for everyone to hear.

BladEagle lets go and wipes his hands on his pants. "Little freak."

WarWolf yells at the two bickering boys. "You're both incompetent. What do you want in exchange for your secret?"

I move to BunBun while the others argue. "What is her secret?"

BunBun blushes. "I shouldn't say."

"Please. I don't want to get punished."

"I'll tell you my secret." BunBun looks down. "I'm the reason my parents fight." Her body shakes.

I seize her in a big warm hug. I nuzzle her affectionately.

Finally something I'm good at.

She cries on my shoulder.

Time slips by as my warmth comforts her.

Mom, dad, I'm going to be okay after all.

A portal opens and Teacher enters.

"Time's up. Let's see how your first mission went. BunBun, you seem rather relaxed. Why don't you tell us the secret you obtained?"

"Umm...someone likes girls."

"WarWolf likes girls. Hmm, valuable intel. You pass."

BunBun releases me and pats her cheeks. "Yes. I did it."

"Broken legs, what about you?" asks Teacher.

"Goopy blackmails his father for books that are off limits," says WarWolf, applying a salve to her legs.

"Does he now? Most interesting. That's certainly worth points. And did you get anything from one of your comrades, Goopy?" Teacher teeters back and forth.

"I...tried to." He hides under his hands and cries.

"If you try to defend yourself and fail...you die." Tendrils come out from teacher

"He found out my secret." I step in front of Goopy.

I'm not going to get hurt because of him. We have to find a way to work together.

"I pee myself in bed when I have nightmares." I announce it with pride despite my embarrassment.

Teacher's body jiggles and makes a strange sound. "Your intel is absolutely worthless." It approaches me and clangs its blades together.

"No, it's not. It brought you a laugh. You are laughing, right?" I ask with a nervous look, tripping when I step back in fear.

"Joy has no value." A blade slices my mouth and then they all recede back into Teacher. "Remember that lesson, child."

WarWolf beckons me to her.

I walk to her and she pads my cheeks.

It stings. It's a nice stinging though.

"Stop starring at me, Weech," she says, turning my face away.

Teacher points a single knife at BladEagle. "What secret did you obtain?"

"Goopy blackmailing his father," says BladEagle.

"Intel I already have is worthless."

"That's not fair." BladEagle yells out.

"Fair? Nothing is fair! Nothing!" Teacher's blade thrusts as BladEagle who jumps out of the way.

Teacher pulls the blade in and grabs BladEagle with a tendril. "Don't ever talk to me about fair. If you have time to complain, you have time to refine your craft. Don't waste your talents."

"Hold up." Goopy wipes his eyes. "The test wasn't just about gaining secrets. It was about keeping them too. Nobody found out his secret, so doesn't that count for anything?"

"Standing up for him, the one who bullied you. Glad to see one of you was paying attention. Very well, he shall be exempt from the punishment."

"What are you going to do?" asks BunBun, clenching onto my hand.

"You'll find out later. This concludes your first lesson." Teacher creates a portal. "Follow me into the classroom so we can continue your studies."

BladEagle helps WarWolf into the portal.

Bunbun holds onto me.

Goopy steps in front of us. "We won't all make it out of here. The three of us are the weak links. The other two will kill us when the time comes."

I shake away my fear. "We're a team. As long as we look out for each other, we'll all make it through this."

We all enter the portal together.