With a smile playing on her lips, Mia waved her hands in the air, a wild, joyful dance. The roaring blades of the helicopter stirred up a storm of dust around them, but she paid it no mind, her excitement bubbling over.
"It's here!" she cheered, bouncing on the balls of her feet before winking at her friend.
Ella simply smiled and shook her head. Mia could be so childish, so wonderfully carefree. It was hard to believe that only moments ago, a deep, primal fear had been etched onto her face. Now, that fear had vanished, replaced by a fierce exhilaration, the thrill of finally being free.
But Ella understood. She, too, had no desire to be caught, no intention of dying before she had truly lived.
Their lives had just begun, and there was still so much to do. That was the reason they had taken the job in the first place, this final mission their key to freedom from the shackles of The Organization.
The Organization.
To the outside world, it was a sanctuary, a beacon of charity and goodwill, a home for the homeless. But behind its walls lay a brutal reality: a place of torment, discipline, and transformation. The children brought in weren't nurtured; they were molded. They were shaped. Trained. Taught the skills of war, the art of seduction, and the tactics of survival. Those who couldn't keep up simply disappeared.
Ella could still remember the night she and Mia arrived. They had been just like the others, young, hopeful, desperate for salvation. They had thought they were finally safe.
That illusion was shattered by the blare of alarms.
Jolted from their sleep, they stumbled into the heart of the facility, where dozens of other children stood, all equally confused. A voice echoed from the speakers mounted on the transparent ceiling, which provided a breathtaking, and deceivingly peaceful, view of the night sky.
"Welcome, children. As you know, this is The Organization, a home for all homeless children.
Ella's gaze had locked onto the speakers, her gut tightening with a cold knot of unease.
"But The Organization is far from that. Tonight, we test your skills and agility. Tonight, only fifty children shall see the next sunrise. Beyond that door is a maze, and within it are fifty badges. Each person is entitled to one. Find one, and you live. Fail, and you are... expired. The countdown begins now."
Then, silence. A cold, cruel chuckle.
A hundred pairs of wide, frightened eyes turned to one another, and realization set in.
"Fifty badges," Mia whispered, horror-struck. "But there are more than a hundred of us..."
Ella barely acknowledged her, her attention fixed on the massive digital timer that had started counting down.
"Let's go."
She grabbed Mia's hand, dragging her toward the door as chaos erupted around them. Time was not on their side. They had to move.
The maze was nothing like they had expected. Towering walls of mirrors reflected their every move, distorting reality. The ground was a tangled mess of thorned roots that writhed like living things, grasping at their ankles.
"Ell... I'm scared."
Mia's voice trembled, but Ella didn't hesitate.
"We have to split up."
Mia shook her head violently. "No, no, let's just do it together."
"That'll slow us down. Call me if you need help."
And with that, she sprinted in one direction while Mia went in another.
The roots fought her every step of the way, twisting around her legs, trying to drag her down. Gritting her teeth, she bit into one, the sharp taste of something unnatural flooding her mouth. It recoiled, giving her just enough time to snatch a badge from a pedestal ahead. Heart pounding, she turned to leave.
Then she heard it.
"Mia!"
Ella's voice rang out, desperate as she pushed through the maze, following the frantic screams.
"Ell, help me!"
She skidded to a stop at the sight of Mia, trapped. The roots had ensnared her, slithering over her limbs like serpents, winding around her waist and chest.
"Hold on!"
Ella lunged forward, grasping Mia's outstretched hands and pulling with all her strength. The roots refused to let go. They tightened, constricting, dragging Mia toward an ominous opening in the ground, a gaping mouth lined with thorned tendrils.
With no other choice, Ella gripped her badge and slashed at the roots. The metal edge sliced through the writhing mass, and with a sickening hiss, the vines retracted. Mia collapsed into Ella's arms, gasping for breath.
"Come on."
Without wasting another second, they ran.
By the time they stumbled out of the maze, only fifty children remained. The others... were gone.
Waiting for them was a woman, a vision of ethereal beauty with long golden hair, cherry-colored lips, and piercing violet eyes that held no warmth.
"Congratulations, survivors. You are now the newly recruited prodigies of The Organization."
The remaining children stood frozen, fear still fresh in their eyes.
"The others... what happened to them?" Ella asked, her voice trembling.
The woman's smile faltered for just a second. "They are no longer your concern. Your only focus should be on tomorrow."
Ella clenched her fists. "Those... things in the maze. The roots. They were alive. They ate the others."
The woman studied her curiously, as if intrigued by her persistence. Then, with a soft chuckle, she patted Ella's cheek.
"Illusions, my dear. Just to make the game more... fun."
And with that, they were dismissed.
That was years ago. Now, Ella was one of the best. She had completed missions, fought wars, learned from the finest, and survived the harshest. And this was it. Their final task. After this, they would finally be free.
"After this, we can finally live on our own terms," Ella reminded Mia, her voice filled with a certainty that had been missing for years. "No more orders. No more missions. Just us."
Mia grinned. "Then I get to pick the first city we visit."
Ella laughed, a sound that felt both foreign and wonderful. "Fine. You choose first."
For the first time in years, their future was truly theirs to decide.
Then, in a single, gut-wrenching instant, a fiery explosion ripped through the sky.
Their smiles vanished, replaced by the flickering orange light of flames reflecting in their eyes. The deafening roar of the helicopter's blades turned into a shriek of twisted metal and a spray of burning wreckage. The helicopter's tail, engulfed in flames, spiraled toward the open bridge of the cold mountains below.
At the other end of the bridge, a man stood silhouetted against the fire, a rifle in his hands.
Mia instinctively moved behind Ella, using her as a shield.
Since the day they met, Ella had been the one protecting and providing for her. They were both orphans, wandering the streets in search of shelter. One freezing night, Mia had just found a comfortable spot near the dumpsters when another homeless girl, older and much heavier than her frail body, shoved her aside.
"Who's that disturbing my sleep?" the girl demanded.
Twelve-year-old Ella, a wisp of a girl with a fierce glint in her eyes, jumped down from a half-built wall, landing on her feet with an exasperated sigh. Her sharp gaze fell on the bully, whose foot was pressing down on Mia's body.
"This has nothing to do with you. Get lost," the girl snapped.
"And what if I don't?" Ella challenged, standing firm.
"Then you'll end up like her." The girl tilted her chin toward Mia, whose small hands struggled to push her off.
Ella smirked. "I'd love to see you try."
Before the bully could react, Ella launched a swift kick, knocking her off balance. She followed up with a punch to the face and then shoved the girl's head into one of the dumpsters, leaving her unconscious.
"Is she dead?" Mia asked in a tiny, nervous voice, her fingers tangled together as she peeked at the motionless body.
Ella scoffed. "Nah. Just out of breath for a while." She turned away, heading back to her spot.
Mia hesitated before running after her. "Hey, wait! Can I come with you?"
"No. You'll just be a burden. Another mouth to feed," Ella said, climbing back onto the bricks and leaning against the wall.
"I promise I won't be a burden! I can cook, clean, and sew. Plus, I'm likable!" Mia pleaded, her wide, innocent eyes full of desperation.
Ella huffed, rolling her eyes. "Fine," she muttered, not wanting to deal with those pleading eyes any longer.
From that night on, they stuck together. And, as promised, Ella protected Mia in every way she could. Two years later, they were taken in by The Organization.
"Two little thieves. How disappointing," a voice drawled from the center of the guards, pulling Ella back to the present.
The man between them stood out, not just for his presence but for his ridiculous outfit. Bright rainbow-colored pants held up by suspenders, paired with a snug, dark-gray T-shirt that barely stretched over his belly. His loose, goofy lips curled into an amused smirk.
He stepped forward, observing the girls with fascination. They had broken into his highly secured building, outmaneuvered his skilled guards, and stolen his precious Ice Stone, all without a scratch. That, he had to admit, was impressive. Even if it bruised his ego.
"For a couple of teens, I've got to give you credit," he said, circling them slowly. "You broke into my reinforced safe, outsmarted my guards, and destroyed a glass jar worth millions." He chuckled, shaking his head. "Truly admirable. You even made my guards look like fools."
At this, his amused expression flickered into something colder. His gaze swept over the men standing behind him, their heads bowed in shame.
Then, his smile returned. "I should just hire you instead. What do you say?" He directed the question at Ella, reaching out to touch her chin.
Ella's eyes rolled as she jerked her face away from his fingers.
"Let's get this over with," she said flatly. "Tell me what you want to know, and we'll be on our way."
The man's ocean-blue eyes gleamed with amusement. "Tell me who sent you," he ordered, his smile turning sharp.
Ella didn't flinch. "What makes you think we aren't here on our own?" she shot back with a smirk.
"Because I know everything," he boasted, flashing a row of perfect teeth.
Ella scoffed. "Then you should already know who sent us, Mr. Know-It-All."
His grin tightened, wrinkles forming on his forehead as irritation crept in.
"Listen, girl. The only way you and your friend walk out of here alive," his gaze flickered to Mia, still hiding behind Ella, "is if you tell me who you're working for."
"But no one sent us," Ella said, her voice unfazed. "I'm my own captain."
John slid his hands into his pockets, watching her closely.
He could rip her heart out and feed it to his wolves for daring to challenge him, but he needed information.
What unsettled him more was that he couldn't read her mind, even as the mighty ice pack alpha. Usually, he could hear every thought in the room, but hers was completely blocked.
He exhaled, forcing patience. "I'm giving you a chance because you're girls. Maybe you were manipulated into taking this job. Tell me who hired you, and I'll let you leave. That's a promise."
Mia hesitated, her fingers twisting together as she met Ella's eyes. The deal was tempting. Walking out of here alive was a good enough reason to talk. Between the two of them, she was the softer one.
"If I tell you... will you let us go?" she asked hesitantly.
John's sharp gaze softened slightly as he looked at her. For a second, something flickered in his eyes. He quickly blinked it away and closed the distance between them.
"You have my word," he said smoothly. "Tell me who sent you, and both of you walk out of here unharmed."
"Fine, it was"
"No one."
Ella stepped in front of Mia, cutting her off. She gave her a silent warning with a shake of her head before turning back to John. He stared at her, a mixture of irritation and intrigue dancing in his eyes.
Then, with three slow steps, Ella closed the space between them. She rested a hand on his shoulder, trailing her fingers up to his ear.
"You think I'm stupid?" she whispered, her breath warm against his skin. "You really believe I'd fall for that?"
John stiffened. Her voice was smooth, teasing, and for some reason, it ignited something unsettling in him. His usual confidence wavered.
What the hell is it about her?
He clenched his jaw, eyes darkening.
"It takes more than a man to tame me," Ella murmured. "I spill information when I want to."
John's patience snapped.
"Fine," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "We'll do this the hard way."
Before either girl could react, darkness engulfed them. From behind, John's right-hand man, J, lowered his arms, having struck them both at the base of their necks.