heartbreakers

Arriving downtown, its bright neon lights making her eyes squint, Ty ducks into a nearby bar. She slides into a stool at the marble counter, holding her heart-shaped locket in her hand. Her Father had given this to her when she was younger, before he died, it was her only item from her past that she had, before she found this rebellion ring. She brought up the hologram of her target from her watch. She’d been ordered from Lady Seoul to get information from someone with ties to the Emperor’s castle. Looking around, she spots a man similar to the picture that was slowly spinning above her wrist. She prepares herself by taking a couple shots as he approaches her.

His eyes slowly and hungrily drift from her feet to her eyes, his cheap cologne so strong it could drop flies. “You break my heart,” he smiled.

Ty tried her best to not gag in front of him; she forced a smile, “I destroy yours.” It just had to be one of those guys.

She turned away from him and put away a few more shots, drinking would be the only thing getting her through tonight.

Ty could barely keep a conversation without trying to strangle the target every time he breathed, she kept having to drag him back onto the subject, always getting off track trying to brag about all the girls he’s slept with. But she eventually got the information she needed. . . .four hours later. She looked at her pile of shot glasses beside her. That could result in a meeting with Lady Seoul, no one is allowed to drink on the job. To keep a clear head, but Ty could hold her liquor, for now, any longer with this guy and it could come back up. Actually, it might’ve been too long already—Ty dashed to the nearest garbage.

As she slowly pulled her head out of the trash, wiping the spit off her mouth, she could overhear that dirtbag in the background.

“. . . yeah she has no idea, don’t worry, I’ll give you the recording of the conversation soon. I’ll see you soon, Governor.”

Ty’s head snapped up, her breath quickened. She slowly got up, trying to play it cool so as not to raise suspicion. Ty walked over to him, making her steps a little shaky, and her eyes heavy; he took the bait.

The target runs his hands through his hair, “Hey baby, you look a little tipsy, want me to drive you home?”

Ty plays her best ‘damsel’ part. “No, I’m good thanks, I’ll just call a ride.”

“Nonsense, I insist.” His dead eyes sparkle.

Ty had to use all her strength to not slug him there and then. “Alright, could you show me to your car?”

His smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Of course, right this way.”

As they went outside, she noticed he was taking her to a back alleyway. Before he could do anything to her, she slammed him up against the wall.

He laughed, “Ah, we are taking different roles tonight, eh? Although I would rather if we switch—”

She buried her fist under his ribs, he sputtered as he slid to the ground. “Where’s the recording?” She pulled him back up and jabbed her fingers into his jaw.

He wheezed, clawing at his throat, “I don’t know about any recording—” He burst into a coughing fit.

Ty let him fall back to the ground, his ego was nauseating. “I heard you with the Governor, you recorded our conversation, which not only violated our contract, but you were going to leak it to the enemy,” she grabbed him by his silk shirt collar, “Are you with the enemy? You know what we do to traitors, right?” Ty struck his face, “We,” She hit again, “Kill them,” and again. “Understand?”

His eyes were fearful now, but they were soon replaced by that same dead stare. “It’s already been sent out, The Governor is sending guards this way now. Your little rebellion,” his cough wet with blood, “Is no more.”

Ty’s mind went blank. Fear and anger were coursing through her, this was her fault, Lady Seoul would kill her, if the Governor’s guards didn’t first. She grabbed a knife from her belt, and left the Governor a message.

As Ty rushed back to the hideout, all she could think about was what would happen if they were found. She entered a mess, her breathing heavy, the liquor taking hold, her head foggy.

“Where’s . . . Seoul.”

A shadow rose over her, Ty looked up in fear and dropped to her knees. “Lady Seoul, the Governor, their guards, they’re coming, info leaked . . . I’m sorry.” Ty looked up warily.

“Were you followed?”

“What?”

“Were. You. Followed. We would have to watch our backs but we could still take down the Governor, if you weren’t followed. So tell me, child. Were you followed?”

“. . . no.” Ty’s head sunk back into her knees.

“Tch. I thought you were better.” Seoul turned to everyone else. “I want you all to remember this day, to never make this mistake, as you will have to face the consequences. Now start preparing your weapons and barricade the doors!” As the other members were getting ready, Seoul turned back to Ty, her eyes squinting. “Look at me.”

Slowly, Ty’s eyes met Seouls, she almost looked forgiving. “Lady Seoul I—”

Seoul struck her cheek. “The only reason I will let you stay is because you are my best. But only that.” Her hand rested under Ty’s chin. “Don’t disappoint me again.”

Ty sat there, stunned as Seoul left to help the others. She thought for sure that she would be kicked out of the rebellion. She had just got on her feet when the first explosion set off.

Ty’s ears were ringing as she stumbled out of nearby debris. There were fires, sirens, she could hear yelling and men shouting, there were bright lights practically blinding her, and—and Lady Seoul’s body, was lying in front of her. She rushed over to her, tears streaming down her face. Seoul’s face streaked with dirt and blood, Ty held on to her, trying to protect her from all the chaos. Ty didn’t even notice that she and Seoul were the only people that were in the room before the next explosion knocked her out cold.

Ty woke up in a cell, completely alone, all the other cells were empty, she shot up, looking around for anyone who could help, she slammed her fists on the glass wall in front of her, a guard was walking towards her, they were completely encased in a black armour, Ty continued banging on the glass, the guard came to her cell.

“Where is everyone? Why am I the only one in a cell?” Ty blurted out.

The guard said nothing. The only sounds they made were small grunts as they opened her cell, and put Ty in handcuffs. As they walked down the hall, the guard stopped at a set of towering metal doors. There were two more guards at the doors. The guard holding Ty signaled to the guards at the doors. The doors were completely silent as they were pushed open, revealing a pure white throne room. Ty and the guard walk into the room, and the guard shoves Ty to the floor. A figure shifts their weight on the throne, most of their body covered by shadows.

Ty lifts their head, trying to figure out who the Governor is. “Why am I here?”

“To be executed.” A woman’s voice answers.

Ty’s face pales. “For what?”

“You, criminal, are the leader of a rebellion group, that is an act of high treason.”

“I’m not the leader of—”

“Silence.” The Governor stands up, her face still hidden, and her red robes almost glowing. “All of your members say otherwise.” She snaps her fingers and a row of guards march up behind her, each one holding a member of the rebellion. They stare at Ty, showing no remorse, or even pain. They gave that lie willingly.

“I’m not the leader, you have to trust me,” Ty pleaded.

“Trust you? The last time I trusted you my cover was blown.” The Governor stepped into the light.

Ty fell backwards, trying to escape as Lady Seoul stalked towards her. The guard holding her shoved her back forward and held her there as Seoul bent down to meet her gaze.

“Would you like to know who your father really was?” Seoul tore the necklace from Ty’s neck.

“What do you mean?”

“Your father,” Seoul walked back to her throne, “was my right-hand-man.”

“No! He would never do something like that!”

“Hush now Ty, I’m not finished yet.” Seoul opened a slot in the arm of her throne, revealing a keypad. She punched in a code. “Your father ran a secret ring, so that people could see hope, because, behind the scenes, we had been experimenting. We had created a gas that was basically a version of mind control, unfortunately, we discovered that the gas would only work if someone had built some sort of connection to the person that wanted to take control, we tried many different things, but the one that worked the most, with a complete stranger, was having hope in them. So, we created this elaborate ring, training everyone to be assassins and whatnot, quote unquote foiling the Governor’s plans, and bringing hope to the state of New York because these rebels will take our beloved home back.”

Ty winced everytime she ripped piece after piece of her beloved locket apart, revealing a small key attached to the end of the chain. Seoul inserted it into the throne and gas started pouring out from under it. As Seoul put on a gas mask, the guards undid the chains to the other rebellion members as the gas enveloped them, making their eyes go black. They bowed to Seoul as she stood up, lifting her arms, her pride radiating off of her. Ty tried to slow her inevitable end by holding her breath, but soon it would be over. As her eyes grew heavy, and her mind was being washed over by an unwanted force, Seoul walked towards her and knelt on the floor beside her. Ty’s eyes filled with tears, out of anger, but there was a lingering feeling of desperation for Seoul to be with her again.

“I will find a way, with other refugees, to stop this.” Ty grunted as the gas took a stronger hold.

Seoul held out her hand with a warm smile, and Ty took it. But Seoul’s smile grew cold and her grip harsh as she leaned in towards Ty’s ear as she started fading.

“You will never defeat me.”