Hi.

You guys really like this story, huh?

I figure I've got to do my civic duty and prevent Kazaria04 from getting ahold of it and massacring everyone, lol. And apparently someone's been reading this from SPAIN. I've no idea how this got so popular or why people like it so much, but I suppose I should give the people what they want. Before I wake up one morning to find a mob with torches and pitchforks outside my door. So have this unedited beauty. Love you all :)

Anika

Anika peeked out from behind the cell door, waiting for her moment.

Everyone else was still in the cell at the end of the row, but Kaz had given the assignment of trapping investigating guards in the one open cell. For once, she'd been happy to oblige. It was something to do, and it felt good after being useless for so long. What was a henchman without semi-evil plots to carry out?

She drew her head back when footsteps came from around the corner, accompanied by aimless whistling. The gang member turned the corner. The whistling stopped. Anika held her breath, a sly grin curling her lips as a harsh expletive echoed off the brick, and footsteps raced off back the way they'd come. Less than a minute later, they returned, accompanied by a group in the middle of a loud argument.

"What the hell do you mean, it was just open?!"

"It was just...open!"

"For Ghezen's sake, doors don't just open!"

"Pekka's gonna kill us..."

"No, Pekka's gonna kill you."

"It's not my fault they escaped!"

The group passed within inches of her, one even pushing the door farther open and forcing Anika to flatten herself against the wall, shoulder blades digging into the brick. She waited until she was sure they were inside before peeking around. Five gang members stood inside the cell, completely oblivious to both her and the clumsily patched-up hole in the wall. Marlie had tried to put the brick back to its original condition, but the Squaller was clearly better at tearing things apart than putting them back together. Anika could sympathize.

Anika readied the key, then threw her weight against the door. It slammed closed and she jabbed the key into the keyhole, hearing the lock click just as something from the other side slammed into the door. It trembled but held.

She snorted at the angry, muffled yelling from within, racing back to the end cell. The door opened and she slipped inside, grinning victoriously. "Five."

The people in the room gave her varying versions of her grin, Marli patting her back before snatching the key from her hand. "My turn." They were all high-strung, contents under pressure, her in particular.

She was back in the room within minutes, ice chip eyes glittering. "Seven."

Jesper was next, bounding back into the room grinning. "Nine. Which instantly puts me in the lead. Wy, wanna try? I'll lock it for you."

They continued in that vein until they were all huddled behind one door. The largest group yet came running down the hall, and Inej kicked the door shut with more strength than should've fit in that slim little body.

They headed down the hall cautiously, only stopping when Wylan glanced into a room, then stopped short and backed up to look at it again. His voice was disturbingly calm. "Guys."

They crowded around him, looking through the doorway. As one, their breath caught.

The room was a regular arsenal, full of guns, knives, pipes and boards with nails through them. No doubt confiscated weapons from the Dregs. They were silent with awe, until Marli cackled. Nina's disturbingly sweet laughter joined hers, and Anika had to fight not to join them.

Jesper moved first. He grabbed his pearl-handed revolvers from a table, twirling them and then slotting them into his empty gunbelt. Inej began tucking more knives than Anika thought possible into her clothing, and Wylan hefted a metal pipe. Anika walked around the room a couple times before choosing a crowbar, perfectly suited for either breaking bones or tearing flesh.

Kaz lifted his cane, the silver crow's head gleaming brightly. A wild, almost joyful grin passed over his pale features, and in that moment Anika could see exactly what his enemies feared.

His gaze found hers, his grin widening. "This is going to be fun."

It sounded like pre-battle banter, more of a joke than anything. Maybe that was all it was. But Anika couldn't help thinking that maybe he was being completely serious.

She flashed him a grin of her own. If so, her and Kaz's ideas of fun were exactly the same.