My eyesight has finally readjusted and I can now start to make things out beyond my (former?) home. I had expected torn down buildings and destroyed roads however, only trees stretch out for as far as I can see. It’s strange to see them in a wild unkept state, as the only trees I have seen before were in the carefully manicured ecology floor of the Compound. Their multi-colored heads reach up to a blue sky jumbled with clouds. The breeze from earlier flirts with leaves that dance carefree as they fall to the already leaf littered forest floor.

            A small chirp alerts me to a small bird that sits perched upon a dry leafless branch of a tree. The bird flies down near me, investigating to see if I pose as a danger. Eventually when it seems satisfied it pulls back up and lands back in the tree.

            I begin walking away from the Compound and continue to observe my surroundings. The leaves under my feet crack and break, completely obliterating any hope I had of using stealth for this mission.

             Continuing to move, I remember the object Kyle gave me is still in my pocket. I look down at it and suck in a quick breath of surprise. It's a communication Com. The only people allowed to use it are the government's head officials.(If people were allowed to use them freely, they could organize a rebellion or something equally devastating to the Compound). Unsure what to do with the comm, I put it in one of the side pockets on my satchel and decide against using it.

            I remove one of my knives so as to have it ready if needed and continue to walk in what my compass tells me to be south-east. The deeper I walk into the woods, the more new creatures I see. A small rodent which I believe to be a squirrel, runs across the small path I am following. I continue to trail down the path and see small tracks of what can only be a deer.

            Time passes and I lose track of how far I’ve gone.  The small slope I've been ascending levels out and I come to a small stream of water.  Letting my satchel fall to the ground as well as my knife, I kneel over the water and throw some onto my face. The hottest part of the day has been looming over me for the past hour and I drained my water bottle far faster than expected. So the water is more than welcome. I refill the bottle and the automatic filter in my bottle starts to work but, the filter will take a few minutes before the water is safe to drink. So I lean against a tree and let my eyes drop close.

            The smallest of cracks alerts me to snap my eyes open little more than seconds after. The knife I was holding earlier is next to my satchel not but two feet away from me. I move to grab it and hide it under my leg. I wait patiently until the shape of a human emerges. It’s a boy. Not much younger than me by his looks. Sandy blond hair messily frames his gray eyes. He wears simple blue work pants and and a dirty orange shirt covered in holes. Dirt smudges his face and generally he looks like he just finished rolling down a hill.

            He looks up then and stops abruptly. I see him hold his breath and take a small step back. We stay like that for a while. Him staring at me and me staring back trying to mirror his expression of surprise and wariness. Finally, he seems to decide I am not much of a threat, (he couldn't be more wrong) and slowly approaches me like I’m a wounded animal.

            “Hey, did you get sent out to scout too?” He crouches at my feet and tries to give me a friendly look. “I thought it was only me. I'm kinda glad it isn't.” I can tell now that he isn't worried about me as he sits softly down opposite of me. I realize I should probably play along with this.

            “Ya, I thought that to,” I respond to him. He holds out his hand for me to shake and as I reach out to, he says.

          “David.” I give him a friendly smile.

          “Piper.” He's going to be dead anyway soon so why not tell him my real name. Who shouldn't have the pleasure of knowing their killers name?

            “Have I seen you around Compound before? I don’t think I have.” He looks at me curiously before adding with a laugh, “I guess Compound is so big we haven’t met half the people that live there.”

            “No, I guess we haven't.”

            David just smiles again and pulls over the pack that was resting on his shoulders. He puts his hand in it and I stiffen a little at what he might pull out. Instead of a weapon of some sort, he retrieves a small pack of dried fruit. He reaches over the distance between us and hands it to me before reaching for another one. His kindness roles over in my mind and I am a little startled by it. I leave the dried fruit where he put it.

            “I didn't poison it if that’s what you're worried about,” remarks David.

            I just sigh and stand up bringing the knife with me but still keeping it out of his sight. “Look,” I start, “You're really nice David but, I still have a job to do.”

            “We all have a job to do. That doesn’t mean we can’t take a break once in a while. Besides...” He stops talking when I bring the knife out from behind my back. “Piper, what are you doing?” There is worry in his eyes finally and I take a step forward. He jumps to his feet not sure what to do next.

            “I am doing my job,” I say. With that, I lunge forward. The boy’s eyes widen in panic and he attempts to lean away from me. But before he manages to get up to run away, I drive the hilt of my knife through his rib cage and into his heart. When I pull my knife out he looks down at the wound before swaying and tipping over to lay in a fetal position, curling into the wound where his hand trys to keep the blood in. A gurgling sound comes from his throat before he goes limp.

            He's dead I think, or at least he will be soon. His hair is cut short in the back and I see on his neck #90. 1 down, 111 left.

            I grab number 90's pack and search it only to find a map, a compass, a small piece of cooked meat and another pack of dried fruit. I eat the meat and the first pack of fruit that was given to me, while I transfer the boy's supplies in my bag and grab my water. Assuming the filter has done it's job, I take a drink. It tastes fine so I take another. There is still a good couple hours of daylight so I grab my possessions and start walking east. As I walk, I focus on cleaning my knife. Using a wet piece of shirt I took from the boy, I swipe up and down the blade. Most of the blood removes itself instantly but a few streaks stay attached to the edge.

            Not much time passes before I find myself on the edge of the forest looking out a sandy dunes and what can only be the ocean in the distance. The pictures and paintings I’ve seen could never have prepared me for it's vastness. It stretches out with no interruptions and seems to never end. Looking over my shoulder, I can see a break in the trees in the distance, which can only be the clearing where the compound sits. It's farther away than anticipated. Off to both my sides runs only waves of green forests. There is no movement other than the occasional gust of wind that shakes the trees. My eyes are then pulled up to the sky to find the sun leaving and with it, it’s warmth.  Knowing I should find protection for the night, I tell myself to get moving. There's one problem though. My eyes don't want to leave the sky. They are attached, not to the sun; but, to what is taking its place.

            Exquisite swirls of red, pink, and orange encircle the ever decreasing sun. Above the ocean, that I can now barely see, rises a dark cloak that eats away the diminishing blue haze. I look into the darkness, waiting... waiting.... Then finally, I see them. Stars. Small scraps of light scattered across the fields of space. The darker it becomes, the more stars there seems to be. An uncountable number. So many of them,  bright and alive. Then there are some so dim they look like they are about to go out. All of them; however, seem to whisper to me, daring me, to reach up and snatch them from their bed of infinity.

            I stand on hill for a little longer and continue to wait for the moon I’ve read so much about. It doesn't come.  After minutes of waiting, I realize that it won't be coming tonight because it's a new moon. A cold gush of wind runs across the hill I stand on and finally rips me from my reverie, reminding me of the shelter I need to find. Pulling my jacket tighter around me, I let my legs carry me down the hill.

            Everything is quiet in the forest now and the birds from earlier seem to have fallen asleep. Instead of the cheery chirping creatures, I am left in the company of the many owls. Hearing one screech I turn around and spot it perched high in a branch stretching it's neck as it investigates me. Feathers atop of it's head curve outward like horns grown from its skull. Piercing yellow eyes greet my own eyes. Turning my back on the animal and continue to search for a place where I can stay for the night. After an hour of slowly picking my way through the dark, I make out a small rock formation. I walk over to it and find a indent with it’s face with a small overhang above it. It's not ideal but it will have to do. I throw my pack down, take out my sleeping bag and curl up with my back to the rocks. I stare out into the open searching and listening to anything that might be a sign of trouble. When nothing happens, I pull out my food and nibble on a piece of dry meat while continuing to stay alert. 

          Finally feeling certain nothing will come in the night, I pull out one of my knives and lay down. Still keeping my back to the rocks, I set my head down on my satchel and steady my breathing. It's now that I start to notice the noises I hadn't noticed before.  It's nothing alarming and in fact is almost soothing. The small crickets under the leaves start to chirp. Far away, I can make out the sound of an owl hooting softly. And as if it's a mother to them all, the wind continues to envelope their sounds in an smooth lullaby.

          I give him a small nod and then I am back out in the hall. The door to his office closes behind me and I go back the way I came. When I reach the first door I came through, Mareth's second hand man is there again. He looks at me curiously and asks 

          “Everything go well?” I'm not sure how to respond so I simply shrug.

          “Mhmm.”

          The assistant just looks at me curiously. I keep my head down and walk out of the Research Department. I’m never good around people unless I am trying to kill them. The only person I can talk fluently to is Liam. He was my first training partner back when I was about 10 and fresh out of the hospital. My legs were new and I was unsure and clumsy. Together we suffered through our first trainer, Mr. Dyehs. Who I would later accidentally drop a 300 pound bag of sand on. (Liam had bet that I couldn't shoot the rope that was holding the bag up. I took the bet.)

          Later Liam was transferred to a different division when my skills improved and surpassed his abilities. However, we would still stay in touch making him the closest thing I had to call a friend. So it's him I go to now with the news of my new mission. It's nearing dinner time and I presume that Liam will be on his way to the Cafeteria on the first floor. There are cafeterias on every floor but Liam and I always eat on the first. Mostly it's due to the few people who eat up there. Finally at the elevator, I hit the button and get on. I’m currently 15 floors below the surface so the ride up takes some time. There’s only one other floor below me and that's the Government Palace. Our president and all other important leaders are guarded 24/7 on that floor.

          The elevator dings and I see I have reached the 11th floor. The doors open and several people file in. The doors close and up we go. One of the people that boarded is an older man. He studies my face for a moment before asking.

          “I haven't seen you around before, you new to this end of Compound?”

          “No. I just don't get out much, I only ever leave my floor when I'm sent on a mission.” Realization dawns on his face as to who I am and who I serve. There’s 2 million people in this compound, maybe more. My name is known by most everyone who keeps up in the politics. I am the girl who does Julian Mareth's bidding, thus the government’s bidding. And usually, their bidding is relates to me killing someone who has betrayed them. Worry is on all their faces now and I can't help feeling a little smug. All the passengers huddle together on the opposite side of the elevator and dismount on the next floor, leaving me alone again. The rest of the ride goes by without disturbance.

          Eventually the final ding alerts me to my floor and the doors free me from the metal box. I step out and right away smell the cooked meat and fresh bread flows from the kitchen. I make my ways through the halls and enter the Cafeteria. I join the short line in which I will receive my portion of sustenance. Today it seems we are having beef stew, a roll and an apple. There is a choice of either water or milk. I choose water, seemingly unlike the rest of patrons. Because of the Ascension virus, everyone is afraid the water is contaminated and refuse to drink it. Which is a foolish idea, given the extensive filtering system that the Compound uses. Holding my tray of food in one hand and my drink in the other, I walk into the next room where tables are set out.  Today there’s less people than usual eating here. Maybe only 100. I walk over to where Liam and I always sit and hope he's already there. Sure enough I see his closely shaven, brown haired head sitting with his back to everyone in the far corner. I slide my tray opposite him and slump in the chair. It works out great. He hates having to see everyone and so he keeps his back to them. I prefer to keep potential threats in my line of site, so I sit facing them. When I sit down, Liam looks up and a smile crawls onto his face. 

          “Well, look who finally decided to show up.” What he says is true. I missed lunch earlier because I was still training. I just give him a glare which makes him smile more.

          “Just shut up and listen OK? I tell him everything Mareth told me. About there being 112 kids outside right now looking for something that doesn't exist, the mythical Mute who guards the real cure, and Mareth's proposal to me and that I agreed to do it. I look back up into Liam’s bright green eyes and find that he is nowhere near as excited as I am.

          “Piper you do understand that…” He begins.

          “OOH! Our fearless warrior princess has finally proven she can do more than kill puppies!” The voice of Kyle Zander cuts off Liam as the owner of the voice sits down at our table with his girlfriend Layla. I throw a scowl in their general direction and say, “It’s not nice to eavesdrop.” I look back to Liam and ask.

          “I thought I told you to tell him if I saw him again, I would punch out his front teeth?” Kyle Zander is the only person in Compound who knows how to push my buttons. Everything he does, annoys me. He had been allowed to train with me and Liam but always skipped class. The only reason I haven't killed him yet is because of his one redeeming quality that may make him useful to me, he has the brains of a genius when it comes to computers. Whether it’s downloading a virus or hijacking a network, he can do it. He’s also a soldier. One of the many his age. Liam is a soldier as well but not as well trained as Kyle. Just because he skipped out on training, doesn’t mean he wasn't skilled in fighting. I’m still looking at Liam but again it’s Kyle that talks.

          “Nah, he told us. That’s it though. It’s not like he’s going to force us away.”

          “No,” I respond as I stand up, “But I will.”

          “Ohhh I’m so scared,” smirks Kyle as he grabs the apple off my tray. I haven’t touched any of my food yet, so I lunge across the table to try and grab my apple back.

          Kyle simply leans back in his chair and takes a bite out of it. His bright blue eyes taunt me, I know he’s making me mad on purpose so I decide to play along with this game of fuckery. Snatching back the apple I take a bite out of it as well just to prove I don’t care. I grab my untouched food and decide to go back to my room. As I dump my tray, I hear Kyle say something but choose to ignore him. Liam comes running after me.

          “Piper, wait up, you know he's just joking right?”

          “Yes Liam, I know he's joking. I still want to punch his pretty little face though.” We’re at the elevators now and I jam my finger into the down button. The doors slide open and Liam and I walk in.

          “Just ignore him. I do all the time.” replied Liam as we start to descend. I just roll my eyes and stare straight ahead. We stand in silence for a while before Liam brings us back to the discussion of my mission.

          “Why does Mareth want you to kill 112 kids? If he just increases security he could keep them out and eventually they’ll die from the stuff outside.”

           “People will ask questions. It’ll cause more trouble than they want to deal with.” The elevator stops then and I see that we’re at floor 12. The floor Liam lives on. When the doors open, Liam walks out.

            “See you tomorrow Pipes.” He says, using my nickname. I wave in response and the doors begin to close. He turns around and begins to walk away when I realize I won't see him tomorrow.

            I jam my foot in the remaining space of the elevators and yell “Wait.” The doors jerk back open and I run to Liam and jump in his arms. He looks a little surprised until I say, “I'm leaving in the morning. I won't see you.” He understands and hugs me tighter.

            “Don't go getting soft and mushy on me now Pipes,” he whispers into my ear.

            “Don't go hanging around Kyle too much, you might start acting like him.” I whisper back.

           Liam just laughs and takes a step back, setting his hands on my shoulders. He's about two inches taller than me so I have to look up to meet his eyes. 

          “Just make sure you bring yourself back here in one piece OK?”

            “OK,” I try to smile reassuringly, I doubt it helps. Liam squeezes my shoulders, then turns and walks away. I take a deep breath and assure myself everything will be fine. I return to the elevator, and continue the journey back to my floor. When I reach the 15th level, I walk slowly back to my room. My limbs feel as though their motorized, like their weighed down with the prospect that this is my last night here for who knows how long.  More than anything though, I still don't want to admit that for the first time since my accident, Liam won't be there with me. It terrifies me, though I’ve excitedly awaited the change in my daily monotony for ages. 

             Upon arriving at my room, I find a small box with my name on it sitting just outside the door. I pick it up and enter my room. Using the knife I always carry on me, I open the top up. Inside in neat piles sits several packs of dried meat, an water filtration bottle and a medipack. At the bottom sits a note simply saying From the desk of Julian Mareth

          I send a silent prayer of thanks for Mareth having sent the stuff to me. Packing food had been on the bottom of my to do list. I reach under my bed then and pull out my backpack, in which I put my new gifts in. I choose my favorite knife set. I normally do Mareth's business with a gun, but I don’t know how long my mission will take and I will likely run out of ammo too quickly to justify the extra weight. I put the knives into my vest’s built in sheaths. Not knowing what the weather will be like, I grab some protective warm clothes and put it with my travel gear. I select some clothes for the journey tomorrow and decide I’m ready as ever. I just have to wait nine more hours. I change and get into bed, but find that i’m far to anxious to sleep. The lights go out all over Compound, yet I still just lay there, staring into the dark. I have never done anything this big before. Time passes but I can not force myself to sleep.

             I must have dozed off eventually because I wake with a start and the lights have come back on in Compound. This is it, the day I start my biggest mission. I dress quickly feeling a little frustrated due to the choice of clothes I have to wear. Usually I’m going to miss my usual clothing that allows for easy movement, not to mention style. I pull on my leather and beaten worn but dependable army boots. I've always admired these shoes, though not for their trustworthiness, but for the knife the sits in the bottom of my left shoe. Undetectable to all except for those that know it's there. I pull the satchel I previously packed over my shoulder and check once more that my knives are present. Seeing that they are, I go over to my door. I’m prepared to take on the unknown. Before I leave though, I remember one more thing. Retreating back into my room I go over to my desk and pull out a pack of cigarettes. I shove them in my pack and walk through the door, Unfortunately, the halls are slightly busier than normal and several people pass out of my way when I walk out of the room. Some look up at me but quickly look away when realizing who I am. I turn around and shut my room door with a final look around inside.  Somehow, I don't think I’ll miss it. I start to weave my way around the crowd and reach the elevator once more. The journey up passes with no interruptions and soon I stand on the “0″ floor of Compound. Its nothing but a small hallway, heavily sealed door and two guards.

             I begin to walk forward, my steps echoing in the utterly silent room. The guard on my right steps up to me when I reach the door. I look into the protective helmet and am surprised to find it to be Kyle. He stands stiffly like he is unsure about being here. His uniform is crisp and new. His hair which is normally a mess has been cut and now lays close to his head. It's like he's changed into a new person over night. I don't realize I’ve been staring at him till he clears his throat loudly. I look up abruptly and ask.

            “What are you doing here?”

            “I've been promoted,” he pauses here not really sure if he should continue, “To door duty,” he finishes.

            I almost laugh because of his awkward choice of words and the fact that he got one of the most prestigious low level jobs in the compound. It makes sense though. When all kids under 20 are promoted to an actual military job, they usually have to make themselves more presentable. The rule never applied to me for reasons I never bothered to ask for. However, I never thought Kyle would have been capable of being promoted. Even if he was I would have expected him to be placed somewhere in the Tech department. Not Guard duty. 

            “Does the Commanding Officer know you’ll  most likely just sleep while on duty?” I question. A small smile rises on his face and he just looks down as if he's embarrassed. 

          “Actually, I asked for this job.” My eyes widen and I give a half nod. 

           “Impressive,” I say not able to think of anything else. Kyle gives a small laugh as I try to turn back to the door, but he catches my shoulder.

            “Hey Piper,” In his hand, offered to me, is a small unidentifiable object, I take it and shove it into my pocket. I look up into his eyes and for the first time in my life I don't have a quick remark to snap back at him. Instead I just nod and turn to continue on my way. He punches in the code and sends me through the identifying and decontaminating process. I go through required blood, eye and fingerprint scan, before I hear the Compound door lock behind me. A second door into decontamination requires me to airtight door open and lock it, before continuing to the last one.

            I do one final look over of my sparse provisions and step forward, ready to open the final airlock, but a loud crackling surprises me. The intercom is then filled with Mareth’s voice.I feel myself stand a little straighter despite him not actually being with me in the room.

          “When you walk through that door, you will not come back through it until every one of those RIS kids are dead. I can't have them come back here. Do you understand?”