55 Volume 3: The Association of Assassins (1/2)

There was pain.

First in her shoulder, it was a piercing pain that made her want to vomit. Every jostle was agony.

Next was a more insidious pain. It coursed through her veins, throbbing as it went. Her body felt like it was on fire, while at the same time her limbs began to feel numb. It seemed like her very soul was being eaten away.

[Mei…]

'Jin?' Mei Hua thought groggily.

She did not want to wake up. Oblivion was better than the mess of agony that her body was feeling.

[…you are not alone…]

”Feed her the pill.”

She felt something round pushed into her mouth.

”She's not swallowing it.”

What was with all these noisy people? Can't they leave a sick person alone? She was so tired, she wanted to sleep…

”Uh… I think she's dying. She's not suppose to do that.”

[…Stay awake Mei, don't sleep. Don't leave me, stay awake.]

”Give me the water, dammit!”

Something pried her jaw open and then a wet, cold feeling pressed on her lips. Water was forced into her mouth and down her throat. She wanted to cough but she had no strength for even that.

”I thought they were Immortals or high level Summoners or something like that?”

”The demon that went after us definitely was 'something like that', but I'm not sure about this one.”

When the pill reached her stomach, she felt a cooling sensation spread out. The fiery pain was abated somewhat and feeling began to come back into her fingers and toes. This was a blessing and a curse because the pain was still there, and now all her body could feel it.

”Tsk. I don't like the unknown, makes me nervous. Didn't the Boss check the client's sources before accepting?”

”Of course he did!”

Mei Hua coughed and groaned.

”Hm… even if she's not Immortal or whatever, to survive a beating like that and the Thousand Year Hell Poison on top of it is pretty impressive.”

”True…”

Someone tapped her on the side of the face.

”Hey girly, you awake?”

She tried opening her eyes but couldn't focus.

”Who are you people…?” She rasped out. Even her teeth hurt!

”Ah, so you're actually conscious! Amazing.” A man was standing over her, he was wearing all black, a hood over his head and a black cloth covering his face from the nose down. She could just barely make out the form of eyes, hard and cold, staring down at her. ”Really, what are you exactly? Are you not quite human anymore? Ah! I want to slice you open and see what makes you tick…”

”Now that she's awake, should we start?” The short one spoke.

The bigger man shook his head. ”Give the pill a few more minutes. We weren't hired to kill her. Our pay will be halved if she dies.”

”I really don't understand why they'd pay so much for us NOT to kill someone. Seems like a waste, you know?”

Her eyes suddenly came into focus and she could see clearly again. She was laying down on a raised flat surface made of rough wood. There were three other men dressed similarly to the one standing near her. The walls were made of packed dirt that let in no light and were lined with some very sharp and wicked looking metal objects.

Her body shivered violently with shock. These people obviously were up to no good, and for some reason she was their target.

Scared, she asked, ”W-what do you want from me?”