Nina grabs Shion, hoists her onto her shoulders, and starts leaving.
Patience jogs to keep up, eyes fixed on Nina's back. "Hey lady, who are you?"
Nina keeps walking, saying nothing.
She follows Nina as they drive into the woods. They walk for a few minutes, a small wooden house is ahead. Nina approaches the house.
The door slams open. An empty room, with a single table in the center. Nina drops Shion onto the table, her body slumps down with a heavy thud. Her mouth trembles.
Nina yanks out a box from under the table, flanking it open with a metallic screech. Her eyes scan the contents, her face twisting in a snarl. "Fuck! Something's missing."
Nina's gun scrambles to the floor. She snatches scissors from the box, her movements brutal as she cuts away Shion's clothes, exposing the wound. Her gaze darts, clinical and cold, taking in the growling mess. Shion's face is deathly pale, her eyes glazed.
"No clean clothes out here..." Nina mutters, with a fluid motion, she sheds her coat, revealing a white top underneath. The fabric gives a soft whisper as she pulls it over her head, the sound amplified in the tense air.
She folds the top into a makeshift compress, her hands moving with practiced urgency.
Nina shoves cash at Patience. "Get me adhesive tape and antiseptic wipes from the shop east of here. Now." Patience darts off quickly.
She returns breathless, hands trembling as she passes over the items. Nina's eyes flicker with approval as she works swiftly, her fingers stained with Shion's blood.
"She's lost a lot of blood," Nina mutters, her voice tight with concern. Shion's eyes flutter, her breathing shallow.
Shion's hands are shaking steadily. Patience holds her hand, sobbing. "I'm so sorry... I'm so sorry... it's my fault you ended up like this."
Nina asks while treating Shion's wound, "Kid, there's something I don't get.. why did Shion chose to help you?
"She wasn't interested in helping me at first. But Somehow, along the line, she changed her mind."
Nina's hands move swiftly as she cleans and dresses Shion's wounds. She chuckles. "What just happened today... is something I've never experienced since I've known Shion... she doesn't hold back. She never helps people. Only focuses on her mission."
Patience nods."Yeah she's cold. Cruel, I witnessed it first hand. But deep down, I can tell she's soft."
Nina applies antiseptic wipes, staunching the bleeding, then secures gauze with adhesive tape. "I wouldn't believe it. If I didn't see for myself, but seeing her take a knife for you... I definitely believe you, she got a soft spot."
"Will she survive?"
"Yes she will. But she won't be able to fight today tho.."
Patience narrows."what did you mean by that?"
"You heard me love.. she's going to survive. And she will have to fulfil her mission. But not today."
"That's cruel. She's injured, she should—"
Nina cuts in, "Shut it right there... don't you know the limitations you put her in? She's laying down now because of you. If it hadn't been for you... she'd have finished the mission."
Patience apologizes, "I'm sorry."
Nina drops a faint smile. "So what's your status, girl? Where are you from?"
"I'm from this town. Been brought here ever since I was 10. I have a younger sister, Mary."
Nina asks, "Parents?"
"Dad fled. Fell for another woman. My Mother turned into a hooker, killed in the street. We had to bury her... me and Mary."
Nina nods sympathetically, "Tragic... I feel your pain. So where's Mary?"
"Taken. I gather it would be one of Silas's warlords."
Nina grins. "Right... she's all set. Now, we take her to a medic shop in town. I know one. A really good guy. Jackson, he's a friend of mine. He'll get her fixed up."
Nina strides into the hospital, Shion laying on her arm. A young doc rushes over, and she hands Shion over with a sly grin. "Jackson.. Take care of her, make sure she didn't die."
Jackson gives a cheeky smile and wheels Shion away.
Patience and Nina drop onto the waiting area seats.
Patience gazes at Nina in surprise. "You're different."
Nina cocks her head. "Come again."
"I said you're different," Patience repeats. "Unlike Shion, you're free. Open to talk to easily. I was afraid of you at first. But now, I see an ordinary person."
Nina shakes her head. "Honey... don't get me wrong. I would've killed you back there, without holding back. Who cares what you want?"
"Why didn't you kill me then?"
Nina curls her lips as she smiles. "Because I was fascinated.. wondering what made you turn Shion into a simpleton. You might be her only weakness.."
Patience's jaw drops. "That's a Weird reason to let someone leave. But what's the deal with that ability you guys have?"
"What ability?" Nina asks
"The teleportation stuff."
Nina leans forward. Folding her hands together "It's called the shadow movements."
"Shadow movement?"
"It's mainly for the assassins tho. The Epic Assassins are the ones that use that trick. We mercenaries don't usually need to do the shadow movements. We are the strongest, and that is because we become as deadly as our bullets the more we learn how to shoot."
"Oh.. the shadow movement is a trick?"
"Indeed it's a trick. For starters, you close your eyes and picture yourself in where you want to be. But that only works for around 15-20 feet away. Although experienced ones could reach 30-40 feet."
Patience's finger rests on her jaw. "Everyone in that room was all mercenaries. And not all were able to use that trick, just a few."
"That's the thing. A Mercenary can attain speed from extreme training. A top level 1 Mercenary could master the trick. Due to experience."
Patience removes her finger from her jaw. "So I take it you and Shion are both level 1 Mercenaries? But are all level 1s the same in power?"
Nina chimes in with a low laugh. "The power ranking is different. A Level 1, Grade 4 Mercenary got clout, they're on par with an Epic Assassin. But bump it up to a Level 1, Grade 5 Mercenary? That's a whole different beast. They're stronger than an Epic Assassin, and let's be real, Epic's the top of the line for assassins."
"So level 1 grade 5 is the strongest?"
"Not quite. The strongest of all, is the level 1 grade 8. We have just 3 grades in level 1. Grade 4, 5, and 8."
"So–"
"That's enough girl.. Imma leave you with Shion for a bit.. I'll be back by night time. " Nina stands up and strides away.