"What really happens when humans die? Do we get to feel again or… do we just vanish into some endless void of nothing?

I remember back when I was eight… some old man told that... 'When humans die, they either go to heaven or hell. They are judged… right at the moment of death. And the people who die with regrets about the life they had are sent to hell. Where… they'll be tortured by a devil called Satan for the rest of eternity.'

Honestly? I think that's bullshit, when we die… that's it. There's no other place for us and that's why the life we live right now… is very precious. Or at least maybe to anyone else but... not me."

Ravyn spoke quietly to himself, as he sat alone on the edge of a crumbling rooftop, staring out over the city below.

A soft rustle interrupted his thoughts. Ravyn glanced over his shoulder.

"Are you making one of those dramatic lines again?" Xavier said, leaning casually against the wall, with one hand in his pocket.

Ravyn turned fully, facing him.

Xavier chuckled and shook his head. "You always find a way to make sitting on a rooftop sound like philosophy class. Boss is calling us... says she's got all the info on the job now."

Ravyn rose slowly, brushing dust from his jacket. "About time..." he muttered.

They descend silently.

The meeting place was a small room. Ravyn and Xavier stepped inside and there she was... the boss. A woman in her early forties, dark hair pulled back tightly. She didn't greet them with smiles.

"Ravyn. Xavier." she said. "Let's get to it, target specifics are ready."

Xavier leaned back slightly, while Ravyn remained still with a straight posture.

"The target..." she began, "...is a bandit operating out in Calvess. Name's irrelevant, he's holed up in a decrepit hotel room on the lower levels, floor twelve. Room ten-thirty-three."

"Hotel is on the fringe of the business district..." the boss continued, pulling out a thin tablet and sliding it across the table. The holographic map glowed softly, highlighting the hotel and surrounding streets. "There's minimal security there, just enough to alert him if we're sloppy."

Xavier smirked. "Sounds like your kind of night, Ravyn."

The boss sighed once. "It's a in and out job. And please, make sure you don't attract attention from The Hall Of Custodia. The less noise you make, the easier it is for us to maintain discretion."

Ravyn tilted his head. "Calvess is very far from here..." He said with a low voice. "Even if we made a big splash, the H.O.C wouldn't notice anything from there."

Xavier leaned forward, studying the map silently, noting patrol patterns and lines of sight. "I see entry through the west alley..." he muttered, tracing the path with his finger. "Roof exit might work if we're fast, otherwise the service stairs at the east side."

The boss raised an eyebrow. "Exactly. I want precision and no mistakes."

Ravyn rubbed his neck, pointing at a narrow street on the edge of the map with another hand. "Side street here… could be a good advantage for overwatch if things go south."

Xavier nodded once.

The boss studied both of them carefully. "I expect the job done cleanly. We're not running a personal vendetta. It's an extraction… or neutralization. And leave nothing that will tie back to us."

Ravyn folded his arms. "You worry too much boss and it's in and out fast. We got this as always."

Xavier smirks again. "You make it sound like we gonna take another stroll at the park."

"That's because it is. I mean, since when have we messed up a job?" Ravyn said.

"Alright, we never did. But don't make us seem like we some legends." Xavier said.

Ravyn smirked. "Speak for yourself, man."

The boss gave a curt nod, closing the tablet. "Good. I'll have transport ready for you at midnight. Questions?"

Neither Ravyn nor Xavier spoke.

"You're both dismissed then." The boss said.

Both of them nodded and left the room.

Ravyn shouldered a worn duffel bag the boss had left for him. His hands moved without much thought, checking the slide of a pistol and loading rounds. He tossed one into the bag, then another.

"You're seriously taking handguns?" Xavier's voice came from the corner wall, laced with a chuckle.. "Boss said we gotta keep it quiet, guns aren't quiet."

Ravyn didn't look up. "You know I like guns, they make the work easy."

Xavier pushed off the wall and walked over, crouching to eye the bag. His hand darted in and pulled out both of the pistols. "You know what's also quicker and cleaner? A blade." He pointed to the katana hanging on the rack. "Use that tonight."

Ravyn sighed. "This isn't a samurai movie, man."

Xavier grinned. "Just take the katana."

Ravyn gave him a long look, then shrugged. "Alright, I'll take it."

Xavier shook his head and shoved a compact sidearm into his own belt. "I'll be taking one just in case..."he said.

The two walked through the streets toward the black car idling under a dead streetlight.

"This job pays too much..." Ravyn muttered, more to himself than to Xavier. "Thirty million for one dude? After this one I'm out. I'm done with… this. That money is enough to give me a normal life for years to come."

Xavier glanced at him. "Normal life? What the hell do you know about normal? All we've ever known is killing to survive. That's who we are, man."

Ravyn shook his head. "No, that's what we were raised to be... it's not who we are. We were kids when they took us in, we couldn't make choices... but now? Now we can choose. And I'm choosing out."

Xavier was quiet for a long moment. And finally, he said, "...I hear you."

They reached Calvess and the hotel without fanfare. The place looked abandoned.

"Where's the security?" Ravyn said, scanning the entrance. "Something's off."

"Paranoia..." Xavier muttered, pulling the door open.

They climbed the staircase until they reached floor twelve. Ravyn's hand brushed the hilt of his katana.

Room 1033. The door loomed before them, Ravyn reached for the handle.

And that's when Xavier shoved him.

Ravyn stumbled forward, crashing into the room. Before he could spin around, the door slammed shut behind him and the lock clicked. He lunged for it, pounding with his fists.

"Xavier! What the hell are you doing? Open the door!"

From the other side, Xavier's voice came. "I'm sorry, Ravyn. Boss made me do it."

Ravyn slammed his shoulder against the door. "Don't bullshit me! Open the damn door!"

A voice came from the shadows of the room.

"Oh… you're already here, young Grantham."

Ravyn spun. A man stepped out from the corner, he was average height and thin. He smiled too.

Ravyn's hand snapped to the katana on his back, blade sliding free with a hiss. "Who the hell are you?"

The man tilted his head. "I'm hunting down and killing everyone tied to Darius Grantham. And you just happened to be his kin."

Ravyn's grip tightened. "I don't know what the hell you're talking about..."

The man's smile sharpened. "You don't have to... but everyone tied to Darius is a threat to the Hall Of Custodia. And threats must be erased."

Ravyn gritted his teeth. "I'd like to see you try, jackass."

He lunged, the katana sliced through the air. And the man dodged every slice.

"You're fast..." he said, then his grin widened. "But not fast enough."

His fist slammed into Ravyn's gut, a brutal blow that knocked the air from his lungs. His other hand shot up, gripping Ravyn by the throat, stopping him from flying backward. The katana clattered to the floor. Ravyn coughed blood, vision swimming.

The man didn't stop. He drove fist after fist into Ravyn's ribs and guts. Pain tore through him and the world was blurring.

With one desperate surge, Ravyn smashed his forehead into the man's face. The grip on his neck loosened. He shoved free, and right when he turned to the door...

Xavier stood there.

Ravyn froze, eyes wide. "Why are you doing this? I thought we were..."

The gunshot cut him off. The first bullet tore into his shoulder, spinning him sideways. He gasped, clutching at the wound. The second slammed into his gut, forcing blood up his throat.

"Xavier…" His voice cracked. "Why…?"

Xavier's hand shook around the gun, his face twisted with something between sorrow and stone. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Boss said… you were going to get us all killed."

Xander fired two more bullets to his chest.

Ravyn collapsed and lood pooled beneath him, the room tilted and the edges of sight went soft. In the silence that swelled the thought came:

This how I'm going, huh? Killed by my own friend... I feel... so lonely.

And my heart is burning... is this how death feels like?

No... not death. This is...

HATRED! I HATE THEM…

I HATE THEM ALL!

They chose to kill me all because of a man who abandoned me?

I WANT THEM TO BURN!

I WANT TO BURN THEM ALL!

BURN! BURN! BURN!

Darkness swallowed him. And tlast sound he made was more thought than voice.

Ravyn woke up in shock, eyes snapping open like someone had just poured fire into his chest. He sat up so quick his head spun, his hands pressed against the dirt beneath him.

"What the… that was a dream?" he muttered to himself.

He looked down and realized with a rush that he was naked. Naked in a forest he didn't recognize.

"Wait… where am I? And why am I… naked?"

Before he could piece anything together, a voice came from behind the trees. Calm and feminine.

"This way."

Ravyn whipped around, trying to cover himself with his arms. Footsteps followed the crunch of boots in dirt. Then she stepped out: a girl with a massive sword slung casually over her back, its hilt nearly as tall as she was. Two guys followed behind her and all three of them froze when their eyes landed on him.

"Whoa..." one of the guys blurted out.

Ravyn's face burned red. He immediately tried to cover up as best as he could, crouching down, his arm crossing his chest.

"Where am I?" he asked.

The girl tilted her head. "You're in Grimland."

The taller of the two guys narrowed his eyes. "I think he's a newdrop."

The girl turned back to Ravyn, and tossed something toward him... a tattered black cloak. He snatched it and wrapped it quickly around himself.

"You're in the underworld." she said flatly.

Ravyn blinked. "Underworld… like Hell?"

"No..." she deadpanned. "Heaven."

That actually made him pause, blinking, before he said, "That explains it…"

Her eyes narrowed. "I was being sarcastic."

"Oh..." Ravyn muttered, then scowled. "Wait, then how do I get back to Earth?"

The taller guy said simply, "You don't."

"Why not?" Ravyn pressed.

"Because you..." the shorter one started but the tall one quickly cut him off with a hissed "Shhh."

They suddenly crouched low, moving toward the bushes ahead.

"Come on, I gotta.." Ravyn whispered, crawling after them.

The girl snapped her head around and hissed at him, "You're gonna scare our hunt, newdrop. And if you do, then we won't be able to kill it. We don't kill, we don't get paid. No pay, no food. And the we gonna eat you."

Ravyn swallowed hard.

The girl stepped forward, her hand gripping her giant blade. The bushes shook violently and then something burst out... a beast on four legs, thick-bodied, its skin rippling with muscle and black slime dripping from its jaws.

It sprinted straight toward her, ground thundering beneath its charge.

Ravyn's eyes widened. "What the hell is that..."

But the girl was calm. She planted her foot, lifted her massive blade and in a single motion, the already huge sword gigantic and impossibly long. She swung it in a clean arc.

The ground split as the force tore forward, the blade extending mid-swing until it cleaved straight through the beast before it even reached her. The creature was cut in half in midair and when it hit the ground, the impact destroyed it.

"Yeah..." the taller one said with a grin. "That's our Captain for you."

Ravyn just stood frozen. His mouth hung slightly open before he managed, "That's… cool."

The guys moved quickly to drag the remains, already working. One of them called back, "Hey, newdrop! You staying behind?"

Ravyn snapped out of it and hurried after them. "Why do you keep calling me that?"

"Because you just dropped from Earth, simple." the tall one answered casually.

Ravyn stumbled a step. "So I'm really… dead?"

The girl didn't even glance at him when she said, "We're all dead, man."

Ravyn's voice came low. "…Oh."

The shorter guy smirked and snapped his fingers. "Hey, I thought of a name for you. How about… Dex?"

Ravyn frowned. "No, I already have a name. It's Ravyn."

Both guys froze and exchanged a look. "Wait... you already thought of a name for yourself?"

Ravyn shook his head quickly. "No, that's the name I got from birth."

The girl finally turned. "Wait, you remember your Earth name?"

Ravyn frowned back. "Wait, don't you?"

All three of them stopped. Their faces hardened, suspicion creeping into their eyes.

"We don't remember anything about Earth." the tall one said slowly.

Ravyn blinked. "Uh…"

The girl's sword was suddenly at his throat, faster than he even saw her move. The tip of the blade pressed just under his jaw.

"Who are you?" she demanded.

"I told you..." Ravyn said quickly, hands up. "My name is Ravyn!"

Her eyes narrowed as they scanned him. Then she spotted a strange black mark glowing faintly on his hand.

"What is this?" she asked sharply.

Ravyn stared at it too, shocked. "I… I don't know. I didn't have this back on Earth."

The girl's lips pressed thin. Then she yanked her sword away and turned. "Let's go."

"And his not coming with us." she said without looking back.

"Then at least tell me how to get back." Ravyn pleaded.

She spun around, her voice rising like thunder. "YOU DON'T!"

Ravyn froze in place.

They turned to leave, one of the guys muttered, "We can't leave him here, he'll get killed."

"Not our problem." the girl snapped.

"Come on..." the shorter one said. "He'll be under my protection, then."

The girl didn't respond but didn't stop him either.

The shorter guy clapped Ravyn on the back. "Alright, you're with us. I'm Yuseke. The other one's Kevin. And our Captain there... she's Luna."

Ravyn nodded slowly, still processing.

"She's… good, you know. Though she's had her trust broken a couple of times. It's hard to get close to her now but she'll open up." Yuseke looked thoughtful for a moment. "I hope."

Ravyn walked alongside them, clutching the cloak around him tighter. His mind spun with one thought over and over:

"Dead... I'm dead. "