A faint metallic scent, still clings to my skin as I move through the apartment to my room, take a bath, clean my blades, and prepare to start my day.
My gaze drifts to the calendar. Saturday.
Today, I am going to spoil Elias rotten.
A soft knock echoes from my bedroom door. "Lia? You awake?" Elias's voice is soft and a little hesitant.
"Come in," I answer.
He peeks in, a shy smile on his face. "Morning. You promised we'd go out today. There's this new amusement park that just opened, my friends have been talking about it nonstop... can we go there?" He asks, making cute faces.
An amusement park? It feels alien. I've never been to one before. "Amusement park it is," I say. How can I possibly say no to a face like that? "Give me ten minutes."
"Great!" He beams. The light in his eyes is almost enough to chase away the lingering shadows of the night within me.
We spend the morning riding roller coasters that make my stomach clench in a different way than a sniper's nest, and playing games where Elias, despite his academic brilliance, is comically terrible. I find myself laughing, a genuine, unforced sound, at his attempts to win a giant stuffed animal. It is strange and good. And for a few hours, the weight of who and what I am, the stench of copper and fear, simply fades.
Today I am just Elias's sister.
When we get back to the apartment later in the afternoon, I am extremely tired, but in a pleasant way. Elias, on the other hand, is the opposite.
"Lia, help me with your key."
"What about yours?"
"I think I forgot it inside."
"Oh, okay, here."
Elias fumbles with the key, a little too long. I take a step forward, wanting to ask what is wrong. Before I could, the door swings open.
"SURPRISE!"
Balloons in vibrant colors float against the ceiling. A banner strung across the living room screams "HAPPY BIRTHDAY LIACH!" As I step inside, our dining table is laden with food, and in the center, a chocolate lava cake, candles already lit, glows. Maya and Hilda stand there, grinning, their faces alight with excitement.
I freeze. My breath catches in my throat. Surprise, a foreign emotion, washes over me. Not the calculated surprise of an ambush, but the raw, joyful kind. My eyes go from the decorations to my friends, to Elias, who is now beaming, relief etched on his face.
"Happy birthday, Lia!" Maya cries, rushing forward for a hug.
Hilda joins in, squeezing me tight. "We got you, girl!"
I feel a lump in my throat. I haven't had a real birthday party in... I can't even remember. I blow out the candles, the sweetness of the moment almost overwhelming. I look at Elias and see the pride in his eyes.
"Thank you," I manage to say, the word feeling too small for the warmth blossoming inside my chest.
We spend the evening eating, laughing, and reminiscing. It is loud, chaotic, and utterly unexpected. For the first time in a long time, I feel like I belong somewhere other than a mission.
By Sunday morning, I wake up feeling strangely light.
"Beach day!" Hilda announces, practically kicking open my bedroom door. "Go get your swimsuit on, lazy!"
"Hilda, we just woke up."
"It doesn't matter. I'm taking you out to give you the treatment you deserve, so take your fucking ass out of that bed, go freshen up and get ready. While I go wake my man."
"But—"
"No buts. I don't want to come back and see you're not ready." With that, she storms off.
On getting to the beach, I can't find my swimsuit. I rummage through my duffel bag for the discreet black bikini I packed. I brush my fingers against clothes, skincares, but no bikini. I check again. Still nothing.
"Where could it have gone?" I ask myself, feeling frustrated.
"Looking for this?" Hilda stands opposite me, holding up a shimmering, barely-there red bikini.
I stare intently at it. "Hilda, no."
"Hilda, yes!" Hilda beams. "Come on! You've got the body, flaunt it! I have a spare one for you, my gift. Yours... got lost, right?" She winks.
Maya sighs, a smile plays on her lips. "She's not wrong, Lia. Just this once?"
"The both of you planned this, didn't you?"
"Nooo... where did you get that idea from?" Hilda says, handing me the bikini, feigning seriousness. "Go change, we're waiting." She whistles, walking away.
The moment I step onto the beach, heads turn. The tiny bikini hugs my curves, showcasing my frame. Sunlight kisses my skin, and for the first time in ages, I feel less like a weapon and more like a woman. I catch a few stares, some hungry, some envious.
We splash in the waves, build ridiculous sandcastles (Hilda's idea), and take countless selfies. I even allow a few goofy poses.
The day is pure, unadulterated fun.
Later, after showers and lounging, Hilda makes another declaration. "Girls' night out! Elias, you'll stay home, and wait for us, right."
Elias, who is engrossed in a textbook, looks up. "Yes, no problem. You guys go. Have a good time."
"But Eli, you'll be home alone again."
I'd been leaving him alone for too long.
"Lia. You deserve it." He gives me a small, hopeful smile.
What about what you deserve?
I say nothing, only nodding a silent acknowledgment of his understanding. If I should press further, Elias won't back down either.
Hilda, in her element, pulls out a black, asymmetrical dress for me. It hugs my figure perfectly, revealing just enough skin to be alluring, while remaining sophisticated. The fabric shimmers under the lights, and looking at my reflection, I see a dangerous elegance. I am a different kind of weapon in this dress.
"You ready to dance," Maya cheers.
"More like ready to conquer Italy?" Hilda grins.
The club vibrates with bass, a dizzying array of lights, and the scent of sweat and different perfume. We find a spot on the dance floor and lose ourselves in the music. Hilda, as expected, is a whirlwind, pulling us into the center of the crowd, laughing and letting loose.
Suddenly, a man steps up to me, his eyes raking over my body. Resting his uninvited hand on my hip, flashing a practiced smile. "Care for a dance, beautiful?"
Before I could even respond, a woman's voice, sharp and laced with venom, cuts through the music. "Back off, whore! Don't you see he's with me?"
The woman, with harsh eyes and a sneer, glares directly at me. "Some girls just need to flash everything to feel important. Pathetic. Looking for attention."
My muscles tense, a familiar coldness spreads through me. What's this bitch saying?
I'm used to insults, but something about the woman's casual words, her dismissive tone towards my friends, lights a fuse.
But before I could move, Hilda was already there, a blur of motion.
"Excuse me?!" Hilda's voice is surprisingly calm, but her eyes blaze. "Who the hell are you to talk about my friend like that? 'Pathetic'?"
"Oh, look, the little guard dog is barking," the woman sneers. "Go back to your little group, honey. Your friend is just a cheap slu—"
Hilda lunges. A high-pitched shriek tears through the air as Hilda grabs the woman's hair, twisting her head hard. "You think you can call my friend a slut? You think a man makes you important?!" Hilda roars, pulling the woman's head back, her face inches from hers. "Who told you that your man is of any importance?!"
The man frowns. "Watch your mouth."
Hilda's smile turns wicked. "Why don't you control your girl first? Them maybe after that you can be considered!"
The woman shoves her.
Big mistake.
In a flash, Hilda grabs her hair. "Talk about my friend again! And see if I don't break something apart your face!"
She drags the woman's head down, slamming it against a nearby railing. "My friend is a queen! And your man... your man is trash that doesn't even deserve her shadow!"
"Hilda! Stop!" Maya yells, horrified, trying to pull Hilda off.
I, despite the sudden shock, move to help Maya. Hilda is a force of nature when she is angry. The bouncers are already moving in, drawn by the commotion.
Hilda, still clinging to the woman's hair, is dragged away, still yelling, "She called you a slut, Lia! No one calls you a slut! Her man is nothing!"
Maya and I practically haul Hilda out of the club, leaving the stunned man and his bruised girlfriend behind. Outside, the night air is cool, but Hilda is still radiating fury.
"I can't believe she called you that!" Hilda fumes, panting, eyes still wild. "And that man? He's a joke! No one calls you a slut except me."
I watch as she keeps pacing, causing a slow smile to touch my lips. "You really showed her, Hilda."
"She's lucky I didn't rip her hair out!" Hilda yells as we leave the club.
Maya just shakes her head, a mix of exasperation and pride on her face. "Some girls' night out."
All three of us laugh breathlessly.
"You are crazy," Maya says, shaking her head.