High Hopes

"I know, what I did was against your will and I am sorry for it. That's for sure. But then, she's innocent, okay? Her brother killed their father and stole all her inheritance, which led her to a temptation of exterminating him, likewise. Subsequently, she barged into his office — he works as a hacker under the government — and tried to kill him with a… pen? I forgot about it, but it is somewhat like that." I casually explained to my aunt, hoping she would buy it. It is not like I am fabricating the details, after all I was just stating Dyana's words.

"Honestly, I could have gotten out of the situation myself, not bothering to help Dyana. You can't blame me, though she begged for a hand and was saying that the constables would not spare her, let alone let her live peacefully." I am starting to feel a little pressured as Jean's eyes scanned me with a seemingly icy gaze.

"It is none of your business, child. And how close are you to her that you openly believed whatever she told you? I am truly disappointed in what you did." Jean said in between pursing her lips.

"Yeah, it's all on me. But, hey, listen I have a great idea. I mean, she can no longer go back to her place or show her face in public, for she will surely be doomed. We can at least send her away, somewhere no one knows who she is. Perhaps, the old town where you said we used to live? The place where, the Hudsons are residing." I am already old enough to know what is wrong and what is right. In fact, I consider my idea as a very terrible one, given that I would be using Dyana. Well, it is not like I am going to use her without consent. Of course, it would solely be possible if she agrees with it.

Growing up, without a parent, sure is not that easy. There would be times that I would feel alone and empty despite Jean's presence. I longed for a parent, biological parents to care for me, to guide me, to love me, and to support me. Hence, the nightmare of the night that my father died haunted me. I still remember how his lifeless body laid low on the ground as the blood flowed out of his wound, whilst his head eery like a fragile glass dropped on the floor – shattered.

"Do you hear yourself? Have you gone mad? You are going to send that Dyana in that godforsaken place to be your spy? You are losing it all, Sarah." Jean washed her hands on her face. She's frustrated.

"As absurd as it sounds, that is exactly what I am planning to do with her. Jean, you told me that you want to seek justice for the merciless extermination of our clan. That is why you trained me, taught me everything my father taught you, and made me go through a hell of anguish so that I would be able to defend myself, to protect myself. I thought you planned to take them down one by one. None of it is clear to me. Was it all just talk?" I blurted, infuriated.

Promptly, Jean's expression became wary as though she perceived danger in me. She merely want me to be careful around people, but it is about time that I go out there and decide for myself. After all, I am no longer a child.

"Your father sacrificed his life for your safety. I can't just let you do whatever you want to do just because you beseech for the Hudsons to suffer the same loss that you had endured all these years. Sarah, they are the most dangerous people to ever exist in the world of assassins. They can slash your head off your neck in a blink of an eye, without you knowing." Jean emotionally said. Pacing towards me, eyes welling with tears, she continued. "Let us not be reckless here, child."

Her words were like a dagger that stabbed through my heart, piercing through it. It pained me to reckon that Jean seemed to have settled with the desire of avenging our clan's extermination, buried in forgotten. The past may have been in the past, but I will not be at ease as long as the Hudsons live. I will have their heads whether with or without Jean.

"If not now, when? Jean! Snap out of your reluctant self, will you? Making them pay for what they have done is what we live for, is it not? Or perhaps, you have already given up?" Scoffing, I shook my head in disbelief as Jean stood in front of me, looking like she's trying to compose herself — restrain herself from exploding. She must be indignant of me, but I couldn't care less. "If that is the case, let me just remind you one thing Jean."

"Sarah…" She interjected, her tone rising in warning.

"Seven years ago, we forgave them thinking that if we stay away from them, they will stop chasing us in every corner of this planet. But, what did they do? They tracked us down, killed your husband and the baby in your stomach!" My tears were already flowing down my face upon reminiscing the hideous sight of my uncle Richard's headless body in the swimming pool of our house in Winsley. Because of it, Jean lost the baby in her stomach.

Jean placed her hands over my shoulders in a harsh manner, gripping them tightly. "Sarah, enough!"

"No! You need to accept the fact that no matter how much we run away from them, they will chase us. Back in Winsley, we thought we were going to live a normal life as you would be having a family with uncle Richard. Even so, it only took the Hudsons a very short period of time to ruin our hopes, once again. We may now resided thousands of miles away from the Larrion where we were born and where this all started, however, they will surely find us." I slapped Jean's hands off my shoulder with a forceful motion.

Walking past her, I stopped midway, back turned to her, I spoke without even sparing her a look. "Whether you approve it or not, I will send Dyana to Larrion, and supply her with all she needs. I will decide on my own now, for I do not care anymore. She will be my eyes and ears there."

Jean did not say anything, but I heard her releasing a defeated sigh. I could literally imagine her shoulders slouching down. "One more thing, I am positive that she will agree and that she is immense."

"Fine. Go, wash up and bring her here to eat with us."

My lips drew a wide smile in accord with Jean's words. I felt really delighted, like my heart is so light that I could not think of anything negative, for I apparently have my hopes unexpectedly high. "Alright, thanks Jean."