Do or Die

Maxene has been standing in front of their apartment door for a while. This is where she lives with her younger brother Matthew. It is on the second floor of the apartment building that they have been renting for five years now since they left the house that Chairman A gave them. She knows that Matthew is inside because his school year hasn't started yet.

For some reason, she couldn't bring herself to open the door and meet her brother. Perhaps it's because of the guilt she's feeling inside. Thinking about guilt makes her chuckle.

"How can I be guilty now if I've been doing this for eight years already? It's too late to feel this way," she thought to herself ignoring the negative feeling that was starting to fill her heart. As soon as she got read of her emotions, she opened the door and found Matthew watching tv.

The sound of the door opening caught his attention. And the moment their eyes met, a smile formed on Matthew's lips. "Sis!" he exclaimed and leaped out of the sofa to hug her.

Slowly, Maxene hugged him back. Matthew knows nothing of the organization yet there has always been a dagger pointed at his neck. "My innocent brother… you should be spared from all of this," she pondered as she slowly clench her fist.

"Are you okay, sis?" Matthew who seemed to notice it, let go but as soon as he did that, Maxene's emotion instantly soften.

"Of course, I am," she replied and gave him a caring smile. It wasn't fake or made up like what she does during her missions. What she shows towards her brother is real as he is the only family she knows and loves. Maxene believes that Matthew is the only one that should matter to her. She doesn't care anymore if she'd end up the villain because she'd do anything so that her brother could have a normal and safe life.

"I thought you were tensed or something," he said and raised an eyebrow.

She did the same thing and responded, "Why would I be tensed?"

"Hmm, like maybe you did something I won't like," he uttered with a stern look on his face.

"Like what?" she said casually and sat on the sofa to rest. She put her handbag beside her and rested her back on the sofa.

"Since you're now going to college, I figured you'd find a guy there," he replied and squinted his eyes.

"Eww, why would you think that? It's literally my first day."

Matthew knew nothing about her mission, nor does he know her job. All he knows was that she went back to studying with the help of 'A'. That's right, Matthew knows Chairman A. Matthew knows him as a kind man who helps them, sends them to school, and gives his sister a job. He also didn't know that the name "Claire" that they have is fake.

The chairman told them to change their name, and right now, Matthew has forgotten his real name. After all the trauma he's been through, all he could remember was his sister and she doesn't intend to let him know.

Matthew sat on the couch in front of her and beamed which reminded Maxene of a golden retriever. "By the way, sis, classes for grade 11 are coming soon. What school do you think can I go to?" he queried with his face full of excitement.

She paused after hearing what her brother said. Maxene doesn't know what the future holds. She couldn't tell if she'll finish her mission successfully or not. And if she did, what would happen to Matthew? Should he just study somewhere far or should he remain here with her?

If anything, Maxene doesn't want to disrupt his study once he started studying at one of the universities in this city. But at the same time, she doesn't know how long her mission is going to be. For now, she decided to lie.

"Anywhere you want of course. Just not outside the city. I'd like you near so I could watch over you," she said casually and decided to head to the kitchen to cook their dinner. The senior high school first semester is going to start in two months so she still has time to plan things out.

"I've already cooked," he beamed.

"Woah, the little boy knows how to cook?" she remarked satirically while her eyes widened, acting surprised.

"Tsk, why do you keep treating me like a child? I'm already 16 years old," he replied in annoyance. "Plus, I'm even taller than you! I should be the one watching and protecting you, not the other way around!" he argued.

"Oh please, height does not indicate strength. Why don't you start going to the gym first?" she teased him and stick her tongue out before preparing the table.

"I am," he briefly answered which made her silent. She turned her head and looked at her brother who seemed upset. Now that she looks at him, he seems in good health and getting bigger. She was so busy at work that she didn't notice the changes in his body.

Now, he was probably thinking he wasn't doing a great job because his sister didn't notice it at all. He might be tall but he's still a child that needs love and attention.

"I was just kidding! Come here let's eat?" she said and chuckled then sat down.

He looked at her with her eyes twinkling in happiness, "So you think my physique has improved?"

Maxene punched his arm causing him to flinch. "Yeah, a little. You gotta work more," she responded.

Meanwhile, Matthew seemed determined after what she said. "Don't worry sis! I will work hard to be strong and live a good life!"

Maxene chuckled and said, "Just eat."

—

It was already nine in the evening when Matthew decided to sleep. Meanwhile, Maxene was left to finish her assignments. The workload is not yet bad since it was just essays. And even though these kinds of tasks were basic, she enjoyed herself.

Maxene never had a regular education since she had to train when she initially became part of the organization at the age of 12. She did, however, study, and her professors were all from the organization. They taught her advanced lessons, and she had to catch up quickly, or else she'd be beaten up as a punishment. She had to train to become a powerful and skilled assassin so she would be able to survive the kind of life they put her through. She had to go through all of that just to get where she is now.

And finally, after eight years, she's got the chance to escape. She won't let it slip off her hands. Never. Maxene realized that she has been clenching her fist hard when her palm suddenly started bleeding but she seemed not bothered by it.

When Maxene's phone started vibrating, she saw a message popping out of the screen saying: I'm outside.

It was that same familiar number again.

Maxene glanced at Matthew's closed bedroom door before she finally stood up and headed to the door. The moment she opened the door, she a familiar scent lingered in her nostril, and when she looked up, she saw Crow standing on the roof of the two-storey apartment next to them.

Crow turn around when he noticed her presence and swiftly jump from the roof to the corridor of Maxene's apartment located on the second floor.

"I still can't believe you manage to hack into their system," she uttered and rested her arms to the railings as she stared at the moon in the sky. Maxene meant the University Royale's system but she had to be careful when they are speaking in public.

"I didn't," he briefly replied which made her frown then turn her head at him.

She raised an eyebrow and said, "What do you mean? Someone else is…"

Crow nodded before she could complete what she meant to say. "That person has been working there for a long time so no one would suspect."

"I see. So A has been planning this for a long time," Maxene responded and looked at the sky again as she clasped her hands together.

"Yeah. Seems like it."

"So what else did you come here for?" she queried.

"Report. I did what you told me to do. And I came here to say that the success of my mission depends on your success. So don't disappoint," he stated with a face devoid of emotions. It seems like he already has an idea what her mission is all about unlike Raven who has no idea of what his mission is. All that she understands is that their missions are connected and if she fails, he fails too.

"You don't have to threaten me. I'm going to finish this no matter what," she responded and went inside her apartment without looking back at him.

Maxene knew that the life of his mother depends on this too. If they end up failing, both of them will suffer forever.

–

End of Chapter 10