“Are we certain about this?”

     “It’s worth more than every hyalt we’ve earned hunting hexes." I say. 

    Inna and I follow the path the scroll indicates. We're given direction to reach Verlice bay. But first we must pass Syrah and the redwoods. The moon is high up today, and the night is growing so cold. I clear my throat, "We could get out of here—once we get the girl and we’re given our money.” 

    It's true. We've always wanted a life where we can exist in peace. Money shall solve it--a hundred and fifty thousand hyalt is more than enough for us to take a ship and get out of this hellhole. It's enough for us to begin again and leave our identities as Indi and Inna Vaughn. 

    But before that happens, we have to make the impossible happen.

    Retrieve a person from a ghost town.

    Get said person to the Fortress, the madam, specifically. That--I am not certain of how yet. We either convince her, or force her to come with us. Unless.. she is aware?

    Or we can just knock her out.

    I analyze all the ways this could be a facade--a trick that the madam would play upon us. Although the madam is many things, she is no hoaxer. This is real.

    My sister is not paying attention. Instead she picks out leaves from every branch her shoulder hits and rips the leaves apart. I speak louder, “Inna, we could get out.”

    She shakes her head. “They will not let us go that easily, Indi.”

    “Whoever says we’d tell them?"

    Inna frowns and looks away. I find that in all of my years, she's always toned down my recklessness--kept me in control and reasonable. I continue, "I mean, no one needs to know. As long as we’re together.”

    She looks at me then, as if reconsidering. But she says nothing.

Together. That is the promise we've always kept. We go through it together.

Our hoods are on, masks up. The night breeze sends up shivers down my nape. I rub the back of my head lightly and breathe. I have to be in control tonight. No messing around. 

    I can sense that my sister is smiling lightly, we've reached our path into the location, a long and narrow one, surrounded by massive trees, encasing us into the forest. She nods after a moment and focuses on the narrow path nearing us. The entrance through the old town. 

“We go through this path, then we reach the opening to Verlice bay." She explains, recalling the information we just read. "Do we even have boat to reach the ruins?”

“We don’t need a boat.” I say.

Surprisingly, there are only a few active bloodstrings inside this path. Those few are a few feet away from us, so there is no need to bother about hexes closing around us. Unless.. we cut a bloodstring and wake one up. 

    Hexes are like dominos, you push one, you affect the others close to it. Cut a bloodsting, you disturb a hex in its slumber. Otherwise, hexes do not usually attack. They just exist. That is as much as we know about the creatures.

    I could be wrong.

    “The madam never asked us to retrieve a person." Inna starts. "Steal, sure. But we’re hex hunters for heaven’s sake!”

    “Why did you agree?” I ask.

    “Because you agreed!" She looks back at me, eyes narrow. "Why did you?”

    “If I didn’t, she’d still make us do it.”

    Of course, my sister is confused by my statement. She might think that the madam would convince and offer us a better reward--beg us to accept her offer. And eventually she would be able to make us agree for a fairer price. Or, the madam could kill us if she desires so. 

    At least that's what Inna has witnessed. What she does not know will not hurt her.

    We're too valuable for the fortress. Especially for the madam.

    Inna's curiosity gets the better of her and starts asking about what else the madam would do if we declined. She really has no clue. Before I can explain, Inna falls from her horse.

    I yell my sister's name--but it is too late. The hex has propelled itself towards my sister, both of them falling on the ground. 

    And the only thing standing between Inna and the hex is her blade.