Shadow Of The Nightshade

Day 10: •°Discharge•°

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The Nightshade

'It's been days now.' Vanessa sighed, rubbing her brow in distress. 'Three days since Shadow lost all claim to being the head of the Gotham Division.

'Three days since we've mercilessly clung to the title. . .and what do we get for it? Countless men dead.'

'It's only natural,' One started with a grim smile, almost blending in with the darkness in his all black, tight-fitting attire. 'It's been five months since she had been in authority for over twenty four hours, she is—'

'A clear sign of irresponsibility,' another voice started, 'always whisked away by this and that. She doesn't even care about—'

'Enough Nicole!' Vanessa smiled in resignation, playing with the pills in hand, rolling them between her slender fingers as they caught light in the dim room. 'I already have an headache.'

'You know what?' The slim, inconspicuous girl, almost unnoticed in the room finally snapped, throwing down her mask, swords, and all symbols of identification. 'I quit. Deal with all this shit yourselves, it's not my mess. It's yours.'

Vanessa's fingers streaked through her now dirty blonde hair, the drugs enclosed in her tightly closed fist.

'How many are left?' she asked as eighteen year old Nicole took her leave.

'Just twenty seven, including us.' Three hastened to add after a slight moment of hesitation. 'Us and the kids.'

'Send the kids to the orphanages.'

'An orphanage, Nessa?!' Three cried out in shock. 'Please reconsider.'

'I can't give them protection, can't even pretend to.' Vanessa shook her head slightly.

'Then who can!' Three shouted in anger, but mostly frustration. Everything was falling apart and no one seemed to care.

'Are you going to leave too?' Vanessa asked suddenly.

'No.' The eyes of the younger girl softened as did her tone of voice. 'No, why would I do that, you-'

Tears hit the floor as Three failed to hold them back, sniffling as she took a step back in an attempt to control herself.

'Theresa.' Vanessa called out softly to Three, wrapping her arms round the pink haired girl.

'You—' Theresa looked up through misty eyes.

'I love you.'

'Wh—' Three gasped in surprise at the pinprick pain in her neck, passing out almost immediately after, unable to complete her sentence.

Vanessa sighed—she seemed to be doing that often—picking up the unconscious girl.

'Mom and Dad are going to kill me for this, Terry.' she mumbled to her sister.

'Miles.' She called out softly, seeing Five walking out the dark corner of the room. 'Is it done?'

'All inhabitants of the Kindergarten have been relocated and separated into several orphanages in the district, albeit reluctantly.'

She laughed, for a moment letting herself forget about the despondency of her situation. 'I would have expected no less, especially when Six is with them.'

'Yeah, she wasn't too happy about that, had to give her a sedative.' Five flashed a boyish smile. 'And what's with using my name all of a sudden?'

Vanessa pressed her lips into a grim line, thinking about how to break the news. Turns out she didn't need to. Five took a step back in disbelief.

'You're dismissing me, aren't you?'

'Yes.' Vanessa answered, striving to talk as shortly as possible. 'Twenty seven isn't enough to lead a rebellion. We're disbanding.'

'Disbanding?' Miles shook his head, glaring at her. 'No, you can't do that.'

'I can.' Vanessa said resolutely. 'And I will.'

'No you can't.' He raised his voice in disapproval. 'I won't let you.'

'It's already done.' She sighed, watching as confusion flashed through his eyes. The same eyes filled passionately with hatred and realization when he fainted.

One had knocked him out from behind. 'He'll forgive you soon enough, when he comes to understand.'

'I seriously doubt your words, One.'

'Does that mean you won't discharge me as well, Seven?' he asked in reply, grinning as he adjusted the boy strewn over his shoulder, taking Theresa off her sister's hands.

'I'm not strong enough to carry on alone.' Vanessa admitted with a weak smile.

'But the others?'

'Twenty seven is not enough to rebel.' She repeated with a coy smile. 'But two is.'

'I hoped you'd say three.' An arm slipped around her waist, startling her, yet she felt safe.

'Carter.' she whispered, breathless. 'I didn't think you'd come.'

'I wouldn't miss it for the world.' He laughed. 'The heroes have probably forgotten about me, with everything that's happening.'

'Seven, who's that last pill for?' One abruptly asked with glaring suspicion. Two had been used on Miles and Theresa to erase their numbers, but there was still one left.

'You.' Vanessa decided to get the affair over with, breaking out of Carter's warm hold. 'This is my fight, not yours.'

'But it's his?' He pointed at Carter gravely.

'Since I was born.' Carter stepped forward.

Vanessa offered One the pill with no further explanation, which he accepted bitterly and crushed in his hand.

'I can feel it dissolving, the seal of loyalty.' He pulled up his sleeve staring wistfully at the fading number.

'Will you ever forgive me for this act of betrayal?' Vanessa asked quietly in apprehension of the answer.

'I'll take care of them.' He ignored the question, taking his leave.

'Ah, Dmitri.' She turned around, away from him. 'I'm sorry it has to be this way. I'm only following orders.'

'Take care of yourself, Leader.' he sighed once then disappeared.

'It's okay, V.' Carter took her cold hands in his.

'Easy for you to say, this has been your mission your whole life.'

'It's not easy.' he corrected gently. 'A lot of times, I feel like ending it all.'

'Sorry.' She squeezed his hands. 'I'm just tired.'

'Don't worry, it'll be over before you know it.'

'I just wish I could take a pill.' Vanessa let out a breath. 'But I know it's selfish to and that'd mean leaving you.'

There was a pause as Carter absorbed her words.

'Thank you.'

She only smiled, leaning against him.

'You're welcome.'

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