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KENDRA'S HEART WAS pounding so hard, she was afraid the others could hear it. She followed Serena along the dark alley, her fists clenched tightly at her sides.
Breathe, you idiot, she told herself. They're going to think you are nervous. She forcefully unrolled her fingers and stretched her hands, wiping her sweaty palms on her jeans.
A squeak to her right startled her and she glanced over at a collection of scattered litter that had blown up against a dumpster. A flash of movement, grey fur and a long, naked tail was all she saw as the rat vanished beneath a newspaper. She shuddered visibly and swallowed.
Breathe, you idiot.
"Kind of a funny place to do business isn't it," she asked Serena, who was three paces ahead of her.
"Try to keep up, won't you," Serena whispered, glancing at her quickly. "We don't want to keep them waiting."
The two boys they were following turned left at a T-intersection and hurried along between the tall buildings. Serena followed them, turning to gesture at Kendra.
"This way, hurry," she hissed.
Kendra stepped over a paper bag and flinched as she walked into a gust of steam that was seeping from a pipe that jutted a short way out of a wall. The odor of fried food and garbage assaulted her senses and she resisted the urge to put her hand over her nose and mouth. She swallowed convulsively and hurried on.
“Oh, one more thing,” Serena said, glancing back at Kendra. “Don’t use my name.”
“Your name? Why not?”
“Just don’t. They know me as Gemma. You got that?”
“Gemma. Okay.”
They came around another corner and Kendra saw a small group of about five people, standing under an overhang that led to an underground parking lot. They all looked up when Serena and Kendra arrived with the two young men.
Serena immediately walked over to one of the taller men of the group, smiling up at him as he slipped his arm around her waist.
"Corbin, this is the girl I was telling you about." She smiled at Kendra.
Corbin moved away from Serena and approached Kendra, the barest hint of a crooked smile on his face. Wavy brown hair hung down to his collar and as he stepped forward, the nearby streetlight revealed that his eyes were a pale blue. His square jaw and a straight nose belonged to a man in his early twenties, in a face devoid of wrinkles or gray hairs. Even though he wasn't much older than Kendra was, he appeared to be the oldest one of the group. The rest of the small band waited silently, watching her closely. A quick glance showed that there was another girl in the group, as well as the four other men.
Kendra licked her lips and took a calming breath, resisting the urge turn and run.
Corbin lifted his chin slightly in greeting. "So why have you come to see us? What do you hope to gain from this?"
Kendra looked around at the rest of the faces, then back at their leader. "I don't hope to gain anything. I was brought here to meet you."
"Why?"
Kendra looked at Serena, alarmed. What was he asking?
Serena gave her a small smile, nodding encouragingly.
She looked back at Corbin and shrugged. "I heard you help people. This town needs more people like that. Besides," she licked her lips again and looked at the other people. "There won't be a lot of jobs when we graduate from high school, and I want to be able to help my mom out. I don't want to be wondering where my next meal is coming from. Uh, Gemma said you guys could provide some...security." She lifted her chin and tried to project far more confidence than she felt.
He nodded and took a step back, glancing back at his pack.
"What do you know about us?" he asked.
"Not much. Just that you find things for people when they can't get them anywhere else, and you get supplies to people who need them."
"That's right."
"Can I ask you a question?"
"Go right ahead."
"Are you running a Black Market type thing?" She forced herself to meet his eyes unwaveringly.
He thought about that for a moment and lifted a hand dismissively. "Something of the sort. But our services go beyond getting insulin to low income diabetics."
"You do that?"
"Of course, but we also get luxury items and do favors for people who can afford to pay for them."
"What kind of favors?"
Again, he waved the question away. "Not important right now. However," he moved a step closer to her. "There is a reason you were brought to me."
"And that is?" Kendra's heart felt like it was going to rise up in her throat and choke her.
"I'm always on the lookout for useful people. You know, people who have skills or connections that we can use to our advantage."
She narrowed her eyes at that. "How do I fit in to that?"
He glanced back at Serena, who grinned broadly. "I hear you are good with numbers. That's always a useful skill in an organization such as ours. As well, I have been made aware that your connections may be useful at some level."
"My connections?"
He smiled. "I understand you boyfriend's dad is a cop."
The color drained from her face as the repercussions of this meeting hit her. "I don't know anything about what goes on at the police station."
"Maybe you do, maybe you don't. Maybe you just happen to hear something here and there. We're giving you the opportunity to trade that information and your talent with numbers, for some benefits." He bared his teeth in a humorless grin. "The 'security' you're looking for."
"Why do you need information about the police?"
He shrugged again. "In our line of work, it helps to know what the police are up to, what they know, where they are, that sort of thing. They wouldn't take any notice of you. You're not the kid of a policeman."
"And if I don't agree to help you?"
He waved his hand. "You're free to go and you'll never hear from us again. But," he smiled, "You won't have our protection or our 'security', you won't find a job that will pay you better, and you're completely on your own. And you won't be helping anyone else in this city. Your choice."
Kendra looked over at Serena, who took a few steps towards her.
"You want to make a difference in this town?" Serena indicated the people standing around her. "These people have the resources and the power to make a difference. You just can't question how they do it."
Kendra took a step back and turned around to look down the empty alley. She crossed her arms across her chest and took a deep breath. This was a lot to think about, but she did want to help the people of this city. She wanted to help her mom. She felt a stab of guilt when she thought of Mitch's plans for them. What did he have, though? Big plans and high ideals? Grand adventures and no money? What kind of life was that? Who does that help? No one but Mitch. How could he take care of her if neither of them had money? Being broke for the rest of her life terrified her, but how could she better her situation if she couldn't pay for any training or education? If she had money, she could make something of herself. She could save up for college, and she would be helping the people of this town in the meantime.
She turned around and smiled at the group of people watching her. "Okay, what do I have to do?"
Corbin smiled and stepped forward, taking her hand to shake it. "Easy. You become one of us. You take a name that fits in the group, and you start your training."
"Name?"
He pushed up his sleeve to reveal a tattoo of the silhouette of a flying raven. "All of us have code names that relate to ravens. I'm Corbin. My deputy there," he indicated a tall, dark-haired young man who stood back in the shadows, "is Rook. You friend from school here," Serena stepped to his side, "is know to us as Gemma. Most of us don't know each other's real names, and if you do know someone's name, you are to never reveal it. This is why your friend did not introduce you by name. Understood?"
Kendra nodded. "Does the tattoo have to be on my wrist?"
"No. You can put it anywhere you want."
"Why ravens?"
"Ravens are the smartest of all the birds. They are resourceful and they can survive anywhere by taking advantage of opportunities around them. They network with other ravens and crows, as well as other birds and animals. That's what we do."
"Okay. When does this happen?"
"Two days from now. We have to decide on a name for you, and set up a time for your tattoo and your initiation. Your friend Gemma will let you know."
Kendra nodded and glanced at Serena, who nodded back.
Corbin held out his hand again. Kendra took it and they shook hands firmly.
"I'm glad to have met you. I'm sure you will make a useful addition to our little band."
"Thank you for the opportunity."
"Go. We'll talk again soon."
Kendra turned and followed Serena out of the maze of alleyways.