SWNOVELS Chapter 12: White hood
White hood
After entering the password solemnly, it changed every goddamn day for crying out loud, I finally was let into our secret lair. Which also changed locations to every other safe house each month. The room was already filled with the darkest individuals of Caros. Anyone that liked to dabble on the wrong side of the fence had a joined interest now and we were happy to endure each other’s company if it meant keeping the goal intact. A democratic mobster convention, that’s what this was.
Only a few identities were clear to me. Others have always remained a mystery. The seven all wore different colored hoods, mine was white. The red one, our unspoken leader, was female and the only one whose identity I knew of. The only one who held leverage over me and mine.
The red hood raised her arms and motioned for all of us to join her at the round table. Eery candlelight made everyone look even scarier because the hoods made it so that everyone was now concealed in deep, dark shadows. We all wore voice distortion masks as well, in case a hood slipped. Any identity revealed would also mean your head would slip too.
The red hood spoke and it still send chills up and down my spine.
‘Congratulations.’ She said in that eery robotic voice. ‘The first part of our mission was carried out successfully.’
Everyone around the table clapped slowly for her and each other. I joined because I didn’t want to be the only one not celebrating the death of billions.
‘Is the asset secure?’ the man underneath the green hood asked.
The red hood turned her head slowly in his direction, her voice lashing out like a viper. ‘If it was we wouldn’t still be here.’
It was always made clear we were a union of convenience. As soon as it was done we would never see each other again. I already had my plans in place, because I knew what she meant by that. Only one hood would live and leave this place with all the secrets we had discussed over the years. And it will be me.
‘When?’ the black hood asked.
‘Soon.’ Was all the red one answered while subtly glancing my way.
It sends chills up and down my spine. If this succeeded. I needed to get everyone I cared about, which I could count on one hand, out of Caros. Out of planet. We needed to be interstellar. It was the only reason I was still here and the red one knew. I was here for information. But she needed me for a big part of the mission and it was keeping me alive for now. It was keeping my family alive.
Elia Welkin knew she needed me to finish the job.