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xi. pulling the trigger

Like then, the two older girls listened now, smiles creeping on their faces.

"You have the same manipulation powers as her." Maria broke their silence as she set the ice pack down on the countertop.

Ellie smirked, "At least I didn't inherit her attitude."

"Hey—" The brunette went to defend herself only to be shushed by her sister. She would've argued, but the suddenly serious look on her face had her just as alert.

"What?" Maria whispered, confused about her sudden concern.

Their heads flicked over toward the door when they heard a small clink, much like a penny hitting a wooden floorboard. The only thing up there was the locked front door.

An unspoken signal to hide caused both girls to find a hidden spot in the room. Maria swiftly found herself crouched behind the bar while Ellie went to shield herself behind the heavy, decorative curtain hanging from the walls like drapes. It was practically muscle memory as they both slid out the daggers hidden in their clothing, awaiting whoever was breaking into their speakeasy.

Multiple culprits swarmed their heads. It could've been other members from a variety of different victims they had, it could've been someone trying to 'avenge' someone the girls had taken out without a second thought, main target or not. The possibilities were endless because, a secret to no one, they had a lot more enemies than allies.

The low creak of footsteps making their way down the stairs cause them to hold their breath, and all they could do was wait for the moment to act.

Ellie peeked out an open part of the curtain, spotting the tall forms of men dressed in black entering the bar with heavy but slow steps. She counted one... two... three... four... the last two entered together with their guns raised, making a total of six. And with Estelle and Anthony somewhere upstairs with no knowledge of what was happening, she couldn't help but feel a little fearful of how this would all play out.

Her heart stopped when she heard a small creak, all of them turn in one direction—the bar.

It was like the air was stolen from her chest, and never once has she had questioned the outcome of one of their fights. This was the first time they had no plan.

They stepped closer with their guns pointed at the bar.

Behind it, Maria closed her eyes with a silent, slow breath. Her hands were sweating profusely, but she gripped her two daggers tighter. She inwardly cursed at herself for not stashing a gun back there.

They stepped closer; at the same time, Ellie silently drew the curtain back. The music still playing throughout the room did nothing to diffuse the bloodlust in the air, but it did wonders at helping cover up her steps as she made sure to step in sync with their invaders.

They were just inches from looking over where Maria was getting ready to pop up to defend herself, only Ellie was quick to come up behind one, reaching her blade in front of his neck and slicing it open before anyone could even blink.

She then threw her other at the one closest to Maria into the back of his head. They both fell to the floor, bleeding out as the four men panicked.

One raised their gun to Ellie, being the first to react to her now blood-soaked hands but Maria sprung up and kicked the gun right out of his grip.

Ellie couldn't stare too long as her attention was shifted to the two men in front of her. She raised her fists the moment they lifted their guns.

Maria, however, used the momentum of her kick to swing her other up and roughly shove him back, promptly throwing the knife still gripped in her hand to land right in his chest as he stumbled back onto the stairs.