Hooded Robins

Part 1: Earning her Thorns

“Really wasn’t expecting that to be that easy.” Rose said, and scanned the place while stepping through a lock picked window trying to prevent her backpack from catching on anything. “I guess who’d wanna break into a funeral home other than me?” Looking around she saw, as usual, no expense was spared. The place had bright decorative walls, and a homey sort of feel. Contradicting the nature of its purpose. She staked out the place as long as she was able to. But was on a time limit, and had to move now. So well she wasn’t completely sure no one was here, and after putting away her lock picking tools. She pulled her hood up, kept low to the ground, and peaked around every wall.
Avoiding all the questions she raised up until now had been simple enough. Sure, a young girl looking around a funeral home seems weird to passersby. But a few big eyes, a couple sniffs, and a heartfelt story about a recently deceased granddad later, and it all seems like normal behavior. Was kind of annoying that one elderly couple wouldn’t leave her alone after deciding she had been there a few too many days, and should be moving on. But guess it gave her a refresher on tree climbing, and how to keep your balance on a branch without being spotted. Holding in all the sighs while she stayed there for hours on end trying not to think about all the friends she had lied to about homework or her family acting up a lot lately.

After all that time, now finally feeling safe in the middle of an empty room, she finally released a long sigh. “Maybe I should’ve thought about asking them to help more? No, there were too many variables not to keep this a solo operation.” Almost as if it was agreeing with her the lights in the building turned off, and she heard the automatic locks kick in. The window she had purposefully left open was now the safest way in or out, and leaving without what she came for at this point was not an option. She turned her flashlight on, and kept walking, meticulously scanning the rooms and halls for any other alarms.

She was pretty sure this wasn’t gonna be some big thriller spy movie with laser or trip wires, but there were definitely a few card scanners around. Not a real obstacle when she had the most important two. “Guess we’ll start with your office… mom.” swiping her mother’s key card, and opening the door.
Getting her parents’ ID cards had been no simple task. They left them alone even less than they left her alone. She kept up appearances, and behaved while watching where and when they left their precious keycards. Jumping a bit when her father spoke.

“Something wrong, sweetheart?” Her father asked.

“Oh no nothing it’s just I… heard something a little weird on the way to school a few days ago.” Rose replied.

“Heard what, dear?” Her mother asked, now also interested.

“Well, uh.” Rose looked to both her parents. “Does your funeral home service do… anything else?”

Her father dropped his fork. “Excuse me?”

“I know I'm not suppose to talk about it, or visit it." Rose said. "Actually there’s a lot of really strange rules given my age, and my own experiences with facing death. And I just think—”

“Go to your room.” Her father replied.

“What? But you two asked me a question, and—” Rose said.

“Now, young lady.” Her mother said.

Rose sighed, and got up taking a couple of books with her. “Fine. Whatever.”

“You’ve already read those—” Her father said.

“Pardon me for wanting to do something I like around here! Not like I'm ever allowed to leave!” Rose ran to her room, and locked the door. Collapsing onto the bed, and let the books fall to the floor. She pushed herself up, and looked down at the books immediately grabbing one. Her favorite one, the one that seems like a new adventure every time she read it. Despite it being the same tribe of nomads going on the same exact journey it calmed her. At least she could feel like what she desires to be like, if only for a little while.

Opening the door, and trying to dig through file cabinets with her flashlight in her teeth she was starting to wonder if she was really doing the right thing. Doubts flooded her mind as she found the binder she was looking for, and placed it on the desk. Even if what some old man in a suit had told her was true, did she really want to know? What if it was all just some prank on her or her parents? Or worse, what if it was all set up by her parents? She might end chained in her bedroom if that were the case. It was the last thought that sparked a rage, and with it she flung the binder open. “What?... What is all this?” She grabbed another binder, and compared. As she had been told, the two looked like night and day. One had names, dates of deaths, service fees, how many family members were showing up. The other was a mess of symbols, randoms shipments. Initials instead of names. And compared to its bother the latter folder’s prices seemed like 3 people had died at once. Rose stuff both the binders into her backpack, and spirited over to her dad's office swinging open the door. Yanking a file cabinet she stared at what was inside. And sat down on the floor leaning her back on the side of the desk for a moment. Just a few weeks ago this very idea would’ve seemed impossible, but the truth was right here, in front of her. And it did explain a lot the more she thought about it. All weird smells, all the secrecy, why she needed to practice magic all the time, especially sleight of hand tricks.

But somewhere inside, she did feel good. If her parents had managed to keep all this from their own daughter then what else were they doing? How long was all of this going on? At this point she knew only two things. She wanted answers, and she knew how to get them. Stuffing one of the drug packets into her backpack as well she climbed back out the window and closed it.
“Hello? It’s Rose.” Rose said. "I got it done. All of it.” She said leaving the backpack just outside the door of the funeral home she knew even less about than before. She waited for a limo, and got inside. A slow clap greeting her as the automatic doors closed.
“Well. Done. Miss. Rose. Tell me how did you—”

“I think it’s about time I got some answers first.” Rose replied,and she sat down. “Mister?”
He nodded. “Kolenchino. Kobold of the Cards.” Kolenchino replied. “You are absolutely right, of course. Forgive me we are not usually so… brash with our recruiting. But I must admit, my partners were right on target, that part is more usual.”

“Recruiting? I didn't sign up for anything. Certainly nothing like this.” Rose said. “And what do you mean partners? Only you approached me.”

“As is my part of the job.” Kolenchino replied. “My partners scout, and search for targets eluding the police and anyone they find talented. And I arranged the test, and judge accordingly. And, as am I doing now, making an offer to join the ranks of the Hooded Robins.”

“Like Robin Hoods.” Rose replied. “I think I’m following. I never saw your partners, because I wasn’t supposed to. They however saw probably near, if not every, night I snuck out and back in. Every test I cheated on, maybe?”

“They seemed rather impressed with your wit and intelligence as well, and it’s not hard to see why.” Kolenchino said. “Before you worry too much then, I would like to make something clear to you. If you wish, you may go. Completely free, and either way we have completed this assignment.”

“Wait what? I don’t understand. Why would you do all this just to let me go free?” Rose asked.

“It was by no means just to let you go free.” Kolenchino replied, tossing a file over to her. “But our mission was not a simple break in either, your grandfather attempted to go to the police multiple times. No doubt worried about you, and rightfully so by the looks of those plans.”

Rose looked over the file in it were numerous plans for making her run jobs, various forged blackmail letters, and what looked like a schedule for her life. “This… This would’ve been slavery.”

“Much to our disgust as well.” Kolenchino replied. “Striking down a shady operation was simply a bonus while we freed an innocent girl. But my partners saw your skill, and if you would like to prevent this sort of thing from happening to others, the job is yours. If not, we drop you off to your grandfather, and carry on.”

“Where would I be living? How would my assignments be decided?” Rose asked. “You can’t ask me that and leave those things out.”

“If you showed no interest at all, it would be my solemn duty to. You would have many interviews before anyone could answer those questions, but I do believe your values and skills would fit a small traveling group like ours, if I may be so bold. My only answer is that I sit here as Kobold of the Cards. A man inside other homes whether they like it or not, and I am there as one who distributes luck. Good and bad. Perhaps that enlightens you as to how one gets their name?” Kolenchino asked.

Police sirens went off in the distance, and limbo turned on to a lesser known road. “Thorns the Nomad. As sharp as a flower she comes from, and a seed wanting the freedom to wander the world.” Rose said.

“Then we began.” Kolenchino said.