[b] Alice [/b] 

I had finished cleaning my rifle by the time that Death had walked into the room. I didn't greet him or nod to him - He didn't care if I gave him attention. I returned my attention to my rifle and assembled it, but not timing myself. It was when Ntombi barged into the room that I did pay attention. Who could not, provided how loud she was? She was plain crazy, that girl... My ears were pricked by each obnoxious banter. As she berated Amaya, I wanted to slide in my magazine and put a stop to it... but no, that would be rash.

However, this feeling increased when she moved on to Death, beckoning him with degrading names and walking up to him like she was on top of the world. I shook my head in disbelief. How was some so crazy to approach someone like Death as she did? I listened to his response, but then heard Ntombi refer to all of us as [i]brats[/i]. I cocked my rifle quickly, eyeing the woman lightly. I didn't know what bravery came over me, but I spoke up. "You shouldn't berate people with your incessant banter unless you're ready to dodge a bullet from their rifle or deflect a blow from their swords." 

I stood up and left the room, pushing away the anger like I had come to do over the years. I headed up the stairs, but stopped one flight short. I turned into the corridor and ventured to Death's office. I knocked and slowly opened the door. I looked at him for a second, then spoke in my light, heavily non-intimidating voice. "I have one question, Death... I-I'll do my job, but I..." I trailed off. "Some of the families have young children... I can pull the trigger on any corrupt businessman, but not on a child..."

"Please, sir, don't think I'm trying to disobey your orders, but can we at least spare the children in the family?" I watched him, waiting for him to respond. I was scared off him, I knew that much for sure. I didn't know anything about him other than the fact that he was devious and dangerous... And he didn't like when people disobeyed what he told them...