"Max, Charlie what are you doing here? Why did you...the guard."
Although I had motioned to the guard laying unconscious by them the elder brother Charlie seemed to pay no attention, only pulling me into a room.

Not even having the chance to ask there were two hooded figures standing by a window, staring at us all. Of course, this was the time I had forgotten to pull up my face covering. The boys, however, just started rummaging the room barely even caring at all.

That's when the slimmer hooded figure opened its arms widely stepped forward and whispered in a sweet voice, clearly a woman.

"I was wondering when I'd finally meet the darling that saved my two boys, incredible distraction by the way."
Before I could understand her arms had wrapped themselves around my back in a bear hug, I only managed to say a word when the other figure folded its arms against its large chest and gruffed, a man.

"How do we know this girl can be trusted?"

"Can we just take a minute to explain what the heck is going on?"

I was feeling on edge by now, my plan had been to make a simple exit after wiping any footprint of my existence in the hotel from the security. My breathing was heavy and slow and it seemed they all realised beginning to look between themselves.
"Right, of course, Bacia correct? Well, we've seen your face before. The Skull King has made it official to capture you and kill you."

The name alone made me sneer, his reputation for wearing the bones of his victims was almost as chilling as the fact that I was being hunted. Suddenly I felt the pinprick sensation crawl over my body and slowly braced myself, reaching towards my hip when the father rolled his eyes.

"There's no need to fear, we owe you a debt for saving Max, besides we are not the Skull King's lackeys."

"Do you know where his base is?"

Their eyes landed on me as I relaxed and asked the question, curiosity gleaming in their eyes. Charlie smirked and as if rehearsed gave a small speech.
"Ah see that's valuable information, something we can't just give out for free. We are part of a group of thieves but we do not steal belongings or mementoes, we steal something far more precious–"

"We steal information! We're Ravens!"

For a moment I blinked at Max before his brother groaned and started to complain about how he had wanted to explain first, but I was stumped. Ravens? Stealing information? So gathering my thoughts and rubbing the bridge of my nose I managed to press deeper,
"Can you explain, fully, please?"

Their mother sat in a seat and sighed gently, lifting her hood to let her face pull itself into a smile.

"You see dear, we are part of an Unkindness, that's the official term for a group of Ravens. We collect information or we deliver it from the shadows, sometimes its personal effects like a necklace but we remain neutral on all affairs. Sometimes we work for criminals and sometimes we work for the police, and we only ever harm those that have done wrongs to us."

So they are part of a group called Unkindness and they call themselves Ravens. Totally not the weirdest thing I've ever heard. I take a deep breath before nodding for her to continue,
"The Skull King has requested some Ravens to retrieve information on you, track you. Most have denied but there are a few who have accepted his deal, he has placed a big amount for you. We are part of the Unkindness that refused but since you saved Max that now means we are also in your debt so we'd like to propose an Alliance."

Charlie's father stepped forward, almost grinning beneath his mask.
"We did some digging and we know you're a great hacker which is a skill we could all use especially Ravens. So we'd like for you to come under our wing, teach us and help us and in return, we'll help you and protect you as much as possible."

The deal made my eyes almost bulge out of my face, a chance to be free from the constant worry. To escape the nagging fear and not have to be all alone, if all they wanted was for me to teach them how to hack systems and help them gather the information that would be simpler than making a cake.
It all came down to another choice, the longing of wanting people to talk to and not be on edge all the time was driving all the voices inside to accept the deal.

Maybe I was only fantasizing or was beginning to go mad but they had been truthful so far and in their eyes, I couldn't trace any deception so really it was all down to me.

"So what do you say?"
I smiled, a real genuine grin for what felt like forever since my mother and sister died.

"I accept."