Disclaimer: Guild of assassins belong to Marvel. So does Hand. We don't have permission to use them. We are writing solely for enjoyment and aren't making a penny off of this. The poem below is from a moody blues song. Again it is used without permission.

"He'll come to visit tommorrow."

"It's so great being here. Free room. Free food. Gorgeus women."

"You are such a sick man."

"You can honestly tell me you haven't had your eye on the skitzophrenic down the hall."

"He is cute. He can't help he has problems."

"He's in a rubber room."

"Aren't we all."

I can see the way ahead

And I've left behind the empty streets

That once inspired my life

And the strength of the emotion

Is like thunder in the air

"Cause the promise that we made each other

Haunts me to the end

-Moody Blues

-I Know Your Out There Somewhere

********

By Beth and Adam

In the darkest most dangerous part of New Orleans stood an old rundown brick hotel. Just the place for a weary traveler to avoid.

One such weary traveler exited his black '88 Chevrolet . He was a young man still in his teens. He was alone not just here but in the world. His brown trench coat was pulled tightly around him to keep out the cold rain that drenched his short blond hair. Only pain could be seen in his hazel eyes. This was a man who clearly had lost someone close to him. Someone he loved dearly.

He walked around his car and pulled out two large suitcases. He heard a rustle in the bushes surrounding the motel. His gaze drifted to the shadow covered bushes. All he could see was the shadows that danced happily everywhere. A chill went up his spine. He felt so isolated so alone.

Nothing could have been farther from the truth. For at that moment three personages were hiding in the shadows.

"Do your thing X-ray. Let's get this over with. I'm getting drenched." the young woman told one of the men at her side.

She was very young. Still in her early teens. Her long reddish brown hair was pulled back in a pony tail. Her brown eyes stared intently at the traveler.

"Not much in his suitcases. I see a few suits, jeans, t-shirts, and some nice black boxer shorts." the man named X-ray reported.

X-ray was a man in his early twenties. His eyes were pure black. His hair was a dark red that almost looked like blood.

"Is there anything of any value. I don't really care about whether or not he's a good dresser." the woman said.

"He does seem to have a computer and a very nice camera. Other than that just the usual vacationing stuff." X-ray reported.

"Nathaniel, I want you to follow him. Find out his room number. X-ray I want you to keep a lookout. This is my job," the woman said

"You seem really tense Heather. When we get home do you want me to relieve some of that tension." Nathaniel asked the woman

"We'll see." Heather answered as she briefly ran her fingers through Nathaniel's dirty blond hair.

"Excuse me you two love birds but we have a job to do." X-ray stated

"Be careful ." Heather told Nathaniel as she gazed into his deep blue eyes for a moment and then he disappeared into the shadows.

"That's the last time I get put in charge of babysitting you whelps." X-ray complained

"You know as well as I do that we were both sent because of our 'special' abilities." Heather said with the slightest hint of annoyance.

**********

The traveler registered and then headed up to his room located at the farthest most secluded part of the second floor.

As he entered the room he flicked on the lights. As light filled up the dark room his eyes surveyed these unfamiliar surroundings.

In the center of the room was a small bed with an ugly green wool blanket.

To one side of the bed was a tiny bathroom. Its tile walls were a yellowish color and the pipes that brought water to the sink were well rusted.

To the other side of the bed was a small dresser substantial only for two or three days worth of clothing. It didn't really matter since the traveler had no intention of staying for any length of time.

The only other item in the room was a small table where an ice bucket sat.

He laid his suitcases on the bed and shortly after pulled from the smaller one a laptop computer. He sat the computer gently on the table. He silently said to himself "Well John Bruce I don't know why your here. Maybe it just suits your mood."

He then picked up the ice bucket and headed into the hallway.

He passed a young man whose deep blue eyes bore into him as he passed.

Back outside. Nathaniel pointed to the room the traveler had left.

X-ray and Nathaniel lifted Heather up to the window. It took all of five seconds to push it open it and climb inside the room. Once inside she grabbed the computer and tucked it inside her long black trench coat. She then turned her attention to the suitcases. It didn't take much to get past the combination lock and open them. She rummaged through them looking for the camera.

She knew she was taking longer than she should have but they needed the money.

Suddenly the door flew opened and so she did the only thing she could think of. She jumped out the opened window but not before John had seen her.

He ran to the window and was amazed that the girl had landed on her feet and was running with two other figures. Not thinking twice John jumped as well allowing his telekinesis to pillow his fall.

John then pursued them on foot. They were very agile and lost him around a corner.

Unfortunately for the thieves it was the wrong corner.

Four men wearing a black cloth over their faces and the ritual attire of the assassins guild.

The thieves were trapped as two more came up behind them.

"We're here to teach you a lesson. Never steal from someone who can with a snap of her fingers have you killed." one of the assassins said.

"You can tell your mistress to go to.........." Nathaniel was about to finish his sentence when an unfamiliar voice was heard. The thieves turned to look at the new comer.

"Leave these people alone. I have first dibbs on them." John said

"How dare you interrupt the guild of assassins mission." the same assassin said.

"It figures. I want a quiet vacation and I end up fighting the legendary guild of assassins. With my recent luck this actually seems like a good thing." John mumbled to himself.

The assassin to the left of the one that had spoke threw a knife that was headed straight for the female thieves head. Suddenly it stopped mid air and turned around and stabbed the assassin that had thrown it in the arm.

"Odds are even now." Heather said to the others

An assassin was standing a little to close to her and she punched him in the stomach and then kicked his face breaking his nose and temporarily causing a lack of consciousness.

Nathaniel attacked an assassin from behind and put a knife through the assassins spine.

Another assassin threw a knife at John who not seeing it in time to mentally stop it dodged. He looked around him. The thieves were good fighters.

"Run Heather." X-ray called as he took out another assassin. The woman began to run but turned around at the sound of an explosion where a large building went up in flames. The other thieves began to run as well.

The assassins attempted to go after the thieves but John stood in their way.

"Most intelligant men would leave now and cut their losses." John said.

"What are they to you." one assassin asked "These are not your people, outsider."

"Maybe they aren't my people lad, but the HAND killed my family and I will do anything to stop assassins anywhere! Now leave these people alone."

The fight continued until John had disabled the remaining assassins.

John then decided to find the thieves and get his computer back. His computer had a tracking device on it .The hard part was figuring out how the tracker worked. John wasn't great with machinery.

After an hour of trying to figure out what all the little dots meant he came across a condemned structure that was many stories high and had probably at one point been an office building.

He hesitated a moment. He really had no desire to die. However he had helped them and if they have any kind of honor they would at least let him state his case before they slit his throat.

He enter the building. The dusty and damp smell nearly choked him. The room was dark and he wished he had some kind of light. He wished he knew what lurked in the shadows.

After only a few steps forward what was left of the door closed. He quickly turned around. Within a second a knife was to his throat.

Suddenly the light from a lantern illuminated the room.

"Before I kill someone I generally like to know what they are after." A familiar female voice said

"It's the moron who tried to help us fight the assassins." X-ray said laughing

"I mean you no harm. I only wish my computer back." John said.

"We at least owe him that." Heather said her voice softening as she put the knife on the ground.

John turned to face the voices and was surprised to find that over a hundred people stood in the room. Many of them children.

"Who are you?" John answered

"We are poor thieves. Outcasts." Nathaniel answered

"How many of you are there?"

"Before the explosion there was close to six hundred. Now only four hundred." Nathaniel told him and Heather closed her eyes for a brief second mourning those that died in the explosion that had taken place earlier that night.

"Where did you all come from?"

"Here if you don't want your child you leave it in an alley and a mythical savior will take it and care for it. We save these children and raise them as our own. Some of these are born from mothers that live here as well."

"I would be willing to buy back my computer." John said looking around and seeing their need.

"We are honorable people. You are forever a friend. You may take it without pay." Heather said

"Your name is?" John asked the woman

"Heather Nightengale." she answered

"I'll tell you what Heather. If you show me to a nice pub I'll call it even. I'll even pay for drinks."

"I think I know just the place. If your wondering I'm Nathaniel." a man said.

**********

Later at a bar about three blocks from the abandoned building Heather, Nathaniel and John were sitting at a table.

John was drinking a scotch and Nathaniel was drinking a bourbon. Heather was sitting quietly drinking a glass of ice water.

"So what brings you here?" Heather asked John.

"It's summer break and I needed to travel. I didn't want to go home seeing how I don't have a home to go to. My parents died about a year ago."

You have a slight accent." Heather noticed

"I'm originally from Scottland." John explained

"Where are you staying?" she asked

"At college." John answered

"Well if you have time during summer it would be great if you would come down here to the big easy." Heather invited

"I might just do that." John said

Suddenly Heather looked around nervously

"Asassins." Heather hissed

Suddenly three figures aproached the table.

"I believe we have some unfinished buisness." one of the figures said.

"I told you to leave these people alone." John said telekenetically reacking out and shattering the bones in the mans left arm.

"My arm!" the man screamed. The asassins hesitated. They didn't know what had hit their leader but they knew it wasn't good.

"Later." the asassin said and left holding his arm.

"That was a warning. If I ever hear of the Guild attacking these people again I will finish what I started with your arm." John stated simply

"You are a good man." Heather said

"I hope to see you next time I come to the big easy. " John said

"I just hope the asassins leave us alone. But somehow I doubt it." Nathaniel said

"Their harder to get rid of than sewer rats." Heather said.

"I must leave you now . I have an appointment in New York. I hope to see you again soon." John said as he stood up and left. He suddenly didn't feel so alone. He suddenly felt alive. Somehow he knew that these people would have a lasting effect on his life.

The End