THĒ JÃILBĪRD

FILI DISTRICT, MOSCOW IN RUSSIA--7PM* "I shouldn't be here." That was the only thought bouncing back and forth in Adeline's mind as she came out of the bus, stepping on snow right in front of the ruthless Orlov clan. It's a silent January night, but the silence is damn foreboding in this part of the city, and snowflakes are making a whimsical show as they poured from the dark sky. She adjusted the duffel bag sling on her shoulder, swallowing hard as she checked herself out. She's wearing black jean pants and a button-down shirt, and there's no bulge of breasts on her chest. Her hair is short and trimmed, and she's wearing male boots too. Anyone will think she's a boy right now, and that's her main goal. She's gonna live as a boy in here, in this devilish clan. Her name is Adeline Wilson, but the moment she steps into the gate, she'll be Micheal Alonso. She took another look at the gate and gulped again. The gate is imposing, 12-foot high, crafted from clad iron and adorned with the clan's insignia. The statue of a large viper snake swallowing a rat stood in front of the gate, looking sinister. She's not sure of what to expect inside, but the fact that it's already giving her chills without entering is scary. Any normal human being will go back, but she's far from normal. She has witnessed so much goriness and horror in her life that she's ready for whatever is coming. She took six firm steps to the smaller gate, and she brought out her phone which has the QR code she received yesterday. She scanned it on the gate screen, and the small gate opened almost immediately. She stepped in, meeting herself in the middle of several guys who're obviously here to become a part of the clan like her. They're all huge and tattooed, but some have small builds like her too. That didn't change the fact that she looks the most fragile of all of them, and she hates it. Some of the guys gave her strange looks, and she knew what they're thinking immediately. Probably wondering what a feminine boy is doing in a mafia compound. 'Well... well... I'm a girl' She didn't say that out loud though. She continued looking around since none of the guys are ready to start a conversation with her. "Form a straight line!" An order came from a wired loud megaphone. Though no one saw who made the order, they all complied and started struggling to get in line. During the rush, one of the guys pushed Adeline, and she wasn't warned before she fell on the ground. She spranged up and pulled the guy back, her eyes flashing anger. "You pushed me, dumbass!" She glared, and the rude-looking guy scoffed, brushing her off. "So what? Little man" he said. The rest of the guys began laughing in mockery. Adeline's short temper took over immediately, and she sent her right fist to his face, punching him hard. Her knuckle ring left a cut on the bastard's face, and the laughter from others stopped as his eyes widened. He obviously wasn't expecting it. "You little... He was about to come closer when another order came from the megaphone. "Move!" The others started moving, maintaining the straight line. "I hope we both get accepted, I'll kill you" the guy told Adeline with a malicious snarl before going to join the line. "Sick fucker" Adeline replied with a piercing glare from her blue eyes as she joined the line too. She's the last in line, so she just moved with their flow as the line moved. The clan is vast, and the compound is like a heated volcano. Orange-coloured lights cast a mystical glow on the walls, weaving the shadows of the thugs and mobsters across the property. There are hefty guards patrolling the perimeter too, their figures threatening. Adeline could already see mobsters strolling everywhere, all looking wild and different from the guys she encountered in the outside world. Almost every guy is huge with bulging muscles and tattoos... Even the girls are tattooed and tall. Yeah...there are girls in the clan too, but they stopped initiating girls two years ago for unknown reasons, and that's why she had to disguise as a boy. There are several buildings, suites, annexes and residential wings in the compound, spreading to the end where there's a forest. The other newbies who're in line with her are busy chatting about what life in here would look like, and some are already eyeing the girls. Adeline just clamped her mouth shut, expecting when they'll get to their destination as she walked the snowy ground. The weather is so cold, and she's starting to freeze, so she hugged herself, sniffling. A Chevrolet suddenly drove past their line like thunderclap, leaving scorching tyre tracks on the snow. The car screeched to an halt in a park not far from them, and the backdoor opened. A guy stepped out of it. No... a robot will fit him better cos he looks inhumane and so fuçking statuesque. His face is a mask of stone, eyes empty of emotions. Adeline felt his halo even from her spot. Ranging from his arctic eyes, dark sprawled hair, buff tattooed body which is definitely friendly with the gym, straight legs, stiff shoulders, unfeeling essence. He's as cold as winter, and there's a small scar on his chin, but that only added to his handsomeness. He's devilishly attractive, not that she cares. There's a cross necklace dangling from his neck, his face is eerily calm. He looks almost...dead. Two girls came down from the car too, and is it possible to like girls like yourself at first sight? Cos Adeline liked them immediately. They're wearing the same thing completely. Leather trousers, leather crop tops showing off their bellybuttons, leather hats, and black shoes. They look like twin warriors, but it's obvious they're not twins, maybe besties. Their faces and hands are stained with blood, and Adeline knew immediately that they're just coming from a mission. They bowed to the guy before leaving, and when the guy made to leave too, his eyes met Adeline's. Any normal person would look away from those eyes, but once again, Adeline is far from normal. She kept up with the stare, and she clearly saw a smirk lift the corner of his lips, but before she could figure out what it means, his hand flew forward, and he threw a blade towards her. Her eyes widened, and he moved backwards quickly, but not quick enough cos the blade gave her a slight cut on the right cheek before flying to the wall, getting stuck there. She gasped, touching her cheek as a small blood trickled out, staining her fingers. She looked back at his direction, but he was already gone. She wiped the blood with her shirt and gritted her teeth. Is it possible to hate someone to death at first sight? It's happening to her right now. Who does he think he is? "Stop!" The voice came from the megaphone again, and they all came to a stop in front of a small building. "I think we have to wait for more instructions here" one of the guys said, and the line scattered as some sat on the ground to rest. The guy from before came back immediately...the one punched by Adeline. He grabbed her by the collar, making her duffel bag slip from her shoulder to the pavement with a thud. "You're dead! Bastard!" He seethed venomously. "Same to you!" Adeline grabbed his collar too. The others gathered around, ready to watch the impending fight.