I Am Mustafin

sun bathes everything in a warm, golden light, filtering through the leaves above

hoes from behind me, ting

gs as we navigate through the forest. The crunch of leaves and

hoot him a sideways glance through th

h the citizens of the Diallo Ring. Meanwhile, mine is perfectly imperfect, a shade too dark

pine and earth filling my lungs. "D

m side-eye me. His sarcastic tone is

ver-so-slightly as I breathe out, "

g out the obvious, "Neither of

he Talos sector is the largest manufacturer in medicine, therefore we should have no issue finding what we need there. We go in, g

y, letting my word

ith an uneasy look on his fac

Are you sure you want to go?" I ask sharply, not wanting

along to begin with. I only agreed because I know what it's like to have to st

a nervous man calls for more

onfidence catches me off guard. "I

s. I nod at the direction we're headed, urging him to keep up as I tell him,

ring buildings. It looks exactly like I remember it from the last time I stepped

oat. The concrete beneath our shoes feels alien after the soft forest floor.

by or soldiers roaming the streets with those damn dogs of theirs that can sme

tores, and I'm relieved to find that quite a few different skin

d I blend

o-slightly as he asks, "So,

ner

t I am not too, I choose to ente

ahead that prompts him

my head. "I'm too old fo

l into a smile, nudging at

the side. "No. Twenty-three," I say

ging as he retorts, "We're only seve

? You ar

o the building with the large sig

. "My parents have a fif

pare

inues to nudge me.

sn't long before we find ourselves approaching the entrance. The automatic doors slide open, enveloping us

ngly, he looks just like the average Talos, and his attitude solidifies it. He doesn'

ink that he's trying really har

n you.

s eyes land on Marcus, then the h

along wasn't such a

he man asks, his tone

he counter. I try not to fidget, but it's hard to remain

him asking the wron

n't it?" the cashier comments, h

h

calm. He parts his lips to speak, but then his eyes catch something else-

his voice barely above a whisp

and time seems to slow to a crawl. Suddenly, I'm

hy did he se

and fall of my chest feeling unnaturally rapid. I contemplate lo

Too

rlier suspicion seems to have vanished, replaced by an almost frantic energy. His fingers tremble a

e strained as he pushed th

jade bills feel cool against my sweaty palms as I take them from the burlap bag

he tension in my shoulders easing slightly. But as I step forward, I collide with something solid. My heart

rectly into a pair of piercing green eyes of a tall, muscular man in an impeccably tailored navy blue suit, his bead neatly

th a hard look on their face, until I slide the shades back into place and they take a ste

ones, and I know with a chilling certainty that he's seen what I am. My hand trembles

ne. It