The man’s demeanor changed significantly once recognizing her, causing her to wonder if she had just made a mistake, but it was too late now. She’d win the man over.

Realizing that she was admiring his face for a bit too long, she forced a grin. “I can show you,” she replied, tugging his damp shirt sleeve to lead him to  the corner where the dart board was hung. As her heartbeat thumped in her ears, she gathered the darts in her hand and took a deep breath before positioning herself. 

“So,” another breath, “you want to keep your chest aligned with the bullseye, so stand center. Then, you wanna put your dominant foot forward, for me it’s my left. Then my left shoulder is also gonna face the board.” Aura looked behind her to quickly read him, but his expression was hard to read, so she decided to just continue. “Then, with all your weight on your foot, you - “

The dart flew from her hand with speed, her wrist flicking, and it landed in the outer bull’s eye.  She danced for a second before taking a few hefty gulps of her ale. “Your turn.”

Aura handed him a dart and shoved him towards the line that was painted on the floor, taking it upon herself to position him. “Righty, I’m assuming.” Once satisfied with her work, she stepped back. “Alright, go on.”
 
As she watched, she couldn’t help but begin to prod. “So, I’ve never met anyone in subsection F that didn’t play darts before. I’m guessing you’re from somewhere else.” Another swig of ale. “Your enforcer friend Soren’s a real piece of work. I have at least four scars and a cracked rib from him.”

Not getting anywhere, she handed him his drink once he had finished his turn and met his eyes. He might as well have been made of stone.  “Where are you f- ?”

The door to the pub swung open, and as Aura snapped her head to see who had entered, Del burst in, looking panicked.

“Aura!” Her friend weaved through the crowd, pulling her close to him so he could whisper without eavesdroppers. “A runner just came to your door. I explained I was covering for you. Barn was raided. They got Gregor, Marlo, and Slate. They were the only ones left.” He panted for a moment; he must have been running. “They said you had left early. Mae’s was closed and I…”

“I’m fine, I’m fine,” she whispered back, gripping his shoulders, but before continuing, the sirens sounded down the streets of Unity, causing near silence to fill the bar. [i]Fifteen minute warning.[/i] “I’m coming, just give me a second.”

There wasn’t enough time to get what she needed from the man. The perfect opportunity, and it was ruined, but it was possible with the arrests that Gregor would forget about her assignment...or at least she hoped. She approached the man once again, this time clinking her glass with his. “Well, that’s my cue. No trains run this late, so maybe I’ll see you tomorrow. Next drink’s on me instead of [i]on[/i] you.”

“Come on, Aura,” Del urged her.

“Bye, mystery man.” And with that, Aura and Del fled the bar, walking speedily down the sidewalk.

“Who was that?” her friend asked, scanning the streets as they continued.

“I’m not too sure,” she responded, watching as well. Although there was a curfew, Unity’s streets became a dangerous place, especially for a woman to be. The last time she had walked alone close to curfew, she outran four men all the way to the front door of the housing unit. She was thankful Del found her.

“What did you hear about Gregor and them?” Aura got out between staggered breaths.

“Just took them in for questioning. The runner didn’t seem to think they had anything solid. Should be back tomorrow.” 

“Then why were you so freaked out?”

“Because you have a mouth on you,” he chuckled, “and you’d make everything worse.”

Aura punched his arm. “Fuck you… but you’re right.” 

With three minutes to spare before curfew, the two said their goodnights and went their separate ways. Aura scrubbed her face in the sink, then plopped into her cot to ruminate on the day.

It was going to be a problem that the runner spoke with Del. He shouldn’t have known anything about the cause, and now, he was possibly in danger thanks to her. 

Then her mystery man that slipped through her fingers. She didn’t even get him [i]name[/i]. It was pathetic, and the guilt of failing the cause sat heavy in her stomach. To save face, she wouldn’t even report the occurrence to Gregor and the others, not until she had something more concrete, if she’d even get that. It was a long shot she would even see him again, but the thought of disappointing the cause yet again was terrifying.

[i]Aura had just been released from the AE, and before she could make it home, she was grabbed in the street and dragged to the back of Mae’s tavern, immediately tied to a wooden chair.

”What did you tell the AE?” Gregor began, cracking his knuckles.

“N-nothing, they just think I was taking money, I swear!” Fear had overcome her, and her body vibrated intensely. 

The back of Gregor’s hand connected with her face, the familiar sting radiating to the back of her skull. “It’s better to spill now, Aura.” The other rebels in the room remained glued in their positions on either side of him. “What did you tell them?”

Aura shook her head, fighting back the tears that were welling in her eyes. “I swear, I didn’t say shit, Gregor, please - “ She was interrupted by a hand gripping her throat, squeezing tightly, causing her to gasp for breath. 

Gregor studied her pleading eyes intensely for what felt like an eternity before finally releasing her. “She’s telling the truth, boys. Move along.” As Aura caught her breath, the two men left the room, and he started to work on the knots binding her to the chair.

“Good girl.”[/i]

Aura blew out the candle on her trunk that illuminated the compact room, allowing herself to succumb to the darkness and the ale she drank that evening, the face of her target clear in her head. [i]I’ll find you.[/i]