Trojan Horse

This time, she was waiting for me.

Nuri. Her hair waved freely in the breeze as she gazed down from the shoulders of a huge statue. We'd secluded ourselves in another plaza marked with a water fountain, the cold night being our only comfort.

With ease, she hopped down towards the fountain below. Boots splashed into water but she didn't flinch. Her determined expression was focused on me.

"Glad you made it," she said. "Did you discover what's happening in Dos Noches?"

"There's . . ." There were so many things I wanted to say; so many things I'd uncovered after two days of investigations. But everything pointed towards one aspect. "There's just one thing I want you to confirm first."

"Hmm? What?"

"Did you—did you really already know what was happening here? And why didn't you say anything?"

The blonde girl just smiled warmly. "Everyone has a skeleton in their closet. Even me. I just wasn't sure if I wanted to expose my friend or not yet."

"Have you decided then?"

She nodded before wrapping her arms around me for a hug. I could hear sniffles and see the glimmer of a tear streaming down her cheek. "Yes. Please help me bring down Amila the Hero, Aizawa."

*

I set off.

Under the cover of night, I scrambled through alleys and beyond the grasps of desperate prostitutes. The backpack on me was heavy with supplies I'd need for an upcoming, long-term mission I'd agreed to do.

"Are we almost there?" Trixie clinging from my shoulder said.

"Yeah. There's a specific chimney Nuri marked. Shouldn't be far now."

Days of investigating Dos Noches had made me proficient in its layout. But the twist and turns of alleys still dizzied me—a maze anyone could lose themselves in.

Soon, we arrived between two rugged houses. Sandwiched between them was a moss-covered chimney jutting out from the ground. An overgrowth of weeds and some nearby trees gave ample cover for us.

"Do you remember the plan?" I said as I took off my backpack.

Trixie buzzed around me. "Yeah. But I'm still really worried. You could die."

"We already discussed this—I'm just going undercover. Even Tsukino was fine with it."

"That's because she knew it was something you really wanted to do. She's even more worried than me though . . ."

I didn't have time to debate. There was no denying this job came with real danger, that even if it didn't kill me, could make Borsalino guilty by association. The church would destroy us if everything didn't go according to plan. And I was the most crucial cog.

"Here it is." I pulled out a hammer before beginning to climb the chimney. Waiting up top was a metal grate that I swiftly banged at until it loosened. "Done. This chimney isn't wide enough for a person to slip down, but it'll be a perfect size for you, Trixie."

"So you're sure you don't want me coming?"

"Positive."

"I could hide as a mouse, or maybe a bat. I don't mind at all."

"No. Your job becomes as important as mine later." I hopped off again and patted myself off. "My life will be in your hands. I trust you."

Trixie's face sulked. "Geez. You're being reckless."

Reckless is how I died. Maybe I'll die reckless a second time. There wasn't anything else to say. I started stripping off my clothes one by one. First my trench coat flew off, then my shoes and trousers. Almost everything fell until I was down to just boxers.

The cold air tickled me.

But I didn't let it hamper me as I raised a small, glass bottle to my lips. Glowing blue liquids sloshed inside that I chugged straight down.

"Hmmm?" Trixie said. "You're taking the Youth-Youth potion already?"

"Burrrrrrrrrp. Yeah. I'll walk towards the orphanage from here . . ."

In another second, my vision began blurring. Dizziness overcame me as my limbs and head all began shrinking—shortening. Bones creaked, muscles spasmed, eyes flinched, until I stumbled at seeing the larger world around me.

D-Did it work?

"Oh my gosh! You're so cute!" Trixie above said. She buzzed onto my head, and for the first time, I managed to feel her weight.

"U-Urghhh . . ." I looked at my hands—the small palms of a child. There weren't mirrors to confirm, but I guessed I'd reverted into an eight-year-old body. Short black hair still felt coarse as always, and the birthmark on my elbow remained. "Cool."

"Heehee. How do you feel now?"

"Spry." I hopped up and down to test my legs. Everything felt nimble just like when I hunted beetles in the mountains. "Not bad. Tsukino said this transformation could last almost a week, but I won't be needing that long."

"It'd be funny if it was permanent! And cute!"

"No, three days is fine. And tell Tsukino I'll pay her back someday for letting me have her Youth-Youth potion."

"Okay!" Trixie buzzed off and started handing me clothes. "I'll help get you dressed!"

The process didn't take long. Soon I'd shifted into the woolen rags of a homeless boy. Gloves with the fingers missing and trousers torn with holes I'd ripped myself all dirtied me. The final touch was an important flat cap that'd be vital for appearances.

"Do I look fine?"

"You're just like those homeless kids we heard about!" Trixie said, starry eyed.

"Hopefully. Half the point of turning into a child is so no one recognizes me."

Then it was my turn to work. Trixie morphed into a kangaroo while I strapped her the backpack I was wearing earlier. Inside were essentials I'd need smuggled later.

"Should I head back towards our inn now?" she said.

"Yeah. Thanks again for helping me."

Kangaroo Trixie giggled. "Praise me! Hehe."

Words would just make our goodbye harder. Instead, I tiptoed up to pet her head. The furry marsupial nuzzled me until I had to say something.

"Alright, alright, haha. I'll miss you too."

"Yay! I promise I won't disappoint you!"

"Let's split then. Good luck."

With a nod, Trixie hopped away towards town before disappearing into darkness within alleys.

I was alone now. But that was the plan.

Well then . . . I'll be off too.

My little shoes let me scurry through Dos Noches like a ninja. I felt energy, adrenaline, and dread all coursing through me. My heart pounded, not from exhaustion, but from imagining what would be waiting for me.

I emerged from an alleyway onto a street lit with lampposts. It was a main road still flowing with carriage wagons even well into the night. A few pedestrians watched me dash by on the sidewalk heading towards—

A metal gate. The wrought-iron fencing, twisted into floral accents, conveyed a sense of elegance I'd seen before. This was the gate for another of Amila's orphanages.

Panting. Tired. But I needed to think. Okay. I'm a kid right now. What would a homeless child do for some attention?

A lightbulb lit in my head. Without another thought, I put on the best crying face I could. Wails blurted loud towards the night sky until I finally heard footsteps rushing over.

"My, my," an old nun on the other side of the gate said. "Are you okay?"

"I-I'm so hungry! Please help me . . ."

"Why of course." She unlocked some chains and opened the gate. "Here. Come with me."

And that was that. With her hand behind me, she led me along the lavish driveway of an estate. Trimmed gardens and marble statues glistened under moonlit as we walked by. But I knew everything was just a facade—a spider web of corruption I'd come to annihilate.

Operation Trojan Horse had begun.