i830Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2G041hozs1
The world looked better at night. When there is silence, peace and sleeping souls. It always had been better like this. As long as I can remember, it had been my daily routine; looking around at the cold winter night, watching the people flock back to their homes and enjoying the view of everything below from the roof top. It made me feel as if things were more minute from here, like things hardly mattered. 830Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4hSpcyfr2c
The wind was blowing with all it's might tonight, ruffling my hair as it wooshes past me. I tried fixing it, but the wind was more stubborn that I was and I let it rest.830Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9B9tmxl7eE
“Tricia,” Trehan coughed, breaking my attention to him. I hadn't heard him come. “You have another assignment.”830Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77r7lo9fWX
Trehan was a thin lean boy of seventeen, with blonde hair and harsh grey eyes covered under his convex glasses. He looked like one of those boys that got bullied in high school. Well, he did get bullied. But that was only because he let them. Don’t judge him by his appearance; you'd be in for a surprise. Trehan Werner, a.k.a. Altair, the world’s deadliest sniper. And also the world’s youngest.830Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPGAacNkZeR
He was too young for this, I kept telling him. Then again, so was I.830Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPEnkBXDnW
“They just love me, don’t they?” I scoffed. “Stupid Ashes21 can’t even let me enjoy my break”830Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5qAtfAnSOk
Trehan and I work for Ashes21. It’s the world’s largest and most active criminal organization in the world, under the radar. If you’re wondering why the Ashes21 don’t get caught, the answer is simple. We work both ways. The Heads of the countries worldwide bestow favors on us, and well, we repay them.830Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeOtpuDREwu
Sometimes, by killing their Most Loved, and at times, by gifting them their Most Wanted. 830Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Ffg9Eqz9A
“Be careful, Tricia,” he laughed. “They must have a hidden microphone out here somewhere.”830Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRCzzR4sqQh
That wouldn’t be a first for the Ashes21. Last year it installed a dozen surveillance cameras at Phoenix’s secret hideout. They wanted him back on the job, but well, he was bored with the Ashes21 and didn’t pay heed to them. The coolest assassin I ever met. Even though, our encounter was for ten seconds. But, that’s a lot. Others die within five seconds flat.830Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYHhxTBxnua
“So, what is the so-called ‘assignment’?” I asked. “Let me guess, another kill?”830Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5tiL8RYcif
I jumped down from the rooftop, two floors down and landed right in front of Trehan. I was tired of killing people. It was boring. People didn’t value their lives. At least not in the way that they're supposed to.830Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDubKDq9uL
It’s no wonder that Phoenix left. I wish I could. But I don’t have that kind of influence. Or the ranking. 830Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAMDIIDF0Nr
I'm ranked XIII. There are twelve Whisperers ahead of me. And only the first three of every division get to quit or have a say in the matters of their division. And becoming either for the three, calls for utmost discipline and 'fealty', as they call it. I was loyal and disciplined, but they thought what they wanted to think. In other words: I wouldn't get to leave anytime soon.830Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6NvNSLogSH
“I’m pretty sure that this kill will get you to V,” he snickered. “Have a go.”830Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyuVq6qsW99
He handed me his phone. I rolled my eyes at the Crazy Frog stickers.830Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ihFHDZCzr
"Trehan, like seriously?"830Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7NplrviytE
He smiled with pride. "It's collector's edition."830Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDOALjZxKSc
I sighed. He's still a high school kid after all.830Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsK5GRGngx4
The message was addressed to Agent Trickster. I got that name in the first year of the Academy and it stuck. I hated that name, but it was too late to change now.830Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCjx237RTj
Agent Trickster830Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡODcPom7WoN
Assignment: Terminate RED Talisman830Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBtQFbSzQoq
Reward: Promotion To IV830Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF6vsn7cFIw
Additional Information: The Details Are In The Attachment. Your Effort And Success Will Be Highly Appreciated.830Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcKXFp4hD6k
Thank You.830Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5bfI4Z3x1
-Articus Caleb830Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRm446HCraq
Articus Caleb? Wasn't the head Wilderness? “When did Articus become the Directioner?” I asked.830Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKbTyuZCMFI
“When Phoenix had to kill his blood aunt, under Wilderness' command” Trehan said nonchalantly, “he requested, more like, threatened Wilderness to step down, in the Council meeting. And Max Muller agreed, which was strange, but anyway, Wilderness left. Rumor says that Wilderness is out for Phoenix’s blood. But there are some counter-theories to that.”830Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWjU5JdT47
“Phoenix did what!?” I exclaimed. Phoenix was an orphan and only had his aunt as his support. To kill his aunt would be like killing his very soul. Shrugging it off, I checked the attachments.830Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeE47KVE52L
"No way in hell,” I gasped.830Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtnfUkZJfNY
I tried to ignore Trehan’s questions about what's wrong, but I was too well trained to ignore any sound. But I couldn't bring myself to answer.830Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVxsUmK8BHf
I remember Phoenix walking down the hallway, the signature black Ashes21 crucifix dangling from his hand, his eyes stern and focused. He didn't know me, I was as invisible as any Whisperer can get, but he had walked straight to me, hugged me and had whispered, "The annexation has begun, Trickster." That was the last time anyone saw him in the headquarters. 830Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB7nnJhfRHk
I never took note of what he said. I remembered it, but I didn't know what it meant. 830Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5AdeJZ0ZMn
Well, now I do.830Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRtX7WdJH5n
Trehan took my daze as an opportunity to grab my phone and let out a gasp the moment he read what I had just read.830Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrXdnnVsUz
“They can’t be fucking serious, Tricia.” he gasped. “We’ll talk about it to them. They can’t do this to you.”830Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡToMFV88z74
Was being IV worth what I was assigned to? Nothing could ever be worth it.830Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdjuETczan
“You can’t do this.” he exclaimed. “Tricia, say something.”830Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAwOfarYF57
I glanced at the screen one more time. A part of me hoping that I had read it wrong. I had seen it wrong. 830Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsLNfb2TWH6
TALISMAN, it read.830Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxNZGBnaO0H
And the face on the screen looked so old. Wrinkles where there hadn't been few years back. The eyes as dead as I had last seen them. The frown stagnant on his lips. I remember the face being younger than that. He had grown old, since the last time I saw him. Four years was a long time, I realized.830Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyuAsTSdu01
TALISMAN. 830Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs29taIRRlP
I should have known he would be targeted sooner or later. I looked at the picture once again, and it still remained clutched in my hand.830Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRuzXMu16xd
"I look like him, don't I?" I mumbled.830Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0H43Ls1nBb
"Tricia," Trehan sighed. "You don't have to do this."830Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXx7vnNOUr
I shook my head. "I do."830Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmex7Pha2SA
"Tricia," he began, "I-"830Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPHAaocccf
"I'm good, Trehan," I reassured him. "I'm good."830Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe64Q1KAhwu
I'm good. I'd do what was asked of me. I'm an Ashes21 agent now. I had to do this.830Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ9sHQXrgBp
Like Phoenix did.830Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZQhQNB15V
Like I would.830Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlBZJtmGIHp
The annexation had begun.830Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhfpdXaxgUY
*** 830Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTqcCWW6bgG
