i831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfji9BD3YL2
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. 831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXG0XoxdJ7I
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.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTmke6YugN
“Tricia,” Trehan coughed, breaking my attention to him. I hadn't heard him come. “You have another assignment.”831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2HzeVV85Ls
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.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQ4bRMZYBI
He was too young for this, I kept telling him. Then again, so was I.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdMUjr19qv
“They just love me, don’t they?” I scoffed. “Stupid Ashes21 can’t even let me enjoy my break”831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIIXNIsey3d
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.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWbbA5tNCs
Sometimes, by killing their Most Loved, and at times, by gifting them their Most Wanted. 831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWyOoJeYvXQ
“Be careful, Tricia,” he laughed. “They must have a hidden microphone out here somewhere.”831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ745Lt6LfpV
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.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡccWwwhT8HC
“So, what is the so-called ‘assignment’?” I asked. “Let me guess, another kill?”831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKeNdAFwU7F
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.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnmiWSYQdOR
It’s no wonder that Phoenix left. I wish I could. But I don’t have that kind of influence. Or the ranking. 831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0qBuqjnHl
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.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXDjb6XZZnV
“I’m pretty sure that this kill will get you to V,” he snickered. “Have a go.”831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlLqfyFNCfw
He handed me his phone. I rolled my eyes at the Crazy Frog stickers.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDrPbxop78
"Trehan, like seriously?"831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwuWededs0M
He smiled with pride. "It's collector's edition."831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiI0IyUzfkF
I sighed. He's still a high school kid after all.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGO5GMjTCfa
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.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwtE7adp4p
Agent Trickster831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVLQ41kGV7
Assignment: Terminate RED Talisman831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV5K3vq0suq
Reward: Promotion To IV831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMFz40ZhJTZ
Additional Information: The Details Are In The Attachment. Your Effort And Success Will Be Highly Appreciated.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBWAK2X9gqq
Thank You.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdsMN6MKGc7
-Articus Caleb831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1xWo7wPAfT
Articus Caleb? Wasn't the head Wilderness? “When did Articus become the Directioner?” I asked.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡohPyjsjIg0
“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.”831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpOtAPCKMTr
“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.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHyoYyOWRrZ
"No way in hell,” I gasped.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSrHkAsmKgQ
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.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXjpO65T3j
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. 831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7a0SiDTm7u
I never took note of what he said. I remembered it, but I didn't know what it meant. 831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQ8tGkZgzZ
Well, now I do.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIsibKHmctL
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.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1k1ZM2g1ci
“They can’t be fucking serious, Tricia.” he gasped. “We’ll talk about it to them. They can’t do this to you.”831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnqMGQVoTN
Was being IV worth what I was assigned to? Nothing could ever be worth it.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0NGjPfH9Ux
“You can’t do this.” he exclaimed. “Tricia, say something.”831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡet5p5GHHuU
I glanced at the screen one more time. A part of me hoping that I had read it wrong. I had seen it wrong. 831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHmFpUxUw6M
TALISMAN, it read.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNiJiQFtR8
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.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNApbFhVRj8
TALISMAN. 831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4hfoqtW1AV
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.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKPC898Ss5
"I look like him, don't I?" I mumbled.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAGslTgDwXp
"Tricia," Trehan sighed. "You don't have to do this."831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRUO5JioU43
I shook my head. "I do."831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ51qSiMycG4
"Tricia," he began, "I-"831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMcoY6U5bhQ
"I'm good, Trehan," I reassured him. "I'm good."831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8jfj8ySVxI
I'm good. I'd do what was asked of me. I'm an Ashes21 agent now. I had to do this.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4hghIuJgL
Like Phoenix did.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRy2UZxJBj
Like I would.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgO43ygaezs
The annexation had begun.831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjffQWt426i
*** 831Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAkwcxJ7gpK
