i577Please respect copyright.PENANAun9xkTZcLR
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. 577Please respect copyright.PENANA9CHvs0hdGs
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.577Please respect copyright.PENANACus541o3cF
“Tricia,” Trehan coughed, breaking my attention to him. I hadn't heard him come. “You have another assignment.”577Please respect copyright.PENANAZah0SFU4GV
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.577Please respect copyright.PENANAf2GC1mADKM
He was too young for this, I kept telling him. Then again, so was I.577Please respect copyright.PENANAk206NzwI7s
“They just love me, don’t they?” I scoffed. “Stupid Ashes21 can’t even let me enjoy my break”577Please respect copyright.PENANAV32TW4llPs
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.577Please respect copyright.PENANAPnjyMmRMdt
Sometimes, by killing their Most Loved, and at times, by gifting them their Most Wanted. 577Please respect copyright.PENANA4VNB5h9nd7
“Be careful, Tricia,” he laughed. “They must have a hidden microphone out here somewhere.”577Please respect copyright.PENANA9FrVEpnPtU
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.577Please respect copyright.PENANAzDOkcIpy0y
“So, what is the so-called ‘assignment’?” I asked. “Let me guess, another kill?”577Please respect copyright.PENANAyH5wBVStl4
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.577Please respect copyright.PENANAs2J8JGxeXC
It’s no wonder that Phoenix left. I wish I could. But I don’t have that kind of influence. Or the ranking. 577Please respect copyright.PENANAEVPicvind1
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.577Please respect copyright.PENANA9YII7zmhsI
“I’m pretty sure that this kill will get you to V,” he snickered. “Have a go.”577Please respect copyright.PENANAZQXE2TsOKu
He handed me his phone. I rolled my eyes at the Crazy Frog stickers.577Please respect copyright.PENANAA9Cys4cvtB
"Trehan, like seriously?"577Please respect copyright.PENANA9wGIIFqaBU
He smiled with pride. "It's collector's edition."577Please respect copyright.PENANADQ8oxfqd6m
I sighed. He's still a high school kid after all.577Please respect copyright.PENANAn58rGEaQaB
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.577Please respect copyright.PENANAhg3gYsv2qu
Agent Trickster577Please respect copyright.PENANA6ERYVaYKlu
Assignment: Terminate RED Talisman577Please respect copyright.PENANADBaj7f7k9y
Reward: Promotion To IV577Please respect copyright.PENANAMNfNHhP3aw
Additional Information: The Details Are In The Attachment. Your Effort And Success Will Be Highly Appreciated.577Please respect copyright.PENANAzbMsXXf8YN
Thank You.577Please respect copyright.PENANAEhjtkEIuXm
-Articus Caleb577Please respect copyright.PENANAl55SCNhEHS
Articus Caleb? Wasn't the head Wilderness? “When did Articus become the Directioner?” I asked.577Please respect copyright.PENANAk767pMlkMH
“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.”577Please respect copyright.PENANAJSuXKW2rwV
“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.577Please respect copyright.PENANA9FUqnaTYFJ
"No way in hell,” I gasped.577Please respect copyright.PENANAtYXtjC60bQ
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.577Please respect copyright.PENANAWVOLXxoBdg
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. 577Please respect copyright.PENANAphO0WVE2DW
I never took note of what he said. I remembered it, but I didn't know what it meant. 577Please respect copyright.PENANA9LtGqbd5nc
Well, now I do.577Please respect copyright.PENANAecuXp06NAH
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.577Please respect copyright.PENANATbAFlVTjbU
“They can’t be fucking serious, Tricia.” he gasped. “We’ll talk about it to them. They can’t do this to you.”577Please respect copyright.PENANAF8LY0ppMAU
Was being IV worth what I was assigned to? Nothing could ever be worth it.577Please respect copyright.PENANAunSjmS4aCZ
“You can’t do this.” he exclaimed. “Tricia, say something.”577Please respect copyright.PENANAM8GTvVA0Fm
I glanced at the screen one more time. A part of me hoping that I had read it wrong. I had seen it wrong. 577Please respect copyright.PENANAW2XlEnrhYF
TALISMAN, it read.577Please respect copyright.PENANA7FfUpUzqlY
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.577Please respect copyright.PENANAVRTFzqDMtC
TALISMAN. 577Please respect copyright.PENANAxyjWDqF0EJ
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.577Please respect copyright.PENANAWO6qa1E9u4
"I look like him, don't I?" I mumbled.577Please respect copyright.PENANAawjXKBEz50
"Tricia," Trehan sighed. "You don't have to do this."577Please respect copyright.PENANAPHrQgY3I2c
I shook my head. "I do."577Please respect copyright.PENANAA16iy1GcKk
"Tricia," he began, "I-"577Please respect copyright.PENANAL4Km5yjBOf
"I'm good, Trehan," I reassured him. "I'm good."577Please respect copyright.PENANA3q30Y458DK
I'm good. I'd do what was asked of me. I'm an Ashes21 agent now. I had to do this.577Please respect copyright.PENANAVEa1XrQWVd
Like Phoenix did.577Please respect copyright.PENANAPwWCmm7UgD
Like I would.577Please respect copyright.PENANARZxV0F5k7e
The annexation had begun.577Please respect copyright.PENANAV9cHUU2cH7
*** 577Please respect copyright.PENANAT0QHJKuF8G