i794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNT2fjiEB0
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. 794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnnjjzGzJp1
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.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7LfXSeXPFe
“Tricia,” Trehan coughed, breaking my attention to him. I hadn't heard him come. “You have another assignment.”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWC2B0UDpo0
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.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡocBD8KYicC
He was too young for this, I kept telling him. Then again, so was I.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE4mogBmcNV
“They just love me, don’t they?” I scoffed. “Stupid Ashes21 can’t even let me enjoy my break”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYuhx7QnjbH
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.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEq2b13KWfW
Sometimes, by killing their Most Loved, and at times, by gifting them their Most Wanted. 794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWhS8PfZtg4
“Be careful, Tricia,” he laughed. “They must have a hidden microphone out here somewhere.”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWZb70Qc9bx
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.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8DU3TQAiHd
“So, what is the so-called ‘assignment’?” I asked. “Let me guess, another kill?”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW0kdCbPjc9
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.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQOapY9zyr
It’s no wonder that Phoenix left. I wish I could. But I don’t have that kind of influence. Or the ranking. 794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVPHnLyN0kH
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.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL90XTTk7bK
“I’m pretty sure that this kill will get you to V,” he snickered. “Have a go.”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRZj99J6KE
He handed me his phone. I rolled my eyes at the Crazy Frog stickers.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKtMkPz54lU
"Trehan, like seriously?"794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0AHrROmE3L
He smiled with pride. "It's collector's edition."794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCmfZaBc4wl
I sighed. He's still a high school kid after all.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE76BCLcBpf
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.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHEoQC8Bp13
Agent Trickster794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpqQJkTqxWB
Assignment: Terminate RED Talisman794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL3eUF5UlKI
Reward: Promotion To IV794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhpDEcVKWM5
Additional Information: The Details Are In The Attachment. Your Effort And Success Will Be Highly Appreciated.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKypzOmDIhq
Thank You.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWSyhWzBMR
-Articus Caleb794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAmBB4yh2fk
Articus Caleb? Wasn't the head Wilderness? “When did Articus become the Directioner?” I asked.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlpGI3chjBr
“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.”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRVV0SnBzPG
“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.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQJLH4yQQa
"No way in hell,” I gasped.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtwVizOTII
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.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtwZsZe5Nle
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. 794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlcRKzrDlcV
I never took note of what he said. I remembered it, but I didn't know what it meant. 794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7miUKoag6p
Well, now I do.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe41eTL87jb
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.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLI6FzAka6T
“They can’t be fucking serious, Tricia.” he gasped. “We’ll talk about it to them. They can’t do this to you.”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDADuK0Yj2R
Was being IV worth what I was assigned to? Nothing could ever be worth it.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcUK8zkC2La
“You can’t do this.” he exclaimed. “Tricia, say something.”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdgvH6ebwKQ
I glanced at the screen one more time. A part of me hoping that I had read it wrong. I had seen it wrong. 794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYP8WCsYCS
TALISMAN, it read.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6X9YftOhS4
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.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡroI497veDE
TALISMAN. 794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPHm185dLBj
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.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdxTB72r8xD
"I look like him, don't I?" I mumbled.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1coGknbG9q
"Tricia," Trehan sighed. "You don't have to do this."794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL2kyy6OpmF
I shook my head. "I do."794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxp23RUoQGp
"Tricia," he began, "I-"794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN4Jidfknpq
"I'm good, Trehan," I reassured him. "I'm good."794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNxseZ8Sd8n
I'm good. I'd do what was asked of me. I'm an Ashes21 agent now. I had to do this.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFm5HESiZ8
Like Phoenix did.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3iH2dlvU2Q
Like I would.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpuVVzplwQA
The annexation had begun.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMA3Sz7ceq
*** 794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwFeWy1tUuh
