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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. 757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhH6SihtKu8
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.757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡenxNgaLi3W
“Tricia,” Trehan coughed, breaking my attention to him. I hadn't heard him come. “You have another assignment.”757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGtyYG1Icbm
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.757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4evdpsmLVb
He was too young for this, I kept telling him. Then again, so was I.757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZzyVyGLWw
“They just love me, don’t they?” I scoffed. “Stupid Ashes21 can’t even let me enjoy my break”757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQBnV3InppG
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.757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsdYhiqaHub
Sometimes, by killing their Most Loved, and at times, by gifting them their Most Wanted. 757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTbyXuatajR
“Be careful, Tricia,” he laughed. “They must have a hidden microphone out here somewhere.”757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5y7VJprMv
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.757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJJ3g8dOIk
“So, what is the so-called ‘assignment’?” I asked. “Let me guess, another kill?”757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQ5MS1g8RH
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.757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqaDRJ5qxxx
It’s no wonder that Phoenix left. I wish I could. But I don’t have that kind of influence. Or the ranking. 757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVxGHmrnjlz
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.757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH3yUux9IWi
“I’m pretty sure that this kill will get you to V,” he snickered. “Have a go.”757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVmjviGorp
He handed me his phone. I rolled my eyes at the Crazy Frog stickers.757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡquzxIHm6T3
"Trehan, like seriously?"757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSR5legOYnc
He smiled with pride. "It's collector's edition."757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqsPb82Kq5a
I sighed. He's still a high school kid after all.757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡohMqO7F9OM
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.757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoYOztALDmG
Agent Trickster757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqxn5entU3
Assignment: Terminate RED Talisman757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKS4nhp0K2o
Reward: Promotion To IV757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhiiB9lNcH4
Additional Information: The Details Are In The Attachment. Your Effort And Success Will Be Highly Appreciated.757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ELm6PhwkO
Thank You.757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpjJaMiHPmG
-Articus Caleb757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0glYG4tOr
Articus Caleb? Wasn't the head Wilderness? “When did Articus become the Directioner?” I asked.757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZgV94h60w7
“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.”757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEcYpsscNsd
“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.757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRyfQf8SoGe
"No way in hell,” I gasped.757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSkfWh8sl9k
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.757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDubKTwFTEP
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. 757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPlbK83jrs
I never took note of what he said. I remembered it, but I didn't know what it meant. 757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxtQ2rqqCAC
Well, now I do.757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTDb4LkO4vm
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.757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXSxoUQrkTB
“They can’t be fucking serious, Tricia.” he gasped. “We’ll talk about it to them. They can’t do this to you.”757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6gTLI7TNjr
Was being IV worth what I was assigned to? Nothing could ever be worth it.757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF69ZuaLCkt
“You can’t do this.” he exclaimed. “Tricia, say something.”757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNOymF1VyHt
I glanced at the screen one more time. A part of me hoping that I had read it wrong. I had seen it wrong. 757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdzGPQKSrA
TALISMAN, it read.757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYKiVQlF2a8
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.757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlNVfZp09w
TALISMAN. 757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLfSSWApmmq
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.757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJWpc9FXvk
"I look like him, don't I?" I mumbled.757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQL4u74mtx
"Tricia," Trehan sighed. "You don't have to do this."757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ94NmSRJ3sQ
I shook my head. "I do."757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMhyCHkshg
"Tricia," he began, "I-"757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiIs14UIEHd
"I'm good, Trehan," I reassured him. "I'm good."757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡznHKrXVa6p
I'm good. I'd do what was asked of me. I'm an Ashes21 agent now. I had to do this.757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeVfUoPbKFP
Like Phoenix did.757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBhB45sDlzo
Like I would.757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68KsxhJwo8
The annexation had begun.757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZaKFHBE8eh
*** 757Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1soblJe40
