i732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0KHiCHG6kP
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. 732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvul4R0gZxH
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.732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwHHBl8LMda
“Tricia,” Trehan coughed, breaking my attention to him. I hadn't heard him come. “You have another assignment.”732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQX2h99Qjq
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.732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNPw2YktNM
He was too young for this, I kept telling him. Then again, so was I.732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJI2W1gHRj
“They just love me, don’t they?” I scoffed. “Stupid Ashes21 can’t even let me enjoy my break”732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5OaikFgDR
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.732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjIGV7QP8aB
Sometimes, by killing their Most Loved, and at times, by gifting them their Most Wanted. 732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDIysQoWY8f
“Be careful, Tricia,” he laughed. “They must have a hidden microphone out here somewhere.”732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibSDXWGCBV
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.732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvR5YuKl6cQ
“So, what is the so-called ‘assignment’?” I asked. “Let me guess, another kill?”732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQdOUrxl17
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.732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7pIIeWbCEc
It’s no wonder that Phoenix left. I wish I could. But I don’t have that kind of influence. Or the ranking. 732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2mtS7CA5t
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.732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQi4E6Fb2cu
“I’m pretty sure that this kill will get you to V,” he snickered. “Have a go.”732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQICXaGSVU
He handed me his phone. I rolled my eyes at the Crazy Frog stickers.732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6tdXLYchFo
"Trehan, like seriously?"732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRoWqaKu9bd
He smiled with pride. "It's collector's edition."732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwqYXSB1jH
I sighed. He's still a high school kid after all.732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3EAsOK1JFr
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.732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQ4eTtBAbv
Agent Trickster732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBBhHCay7oF
Assignment: Terminate RED Talisman732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqjgWtDW1l
Reward: Promotion To IV732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0KrWCekGdt
Additional Information: The Details Are In The Attachment. Your Effort And Success Will Be Highly Appreciated.732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6sureHbVoD
Thank You.732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7Ps50DnMr
-Articus Caleb732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVrMshTRti
Articus Caleb? Wasn't the head Wilderness? “When did Articus become the Directioner?” I asked.732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡswKxvkK9wH
“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.”732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtnTWPWasTu
“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.732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDWkcw5SIY
"No way in hell,” I gasped.732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnk7nwWrzx
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.732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlU2a3l4dtE
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. 732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfonl4Qzhy
I never took note of what he said. I remembered it, but I didn't know what it meant. 732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡotwXoRlhmW
Well, now I do.732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXjZy3v23VY
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.732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNKfG6Zqe8q
“They can’t be fucking serious, Tricia.” he gasped. “We’ll talk about it to them. They can’t do this to you.”732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdyvfnSHUmj
Was being IV worth what I was assigned to? Nothing could ever be worth it.732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZth8XM4Dgb
“You can’t do this.” he exclaimed. “Tricia, say something.”732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAIh3bgAClu
I glanced at the screen one more time. A part of me hoping that I had read it wrong. I had seen it wrong. 732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKnUSnLsj6Y
TALISMAN, it read.732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡev8goekkLv
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.732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6CUOAV236M
TALISMAN. 732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyl5EdrNFuX
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.732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwDRUCI6ywQ
"I look like him, don't I?" I mumbled.732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvDbW6p1xzI
"Tricia," Trehan sighed. "You don't have to do this."732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSmaNI1aXjz
I shook my head. "I do."732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwZWOjHzeL
"Tricia," he began, "I-"732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSaPri67sq3
"I'm good, Trehan," I reassured him. "I'm good."732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm5dF8DkheG
I'm good. I'd do what was asked of me. I'm an Ashes21 agent now. I had to do this.732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVAbddDX5H
Like Phoenix did.732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZEbygMfKhW
Like I would.732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpOwxg5HNdj
The annexation had begun.732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6SRnLivIlc
*** 732Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡix4xfhhk04
