i777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKbvESTtWJ
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. 777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHftgIkQUtT
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.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbffBStIWZR
“Tricia,” Trehan coughed, breaking my attention to him. I hadn't heard him come. “You have another assignment.”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd8QMuLKC9K
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.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRrxNmpsHGO
He was too young for this, I kept telling him. Then again, so was I.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7WFTCybrmV
“They just love me, don’t they?” I scoffed. “Stupid Ashes21 can’t even let me enjoy my break”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3QqXvxBcV
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.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJU4yIrYGra
Sometimes, by killing their Most Loved, and at times, by gifting them their Most Wanted. 777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvYbWTKFFK
“Be careful, Tricia,” he laughed. “They must have a hidden microphone out here somewhere.”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVAYoFAnEa
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.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx36xbcH2SO
“So, what is the so-called ‘assignment’?” I asked. “Let me guess, another kill?”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡreHCDs2icV
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.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIIBnJu13B7
It’s no wonder that Phoenix left. I wish I could. But I don’t have that kind of influence. Or the ranking. 777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFbiWrHV7K4
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.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnd83ZVdCRs
“I’m pretty sure that this kill will get you to V,” he snickered. “Have a go.”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32wBJZZm6M
He handed me his phone. I rolled my eyes at the Crazy Frog stickers.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4FAnpHTYlj
"Trehan, like seriously?"777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡISr2esfiG2
He smiled with pride. "It's collector's edition."777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfCNb4chWq
I sighed. He's still a high school kid after all.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ0abE45EHW
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.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDL9c8o01ps
Agent Trickster777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ476g81zYun
Assignment: Terminate RED Talisman777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuoYwpJC8Uj
Reward: Promotion To IV777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIEyjNeIG3A
Additional Information: The Details Are In The Attachment. Your Effort And Success Will Be Highly Appreciated.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOOITUzyX2b
Thank You.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWzGnzVtwG
-Articus Caleb777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbTQEHjO7u
Articus Caleb? Wasn't the head Wilderness? “When did Articus become the Directioner?” I asked.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfjUY9ZsLXX
“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.”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE31CoimRjp
“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.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjiLwmbwYV4
"No way in hell,” I gasped.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewcEAs0rpt
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.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8iWl55N1ne
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. 777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9XV6hL7bZc
I never took note of what he said. I remembered it, but I didn't know what it meant. 777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhicBwSsO00
Well, now I do.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQa3vE48ll
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.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlFd9J03mOO
“They can’t be fucking serious, Tricia.” he gasped. “We’ll talk about it to them. They can’t do this to you.”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV1b086Lax6
Was being IV worth what I was assigned to? Nothing could ever be worth it.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUsi7TtGwvr
“You can’t do this.” he exclaimed. “Tricia, say something.”777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJBTUghinpy
I glanced at the screen one more time. A part of me hoping that I had read it wrong. I had seen it wrong. 777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSD7yEZm5sW
TALISMAN, it read.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2uOaR5lvg6
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.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mg4la2N3W
TALISMAN. 777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1NHuPitM6d
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.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4vvAnK0Gqs
"I look like him, don't I?" I mumbled.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjjtWAy02y
"Tricia," Trehan sighed. "You don't have to do this."777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMo8aTU9RD
I shook my head. "I do."777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2vPHdl6boy
"Tricia," he began, "I-"777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjKV1Zt9gIb
"I'm good, Trehan," I reassured him. "I'm good."777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsBqXBEy4fh
I'm good. I'd do what was asked of me. I'm an Ashes21 agent now. I had to do this.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEhbfVAJzlY
Like Phoenix did.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtOnoiZg79l
Like I would.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBdSzeiBzNI
The annexation had begun.777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5qVdVDNDlf
*** 777Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7sMK7W38cH
