i671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmrRzwVpBKY
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. 671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡErY6yRI7ep
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.671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3UitKL8lYb
“Tricia,” Trehan coughed, breaking my attention to him. I hadn't heard him come. “You have another assignment.”671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9cTIQZ9Qz
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.671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmmU02LHxmX
He was too young for this, I kept telling him. Then again, so was I.671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1G9iQB9dtb
“They just love me, don’t they?” I scoffed. “Stupid Ashes21 can’t even let me enjoy my break”671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDJpkwjohd
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.671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ81Dy9V4fkr
Sometimes, by killing their Most Loved, and at times, by gifting them their Most Wanted. 671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWU8GJDgNdJ
“Be careful, Tricia,” he laughed. “They must have a hidden microphone out here somewhere.”671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhhBzcD5lrq
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.671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPlTv06184C
“So, what is the so-called ‘assignment’?” I asked. “Let me guess, another kill?”671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd8Ab02ziT0
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.671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzcILFUUvqJ
It’s no wonder that Phoenix left. I wish I could. But I don’t have that kind of influence. Or the ranking. 671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuwKciOQWGf
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.671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBdqtZDMZTq
“I’m pretty sure that this kill will get you to V,” he snickered. “Have a go.”671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLepByZsUoq
He handed me his phone. I rolled my eyes at the Crazy Frog stickers.671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0i33fK1jIn
"Trehan, like seriously?"671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR139CW9W0R
He smiled with pride. "It's collector's edition."671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCUDbwEpfsI
I sighed. He's still a high school kid after all.671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAUvIqmLhSt
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.671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvrmtyGLF9r
Agent Trickster671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBBjKjiZWPR
Assignment: Terminate RED Talisman671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqRVrLk1Ia
Reward: Promotion To IV671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5rvIC7zeU6
Additional Information: The Details Are In The Attachment. Your Effort And Success Will Be Highly Appreciated.671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXDdjgaeqH
Thank You.671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYFiC9gz0q
-Articus Caleb671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqlPHcOrVy
Articus Caleb? Wasn't the head Wilderness? “When did Articus become the Directioner?” I asked.671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuMlxGceMOP
“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.”671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxiOlcc69p
“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.671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO0twulQArl
"No way in hell,” I gasped.671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjjZ00YRjN2
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.671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13h1vHC38h
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. 671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHii7UadRH
I never took note of what he said. I remembered it, but I didn't know what it meant. 671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB2HeNpjppc
Well, now I do.671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vrcdrvjUQ
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.671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEDpJFU6cRW
“They can’t be fucking serious, Tricia.” he gasped. “We’ll talk about it to them. They can’t do this to you.”671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe0Pp43T1pk
Was being IV worth what I was assigned to? Nothing could ever be worth it.671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLFP1J4BVm
“You can’t do this.” he exclaimed. “Tricia, say something.”671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8I7QCOqCN
I glanced at the screen one more time. A part of me hoping that I had read it wrong. I had seen it wrong. 671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHEEhQ8lMlY
TALISMAN, it read.671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHKkXL42Xy
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.671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnCU40q1W2u
TALISMAN. 671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ20MJ69KnF7
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.671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhicYtHZ8R
"I look like him, don't I?" I mumbled.671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ19horBJ8ru
"Tricia," Trehan sighed. "You don't have to do this."671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOvzxqLTrSe
I shook my head. "I do."671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQym0ZWsdb
"Tricia," he began, "I-"671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb31X7vDaNJ
"I'm good, Trehan," I reassured him. "I'm good."671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM79tnsaG0l
I'm good. I'd do what was asked of me. I'm an Ashes21 agent now. I had to do this.671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdb3CkcGizy
Like Phoenix did.671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx6q5z7erMr
Like I would.671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWXg7yVh5R
The annexation had begun.671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5GPZaBMjZG
*** 671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBz6AMcr6xy
