i685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLqdEOujcd
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. 685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt7slgj7SoE
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.685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6NwBZAkTXQ
“Tricia,” Trehan coughed, breaking my attention to him. I hadn't heard him come. “You have another assignment.”685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpBTin30RtJ
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.685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2MjLbN9CLp
He was too young for this, I kept telling him. Then again, so was I.685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVIhiATf5j
“They just love me, don’t they?” I scoffed. “Stupid Ashes21 can’t even let me enjoy my break”685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkOTbzK9osR
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.685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNp5upJ7RcL
Sometimes, by killing their Most Loved, and at times, by gifting them their Most Wanted. 685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVQPuNh1Rq
“Be careful, Tricia,” he laughed. “They must have a hidden microphone out here somewhere.”685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfmhfBfbHJ9
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.685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUnKUPv0S1N
“So, what is the so-called ‘assignment’?” I asked. “Let me guess, another kill?”685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZwOhjUfJw
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.685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoP99oSeOEu
It’s no wonder that Phoenix left. I wish I could. But I don’t have that kind of influence. Or the ranking. 685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5votIJOrS
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.685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcfBDsrhDdQ
“I’m pretty sure that this kill will get you to V,” he snickered. “Have a go.”685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Fmw4NtSoq
He handed me his phone. I rolled my eyes at the Crazy Frog stickers.685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdFvwThffZ
"Trehan, like seriously?"685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcpXtaY7GLI
He smiled with pride. "It's collector's edition."685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAW591Qq3kb
I sighed. He's still a high school kid after all.685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzsf6QvsWi
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.685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBsFzvW7TpK
Agent Trickster685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOuYVdqU0No
Assignment: Terminate RED Talisman685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI3Ta7vT2z7
Reward: Promotion To IV685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCmmODLwV2
Additional Information: The Details Are In The Attachment. Your Effort And Success Will Be Highly Appreciated.685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4AMOuKTBEB
Thank You.685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzEnI6I7IH9
-Articus Caleb685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQLLhojxzV
Articus Caleb? Wasn't the head Wilderness? “When did Articus become the Directioner?” I asked.685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzq59neSTIV
“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.”685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwuFopDoW5L
“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.685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz0bXOD0Eok
"No way in hell,” I gasped.685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAVbu7jUvs3
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.685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPgSoeun4XR
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. 685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hSpAkCxdF
I never took note of what he said. I remembered it, but I didn't know what it meant. 685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFS1LJW1ybt
Well, now I do.685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb93g1dh0YX
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.685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiG83xABAlR
“They can’t be fucking serious, Tricia.” he gasped. “We’ll talk about it to them. They can’t do this to you.”685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjcsPcgel95
Was being IV worth what I was assigned to? Nothing could ever be worth it.685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPQZNYZGbb
“You can’t do this.” he exclaimed. “Tricia, say something.”685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmjzggCQVQW
I glanced at the screen one more time. A part of me hoping that I had read it wrong. I had seen it wrong. 685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZCCTSX0Rq
TALISMAN, it read.685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNRUbwzaIv
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.685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWYHvHL1qx
TALISMAN. 685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwIGCQf73aL
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.685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZXCbgpnFP
"I look like him, don't I?" I mumbled.685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuSB8RrCPxn
"Tricia," Trehan sighed. "You don't have to do this."685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiwCknTQzm7
I shook my head. "I do."685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFpQ4uFY10A
"Tricia," he began, "I-"685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPa8vdmKT2
"I'm good, Trehan," I reassured him. "I'm good."685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpyVlPVZba7
I'm good. I'd do what was asked of me. I'm an Ashes21 agent now. I had to do this.685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrHvfxtVDbM
Like Phoenix did.685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk0KgcTqIbh
Like I would.685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ7puylxGBn
The annexation had begun.685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGkv6ruX4W
*** 685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxtnpxu857
