i815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtVfwO0Ji6
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. 815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqQ6OxTn1kX
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.815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGZB5nJ0fI
“Tricia,” Trehan coughed, breaking my attention to him. I hadn't heard him come. “You have another assignment.”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbIAcDd7r7
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.815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjaEfEYax9
He was too young for this, I kept telling him. Then again, so was I.815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7QyRYT6ZEX
“They just love me, don’t they?” I scoffed. “Stupid Ashes21 can’t even let me enjoy my break”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzNmjMdy7Aw
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.815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5DNBW8E8q
Sometimes, by killing their Most Loved, and at times, by gifting them their Most Wanted. 815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡde7UNUnJd6
“Be careful, Tricia,” he laughed. “They must have a hidden microphone out here somewhere.”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFGSluLB20t
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.815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFM77I0qQRR
“So, what is the so-called ‘assignment’?” I asked. “Let me guess, another kill?”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hpsS0eOlZ
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.815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1RWqfFyEYO
It’s no wonder that Phoenix left. I wish I could. But I don’t have that kind of influence. Or the ranking. 815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡikNIYYFRD6
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.815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKClXB5QcTa
“I’m pretty sure that this kill will get you to V,” he snickered. “Have a go.”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiO621gYyTh
He handed me his phone. I rolled my eyes at the Crazy Frog stickers.815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlV4ANUitQa
"Trehan, like seriously?"815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3hD3Dt8ai
He smiled with pride. "It's collector's edition."815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9eN0zIOwiZ
I sighed. He's still a high school kid after all.815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLkVCSki2u
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.815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgqW6nZH4jy
Agent Trickster815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmXDakspx9F
Assignment: Terminate RED Talisman815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXoNatWKzig
Reward: Promotion To IV815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzKa2oefvBd
Additional Information: The Details Are In The Attachment. Your Effort And Success Will Be Highly Appreciated.815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGkI7FW7Kyl
Thank You.815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡruGzuMhpUz
-Articus Caleb815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8DgVBtyGEV
Articus Caleb? Wasn't the head Wilderness? “When did Articus become the Directioner?” I asked.815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBwgqsl5eQI
“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.”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3aPxU2kFQ1
“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.815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKiyKtPmAWg
"No way in hell,” I gasped.815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjRMiIeKgI
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.815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDKZDVuTIp6
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. 815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl71nNiORZm
I never took note of what he said. I remembered it, but I didn't know what it meant. 815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ70BXJ3G8x8
Well, now I do.815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRaqN5S9Lmq
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.815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡacrcvZrc5l
“They can’t be fucking serious, Tricia.” he gasped. “We’ll talk about it to them. They can’t do this to you.”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcooihLkjHe
Was being IV worth what I was assigned to? Nothing could ever be worth it.815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdX5uX4WLTT
“You can’t do this.” he exclaimed. “Tricia, say something.”815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡal8RqBBHkv
I glanced at the screen one more time. A part of me hoping that I had read it wrong. I had seen it wrong. 815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ28n09FEklV
TALISMAN, it read.815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMCMWPT1H7e
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.815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWv4gT3QWbf
TALISMAN. 815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUYdT9cY62S
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.815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Bs4FsHBqm
"I look like him, don't I?" I mumbled.815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡssxAVXohL2
"Tricia," Trehan sighed. "You don't have to do this."815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQlmJ1VAm1Q
I shook my head. "I do."815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwoSdJre370
"Tricia," he began, "I-"815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLMSwqC0SH4
"I'm good, Trehan," I reassured him. "I'm good."815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYrCGDtJ49L
I'm good. I'd do what was asked of me. I'm an Ashes21 agent now. I had to do this.815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGOHSDcYu7B
Like Phoenix did.815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBvZlilzxi
Like I would.815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡusBjWSsgyc
The annexation had begun.815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbAxnuubxBb
*** 815Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQVt7724KY
