i751Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs4omvuy1de
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. 751Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuK99VFWEcT
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.751Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRnRMBeTCW0
“Tricia,” Trehan coughed, breaking my attention to him. I hadn't heard him come. “You have another assignment.”751Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyDMdZjIezP
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.751Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqrTm5qozx
He was too young for this, I kept telling him. Then again, so was I.751Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7oSO2FFSrC
“They just love me, don’t they?” I scoffed. “Stupid Ashes21 can’t even let me enjoy my break”751Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFnnrhjtjZC
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.751Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7RRrVxjwA9
Sometimes, by killing their Most Loved, and at times, by gifting them their Most Wanted. 751Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMIQp4h5Wwr
“Be careful, Tricia,” he laughed. “They must have a hidden microphone out here somewhere.”751Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNZrL1wcD9
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.751Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM1cPPRivQs
“So, what is the so-called ‘assignment’?” I asked. “Let me guess, another kill?”751Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YvCrlbdcA
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.751Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKrtIyAFBxI
It’s no wonder that Phoenix left. I wish I could. But I don’t have that kind of influence. Or the ranking. 751Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoijyuCF8IW
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.751Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC5ywLX59zd
“I’m pretty sure that this kill will get you to V,” he snickered. “Have a go.”751Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqeY9l1SRsQ
He handed me his phone. I rolled my eyes at the Crazy Frog stickers.751Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWx8ES3Lo2S
"Trehan, like seriously?"751Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlvELjeC54K
He smiled with pride. "It's collector's edition."751Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyjrdUorliF
I sighed. He's still a high school kid after all.751Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG1OAVvqRMi
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.751Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiaEA6m6H6D
Agent Trickster751Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqGg2mtM6Ba
Assignment: Terminate RED Talisman751Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJl1P6oVOx
Reward: Promotion To IV751Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoYEA1WddMc
Additional Information: The Details Are In The Attachment. Your Effort And Success Will Be Highly Appreciated.751Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBSSBaW1gxX
Thank You.751Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE69XWFcs8Y
-Articus Caleb751Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjfaXzFAvey
Articus Caleb? Wasn't the head Wilderness? “When did Articus become the Directioner?” I asked.751Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2KBzkp0WQo
“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.”751Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYdSJnYzjnp
“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.751Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡew5vEmOXZB
"No way in hell,” I gasped.751Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxAcqoFYNmd
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.751Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0AwT3ib9W7
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. 751Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcdp4ZOAuci
I never took note of what he said. I remembered it, but I didn't know what it meant. 751Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtKOhyhHgrU
Well, now I do.751Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwERjUfZZ1z
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.751Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMvcyQq416b
“They can’t be fucking serious, Tricia.” he gasped. “We’ll talk about it to them. They can’t do this to you.”751Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4ODQcfII1
Was being IV worth what I was assigned to? Nothing could ever be worth it.751Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCIHfKne3wS
“You can’t do this.” he exclaimed. “Tricia, say something.”751Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1G4AY5e3fW
I glanced at the screen one more time. A part of me hoping that I had read it wrong. I had seen it wrong. 751Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡicSmWdShOB
TALISMAN, it read.751Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBrHkmRakJV
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.751Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8GfPNHHceZ
TALISMAN. 751Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ofms2uvS1
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.751Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKHCUbj9PiG
"I look like him, don't I?" I mumbled.751Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxQP9JnEXz5
"Tricia," Trehan sighed. "You don't have to do this."751Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOj7IAmaY4W
I shook my head. "I do."751Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83YkVjCPeT
"Tricia," he began, "I-"751Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJGDIC6uuWC
"I'm good, Trehan," I reassured him. "I'm good."751Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLvWLaWT0zk
I'm good. I'd do what was asked of me. I'm an Ashes21 agent now. I had to do this.751Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI3BFzGXClJ
Like Phoenix did.751Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡObpeJuvYb6
Like I would.751Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhxTqTlYKb6
The annexation had begun.751Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAshDFbY8ck
*** 751Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3aRaE73366
