i738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlPApifohoG
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. 738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vVVAsWhcv
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.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmdU8u56Qg
“Tricia,” Trehan coughed, breaking my attention to him. I hadn't heard him come. “You have another assignment.”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡawOsQY62Gh
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.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqxUVkVliyW
He was too young for this, I kept telling him. Then again, so was I.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHvBGLFEjR
“They just love me, don’t they?” I scoffed. “Stupid Ashes21 can’t even let me enjoy my break”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmeptE6YBRf
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.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1JZTBbeVQd
Sometimes, by killing their Most Loved, and at times, by gifting them their Most Wanted. 738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzHdUxphuBI
“Be careful, Tricia,” he laughed. “They must have a hidden microphone out here somewhere.”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqyMvHcMuYg
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.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR7uKqEO9xZ
“So, what is the so-called ‘assignment’?” I asked. “Let me guess, another kill?”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfVPlgJNCcz
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.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0GXBfY5hog
It’s no wonder that Phoenix left. I wish I could. But I don’t have that kind of influence. Or the ranking. 738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJd6zJKbxY
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.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMq8bJofcry
“I’m pretty sure that this kill will get you to V,” he snickered. “Have a go.”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoebZ56igpv
He handed me his phone. I rolled my eyes at the Crazy Frog stickers.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4fjGJxviPB
"Trehan, like seriously?"738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw9qBqUXdmP
He smiled with pride. "It's collector's edition."738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG5BexXJElW
I sighed. He's still a high school kid after all.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRhCAYj2Y7
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.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSlCwHoeP3U
Agent Trickster738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ75r2PZaHoX
Assignment: Terminate RED Talisman738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBWpq46UsqX
Reward: Promotion To IV738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYHXALiuyy
Additional Information: The Details Are In The Attachment. Your Effort And Success Will Be Highly Appreciated.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPF82lUuoxB
Thank You.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYinYpzyKh5
-Articus Caleb738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNN4BG9wSWy
Articus Caleb? Wasn't the head Wilderness? “When did Articus become the Directioner?” I asked.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8zTBmKI4ak
“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.”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQUqWkj1ZPE
“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.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWL6hekZJU
"No way in hell,” I gasped.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBGoAJ2s0O
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.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKpIsMlEQD5
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. 738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvIVTE7mRB4
I never took note of what he said. I remembered it, but I didn't know what it meant. 738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ804r0CYa7i
Well, now I do.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuIL94KDp24
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.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡORI46o6Mrj
“They can’t be fucking serious, Tricia.” he gasped. “We’ll talk about it to them. They can’t do this to you.”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUG7GhWT69M
Was being IV worth what I was assigned to? Nothing could ever be worth it.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnUFDkn0vz0
“You can’t do this.” he exclaimed. “Tricia, say something.”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmFWmgJeSOI
I glanced at the screen one more time. A part of me hoping that I had read it wrong. I had seen it wrong. 738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8tmO4YENzK
TALISMAN, it read.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGMucxO3zzZ
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.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqLLbb6Zmy
TALISMAN. 738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkg6f7zXIIL
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.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDG6blA1IaT
"I look like him, don't I?" I mumbled.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpKIPjnvpPP
"Tricia," Trehan sighed. "You don't have to do this."738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpan0Rvpp8u
I shook my head. "I do."738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡahiUJLJbsg
"Tricia," he began, "I-"738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQxUJgRCfNv
"I'm good, Trehan," I reassured him. "I'm good."738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhH7IbD3tX
I'm good. I'd do what was asked of me. I'm an Ashes21 agent now. I had to do this.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbIk8jd5e4S
Like Phoenix did.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvgDUh1jjVa
Like I would.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvKegYqy8fG
The annexation had begun.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3g8tCUXhiY
*** 738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqA6Nlh9LvM
