Chapter One

Chapter one - A mysterious note? Assassin's? Murder? What's going on in the life of Reginald Skyline.

The One Hundred Assassins
Book 1: Death before Family
Chapter 1




“Left over right, right over left, watch your step!”
Reginald trips over the stuffed animal in the floor. “Lilly, one more time and I will kick that animal away” Reginald blurts. “Fine… Just trying to have some fun” Lilly replies. Reginald slowly walks over to Lilly “You know, you could have fun. Go outside, play a game, mo-“ Reginald is interrupted by Lilly “You're never fun! You act like Dad!” Lilly jumps up and walks into the other room. Reginald ignores and walks into his room. A mysterious black note with a golden stamp lays on his dresser accompanied by another larger note that reads:
Academy of Technical Computer Engineering

“What's this?”
Reginald says to himself.
Reginald picks up the note and glazes at the initials that shine golden through the imprinted stamp “OHA”
Reginald stops and slowly thinks to himself “what could those initials represent?” After a brief moment he decides to tear open the envelope and discover its contents. When the envelope is opened Reginald is stunned by what he reads

We Know You. You Are Chosen by Uno
142 Southbound St
Be there in 24 Hours (8:00pm)

Reginald is stunned, could this be a joke? Or something serious. He sits on his bed and contemplates his next action. After checking the windows to see if anyone's watching he decides to take the note to his Father. A moment passes as Reginald is slowly walking up to his Father listening to his phone call “I can't do that. It's not good for the business and it'll plummet the ratings Jim” His Dad voices through the phone. Reginald speaks “Dad I-“ interrupted by his Father talking Reginald decides to speak at a higher tone “Dad I hav-“
“In a second Son, let me finish this call” his Father arrogantly reacts.
Annoyed by his Father’s attitude Reginald returns to his room.
A long day of twirling thoughts race throughout Reginald's mind “Should I do this?” “Is it safe?” “Who sent this?” �" After thinking himself to sleep Reginald rests for the upcoming tomorrow.

The clock strikes noon as Reginald awakens from his deep slumber. His Father has left for work as Reginald points out to himself after seeing his vehicle missing from the driveway. Reginald peaks in Lilly’s room to see if she's still sleeping, which she is. “I guess today is a better day than any other day” Reginald thinks to himself. Reginald puts on his favorite outfit for normal evenings, black basketball shorts, a slim white t-shirt, and short white socks that barley cover the circumference of his ankle. Reginald stares into the mirror to make sure he's presentable. Once satisfied Reginald walks into the living room and turns on the Television. The screen flickers as the flat screen bolts to life, a short freeway of flipping through the guide to find something that intrigues him turns into a fifteen minute flip-a-thon. Then a news channel catches his eye “Breaking news this morning as no suspects have been found for the burning of the Citizen Inn Motel. Police and authorities have been issued to capture this man dead or alive. The fire killed six-teen people as they were sleeping in or unable to escape the flames that were caused by these individuals or individual. If you have any information please call the local authorities. One of the suspects appear to have been spotted leaving the scene of the crime, the spotter has given us a small description of the mans identity. The man was to be presumed to have been around six foot four, wearing black clothing attire, and glasses were thought to be suspected on the mans face. If you have any evidence please call the police immediately” The news reporter states.
Reginald makes no movement or emotional grab towards this story as he's in awe of the video of the burning building. After a short moment of television Reginald decides to take a nap before the night is upon him.
Once awoken Reginald grabs nothing but the clothes on his back, his cellphone, and a pocketknife his Father had given him once his own Father passed away. The knife is made from stainless steel, the polished wood frame around the steel is held together by a beam of gold that runs along the middle of the blades handle. Reginald checks to make sure Lilly is in her bedroom and trots of the front door. The air is thin, the sky is clear, and the humidity is glaring hot as he breathes in the clear fresh air. Reginald walks up to his car and glances back at his house. The one story brick framed house is seated with just one neighbor and trees set miles down each road, they're three bedrooms, one bathroom, a living room, and a kitchen area. A moment passes as Reginald glances to himself through his drivers side window. Reginald is very tall; yet slim. A military haircut suits his dark hair color which is conjoined together by the dark brown hazel eyes.
Reginald turns off his phone, checks the knife in his pocket and opens his car door. After five minutes of driving Reginald arrives at the general area of the address. A city, packed with eateries, fun and games, schools, etc. Reginald crosses the city lines as He looks at the note again, “142 Southbound St.”
Reginald drives slowly through the streets to try and locate his address from the mysterious note.
Reginald starts reading aloud the numbers on the buildings he sees “329, 320, 296, 274…”
After a short minute drive since arriving in the city Reginald finds himself parked across the street of a building. The building is constructed of red brick, black lined windows, a sign outside that reads “Open”, and packed with people.
Reginald reads the front of the building “LiSuè’s Dinning” in bright white letters that sit like tape across the building’s front wall.
Hesitant, Reginald stalls. Could this be a trap? A prank? Thoughts jolt through his memory until he sees an old man walk through the front from inside the door. Short, stalky, with no hair to see. He places his hand on the door and slowly closes it behind him. Walking away like from inside the building like normal.
“Strange…” Reginald thinks to himself.
“It seems normal”
Reginald places the vehicle in park and opens his door. Steadily hopping out and shutting it in front of him.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The roar of gunshots scream throughout the city, people running away, cars slamming on the gas to escape. Reginald places his hand on top of his head and hits the ground. Laying forty feet from LiSuè’s, Reginald slowly stands up and notices two windows shattered from which appears to be from the gun fight. Reginald returns to his feet only to watch other overseeing citizens stand in awe and wait for action to occur. Reginald thinks fast, his self minded, collective, and calm self is able to think very quickly of what to do. He decides to leave the scene and forget about the note.
Reginald turns…
As Reginald places his hand on the drivers door handle and prepares to open it he hears a scream.
“Help Me!!”
“They have me cap-“
Then her voice thins as if stopped by a gun pointing at her skull, or a hand covering her mouth.
Reginald acts fast.
He doesn't hear and sirens so the police have not gotten close to the sight of the scene, and there's nothing stopping Reginald from trying to save her.
Reginald flashes.
“They have guns, and numbers”
“THINK… THINK”
Reginald doesn't think.
He acts.
Reginald runs across the street and knocks down the front door with full force. As he enters, he sees an eery sight �" three man, the one on the left holding a little girl by her neck, the two on the right standing strong, facing the muzzle of the weapon at Reginald.
“Trying to save the day huh?” A British voice rems from under the black mask of the man standing with the little girl; bruises on her neck, bloody from being bashed with an object, and hair burned by who knows what.
“What did you do to her!” Reginald blurts out from rage and anger.
“Shut it!” The same masked man screams right back.
“Now listen here, ‘saver’ of the city; I couldn't wait to run my boot across your bloody face. But first let me handle some business…”
An odd silence occurs between the man and Reginald.
The man speaks again “Reginald is it?...”
“How do you know my name!” Reginald cries with fear.
The man seems focused on Reginald's pocket.
“We sent you the letter chap. We wanted to watch somebody hurt…”
“Wha.. What do you mean hurt!?”
The man slowly looks at Reginald with a greedy eye.
“You pweny pathetic rat! Delirious little fella just hopped up
In here to try and save someone he's just met.”
The man holding the little girl released his grip and Reginald steps back a few inches.
The little girl rushes to Reginald with tears in her eyes and bruises on every inch of her visible body.
“Run..” A whisper.
The little girl raises her voice a little more.
“Run. Run fast. Run now. Leave me alone. Just-“
Interrupted by the man that was holding the girl.
“HEY YOU SPIT F****R! QUIET”
Reginald leans in closer. Arms wrapping around to protect the little girl.
The man takes off his mask.
Reginald gasps.
The man is dirty, nasty yellow teeth, eyebrows as mean as the devil himself. His white hair locks straight up like he's an odd misshaped Einstein.
“Let's…”
The words start to slow down as if the man is demented.
“Play. A. Game.”
The man jumps up as if he's slowly driving himself insane.
“How about this… You can choose”
A long silence is given.
After seconds of silence the man blurts out
“Aren't you gonna ask me what to choose!? Or are you too scared”
A sick laugh followed the sentence like it was supposed to be there.
“Wh..” Reginald stutters and pauses.
“What do I have to choose”
The mans eye widen
“Oh… A lovely game this one is… A little of everything, drama, suspense, blood…”
The man licks his lips as if he's hungry for a meal.
“Maybe… We can wager on this game”
Reginald speaks up.
“Quit playing games! Let me go!”
The man intervenes “Why would I do that?”
“The police will be here any second!” Reginald states
The man laughs, and laughs, and laughs harder.
“The-“
The man is interrupted by himself with a hard chuckle
“The police?”.
“Are you actually serious Reggie?”
Reginald cliches his fist.
“Oh nuh uh uh, this game; involves choosing the right choice”
Reginald stops and listens.
“Go on”
The man smiles “now you're listening” a small grin is exchanged to Reginald.
“This game is called Choice. See mate, it's easy to remember. Because all. You. Have. To. Do. Is. Choose.”
“Choose what” Reginald replies
The man stops and freezes.
“Yeeess” the man lengthens by looking in space.
“The choice… Oh, this is my favorite part. Because champ, here's the deal-“
The sound of the mans voice is interrupted by the clicking of the lock on the front door.
Reginald thinks to himself “I must've been too scared to notice a guy walking behind me”
The man continues…
“See my boy. This game is fun! So much fun! I can't..-“ the man clinches his fist in anger and grunts “.. Wait until you choose…”
Reginald returns with shock “quit playing games freak, tell me the choice”
The man steps closer to Reginald.
“Freak… I'm a freak? You know Reggie, that name.. Works for me”
The man stiffens up “from now on you can call me The Freak..- the man heightens the sound of the ‘k’ in freak to make it louder. “.. �" do you understand?”
Reginald stands and doesn't make a gesture or sound.
“Good” The Freak replies.
The Freak sits down on a chair. The other two masked man standing to his left. The girl stiffens up and whispers something else
“I… I told you to leave”
The Freak places his hands together and rest them under his chin.
“The game is simple. I show you two people, and you tell me which one lives. The one you choose mate is safe, the other one will be bloodied beheaded and you. Will. Watch.”
The Freak pauses and struggles to get a grip upon another innocent bystander that was behind the other two masked man.
The Freak pulls the other girl over in front of his throne.
“Give me her, make this more dramatic”
The Freak tells Reginald
The girls grip tightens as Reginald releases his arms.
“It will be ok” Reginald whispers to the girl.
The Freak Speaks “Very well then. Now time to choose. Do you want to save her..-“
The Freak looks at the beat and bloodied girl kneeling to his left.
“..- or this little girl”
The Freak removes the sheet covering the bystanders face.
Standing to the left of The Freak, mouth covered by tape, red dry eyes from crying.
The girl was his sister.
“Lilly…” Reginald cries insides
The Freak smiles
“The game just got real Reginald. And you're the main player. What do you do?...”
Reginald panics on the inside.
Reginald stops. And thinks to himself
“My sister is key, family is important. Who was the girl?”
A few minutes of silence until The Freak interrupts
“This isn't a game you can pause. Make your decision!”
Reginald starts to cry, a sob face from an older brother who put his little sister in danger. In the hands of murderers, how could he fix this how could he forgive himself.
The Freak screams at a high voice
“Too late! The game will choose by default”
The blade grows brighter. The tears and hate run through Reginald. The Freak, the masked man, the murderer shoved his hand through Lilly’s back holding a blade. The tip of the blade has penetrated through Lilly's body. Reginald can see it.
Reginald witnessed his sister murdered.
The blood covers the stomach of Lilly. The lifeless eyes scream. Reginald cries out bloody murder as Lilly takes her last breathes. Fighting for air, crying, helpless, alone.
The Freaks lets go of Lilly.
Lilly’s body drops to her knees.
Then her hands.
Then she falls.
Her Arms fall lifeless as her head smacks the floor.
Lilly reaches up for her last movement, her last moment of life, and reaches as far as she can.
Sitting there on his knees, Reginald felt the touch of Lilly one last time. Her hand resting upon his hand.
Lilly is dead.
“That game was fun Reginald. I truly enjoyed it, maybe we should play again sometime.”
The Freak walks over to Lilly.
“Reginald… I'm sorry my dear boy but from what you just witnessed I don't think we're just going to throw you back outside and expect nothing else… We have to take you with us”
The Freak signals one of his guards and Reginald is hit with a dart. The dart hit Reginald’s neck.
Reginald grabs the dart and yanks it from his skin.
“Y…” Reginald tries to speak.
Reginald falls to the ground. The dart rolls across the room.
Reginald can open his eyes just slightly but cannot keep them open.
Reginald sleeps.

Author's Note

Feedback helps tremendously