Not This Day

It's hard to kill someone who you knew...or loved.

     It wasn’t a good day. All the people were very scared because of the news broadcast about the execution of the locals due to not abiding the laws made by the Dictator. Well, it’s their fault. Since they didn’t follow the rules, they end up dead. Millions of them were shot and had their heads cut off. It may be gruesome, but it has a great benefit: Our people became more disciplined and they always follow the rules. I am so enlightened that they do know the purpose of this death penalty, but not this day.

 

     I’m the youngest female member of a local death squad. My job: put the criminals, smugglers, drug pushers, rapists, and kidnappers literally dead. I was 21 when I started here. I was very fine about my job since I killed about thousands of law breakers per year. And my boss, the Dictator, always paid me very well in this job. 

      What makes me happier is that there came a time when those people who are going to be executed are the ones who made me suffer in school. I gave them about 7 shots in the brain and 6 shots in the heart: a Lucky 13 indeed. Surprisingly, there came a time where I have to kill someone that I loved.

 

     It was a Friday, and there was a long line of law breakers waiting to be shown to the Dictator. We, the executors, are in our respective rooms. The television screens showed us those who were held captive. A friend of mine sarcastically laughed because one of his classmates in high school was caught. His classmate was a drug pusher. Back then, he was bullied and physically abused by this guy. He was even more delighted that he was assigned to kill this law breaker. Another assassin made a sarcastic smile because she saw her ex-boyfriend was caught. Her ex cheated about a year ago, so why not kill this bad guy?

 

     As for me, I was feeling good that everybody got their revenge to these people, except for me. This person wants to commit suicide. I saw a familiar face in that screen. He was this guy that maybe all of the women would fall in love for, but he was looking for a better girl for him. He always helps those in need, and he always goes by someone’s side. 

     It was David, my childhood best friend. I fell for him, but he will never look the same way as me. He was so optimistic to get this pretty girl named Cass, but he didn’t know that she is a fake. So instead of encouraging him to love me, I let him go. It hurt me so much ever since. Now that he’s back I don’t know what the hell I will do before he gets killed, but something even worse came: I was assigned to kill him.

 

     I was extremely dreadful. Instead of crying, I went to get my gun for the killings. The killings will start in 10 minutes, so I went to the prison first. Wait, a talk with David for less than 10 minutes? Am I crazy? I went to David’s cell with my mask on. He begged in front of me. “No, no, please don’t.” I removed my mask, and there he remembered me.

     “Lily? Lil, forgive me! Lil, please!” he said.

     He begged and begged. I have nothing to do but to stare at him, no smile or frown in my face. But he told me this whole story, right after I let go of him to chase his love of his life. They were having a good time hanging out. They always go to shops, fine restaurants and malls but everything changed when that b***h had a child when she was 16 and was proposed to the man who was responsible for this. He went drunk, depressed and almost killed himself. Well, the local death squad will give death for you, not in your own hands. 

     He said it’s alright for me to kill him, because he deserved it and he should’ve loved me back. I ran away, removing my pitiful heart for him, but it won’t.

 

    I went back to my fellow assassins with this frightening feeling in my mind. The killings will start in a minute. I don’t know if I have the courage to kill him. If an assassin doesn’t kill the person within just a minute, he will also be executed. The killings started, and all of my folks already killed the law breakers in their prisons except for me. I left David alive, but there are only 20 seconds left to kill him. 

        He kept whispering to me to just do it. The Dictator called my attention saying, “Don’t keep me waiting. Kill him!” Ten seconds left. Would I rather die, or rather let my friend die? 

       Five…four…three…two…one. 

       I killed him. I don’t want to do it, at all. The Dictator then told me, “This time, don’t talk with the captives in their prisons. Even though if it’s someone you knew…or loved.” Now I questioned myself: Why is society this cruel? Why do they have to do this? Why do I have to kill the one that I loved?

 

     I woke up the next day and someone called. David called. But wait, he’s dead, right?

 

     “Lil! Happy Birthday! I’ll make a cake for you when you come back. And I promise to follow your master’s rules. I’ve been a good boy ever since! God Bless and have a great day!”

 

     He is alive? It must’ve been a dream! Thank God he’s being careful with his actions every day. I replied to him:

 

     “David?! You’re…okay? Hey, thanks! I’m so excited for your cake! Always follow his rules, okay? I trust you in that.”

     “Yes ma’am.”

      And after a long pause, I finally said to him: “I love you.”

      His reply: “I love you, too.”