Silent Accord, Chapter 1

 “We have arrived, sir.” The driver said as he pulled up to the curb. “The boss wants it quick and quiet. I’ll be waiting at the rendezvous point as instructed, good luck.” 

Luck, huh? I smirked. That’s for those who do not plan well enough. I’d never rely on such an unknown and random variable. However, I didn’t voice those thoughts aloud. I made sure that my latex mask was on properly as well as all of my gear, before I departed from the cab. I felt a few droplets fall from the sky landing on my forehead and hair. I slicked back my short, brown hair as I let out a frustrated sigh. I did not like the rain, but I had planned for such an occurrence.

The job was a simple get in, kill the target and flee the area without causing too big of a scene. I wasn’t given the details as to why the client wanted this particular person dead, but it wasn’t my business to ask and I didn’t care enough to find out. I slicked back my hair once more, a habit I picked up years ago, as I stood in front of the nightclub my target was currently located. From the information I gathered, my target is a boss of some sort in the criminal underworld named Donovan Castro. I am to end his life tonight as well as any of his business associates that may also be in attendance. Perhaps a rival of sorts? Or maybe he did something that pissed someone else off? 

I walked behind the nightclub, named Ruby Veil, into the alley. I moved aside a dumpster and picked up what would look like a random bag of trash to a normal person. I opened it up and removed its contents which consisted of a white dress shirt, black pants, a black vest and a similarly colored bowtie. I quickly changed into my new attire before I made my way to the back door of the nightclub. I leaned up against the wall as I kept an eye on the watch on my left wrist.

I’ve had eyes all over this place for the last several weeks, watching their every move, allowing me to memorize their habits. In approximately eighteen seconds, a waiter will leave through the backdoor to take out trash and smoke a cigarette. True to my word, the seconds ticked by and the waiter walked out that door, trash bag in hand. He propped the door open so that it wouldn’t close and lock him out. 

“Rough night?” I asked as he lazily tossed the trash towards the dumpster, not landing anywhere near his target.

“Heh, that just barely begins to describe it.” He replied as he fished in his pocket for a lighter. “Hey, I don’t think I’ve seen you before. Are you a new hire, or something?” 

“Indeed, this is my first day on the job.” I replied, making my way towards the door. “I suppose I should go back inside, don’t want to be caught slacking off on my first day.” 

I attempted to move past him but he did not allow me access to the door, his gaze intently fixated on me as he took a long draw from his cigarette. “That’s odd, I don’t remember Sam telling me about any new hires and you don’t even have the right uniform on.” 

My hand inched towards my pocket, where my autoinjector of Midazolam rested. I didn’t like to get my hands dirty with innocent bystanders so I always had a couple of these sedatives on my person in case the need arises. 

He shook his head before he moved aside and held the door open for me. “There’s some spare vests and ties in the break room. It’s your first day so I’ll let it slide, but Sam isn’t as nice as I am.” 

I retracted my hand as I nodded and faked a smile of gratitude. “Thanks, I appreciate it.” 

He just grunted in response as I walked inside. I did my best to move past the distraction, reminding myself to stay focused. The last thing I needed was more delays. The hum of muffled music from the club felt like a distant buzz compared to the stillness of the back alley.

I successfully made my way towards the supply of the club's more expensive alcohols. I scanned the racks of alcohol before I found my target, a bottle of Tequila called Patrón Gran Burdeos. This particular bottle is one that Donovan is particularly fond of. 

I took the bottle and placed it on a tray with a bucket of ice and several fancy looking glass cups. After making sure no one could see me, I clicked the button on my watch three times in rapid succession, causing a small compartment to pop out. I took out the poison that I kept inside, quickly pouring its contents into the bottle of alcohol. 

This particular poison is quite fast acting, one of my favorites for a quick yet painful kill, a synthetic toxin derived from a rare, genetically modified plant. The poison dissolved quickly into the liquid, leaving it completely invisible to the naked eye. I left the back room and made my way to the VIP area in which my targets laid in wait. 

I despised places such as this. There was far too much noise and the number of people that occupied these clubs was far higher than it needed to be. I did my best to avoid as many of the people as possible, but sometimes it’s unavoidable. At times, I do wonder what it would be like to be as ignorant as those I seem to always be surrounded by. Ignorance is bliss after all. 

“What ya got ‘ere, mista waiter?!” A drunk woman slurred, her breath reeking with the stench of booze that permeated throughout the entire building.

“Do not concern yourself with it. Now if you’ll excuse me.” I replied, trying my best to remain polite despite the urge to crinkle my nose in disgust. 

“Oh, come on! We jus’ wanna have a lil’ fun,” She said, as she reached for the bottle. “Jus’ a lil’ fun.” 

My demeanor faltered for a brief moment, those words causing me to recall memories of my past. The day where I realized that humanity was truly rotten to the core.  I pulled out a small bottle of what looked like mint breath spray, aiming it towards the woman before spraying some of its contents at her. A clear mist shot out from the bottle, enveloping her face. Her face jerked backwards in surprise before a drowsy expression adorned her face. 

“You don’t look so good, perhaps you should take a seat.” I said as she nodded in agreement, stumbling away towards an empty chair. 

Now that that inconvenience was out of the way, I need to get back to the mission. That woman's distraction put me off schedule by sixteen seconds. I made my way to the VIP lounge where my target was waiting. By the time I entered, Donovan had already had quite a bit to drink as he laughed with his colleagues and the women on either side of him. 

“Ah, and what do we have here? I wasn’t expecting a gift such as this today!” Donovan said as I set the tray down before him.

He grabbed the glass bottle and began pouring it, filling each cup about half way, offering them to his new business collaborators. 

Just as I was about to make my way out, Donovan stopped me. “Now hold on, it’s only proper that I offer my thanks. Why don’t you take the first taste? I bet it’s not every day you get to try something as good as this.”

I offered another fake smile. “Unfortunately, I'm still on the clock. If it weren’t for that, I would have gladly taken up your offer.” 

Donovan stood from his spot and picked up a second glass, partially filled with the gold-colored liquid. He slid an arm around my shoulders and held the glass in his other hand up to my chest. 

“I insist.” He said, his gaze sternly fixed on my own. “It’s only one drink, it won’t harm a damn thing.” 

I gulped down a wad of saliva before grasping the offered glass. My hands shook slightly, but I put on a facade of confidence and lifted the drink to my lips, the liquid feeling like it was burning me from the inside as it traveled down my throat. I looked at my watch quickly. Only twenty-seven seconds before the poison did its thing. They all stared at me for several seconds before Donovan let out a hearty laugh, his peers following soon after. “See? Just one drink ain’t hurt nobody.” 

He removed his arm from around me and returned to his spot, his glass empty before he even sat down. Only eighteen seconds left. I fished in my pocket and pulled out a small container disguised as a tin of altoids, but it really contained the antidote to the poison instead of the mints that would normally be inside. I popped one in my mouth, letting out a silent sigh, thanking myself for planning in case of such an event. 

“If you’ll excuse me, I must get back to work, sir.” My words seemed to have been ignored, as if he had lost interest in my existence. He returned to telling a story to his colleagues, who had also indulged in the liquor before them, by the time I made my leave. 

I felt a smile trace my lips as the sounds of screaming could be heard from the VIP lounge, however it was completely deafened once I made my way back into the alley. It felt as if my actions helped cleanse the world of corruption, even if it was only by the smallest fraction of a percent. My mission was nearly complete, all I had to do was meet at the rendezvous point to collect the second half of my payment and I could finally get some rest. 

The meeting point was only a few blocks down where I was currently located, so it didn’t take me long to make it there. Two vehicles are waiting at the meet up point, both black and unmarked. Leaning on one of the doors was the driver from before, a dark gray duffle bag lay at his feet.

“It is a good sign to see you here, Mr. Myrmarachne.” The driver said as he picked up the duffle bag and started towards me. 

I frowned at the nickname I had earned from the authorities and previous employers, they had to call me something after all. However much I disliked being named after a species of spider, it did fit my style of killing quite well. My hand reached up and gripped my face, ripping off the latex mask that hid my identity. 

“Here is the rest of your payment, fifty-thousand dollars in twenty dollar bills,” He said, dropping the bag by my feet. “I believe that satisfies your specifications.” 

It did indeed satisfy my specifications. Twenties were far easier to move around without catching any attention, at least compared to hundred dollar bills. I picked up the bag that now laid at my feet, setting it atop the trunk of one of the black vehicles. 

“I will be counting it, then we will go our separate ways.” I said as I began to count the cash before me. It was a long and tedious process, but I always made sure I didn’t get cheated, even if it were by a hundred or so dollars. The whole process took me 35 minutes and 28 seconds, revealing that the driver had indeed been truthful about the quantity. 

After bagging it all back up, I tossed it in the backseat and prepared to drive off. “Give your boss my regards.” I said, with the window rolled down. 

I drove off, taking mostly back roads until I arrived at my safehouse, where I would then lay low for the next couple of days. One of my burner phones began to vibrate in my pocket. I took it out and glanced at the caller ID, which displayed that it was an anonymous number. I answer the call, a man's voice coming from the other end. 

“I hear you’re the best at handling… delicate matters.” 

“I deal in results. What needs to be done?” I asked the anonymous man. 

“I’ve got a problem that needs a subtle touch. A high-value target needs to be… taken care of.” 

“I presume you know the drop off point?” 

“Yes, indeed.” The voice paused. “You’ll have everything you need by midnight.” 

“I’ll take a look at it. If the job pays well enough… it will be completed as expected.” I quickly hung up the phone.

I snapped it in half and threw it out the window I had rolled down, falling into the river that lay below the bridge I was atop. I was planning on taking a small vacation, but it can’t hurt to see what the job entails. Worst case scenario, I can always reject the request. 

* * * 

The elevator dinged as I made it up to the top floor, where my target’s penthouse was located. My heels clicked against the tiled flooring, alerting the security up ahead to my presence. I didn’t care though, being all sneaky-like was far too boring for my taste. As I made my way down the hall, six armed guards were stationed in front of a door. One of the guards, their superior I assumed, stepped forward with his hand resting atop the firearm at his hip. He had a buzzcut and several scars adorning his face, making him look quite intimidating to the average person. 

“Sorry pretty lady, but this floor is off-limits,” He said with a deep, gravelly voice. 

“Even for me? Mr. Sterling will be upset, he paid good money to have me tonight.” I said, feeling their lustful gaze upon me. 

The scarred man’s eyes narrowed for a moment before he backed off. “I’ll have to verify that with the boss.”

The moment he turned his back towards me, I threw one of my knives towards him. The knife sailed through the air, biting deep into the nape of his neck. His body dropped like a sack of potatoes- darkly amusing.

I charged forward, reaching the next guard before they even had time to react. I slashed one's throat with another blade, blood sprayed forth from the wound but I avoided it before I got splashed. The last thing I wanted was to stain another dress. I tossed another two knives, both of them hitting their mark and killing another two.

The other two had now raised their guns and were about to open fire, but quickly found a dagger lodged in their hands behind the trigger, preventing them from pulling it back. I ran at them with a knife in each hand. He tried swinging at me with the gun, but I ducked under it and slashed his belly open. Before he managed to swing, I brought my other arm up, sinking my blade deep within his throat. The last man glanced back, wide-eyed and desperate, and bolted toward the elevator. He didn’t get very far before a blade in his neck ended his escape mid-stride.

“A coward’s death.” I mumbled as I checked over my body, satisfied at the lack of blood.

I approached the door and opened it, the smell of vanilla filled my nostrils soon after, a stark contrast to the metallic tang now looming in the hall. I do admit that this target did have good taste when it comes to smells. Faint moaning echoed from farther in the penthouse. I searched for a few moments before finding the room where the sound was coming from. 

I swiftly kicked open the door, surprising its occupants as it swung open. There were two people, my target and a prostitute. The prostitute screamed out and jumped back, away from the doorway. My target jumped up and began pulling his pants up, trying to look somewhat presentable. 

“Who the hell are you?!” He yelled out, his face now beet red. 

His name was Victor Sterling. I don’t know why he was wanted dead, nor did I care. All I know and care about is the payment I was offered. The prostitute must have noticed the knife in my hand as she began screaming. I rolled my eyes as I threw the knife towards her, stabbing her through the heart. 

“Sorry, no witnesses.” I mumbled. 

“I’ll kill you, b***h!” Victor yelled out as he reached for a pistol resting on the nightstand by his bed. 

Before he managed to grab it, a dagger was halfway through his hand with a sickening squelch. He fell to the ground, screaming in pain as tears ran down his cheek. I walked over and sat down on the edge of the bed, crossing my legs as I watched him squirm.

“Are you done?” I asked, quickly getting bored of this whole situation. 

“God damn it!” He screamed out one last time. “Who sent you! I’ll pay double… No, triple whatever they’re offering!”

I let out a little chuckle as I stood up and began stalking towards him. I kicked his prone form as I stomped down on his wrist, exciting another scream of pain. “Even though I’m an assassin, I still have my own moral principles. Besides, it would give me a bad rep if I were to betray my clients.” 

I sunk a blade into his chest, his last breath exiting his body moments later. 

“God, damn it!” I screamed out in annoyance. “This is my favorite dress and you went ahead and got your meat juices all over it!” 

I glanced around the penthouse one more time, my gaze sweeping over the emptied bodies and the faint evidence of my work. Clean and efficient, I thought with satisfaction, tucking away the last of my now clean knives. Victor’s bathroom mirror caught my eye, and I took a moment to tidy myself, brushing away any hint of my recent handiwork. Onto the next one. 

As I stepped into the hallway, the air was cool and still. The only sounds were the muffled hum of the elevator and the faint click of my heels against marble floors. A short ride down later, I stepped through the lobby, my mind already drifting toward the quiet of my own home. 

The limo waited outside, dark and sleek against the city lights. I slid into the back seat and exhaled, feeling the familiar post-job calm settle over me. The driver, as usual, didn’t pry; he knew well enough to stay out of my business. 

“Home, please,” I said, stretching out with a rare hint of relaxation. 

“I hope everything went well, Miss Nightshade.” The balding driver upfront said. 

“Yep! The target and his security were taken out without a noise.” I replied. “However, there was one unfortunate bystander, the poor girl was at the wrong place at the wrong time.” 

“That won’t be a problem,” The driver replied with a calm tone. “The rest of your payment will be deposited into your account over the next few days.” 

The rest of the drive went in silence. I arrived at my current home; due to my work it wasn’t uncommon for me to have to change locations. This one managed to last me the last couple of years, being one of the longest safe houses I've had. I opened the door, Chubbs practically tackled me at the door, as he always did, his tiny paws scrambling up my legs. 

“Who’s mommy’s good boy?!” I exclaimed as I picked him up. “I missed you Chubbs, why don’t we get you some grub?” 

I set him back down and walked towards the kitchen, getting out a bowl and dry dog food. Ignorance truly is bliss, I thought, smiling as I watched him nibble at his food. A knock on the door broke me out of my thoughts, my hands instinctively grabbing a kitchen knife as I made my way to the door. I felt that familiar flicker of adrenaline as I scanned the peephole. No one. I swung the door open, hoping to surprise whoever may have been hiding the blind spot. However, there was no one to surprise. 

A decent sized cardboard box lay on my welcome mat. I checked one more time for any signs of people before bringing the box inside. It didn’t have a lot of weight to it, easily allowing me to lift it from the ground. I set it atop my kitchen counter before opening it and revealing the contents. 

Inside was an orange manila envelope, as well as a whole lot of cash. I took a little while to count it, finding that the exact quantity was 100,000 dollars. I opened the manila envelope, reading all of the information contained within. It was the details of my next job, a smirk crawling its way up my face.

Another one. This time, Dante Fairfax. Oh, a gala? How old fashioned. I was already picturing myself in a stunning gown as I read the details. 

This particular gala would have quite a few high-profile attendees. I smiled to myself as I continued to read about the venue. I get to wear a fancy dress and attend a luxurious gala; all while being paid to do so. Albeit, I would have to kill someone, but it’s not like that is something difficult to do. I’ve killed thousands over the course of my life, ever since I was a child. But sometimes I do wish I could attend these kinds of events as myself, instead of the assassin that I always end up being.

Memories of my past started to flood my mind, but I quickly pushed them aside. Now isn't the time for that, I’ll find them and deal with them when the time comes. Now, to choose a dress- black or red?

Author's Note

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