Fourteen years ago.

“Student de Winter, you’re up.” Eli stood up from his chair and left the waiting room. The woman waiting for him at the end of a nondescript corridor smiled. “Eli, so wonderful to see you again.” Eli smiled back. “Doctor Meier, a pleasure.” She herded him into her office, where two comfortable chairs were waiting.

“Before we begin I would like to state the following; Eli de Winter, you are a good man.” Eli nodded. “As you are a good woman, doctor.” Meier gave him a pleasant smile. “Now I would like to pick up where we left off two weeks ago, if you don’t mind.” Eli tried to remember where that exactly was but came up empty. “The dreams.” The doctor prompted. “Yes. The dreams.” They were one of the many constancies in Eli’s life. Together with the sun rising, getting shouted at by Dobber and killing a person every two months.

“Have they gotten more frequent?” Meier asked, to which Eli raised his eyebrows. “More frequent than every night, you mean?” Meier nodded. “No, I sleep, I dream, but otherwise I’m not haunted during the days.” The doctor wrote it down. “Good, very healthy. Have the dreams changed?” Eli shook his head. “It is the same dream, always. I’m given the room, I talk with Randal, I kill him.” He shrugged, if anything he had gotten used to it by now. “Nobody new ever shows up? None of your other contracts?” Eli shook his head again. “Just Randal.”

Dreams and nightmares were a constant plague upon the student body. Three students had already taken their own lives as a result, one had simply disappeared, never to be heard from again. A number of students had chosen to leave the school, paying off their debts in any way they could. The remaining students numbered seventy-two, all of whom regularly met with doctor Meier.

“Have you been using the techniques I thought you?” She asks. “I don’t need them, dreams are a waste of time, I put them out of my head when I wake up.” Again the doctor notes it down. “I’ve received a report that student Kingsburg, student Bancroft and you often go into the city after a contract.” It isn’t a question. “We do, to blow of some steam, yes.” Another notation. “How much Breath do you use?” Eli is lost for words, but before he can spin a tale the doctor holds up her hand. “I’m not your mother Eli, I just want to verify if your hobbies influence your work. What you do in your free time is your business. If Bancroft wants to get drunk and fight she is free to. And whether Kingsburg gambles away all his money or not is up to him. But when their problems start following them here there will be a problem. The same counts for you. So, how much Breath do you use?”

Eli exhales slowly. “Four hits, every time we go.” He confessed. “Does it help cope with the guilt?” The question came out of nowhere. “The guilt?” Eli stupidly repeated. Meier narrowed her eyes, she doesn’t like to repeat herself and this is the second time he has forced her to within the conversation. “I don’t feel guilty.” He hastily sad. “Randal and the others had it coming, if I hadn’t done it, somebody else would have.” Meier shook her head. “But it was you who did the deed, no matter how righteous, guilt often manifests after a contract.” Eli remained silent. The doctor gave him questioning glance, before making another notation.

“It is not because of guilt that I take Breath. I take it because it is fun.” It isn’t a lie, Breath is fun. It makes you feel clearer, more focused in the moment, everything becoming more intense while you become sharper. “You only take when you celebrate a contract?” She asked. He answered in the affirmative. “Only after a contract are we allowed to venture into the city.” He wished he had taken a hit just now, dealing with the doctor would have been much easier. “It is the highlight of every two months, the night out I mean.”

He isn’t lying, after finishing a contract it is the only thing that cheers him up. It is probably the same for Charles and Moose. “It isn’t unusual for people in your line of work to have a coping mechanism, the burden that has been placed on you is quite a heavy one.” Eli gritted his teeth. “I don’t need coping mechanisms, I’m not weak. I take Breath, end of story.” The doctor picked up on the finality of his words and decided to move on to the next topic.

“What about your family? You haven’t seen them in over a year, do you miss them?” Eli shrugged. “I imagine that everybody here misses their family.” The doctor tilted her head. “You would be surprised how many students have no desire to see their families.” Eli again shrugged. “Seeing my family isn’t an option, so I try not to think too much about it.” The doctor wrote it down. “In one of our previous sessions you told me you had a sister, Catherine.” Eli nodded. “I just call her Cat though, everybody does.”

Cat was a couple of years younger and had practically worshipped him. When he was younger she had always been his reliable number two, the Watson to his Sherlock, the Robin to his Batman. They had been inseparable, until he had gone to high school. New friends, classes and the soccer team started to take up most of his time. His sister was ranked below these new priorities and they had grown apart. It is just how things go sometimes.

“Is your sister coming to Mercia?” Eli shook his head. “Even if she knew how, my parents wouldn’t allow it.” And if he was honest, he didn’t want her here, or his parents for that matter. He had been in this country for a year and already killed six people, with more deaths on the horizon. Not that he could back home either. First of all, he didn’t know how. Second, his ordination might not disappear and committing murder was a lot harder on Earth than here.

“Your parents are strict people?” It wasn’t a hard question, yet it gave Eli pause. A year ago he would have said yes, but a lot had changed. “No, not really. They had rules, sure, but nothing that would stop me from doing what I wanted.” He knew where the doctor was going with the line of questioning. “No, I don’t want to discuss the circumstances surrounding why I left.” Meier was about to say something, but he interrupted her before she could start. “During our first session you told me that I didn’t have to tell you anything I didn’t wish to. This is not a subject I wish to discuss.” Meier’s lips became a thin line, but in the end she relented. She closed her file and stood up, signaling the ending of the session. “Student de Winter what is the most important thing to remember from our sessions?” The question was a familiar one.

“That I walk my ordained path, which makes me a good man.”

⤊

Now.

Covered in a blanket of snow most of Victoria is still asleep. Junior detective Strega however has been in the station for hours. She is alone, typing away at her fourth rapport, another case unsolved. Recently the violence has been escalating. After the Silver Bells were taken out everybody thought things would calm down, but the opposite has happened. Where the Aksokovs and the Green scarfs get their weapons is a mystery she thus far hasn’t been able to crack.

The other members on the force aren’t exactly helping either. She suspects that more than half is on the take. Recently she found out that the Aksokovs hire cops to do their dirty work for them. Any attempts to investigate the matter however has been shut down by her superiors. Nevertheless, in her shabby apartment down Bloomsdale lane she has slowly been assembling evidence on her shadier colleagues. The ones actively involved in the drug business. When the time comes she will bring it to the courts on the first level, taking all these bastards out.

She finishes her last report and opens the file on one of her current cases. She is greeted by the picture of a naked dead man tied to a chair. According to the coroner’s report the wounds had been inflicted antemortem. The body had been found in Aksokov territory and it felt like the drug dealer’s handy work. The questioning remaining was why? What had Aksokov hoped to find. Tyler Ellis was a minor information broker, what had he done to get Thomas Aksokov’s nickers in a twist? More importantly, what had he known? One thing was sure, she wasn’t going to find out in here. She put on her coat and left the station, surprising a pair of cops just coming in.

⤊

“For the last time, who killed my sister?” Dimi hits the woman again, to bring a little weight to his boss’s question. The woman just whimpers as tears stream down her face, yet she remains silent. The three of them are in the woman’s apartment. It is quite a nice place. A lot can be said about Lyla Jackson, but she knows how to decorate.

“You know, I’m considering moving to the second level. The air, it is different here.” Thomas says as Dimi continues the interrogation. “Much cleaner.” He looks disdainfully at Lyla. “Listen miss Jackson, it has been a long week. I’m trying to find out who killed my sister, but nobody seems to be able to tell me.” There was frustration in his voice. He had everything he had ever wanted, yet it wasn’t enough. He was plagued by dreams of El. No matter how well business was going, or how busy he was, he could feel her ghost staring disapprovingly over his shoulder, judging him.

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He had neglected avenging her and she had haunted him for it. Being the man of action he was he had decided to settle the matter once and for all. He would find his sister’s killer and bring him to justice. “First I chased around random rumors on the fourth level, until I found the man who was spreading them. He pointed me towards a broker on the third level, which sent me on a merry chase around the district. Eventually somebody dropped your name and here we are. If you don’t provide me with the answers I seek I will have to start searching anew, which would be terribly inconvenient since I’m also fighting a war.”

Lyla doesn’t answer. “I’m going to take a nap in the other room, Dimi wake me once you have what we need.” Dimitri nods. “Yes boss.” Thomas nods and leaves the room, closing the door behind him. Dimitri looks at the woman in front of him. “Listen little lady, I do not hate you.” His accent is heavy, and Lyla has trouble following what he’s saying. “If you don’t answer the question he will bring out special tools. Thumbscrews and bugs, yes?” Lyla shudders.

“You will talk, better now than with centipede in your head, yes?” The shivering becomes worse. “I just set up a meeting.” She whispered. “I contacted an assassin I know, Moose, she brought a friend, he took the contract.” Dimitri nods. “Why?” Tears start flowing again. “I don’t know, I didn’t set the contract. I just found an assassin who knew someone who would take the job.” Dimitri brings his face close to her. “It is okay, we will find out. Who hired you?” Lyla has trouble speaking between sobs. “Some syndicate woman. I don’t know her name. I don’t know anything. Please don’t bring the bugs.”

The sobbing becomes incontrollable. “Shh, it’s okay.” The deep voice in her ear whispers. “Everything is okay.” A loud snap cuts off the sobs and the room becomes silent. Dimitri walks to the room where his boss is napping. Thomas’ eyes snap open the second the doorknob turns. “You got what I need?” Dimitri nods. “We will have to talk with a woman called Moose.” Thomas smiles. “Capital work, let’s go see her.” Dimitri nods towards the other room. “What about the woman?” Thomas shrugs. “Leave her, it won’t be connected back to us.” As the two leave the apartment building Thomas’ mood visually improves.

⤊

“De Winter, how can I help you?” The other line is silent for a second. “Eli? It is Moose.” I’m surprised, Moose generally doesn’t use phones. She believes that the government listens in on the lines, which is probably true. “Moose, something the matter?” I ask, alarmed. “Yeah, no, maybe? I don’t know. Somebody tried to hire you through me.” I shrug, this isn’t the first time she has shoved a contract my way. “So?” I prompt. “The contractor was just a bit odd, he didn’t want to say anything about the case, just described what kind of hit he was looking for. It just doesn’t sit well with me, he might be a cop or something.”

I shrug, contractors can be shifty, especially if it is their first meeting. “Maybe he is new to this.” Moose is clearly uncomfortable. “I don’t know, I send him Hadrius’ way, but you know how he is.” I snort, nobody who has ever met Hadrius would be willing to do business with him. “I appreciate the heads up, even if it doesn’t turn anything up.” I can almost see Moose nod happily. “Oh, before I forget, somebody told me that there will be a number of contracts in the capital soon. It has something to do with the Armerian prince coming over. You want to be kept into the loop?” My hands go to the now closed wounds on my chest. “Yeah, keep me posted.” I get a cheerful goodbye and she hangs up.

“Jesse?” I ask and a few seconds later she pops her head into the office. She’s smiling, been doing that a lot lately. Usually I’m a glass half empty kind of guy, but her positive attitude just puts me into a good mood. “What do you need?” I shift uncomfortably in my chair, fact is I don’t need anything. A good assassin works a job a month, two months if he or she gets injured. The Silver Bell contract was a little less than a month ago, so I haven’t taken a new case. “You want to get out of the office? See a play, or something?” She’s a bit thrown off by the question. “Sure, I will get our coats.” She quickly says before hurrying off.

Getting our coats takes quite a while for some reason. When Jesse appears, she looks absolutely stunning. “You changed your clothing?” I say a bit perplexed, I didn’t even know she kept clothing in the apartment, let alone the long flowing red dress she is wearing now. It forms a nice contrast with her long black hair. “I always thought your hair was shorter.” Even as I say it I know it sounds stupid. “I usually wear it differently, I’m glad you noticed.” She beams a smile and hands me my cap. I open the door. “After you.”

Before she can step through the door two cars stop in front of the office building with squeaking tires. Windows roll down and I see muzzles. “Get down!” I yell as I push her away from the door. A storm of bullets thunders over our heads as we slowly crawl away from the door. After a few seconds the bullets cease. I hope to hear the sound of cars leaving, but instead I hear the sound of a door being slammed shut. “Fuck.”

I reach for my gun and fire at the first sign of movement at the front door. “He’s still alive! Get him!” We must move, if we stay we’re fucked. “Run!” I yell as once again the enemy opens fire. The whole place is being shot to hell, if we get out of this I will have to redecorate. I give Jesse cover fire from behind her desk as she runs towards the back door. In the distance I hear sirens, thankfully the police are reliable in this part of town.

My clip is empty, so I keep my head down as I crawl towards my office. Inside there is an arsenal, if only I can get there. “Eli de Winter, come out, I know you’re there.” A voice suddenly says. “You killed my sister, the person most precious to me. So, I will take what you value the most, your life.” The sirens become louder, but if I’m found it will be over before they get here. “I will find you.” It sounds like the intruder is enjoying this. “Eli” Jesse exclaims, before opening fire on the intruders. I don’t waste time and sprint towards her. Forget the office, they will kill her when she runs out of bullets.

She fires another shot before I drag her along to the backdoor, into the garage. Garage is maybe too generous a name, it is more of a workstation where I maintain my bike. I run towards the desk, retrieving a pistol from a drawer. It is a good thing I don’t have kids, there isn’t a single room in the house where I don’t keep a loaded weapon. Jesse has already started up the bike. I throw open the door just as I hear footsteps. A bullet whistles past us as we drive into the street.

It doesn’t take long for our pursuers to catch up with us. I half turn around and fire at the car, the shot goes wide. Contrary to what most Hollywood movies will show you it is actually very hard to hit a moving target, especially when you’re moving yourself. “I didn’t know you could drive a bike.” I shout over the sound of traffic. “Neither did I.” Shouts Jesse back. I look back and see a woman sticking out of the window, a shotgun pointed at my face. “Shift lanes, now!” I yell as the woman aims.

The noise alarms the other drivers as the scattered shot barely misses me. Their driving becomes erratic, which make things harder for Jesse. I hold on tightly to her as we weave through traffic at high speed. Occasionally I hear the woman fire, but the bullets don’t even come close to me. “This isn’t how I planned this.” Jesse yells as she takes a turn, leaving the main road. I have no idea where she’s going, but I trust that she knows what she’s doing.

We pass through a particularly small street, scaring a few pedestrians as we roar past them. When I look back the car is nowhere in sight. We take a few more turns before descending to the second level. Jesse is clearly familiar with the area, taking turns and passing through shortcuts. The streets are smaller around these parts, dominated by scooters and bikes rather than cars. It is clearly a residential zone, the buildings being dominantly terraced houses, built in brick with slate roofs.

We slow down, earning a few odd looks from curious residents. “Where are we going?” I ask. “My home, to lay low for a while.” She says, turning around to look at me. “Watch the road!” I say as she almost runs over a stray cat. I’m relieved however, when she looked at me it wasn’t in fear. Relieved and concerned, because her face was red with excitement.

She stops in front of one of the buildings. “You own this place?” I highly doubt she could afford this on the salary I pay her. “No, I wish. I just rent an apartment in the building.” I step of the bike and put my pistol away. I guiltily look at Jesse’s dress, it is ripped in several places. “I will pay for a replacement.” I motion towards a dress. “You’re taking me shopping? How kind of you. I’m sure we will find suitable replacements.” Her lips curl into a smile when she says replacements. Honestly after the backup she has provided today I would buy her anything she wished for. A couple of hours spent in some boutiques is a small price to pay for one’s life.

We place the Katsuen in a communal garage, after which we cover it with an old blanket. Jesse is careful to avoid any of the other residents as we walk up the stairs. As she retrieves a spare key from under the doormat I raise my eyebrows. “What?” She innocently asks. “Nothing.” My lips curl into a smile.

Her apartment is cozy, filled with all kinds of things I would never buy. She lights a few candles since the electric lights are not bright enough to illuminate most of the room. I stare at a picture of her from when she was younger. Beside the younger Jesse is a slightly older boy. “Your brother?” She smiles. “Yes, that’s Caiden. I imagine he must look a bit differently now, but he doesn’t have the money to have his picture taken.” She puts the kettle on before disappearing into a bedroom. The apartment seems to consist out of three rooms. Her books must sell better than I think if she’s able to afford this place. Or spying on me must be quite lucrative indeed.

I’m not an idiot, the way Jesse behaved during the incident isn’t normal for a civilian. Nobody who shoots like that learned it from their uncle. Unless said uncle was government trained. When Jesse returns she’s wearing simpler clothing, but she’s kept her hair loose. I give her time to prepare two cups of tea and sit down on the coach next to me.

“Jesse, I’m going to ask you a question and I want you to be honest with me.” I start, my tone serious. “Who do you really work for?” As Jesse levels her pistol at my head I’m not surprised, but just a little bit sad. “It seems you have a decision to make, whether you’re going to kill me”, I look past the barrel, straight into her eyes, “or not.”