Deep in the forest, fallen leaves blew along the ground. The wind blew quietly through the trees, and the faint sound of a city could be heard from the distance. The leaves crunched as Arthur stood up.
He closed his eyes and breathed in the cold wind of the forest.
Alright, it's time.
He began running towards the city.
I have one week to prepare.
He rummaged through the dumpster, fishing out the discarded clothes.
Adam Reed gets back in a week, and is killed within 2 days of his return.
He made his way to the orphanage, dodging the occasional pedestrian as he ran on the sidewalk.
I'll get a change of clothes and a weapon from the orphanage, and then I'll leave without telling anyone anything.
He opened the door to the orphanage and stepped inside.
They don't need to know. I don't plan on coming back alive, after all.
He entered the orphanage, where a girl was sleeping on the desk at the front.
“Excuse me.” Arthur said.
The girl jolted awake “huh? What's happening? Who's there?”
She picked up a pair of glasses from under the desk and put them on, inspecting the boy in front of her closely.
“Do you need something?” She asked, yawning in the middle of her sentence.
“I need a place to stay.”
The girl suddenly looked excited “is that so! Hold on just a moment, I'll be right back!”
She rushed up the stairs behind her.
After a few moments, Steven came down the stairs.
“Hello!” He said, smiling brightly.
He walked to the desk and took a small, worn book out of his pocket.
“May I know your name?”
“It's Arthur.”
“I see. Arthur, what a fine name. My name is Steven, I run this orphanage. Nice to meet you, Arthur.” He extended his hand towards Arthur.
Arthur reached out and shook it.
“Nice to meet you too, Steven.”
“So Arthur, I hear you need a place to stay?”
“Yes, I do.”
“I see. What about your parents?”
“They're dead.”
“Oh, I see. I'm sorry, but may I ask what happened to them?”
“They were murdered.”
“I see, I'm sorry for asking. Do you have a legal guardian?”
Arthur was silent for a moment.
“I don't want to talk about it.”
“I see.” He closed the book and put it back in his pocket. “Follow me, I'll show you to your room.”
He led Arthur to his room, and left after showing him where everything was.
Alright, time to get packed.
He grabbed a pair of clean clothes and headed to the bathroom to take a shower.
It'd be nice to have a weapon from the basement, but if I try to sneak down there I'm sure I'll be caught. I'll have to settle for a knife from the kitchen.
He walked back to his room, now with clean clothes on, and laid down on his bed.
Now, I wait.
Nearly a week had gone by, and Arthur had settled into life at the orphanage. He had already met everyone, and even begun to befriend Charlie.
But that all ends today.
Arthur got up from his bed and put on an outfit before beginning his morning stretches.
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It's 4 am. Adam Reed arrives at 7 am. The airport is far away, but I have the money to get a taxi.
He grabbed the kitchen knife he had stolen and hid it in his jacket.
Time to go.
He walked downstairs, going slowly and quietly so that nobody would wake up. He unlocked the door and stepped outside.
I feel kind of bad leaving the door unlocked, but it doesn’t really matter.
He walked away, and began to search for a taxi.
After a few minutes of walking, he managed to flag down a cab.
“To the airport, please.”
“Got it.”
Arthur sits in silence throughout the 45 minute drive.
After what feels like an eternity to Arthur, they arrive at the airport. He gets out of the taxi, stretches his legs, and pays the driver.
It's time.
4:50 AM
Arthur arrives at the airport and walks inside, making his way as far into the airport as possible without arousing suspicion or getting stopped.
He finds a small shop with books and magazines for people to buy for their flights. He buys the longest book he can find, and makes his way to a waiting area to begin reading.
5:00 AM
Arthur begins reading the book he purchased.
Two hours remain until Adam Reed arrives.
5:30 AM
Arthur puts his book down and goes to the bathroom.
5:34 AM
Arthur returns, and continues reading.
6:00 AM
Arthur stops reading, deciding to pay closer attention to what's happening around him.
One hour remains.
6:30 AM
Three men wearing suits and bowler hats arrive at the airport. Two of the men’s suits and hats are white, and the other is black.
6:40 AM
The men in bowler hats split up.
6:50 AM
Adam Reed’s flight approaches the airport.
6:55 AM
Arthur stands up and makes his way closer to where Adam Reed will exit his flight.
7:00 AM
Adam Reed’s plane lands.
Arthur finds a place to hide and waits there.
The men in bowler hats regroup and make their way towards Adam Reed.
There he is!
Adam Reed walked through into the room, his bodyguards to the left and right of him.
And… there they are.
The men in bowler hats walk into the room from the other side, the men in white standing on either side of the man in black.
Adam Reed notices them, beginning to walk a bit faster to get to them.
“Hello! Do you fellows need something from me?”
“No, we don't.” The man in black says slowly as he pulls something from his suit.
Now!
Arthur jumps out of his hiding spot, dashing towards the men in bowler hats.
One of the men in white takes notice immediately, swiftly taking out a gun and shooting Arthur directly between the eyes.
Deep in the forest, fallen leaves blew along the ground. The wind blew quietly through the trees, and the faint sound of a city could be heard from the distance. The leaves crunched as Arthur stood up.
Damn it! I was right there!
He breathed out slowly, calming himself down.
It's alright. It's fine. I just have to try again.
One week later, Arthur had settled into the orphanage yet again.
Today's the day.
He snuck out of the building and headed straight for the taxi.
“The airport.”
“Gotcha.”
Arthur put his hand on his face, tapping his temple impatiently.
How am I going to pull this off?
They arrived at the airport, and Arthur rushed inside after paying the taxi driver.
He returned to the waiting area, and purchased the book again, picking up where he left off.
He read the book, but most of his mind was occupied with thoughts of the men in bowler hats.
I need to get close enough to get a look at the pin before they have a chance to kill me.
Time flew by as he thought.
Should I try sneaking up from behind them? No, they'd notice.
5:30 AM
Should I walk up to them and pretend to just want to ask for directions and use that as an opportunity to get a look at the pin?
6:00 AM
No. The pin is small. I can't get close enough without making them suspicious of me.
6:30 AM
I don't have time. I need to come up with an idea, and fast.
He got up and walked to the room where Adam Reed will be killed.
I need to get up high. If I drop down on them, I'll be able to get close fast enough.
He looked up, searching for any way of hiding on the ceiling.
There!
In the direct center of the ceiling, there was a large vent.
It's giving me deja vu of the first time I encountered them…
He walked into another room and moved everything he could under the vent in order to create a ladder.
I hope it's not too dusty in there…
He climbed into the vent and began to crawl.
6:50 AM
He moved the vent cover aside and waited.
Just 10 minutes.
7:00 AM
Adam Reed walks into the room, followed by his bodyguards. The men in bowler hats enter as well and walk towards Adam Reed.
“Hello! Do you fellows need something from me?”
“No, we don't.” The man in black says slowly as he pulls something from his suit.
Just a little more…
The men continue to walk until they're right under the vent.
Now!
Arthur drops down, knocking one of the men in white to the ground.
“What's going on?!” Adam Reed shouts as his bodyguards rush in front of him.
The man in black pulls a gun out and points it at arthurs head as the other man in white quickly dispatches the bodyguards.
Arthur grabs the pin and brings it up to his face, reading the words as fast as possible.
On the bottom the words “rain or shine” are inscribed.
On the top, “weather men”.
The man in black fires. To Adam Reed, the sound of the gunshot could barely be heard at all. To Arthur, it was deafening.