The moment we took our first step outside that apartment, Shadow Step was activated. It was a technique that Master developed to mask his presence. It was the first thing he taught me after my abilities awakened. The people outside would not notice us passing by. There were even less people after midnight which made shadow step more effective. We were able to reach the target’s hotel suite without detection.

When we reached the building, we went around the back to sneak in. We walked casually until we reached the room above the target’s suite. From there we got out from the window and descended down the target’s balcony. Amidst the darkness, Master quietly and carefully broke the lock of the balcony’s door using his ki.

First, Master inspected the interior, and then he calculated the possible locations of the target. He mentally marked those places while I was securing the area outside, ensuring that there were no incoming threats.

After I secured the situation, I looked back at Master. With the dim moonlight entering the room, I waited for his orders. He signaled by raising his hand. I followed his instructions through his hand signals. He headed to a room while I checked the one on the opposite side. We walked silently and navigated through with ease. From here on, I was to take care of anyone I see. I had to keep my senses on high alert. No sounds must escape this room tonight.

“George Freyman has four bodyguards living with him, following him in his every move.” I recalled the information we had while I slowly touched the doorknob. “As long as I don’t get ambushed by all of them, I’ll be fine. Two of these bodyguards should be watching the main entrance.”

I saw the light inside the room from the space of the slightly opened door. I leaned on the wall beside the door while turning the doorknob. It screeched as it slowly opened. I crouched and gripped the hilt of my dirk. I heard them whisper. Two people tried so hard to silence their footsteps but it was no use against my trained senses. I heard the clicks of their guns the moment they pulled it out and held it in position. I saw their shadows crawl towards the door.

I covered the dirk with ki while unsheathing it. This method made it stronger and sharper. Depending on mastery and control, my weapons strengthened with ki can even cleanly cut through steel. As I was instructed, I was going to make the kill using my ability.

The moment the tip of his gun came peeking out of that room, I dashed and slashed his neck. The bodyguard fell with blood splattered on the floor. The hard thud alerted his partner, so before he could aim his gun at me, I threw one dagger and it dug into his eye. Before he could make another squeak, my dirk already pierced through his neck. I felt the sticky blood drenching my gloves. The metallic stench stuck on my coat.

I checked the inside of the room again and made sure no one else was there. Meanwhile the two guards struggled as pools of blood flowed out their deep wounds.

Before I left the room, for the last time, I checked if they were truly dead. I was about to turn off the lights in that room when several gunshots resounded from a different room.

That’s not right.

I rushed out. Then, I heard the main door shut loudly. The two guards outside burst inside, slamming the door open, to check on the source of the gunshots.

I took care of the two a while ago. There’s no way for Master to commit a blunder such as getting done in by the target. If the other two had always been outside, then does that mean there’s fifth guard involved? Something is wrong!

I rushed to the main entrance first. I threw two daggers the moment I set my eyes on the bodyguards. One hit the guard’s gun which made him drop it on the floor. The other missed entirely. Those things only served as distraction while they still cannot perceive my presence. While they were in the middle of confusion, I dashed and passed them to ensure that they will not be able to escape through the main door. I blocked their way out, just in case. One guard leaped to look for his gun on the floor. The other swiftly turned and pointed his gun at me. My dirk cut through his dominant hand before he had a chance to pull the trigger. He groaned as I buried another knife deep in his chest. I twisted it before pulling out, opening the wound wider. The remaining guard tumbled when he heard his partner drop. His body trembled while he crawled to clumsily pick up his gun. He was about to turn to point it at me but I was faster. I moved behind him. My blade stabbed through the middle point of his nape.

I checked to see if the door was locked before I went back to the direction where I heard the gunshots first. In front of the entrance of the room that Master entered, a shadow stood. I saw the glint of his gun with the silvery light of the moon.

I know my target.

I was barely able to perceive his white clothes. That man was wearing pajamas. He was not a guard.

I hurriedly threw a dagger to knock the gun off his hand. I dashed and cut through his Achilles tendon before he could turn towards me. He fell kneeling down. The threat was down, I needed to see Master. I was carefully checking the room while going in.

The target was dead. I walked closer to confirm that it was indeed the body of the target. George Freyman was lying on his bed with Master’s jian pierced cleanly through his heart.

As I thought, master would never fail something like this.

When I turned my sight around, I caught a glimpse of Master. He was down. His back was leaning at the corner of the room.

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Is that blood pouring down from his torso? Who’s blood?

I dashed almost tripping on the way to check on him. While I struggled to hold my composure together, I created a tiny ball of ki as a source of light. Both his arms were pressing on his stomach. I put away my dirk back into its sheath. I stepped on the blood-soaked floor and crouched to have a closer look at him.

“Master?” I whispered while reaching out to his shoulder.

“Ah- Khali, you’re here.” His voice was weak. “It seems that we won’t be going home together this time.” He slowly reached for my face. His hand was trembling. His eyes were droopy and out of focus. “I am not going to apologize. I have done everything in my power to keep you safe all this time.”

“Mhm. I understand… Father.” I held onto his hand. The warmth between our palms was obstructed by the cold slimy blood-soaked the gloves.

With what was left of his strength, he squeezed my hand. “So, you knew.” His lips arched. He almost laughed but he coughed out blood instead.

It took me a few years to realize what all his drunk-talking was about. Somehow I had pieced everything together. However, the handler caught on what was on my mind. That was when he told me the truth without batting an eye. He was a very sickening man. I do not know what Master would do once he learned that I knew the truth.

He gasped. “We love you, our baby.”

What more is he willing to throw away for my sake?

“Mhm… I know… I love you too. Thank you for everything.”

To protect him from making the same choice that took mother away, I decided to maintain the status quo.

“I have fulfilled the promise I made to your mother.” His hand’s grip was starting to weaken. The light in his eyes was disappearing.

I used both of my hands to grab his. I tightened my grip as his strength fades away. I did not want to let go.

“I… I b-begged…”

Isn’t it way too soon to let go of your hand?...

“I begged… and begged… really r-r-really… really hard… for you… so they’ll let you l-live. I begged… I… I did e-everything… so they won’t take you away too.”

“I understand… Everything’s going to be fine.”

“You are now free…”

I stared at the stillness of his body. It felt like all the sound disappeared. His hand was no longer as strong as it used to be. I put it back on his stomach. I closed his half open eyes. There was still a little warmth that remained in his unmoving body, but the father that guided me all this time was gone.

Nothing matters anymore…

A frail sound of breathing sniveled behind.

Right… That guy’s still here. Why haven’t he screamed or crawled away?

I stood up and focused on the dark figure back at the entrance. He was sitting by the door, blocking the way. My eyes widened as the features of the man became clearer.

“Hey… Elle.” He greeted me between his deep breaths. His glasses glowed as it reflected the light from my orb of ki. “I… I wasn’t expecting… you here.”

I slowly walked towards him. I felt my heart beating even faster.

“You aren’t supposed to be here, Gavin.” I knelt to his eye level.

“So this is how it is.” His brows furrowed. Tears formed at the edge of his eyes. “I at least… wanted to save you, Elle.”

“Elle is not my name.”

“It’s okay.” He grabbed my arm. “I want to keep the Elle I know in my memories. It’s not too late. Let me help you... Free you from that life.”

I paused. That was confusing. The job was in jeopardy. I cannot waste time here. Any moment from here on, either the authorities or the cleaners will come.

What did father teach me?

Right, the rabbit…

When I refused to kill the rabbit because I really loved it, he crushed its leg. The small animal squeaked in pain. For the first time, I saw in its eyes the terror and suffering of a target that was about to die.

“If you don’t kill it,” father lectured me. “It will suffer more. Are you going to just watch it get tortured to death?”

That was something he had experienced himself…

“Don’t prolong its suffering, Khali.”

“I can protect you.” Gavin broke the silence. His quivering voice snapped me out of my thoughts. “I can help you run away.”

He pulled me towards him. His arms embraced me. He did not care about the slimy mess sticking on my coat, or the light clink of the blades hidden under. He was very warm.

I do not deserve your kindness. I do not wish for you to suffer.

I hugged him back… as if I was comforting a child.

“He... He knew I was here…” He whispered. “But he did not move even when I pointed my gun at him.”

Why?.. No, I have to…

I pushed him back so that I could see his eyes. My voice cracked as I uttered my reply. “You cannot save me. It’s better if you die now.” I reached for my dirk.

His smile disappeared. “Really?..” He looked away for a moment. I did not see if he looked upset, or disappointed. He again turned his eyes back at me. His expression looked soft as he kept that faint smile. “You will regret this.”

“Mhm… maybe…”

I almost choked on my own words. What was that feeling at the end of my throat? It was like something was stuck there that made it difficult to breath. My eyes were getting blurry all of a sudden. It felt wet.

“I’m sorry.” He said softly.

Why is he the one apologizing?.. I should be the one…

He did not resist.

“I’m so sorry.” He repeated.

My blade pierced through his heart.

I’m sorry…

He said nothing as I pulled it back and as blood flowed out of the wound. He only stared at me in silence. For the first time, I felt my hand trembling while clutching onto my weapon.

I’m sorry.

I felt heavy. Did I catch a cold?

I’m sorry.

The mission was not that exhausting.

I’m sorry… I’m sorry.

I confirmed that he was no longer breathing before arranging his lifeless body on the floor. He looked peaceful, as if he was only sleeping.

“But…” I whispered while watching him. “You don’t have to forgive me.”

When I was about to leave the room, I heard small noises coming from the balcony. The handler with two other guys, I assumed to be the cleaners, were standing there.

“You went over the time limit.” The handler said. He was still wearing his sunglasses even at the dead of the night. “Your escape transport is waiting below.”

“Senza is dead.” I replied.

“How unfortunate.” He responded in monotone. He gestured with his hand and the two guys moved inside to look for father’s corpse. “We can’t leave any corpse of our own in the scene.” He peeked behind and saw Gavin’s body lying peacefully. “Hmm. What’s that?”

“I took care of all the witnesses.”

“It seems that you had some heart to heart talk.”

I really hate this man.

“Yeah, I guess.”

He smiled; still creepy. “What do you plan to do now?”

“I want to grow my hair.” I answered while I walked past him; towards the balcony.

“How unusual. Why all of a sudden? You’ve always been a weird child.”

I looked up at the night sky and watched the moon that shines bright. “I was told that it’ll look good on me.” I immersed my blood-soaked self at the silver light of the moon.

If I don’t look up, something’s going to fall from my eyes.

I heard the faint sound of the police sirens coming closer.

“Also, Mister Handler… I want to take my father’s name.”

“Okay. Which one?”

“Datark.”

“Tonight, Khali has died as well.”