Misha
-Boom!-
-BOOM!!!-
I'm never using explosives for a job again! Bullshit arms dealers had ammunition stored at his home. Why does he need a warehouse like that where he lives? He's begging for trouble. Well, not that it matters now that he's dead.
Thank god, it's time to head home.
I sip my beer as I open my account to make sure I've been paid. Of course, when I open my account, I see a new job listed.
Wait, they put in a request for me?
Usually, I won't take jobs that request me directly. My father always told me to be wary of jobs like this, obvious traps. He told me that it's a sure way to get killed. However, I can't let a job this high-paying pass me by. If I go into this thinking it's a trap, I should be fine. I'll just be cautious.
What's the worst that could happen?
I can't ever catch a break. I just finished one job, and now I have an even higher-stakes one. If I am going to retire next year, this job is just the ticket I need out of this fucking hell.
I know I am only 26 years old; the word "retire" seems ridiculous to me, but being an assassin is too damn dangerous. I only got into this line of work because my father was an assassin. If my mom hadn't dumped me on my dad's doorstep, I would have lived an everyday life. For fucks sake, what kind of 7-year-old starts training to be an assassin before they even learn how to read? Hell, I only learned how to read to spite my dad. He always used to say, "Books are for people who can't handle a knife."
Of course, that made zero sense. I never understood his logic. He was nothing more than a meathead. I learned what kind of man not to be from watching him. I never liked killing. Sadly, I got used to it over time. I want to quit. If my dad hadn't left behind so much debt, I could have stopped years ago.
"Let's look at the job details," I open the encrypted file that was sent through the Assassin network.
Verified client
Job listed 10/02
Special Request: Misha Minari
Raven Macao
36 years old
Appearance: Black, short, curly hair
Brown eyes (scar over left eye and eyebrow)
Approx. 5'10, 260 lbs
Raven Macao is the leader of the Raven gang in Teradi City. Has a large crime network with over 500 known subordinates. Hideout location 43°00'37.9"N 71°32'58.1"W
That concludes all the gathered information.
Job: Eliminate before 10/25. Picture to confirm. Leave no trace.
Pay $75,000 ($25,000 bonus for early termination)
Raven gang? I have heard of them before. Oh yeah, last winter I had a job that involved a former gang member. She left the gang to start her own "massage parlor." She was cruel to the male masseuses who worked under her. One even had his sister killed in front of him. It was an easy enough job, especially morally. One less person like her in this world is no skin off my back.
I can't remember her name off the top of my head, but if I looked through my coded name list, I would be able to tell. Not too many female jobs are posted, and I end up taking even fewer. Well, let's get started—it's time to do research and make a game plan. I have to take my time with this one. It's a big one. No mistakes can be made, or I'll retire sooner than I want.
10/21 8:30 PM
Well, if everything goes well today, I will get the early termination bonus. With all my research and planning, a sniper shot from this hill will be the easiest and safest bet. I have a planned escape route and several backup plans.
Now I wait.
Raven's schedule is consistent, so I determined today as the best day for the job. This hill is secluded yet close enough for an accurate shot. I can't see anything going wrong, but I have to stay on my toes. I set a sensor nearby to help alert me if someone is nearby. So, no one should come up behind me.
Hmm, it looks like some people are on the move, but there is no sign of Raven yet. I could be here for a while.
10:21 Pm
-Snap!-
Shit! What was that?
Better check if the sensor was tripped.
Huh…nothing is showing up. Maybe a branch fell.
I need to focus without getting distracted.
12:45 Pm
There's more movement.
Ah ha! There you are fucker. Making me wait for hours. Time for lights out, Raven.
-Crunch-
-Crack!-
Just as I had Raven in my crosshairs, I heard something behind me. Before I could react, I felt a sharp pain in the back of my skull.
-Thud-
I open my eyes, and everything is dark. Fabric brushes against my lips as I take a breath.
It looks like they put a bag over my head.
I move around as I assess my situation. I determine that my arms and legs are tied. I hear footsteps approaching me at a smooth pace. As they reach me, they pull the bag off my head. I try to focus my eyes as the light binds me. When I focus, I see none other than the leader of the Raven gang himself sitting behind a large desk.
Raven Macao. He has a very ominous aura. A chill runs down my back, and I look over my shoulder. I see over a dozen men standing behind me. Well, I fucked up really bad this time. I should have listened to my damn father's advice.
"Hello, Mr. Minari. It's nice to put a face to the name. You know, you are one tough guy to track down? It took me almost ten months, but I had a brilliant idea to speed up the process. Do you want to know my brilliant idea?" Raven asks menacingly.
He is holding a revolver in his hand as it rests on his desk.
How intimidating. What is he, a movie villain?
"Honestly, I would rather not. I have a feeling your monologuing will put me to sleep." A smirk spreads across my face.
I know he will tell me either way, but I can't help but poke the bear. It's a bad habit.
"You must not understand your situation, Misha. It'd be wise to keep me in your favor. After all, I hold your life in my hand." Raven glares at me.
I scan the room in hopes of finding some way to escape.
Unlucky. I swear I'm just plain unlucky. There is nothing I can do this time.
"You see, Misha, I was the one who put the hit out on myself," Raven says, raising his hands in declaration.
Someone is full of themself. What would this nutjob do if I managed to complete the job? I wonder who put this idea in his head and why?
"I wanted to get you in front of me as soon as possible. My revenge was put on hold for long enough." His lips twitch as the words leave his mouth.
He walks to the front of his desk and sits on it, crossing his arms.
"Revenge? You have the wrong guy here. I have never crossed paths with your gang, let alone you."
I have no clue what this dude is talking about.
"Don't try to bullshit me! You killed her! You killed my Zoey!" Raven stomps over to me, each step emphasizing his every word.
He crouches down and grabs me by the collar. His face is so close to mine that I can feel his breath.
"Last winter, you shot her in the head and left her body lying in the dirty street like a piece of trash. I have connections, and they found out who put the hit on her and who took the job. I already killed the guy who put the hit on her. The piece of shit was her competitor. She didn't deserve to die because he sucked at his job. Then I found out you, Misha Minari, pulled the trigger. You were a lot harder to track down, however. Now that I've found you. I will give you the same fate as her. A bullet to the head left dead in the street." Raven growls.
So, that was his lover. Zoey Wen. I found no information about their relationship. I made the job look like it was a mugging gone wrong. Though dying out in the gutter was a fitting end. I don't regret it.
In his line of work, he should have expected this. I get it, though. I have a lot of people looking for revenge against me. I've killed many a loved one. I knew one day this would happen. I got cocky.
I don't want to die. I made many mistakes in my life. Is this really how it ends?
"So, do you have any last words?" Raven lets go of my collar and steps back, pointing the revolver at my head.
I look up at Raven, squinting my eyes.
"Uhhh… Memento Mori[1]?"
I have to stay true to myself even in my final moments. I'm a smartass until the end.
Raven tilts his head back and laughs toward the ceiling.
He looks me dead in the eyes, rage rising inside him. A smile crosses his face as a single tear rolls down his cheek.
"Goodnight, Mr. Minari."
-BANG!-
[1] "remember you must die"