Inside the deserted warehouse, I find myself gazing at the leader of this covert organization that specializes in eliminating wrongdoers. Despite his authority, the man's identity remains a mystery to me, as I have never laid eyes on his face. He prefers to remain cloaked in shadows, leading me to suspect that he might be unassertive or perhaps his appearance is something I'd rather not see. It's clear that he's summoned me for yet another assassination mission. Why am I the chosen one? Simply because I excel in this line of work. I possess stealth, quick reflexes, and the skill to blend into the background with ease. As I cross my arms and tap my foot, impatience begins to set in. The leader lingers just beyond my view, I can feel his presence.
"You have another assignment, L."
I had a feeling this would happen.
"At the Dranchez Residence, you'll find a house where the residents are covertly involved in drug dealing and are linked to the people we've been searching for. Hold off on killing them for now. But if they don't cooperate, you know what to do."
"It's the brown house with the letter K," he specifies the location.
With that, he turns away, presenting me with his back before gradually fading into the shadows, leaving me alone in the empty warehouse. I let out a sigh; here we go again, another person to take down. It's not that I dislike it—I do find some enjoyment in it—but sometimes I wish I could just rest. I joined this organization out of boredom, and nothing I've engaged in since has alleviated that feeling. There seems to be something missing. If only that elusive something or someone could be found.
As I leave the warehouse, I direct my thoughts towards my task. It doesn't take me long to arrive at the Dranchez Residence. I can see the White House and the neighboring homes, now it's just a matter of locating the brown house. Great, they're all brown. I guess I'll check for the letters. This is getting extremely tedious. I end up wandering through the neighborhood, scouting for potential escape routes; it's always better to be prepared. A brief stroll leads me to a towering tree with wilted leaves.
I pause near the bushes. The tree stands a bit away, but I can't help but notice someone with dark hair like a raven's. Who could that be? Is there someone wandering about? I've scoured this area, and since the Dranchez family died, it's been devoid of life, so who is this person? It seems she senses my presence, turning around with a gasp upon seeing me. I'm wearing a fox mask to keep my identity hidden.
The figure is a woman—a petite yet strikingly beautiful one—causing me to catch my breath, completely captivated by her looks. Her ocean-blue eyes gaze at me with curiosity, and I find her oddly charming, my heart racing in a way I've never experienced before. Her hair dances effortlessly in the wind, appearing almost otherworldly. A thrilling rush surges through me, creating a tingling sensation deep within. I want to look away and flee, yet I find myself frozen, unable to move as I continue to stare.
It's an extraordinary experience. She's enchanting me without any effort, and it feels intoxicating—like a drug I willingly embrace. This woman holds an irresistible pull over me, drawing me closer and seemingly unwilling to let go. Suddenly, a strong gust of wind sweeps through, startling her. This snaps me back to reality, prompting me to consider making my escape. Now is my chance. I don't want to linger here any longer, yet I've unearthed that missing piece I didn't know I was searching for. Has she been here all this time, and why only now do I truly see her?
My infatuation...
My Little Flower...
I could tell she was shocked that I vanished so quickly. However, I needed to complete my task before returning to my Little Flower; we didn't want to keep her waiting. I felt a strange compulsion to see her delicate petals fade away in my darkened soul. As I scanned the neighboring houses, I finally noticed the brown one labeled with the letter K. Without a second thought, I slipped in through the window near the door. I meandered through the small, simple home; it wasn't to my taste. My steps led me to the kitchen, where I saw an older woman preparing breakfast. Wrinkles lined her face, and her blonde hair was unkempt. She had no idea an intruder had entered. How naive. I quietly retrieved a pocket knife from my pocket and swiftly wrapped my arm around her neck from behind, pressing the knife against her face as a silent threat to disfigure her if she didn't comply.
The woman trembled in fear and let out a quiet whimper. I rolled my eyes, finding her instinct to survive tedious and uninteresting. Couldn't she at least attempt to fight back? What a disappointment. I leaned in closer, my lips brushing against her ear as I spoke in a cold tone, my expression dark enough to make her realize this might be her last moment.
"I'm going to ask you a question. You will answer." I whispered, a twisted smile forming on my lips.
The woman nodded frantically, her breath coming in quick gasps.
"Y-yes. P-please don't kill me…"
What a foolish woman.
"Good." I shoved her against the stove, where her meal was boiling. Steam rose, touching her face, and she paled as she squirmed, but I held her firmly and clicked my tongue three times.
"No, no~ fidgeting will only lead to your demise. You wouldn't want to be boiled, would you?"
Her eyes widened in terror, and she nodded again with a soft whimper. What a pitiful creature she was. I pressed her face closer to the boiling food, relishing in her flinching and the pain from the heat. My excitement grew as I leaned in closer, my cruel smile returning.
"Now tell me… what do you know about the Krunz?" I whispered. She gasped at my question. Aha, she knew something.
"N-no…" I could sense she was lying; it was evident that the Krunz had instructed her to keep silent to avoid dire consequences.
"Why not? It shouldn't be that difficult to share the truth~" I cooed into her ear, causing her to shiver. Her forehead was slick with sweat from the steam.
"I don't know what you're talking about!"
My smirk widened at her outburst. Now she was becoming defensive. I pushed her face closer to the boiling food, relishing her screams of pain as she pleaded, insisting it was hot, but I wasn't ready to pull back. I was just getting started.
The torment continued.
I leaned back but kept my grip tight on her neck, my nails digging in as she groaned from the discomfort.
"Tell me or face the consequences. You have the freedom to decide~" My tone was smooth, filled with mockery.
"Hngn… My husband knows about this, and I'm just helping him by selling drugs…" she sobbed. My expression shifted from sadistic to serious.
"Useless," I muttered.
"What do you mean—" she stammered, trembling in fear and confusion, but her screams echoed throughout the house. Her face was still pressed into the boiling food, and I noticed her neck growing red. Her hands scrambled to grasp mine from behind in a futile attempt to push me away.
"Is that enjoyable? How does it feel, ma'am?" I mocked.
Her response was filled with screams. Growing bored, I finally released her. Her face was burnt, skin peeling back to reveal raw tissue, steam emanating from her features. She was bleeding and disfigured, her lips charred. She wouldn't last much longer, but I needed to intensify the situation.
"It's time to wrap this up, and let's make it as dramatic as possible."
I picked up a kitchen knife and repeatedly struck her face. Her body convulsed as if she had been shocked. Blood and pieces of her skin scattered on the ground. Despite her appearance, I wanted her to look presentable in death.
"You should be grateful I'm making you look good. Just see how adorable you are," I said.
Once she collapsed, I paused my actions and brushed the faint traces of blood from my cheek. Placing the knife on the floor, I gazed at the pool of blood around her, then knelt down again. I removed her tongue and tucked it into my pocket—just another addition to my collection.
I stood up, scanning the room for something to cover her. A white blanket draped over the couch caught my eye. I retrieved it and returned to wrap it around her body. Grabbing her feet, I decided to drag her into the bedroom. Perhaps there would be books to read, allowing me to unwind with the corpse for a while. Upon reaching the bedroom, I laid her beside the bed and found a book. Fortunately, there were some available.
As I began to read, I glanced back at her and waved the book. "Would you like to hear me read? I can read it for you," I said with a strange smile, then continued reading aloud. She was in good hands with me—I was offering her a free reading.
I haven't been in this bedroom for a while. I paused my reading and dragged the lifeless body toward the door, inadvertently knocking the head against the frame, which made me chuckle grimly. But then I caught a sharp intake of breath—perhaps a gasp? I dismissed the sound as figments of my imagination and continued my effort. The body was incredibly heavy, and it frustrated me. Doesn't this woman ever consider a diet?
"Why do I have to do this kind of work?" I grumbled, irritated. My mood was already sour today, made worse by the burden of the corpse. I figured I could at least serve as a diet mentor for this dead woman. I stopped near the table, contemplating where to place her. Ah, I could set her behind it. That would allow her partner to see the extent of her suffering.
"I'll leave this body at the back of the table."
As I dragged the corpse around the table, I finally released it, the thud resonating on the floor while its head fell under the table.
"Thank goodness," I murmured in relief.
Then I heard another yelp. It was clear there was someone else present. Frustration washed over me as I realized my focus on the task had overshadowed the risks of being caught. It seemed someone was close by.
"What was that?"
"Perhaps under the table?" I remarked.
The sound seemed to be coming from beneath the table. I ran my fingers gently along its surface, contemplating the possibility of confronting whoever was there. I was prepared to eliminate anyone in my way. Crouching down slowly, I picked up on their heavy breathing and subtle movements. An excited glint appeared in my eyes, inspired by the thought of executing another creative kill. I adjusted my fox mask, eager to discover who was hiding.
When I fully crouched, my heart skipped a beat at the sight of my Little Flower. What was she doing here? A smirk crept across my lips; this made things even more intriguing. My body thrilled with anticipation. Her fear and tears were captivating, and the quiver of her lips beckoned me to kiss them. She belonged to me, and I planned to break her down, piece by piece. I grasped the head of the deceased, glancing between it and her.
"It appears you've stumbled upon a private performance, Little Flower," I said in a chilling tone.
I noticed her apprehension and confusion at the nickname. Oh, Little Flower. She was practically tempting me to inflict further harm, but I managed to rein myself in. It would be a shame to kill someone who had sparked these feelings in me. Slowly, I pointed at her and then at the body before her. I could sense her instinct to flee. That was a gratifying realization.
"You'll end up like this if you can't manage to silence that little mouth of yours,"
Her body trembled at my words, and I continued to observe her, noting the tears that slid down her lovely face. The emotions she stirred in me were incredible. Her responses and expressions were pure bliss, and I craved more.
More…
With a gentle, mocking smile, I placed my finger against her lower lip. It felt soft, sending a shiver down my spine as I absentmindedly rubbed it, captivated by how her lip reacted. It was intoxicating. I could feel her breath catch against my skin.
"Now, now~ It's a pity to waste tears when you're still alive." I teased, but then the door creaked open. The husband had arrived.
I released my finger from her lips and, without looking back, rushed to the nearest window. I hesitated for just a moment, glancing back at her one last time, still hiding beneath the table beside the corpse.
"We'll meet again, Little Flower," I promised darkly, before vanishing from her view.
I will return for you, Little Flower.