Anna had long since fallen asleep. Myself, I was pacing, reconsidering my
decision to train her. I had told her
who I was. If my own Master knew that I
had done so, he would make his disapproval known. I had long decided to be like my predecessors
and train someone who was lost and alone, that needed purpose for living. This girl, she was far from ideal. I will admit, I will not train her to become
the next Ghost, only enough to defend herself.
My title belongs to someone else.
Standing over her, my fingers touching the hilt of my gun as I watched
her brow furrow. I had seen this look on
her before. Perhaps a nightmare? Drawing my weapon, I held it between us, it
pointed at her. One shot. One shot is all it will take to stop me from
falling down the rabbit hole this girl is pulling me down. If I ever came across a situation where I
needed to disappear, I could, easily.
With her, I was trapped. Chained
down to this place until she could stand on her own. She is a liability. I don’t keep liabilities. Feeling my lip curl, I turned away. Placing my gun back on my hip. I will find a reason to rid myself of her. Sitting in the rocking chair, I kept my eyes
on the window. The sun had fallen hours
ago. Time was now ticking. Both for me and her. Mine for when I would need to disappear
again. Her for when I would place a
bullet in her skull.
Come morning, I woke before her. Anna was facing the wall, blankets pulled
tight around her. Grabbing a change of
clothes, I went into my bathroom. This
was the only time I had to myself anymore.
Silence. Isolation. Peace.
Resting my head against the shower wall, I relished the feeling of the
water sliding down my skin. Despite my
training and my lack of emotion, the only time I would consider myself happy
would be here. Under the shower’s water
in a safe quiet room. A place to
forget. Where life was washed away. Hearing a noise, my eyes shot open. Taking the gun that I had resting in the
caddy where shampoo was supposed to sit, I listened. Someone opened the door. I reacted.
Ripping the shower curtain back, I aimed at a very surprised Anna. My patience was wearing thin. Just shoot her. Anna’s hands were up but her eyes were on
me. “Get. Out.”
Quickly nodding, she hurried backward, stumbling at closing the
door. I had no safe place anymore. There was nowhere I could be alone. Not with her here. Turning off the water and pulling on my
jeans, I stormed out of the bathroom.
Anna took one look at me before pushing herself further back on the bed.
“I’m sorry.”
“Explain.” Why would she open the bathroom door when it was clearly in use. Let alone with me in there? She should know better. I’m the one holding a gun in my hand.
“I wanted to ask a question. I should’ve knocked.”
My grip on my gun tightened. Hitting her with it crossed my mind. In fact, I probably should. Smack some sense into her. Worked on me. Taking a step closer caused her to cower more. Anna was afraid of me. Good. “Ask.”
Her eyes went to my chest. “What happened?”
She was looking at the scars I had. Bullets, knife-edges, all marks that dotted my skin. “What is your real question?” No nonsense. I wasn’t going to humor her with meaningless answers.
Looking me, Anna hugged her legs. “I wanted to know if there was anything I could do to help you?”
“Help me?” No one helped me.
“Yeah. I feel useless just sitting here.” Those blue eyes of hers locked with mine. I didn’t need any help, not from her. What I needed was to have Anna gone. Out of my life. Putting the gun in my waistband, I turned for my closet. “Ghost─”
“Don’t call me that.”
“Then what do I call you?” She wanted a name. A name that I didn’t want to give. Sliding on my shirt, I stood with my back to her. Another mistake. Don’t turn your back on your enemy. Keep your identity hidden. Stay quiet. Isolation is your only friend. “Do I need to make up a name?” Once my jacket was on, I left. Locking her in. My life, the life I had known for years, was being uprooted. Why was I even doing this? I would’ve been better off just killing her when I should have. Sighing, I walked down the stairs. Food delivery was today and Samuel hasn’t shown yet, neither has our chef. It was my turn then, to wait. Normally, I’d wait in my room with the window open, but seeing as how my little problem is sitting up there, I was content with cleaning the restaurant floor.
“I’m sorry.”
“Explain.” Why would she open the bathroom door when it was clearly in use. Let alone with me in there? She should know better. I’m the one holding a gun in my hand.
“I wanted to ask a question. I should’ve knocked.”
My grip on my gun tightened. Hitting her with it crossed my mind. In fact, I probably should. Smack some sense into her. Worked on me. Taking a step closer caused her to cower more. Anna was afraid of me. Good. “Ask.”
Her eyes went to my chest. “What happened?”
She was looking at the scars I had. Bullets, knife-edges, all marks that dotted my skin. “What is your real question?” No nonsense. I wasn’t going to humor her with meaningless answers.
Looking me, Anna hugged her legs. “I wanted to know if there was anything I could do to help you?”
“Help me?” No one helped me.
“Yeah. I feel useless just sitting here.” Those blue eyes of hers locked with mine. I didn’t need any help, not from her. What I needed was to have Anna gone. Out of my life. Putting the gun in my waistband, I turned for my closet. “Ghost─”
“Don’t call me that.”
“Then what do I call you?” She wanted a name. A name that I didn’t want to give. Sliding on my shirt, I stood with my back to her. Another mistake. Don’t turn your back on your enemy. Keep your identity hidden. Stay quiet. Isolation is your only friend. “Do I need to make up a name?” Once my jacket was on, I left. Locking her in. My life, the life I had known for years, was being uprooted. Why was I even doing this? I would’ve been better off just killing her when I should have. Sighing, I walked down the stairs. Food delivery was today and Samuel hasn’t shown yet, neither has our chef. It was my turn then, to wait. Normally, I’d wait in my room with the window open, but seeing as how my little problem is sitting up there, I was content with cleaning the restaurant floor.
A knock on the restaurant’s front doors caught my
attention. With broom in hand, I wandered
over. On the other side of the glass was
a child. A delivery boy. Interesting.
Either my employer is expecting mail, which he has not informed me
about, or it was for me. “We’re closed.”
“Are you the waiter here?” I nodded. The boy smiled and held out a manila envelope. “I was told to give this to you.” Frowning, I took it, closing the door on the boy. Bold. Mr. Wilkes must have decided that the Ghost’s services were needed again. Leaning against the bar, I opened it. Looking at the cover page. Another letter.
Mr. Waiter,
I have a request for our friend. Included in this packet are the assignment details, another dossier, an offer for how much to be paid, and a cell phone. Would it be agreed that it would be easier to communicate with a cell phone than by delivery boy? Your safety is a concern of mine, Mr. Waiter. Should anything happen our friend, keep in mind that I will try to ensure his safety. Yet, with his reputation, I believe that he is perfectly capable to avoid our enemy’s net. As to why you have received this, I have another target for him. I expect an answer come tomorrow evening.
-W
Wonderful. Just what I needed. Flipping through the next few pages, I saw a cheap cell phone, pictures, blueprints, a page with the mission, and a page with a number. Ten thousand upfront, ten thousand once completed. Mr. Wilkes learned quick. The Ghost was not cheap and after I reviewed this, I may increase the price depending on what will be required. Hearing a truck, I tucked the envelope away under the bar. Overseeing the food delivery, my mind kept wandering to the mission. The next target, it was an assassination. Guess my job with Anna had enough of an impact that Wilkes approved of my handiwork. If only he really knew. From the pictures, my guess was another member of the White family. Unless he wanted to have the other family hit, the McCarthy’s. Where Anna’s family is drugs and weapons, the McCarthy’s are prostitution and human trafficking. Neither being something that I cared for. Perhaps, as part of my observations, I could find one of those pathetic whores and break her. Force her to tell me what she knows. Use that to supplement the information that I already have. That, of course, depends on my target. I only saw the picture, haven’t read the name yet. “Ok, that should be all of it.” The deliveryman handed me a clipboard.
Glancing over it, I noticed one thing. “What about the extra bottles of scotch?”
“My boss added those to the delivery order this morning.” Nodding, I signed.
“Are you the waiter here?” I nodded. The boy smiled and held out a manila envelope. “I was told to give this to you.” Frowning, I took it, closing the door on the boy. Bold. Mr. Wilkes must have decided that the Ghost’s services were needed again. Leaning against the bar, I opened it. Looking at the cover page. Another letter.
Mr. Waiter,
I have a request for our friend. Included in this packet are the assignment details, another dossier, an offer for how much to be paid, and a cell phone. Would it be agreed that it would be easier to communicate with a cell phone than by delivery boy? Your safety is a concern of mine, Mr. Waiter. Should anything happen our friend, keep in mind that I will try to ensure his safety. Yet, with his reputation, I believe that he is perfectly capable to avoid our enemy’s net. As to why you have received this, I have another target for him. I expect an answer come tomorrow evening.
-W
Wonderful. Just what I needed. Flipping through the next few pages, I saw a cheap cell phone, pictures, blueprints, a page with the mission, and a page with a number. Ten thousand upfront, ten thousand once completed. Mr. Wilkes learned quick. The Ghost was not cheap and after I reviewed this, I may increase the price depending on what will be required. Hearing a truck, I tucked the envelope away under the bar. Overseeing the food delivery, my mind kept wandering to the mission. The next target, it was an assassination. Guess my job with Anna had enough of an impact that Wilkes approved of my handiwork. If only he really knew. From the pictures, my guess was another member of the White family. Unless he wanted to have the other family hit, the McCarthy’s. Where Anna’s family is drugs and weapons, the McCarthy’s are prostitution and human trafficking. Neither being something that I cared for. Perhaps, as part of my observations, I could find one of those pathetic whores and break her. Force her to tell me what she knows. Use that to supplement the information that I already have. That, of course, depends on my target. I only saw the picture, haven’t read the name yet. “Ok, that should be all of it.” The deliveryman handed me a clipboard.
Glancing over it, I noticed one thing. “What about the extra bottles of scotch?”
“My boss added those to the delivery order this morning.” Nodding, I signed.
Sending the man on his way, I began placing the bottles of
alcohol in their places. The extra
scotch, however, I left in the fridge in the back room. I would have to ask Samuel about them. Returning to the bar with the last box of
liquor, I saw him walk in. Samuel
grinned. “Thanks for putting those
away. Saved me a bunch of time.”
Putting the last bottle of vodka on the shelf, I nodded. “You’re just a lazy bastard.” He chuckled. “There was a discrepancy in the order. Three extra bottles of scotch.”
“Strange.” He slipped into the backroom to grab his apron. I followed to discard the boxes. “I only had four on the order. You think boss wanted some for his own collection? Maybe he’s feeling generous and got one for each of us.” He laughed. Shrugging, took an apple from the fridge. “And if you keep taking an apple here and there, he might notice.”
“It’s a part of my rent.”
“Of course it is.” Rolling his sleeves up, Samuel grinned. “Day two out of uniform. Must be busy as of late?”
“Just low on clean uniforms.”
He laughed, making his way behind the bar. “Thought you cleaned those every night. You know, if you’re as predictable as you’ve been, someone is bound to pick up on any discrepancies.” Narrowing my eyes on the back of his head, my fingers twitched.
Then I remembered the envelope. Sighing, I grabbed a clean glass. “I may be predictable, but there are times where even I step out of my comfort zone.”
He pointed his rag at me. “Better bring that back by opening.”
Holding the glass up, I tilted it toward him. “As I always do.” When he grinned and went back to his task, I grabbed the envelope.
Putting the last bottle of vodka on the shelf, I nodded. “You’re just a lazy bastard.” He chuckled. “There was a discrepancy in the order. Three extra bottles of scotch.”
“Strange.” He slipped into the backroom to grab his apron. I followed to discard the boxes. “I only had four on the order. You think boss wanted some for his own collection? Maybe he’s feeling generous and got one for each of us.” He laughed. Shrugging, took an apple from the fridge. “And if you keep taking an apple here and there, he might notice.”
“It’s a part of my rent.”
“Of course it is.” Rolling his sleeves up, Samuel grinned. “Day two out of uniform. Must be busy as of late?”
“Just low on clean uniforms.”
He laughed, making his way behind the bar. “Thought you cleaned those every night. You know, if you’re as predictable as you’ve been, someone is bound to pick up on any discrepancies.” Narrowing my eyes on the back of his head, my fingers twitched.
Then I remembered the envelope. Sighing, I grabbed a clean glass. “I may be predictable, but there are times where even I step out of my comfort zone.”
He pointed his rag at me. “Better bring that back by opening.”
Holding the glass up, I tilted it toward him. “As I always do.” When he grinned and went back to his task, I grabbed the envelope.
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