Third Person’s POV
A chilly evening.
A clear night sky.
Under the watchful gaze of the moon, Mikhail cautiously entered his father's dimly lit room. Despite the soothing sound of the clock ticking, his heart raced with anxiety. The air felt heavy, almost suffocating, as he scanned the room for any clues about the mysterious phone call he overheard.
The words questioning the failed assassination attempt on Agatha continued to haunt him, causing his mind to spiral into chaos. Sleepless nights were spent in tears, desperately hoping it was all just a figment of his imagination.
Exhausted but determined, he finally mustered the strength to confront the truth.
'I need to know what he's plotting to harm Agatha!' he made a remark.
His search finally paid off when he stumbled upon a brown envelope tucked away in the final drawer of his father's desk. It was a hidden gem, only revealed to those who knew about the secret storage at the bottom of the cabinet.
Mikhail couldn't help but glance nervously at the closed door. With bated breath, he carefully opened the envelope and began reading the document inside.
"Is this...?" He exclaimed, his eyes widening as he realized it was Agatha's father's last will.
** **
Alleyways; dim, messy and cramped. Here, you can find discarded boxes, foul-smelling garbage left behind by the dump truck, and smoke billowing from tall buildings that give the place an eerie, horror movie-like vibe.
Most people steer clear of this place, especially after dark. But not Maxine.
She sees herself as a curious wanderer, searching for a place to belong.
"This brings back memories," Maxine chuckled as she strolled through the alley.
As a child, she used to roam the streets, scavenging through trash for scraps of food. She was dirty, emaciated, and always hungry. Yet, Maxine believes her past self was somehow better off than she is now.
Now, she has the means to rent a fancy apartment, dine at expensive restaurants, and secure her future.
But dwelling on regrets won't absolve her of her past mistakes, she understands that. Still, being aware of right and wrong might just help ease the burden on her conscience.
Maybe?
Maxine sighed softly, "There's no way," she whispered. She gazed up at the night sky and continued, "One day, I'll face the consequences from up there."
She thought to herself, 'Maybe even tonight,' as she heard footsteps approaching.
Counting silently, she prepared herself for what was to come.
Maxine could feel a group of people closing in on her, so she swiftly reached for the knife at her side. The innocence in her eyes disappeared, replaced by a fierce, determined gaze.
If her boss had indeed sent these men to end her life, Maxine knew she had to defend herself. She wasn't ready to face whatever punishment awaited her in the afterlife just yet. She believed she still had things to do, mistakes to make right before her time was up.
Tap tap tap...
The sound of footsteps echoed through the cramped space, accompanied by the faint trickle of water. Maxine paused, scanning her surroundings for a possible escape route. It was clear she was outnumbered.
Damn. Nowhere to go, Maxine cursed. Gripping the knife tightly, she found herself surrounded by men in black from all directions.
With a sarcastic chuckle, Maxine glanced up at the sky, observing the twinkling stars. Those luminous witnesses had always been there, watching her commit her crimes.
"Perhaps they want to witness my demise as well," Maxine chuckled to herself.
The men narrowed their eyes at the woman in the center. Even in the darkness, they could see her smiling to herself. Some thought she was insane, while others speculated that fear had driven her to laugh in despair.
But Maxine didn't fear death. Instead, she felt a strange satisfaction, imagining the day she would meet her end with honor. It was as if she had been waiting for this moment her entire life. And so, another smile escaped her lips.
She pondered, "Is it worth it to end it all?"
Out of nowhere, a memory of a girl appeared in her mind. The smile on her face turned into a frown. She didn't want to give up, but she knew she needed to talk to Agatha.
"Agatha," she whispered softly, almost savoring each syllable of her name.
Then a new question arose in her mind.
"If I never met her, would I have ever considered changing my ways? Or would I have continued down the path of a hired killer? If I hadn't stopped my last mission, would I be okay with my fate ending like this?"
She realized that before she could go, she needed to see Agatha one last time. And before taking her final breath, Maxine wanted to express her gratitude, "Thank you for being my friend."
A group of men in black suits surrounded Maxine from all sides. She noticed the guns holstered at their waists, while others carried large steel bats. Maxine slowly lifted her hand, gripping a knife, as she began to count their numbers.
‘One, two, three, four, five… darn.’
She halted her counting, realizing it was pointless as their numbers continued to grow with each passing second.
Despite being a skilled assassin, Maxine knew she could take them all down if she wanted to. But after choosing to assist Agatha instead of eliminating her, Maxine made a vow to never take another life again. She believed that these men, much like herself, were simply following orders from their superiors.
“So it was you.”
An eerie low voice spoke.
Maxine spun around, startled by the eerie voice that filled the air.
To her surprise, a man emerged from the crowd, striding confidently towards her. Unlike the others, he stood out with his white suit and an air of superiority.
As Maxine looked up, she noticed a cigarette wedged between his lips.
"So it was you," the man in white sneered, his arrogance evident. He took a drag from his cigarette, exhaling the smoke in Maxine's direction.
Maxine's face contorted into a frown.
The sight of the blood from her victims was never something she found pleasure in. However, the smell of tobacco smoke was something she despised even more, ranking it as her top pet peeve.
"I'm here to settle the score for what you did to her," he growled through gritted teeth. He tossed the cigarette aside and crushed it under his foot. His hand, wrapped in a bandage, clenched tightly. "Are you prepared?"
As Maxine caught a glimpse of the smirk on his lips, she instantly knew that he wouldn't be an easy adversary.