The Prey

The mexico incident

"We're here." Chance screamed, waking me up. I don't know how I managed to get to sleep in a van with a psycho but there I was, yawning and rubbing my eyes. Andrew stepped out and opened the van doors so I could see exactly where "here" was.

It was a small cottage, dotted with little, round, old fashioned windows with colourful flower boxes. The roof was thatched and ivy seemed to be crawling in the crevices of half the wall. I stepped out onto the pebbled driveway, cold nipping at my bare arms and seeping through my thin clothing.

"Here." Andrew almost whimpered, passing me a silenced pistol. I weighed it up in my numb hands, it was light and relatively streamline.

"Thank you," I whispered back.

"I'm so so sorry." Andrew sighed.

Chance dragged me towards the front door, I ducked underneath some over grown vines to get a peek through the tiny window above the knocker. It was mostly covered in frost but I could make out movement. There must be an entire family in there.

Panic drowned our whatever Chance was ordering me to do and I could feel my entire body shaking. I have to do this, I told myself.

"Knock!" Repeated Chance.

So, I did. A dog barked, a few kids cheered and footsteps approached the door. A few clicks could be heard before the door swung open.

"Ho ho!" Laughed the man who answered "not the pizza!" And everyone in the house seemed to laugh. A little girl, maybe four or five, peered out from under the mans hand.

"Who this?" She asked shyly.

"We are here for Howard Noble, just a chat about the current school his children are at. You see me and my girlfriend here work there part time and we just wanted to ask a few questions." Chance declared happily, wrapping his arm around my waist and drawing me to his side. I kept my gun arm out of sight and obliged to his touch, despite the fact that it made me shudder.

"Ewwwwww girlfriend." Chirped another child from what I could guess was the living room.

I wanted to agree with the child, instead I kept up my part and asked politely "Is Mr Noble here?"

"That would be me!" Said the man at the door with a warming smile. In fact, his entire appearance screamed happy families. He wore an old geometric patterned jumper that could have potentially fit another human inside with ease. His face was wrinkled and old but he wore the most welcoming smile and his bright blue eyes seemed to sparkle underneath a grey haircut that, like his house, was over grown. He wasn't that much taller than myself but seemed at least 3 times my age. Perhaps the friendliest person I'd ever met. But, also my target.

"Care to take a walk?" Asked Chance with a grin, trying to match Howard.

"Of course, young man. As long as I'm home in time for luncheon." Replied Howard and the entire house seemed to laugh. For the first time, Chance and I seemed to completely understand each other- we shared a look of confusion as to what was so funny then burst into fake laughter.

"Goodbye, dears, I shall be back shortly!" Howard called, then picked up a coat from a nearby hanger and joined us in the cold.

I noticed that our van was gone as Chance eagerly ushered me forward.

"My dear, are you not cold?" Howard asked me, concerned.

"I'm quite alright." I replied with my sweetest smile. I shoved the pistol in the waist band of my thin trousers, completely hiding it.

The next few minutes went by smoothly, as Chance kept up believable lies about the school and our fake relationship. He even gave a fake school support website to Howard at one point. I kept my role up by answering when I was asked and exchanging laughs when Howard told one of his insufferable jokes. For a moment, I could have sworn that all three of us were actually normal people enjoying ourselves. That all changed when we

approached a small forest in the field that we were walking through.

Chance stopped in his tracks and looked down at his feet. He sighed and fumbled around with something in his pocket.

"Are you alright, Lad?" Questioned Howard happily, completely oblivious to what was about to happen.

"Quite." Stated Chance, revealing a gun that he had been hiding. "If you could please come this way."

A look of confusion swept across the mans face then lifted as the truth set in. With his eyes clouded with tears but he marched after Chance like a trained soldier.

"The Mexico incident." He stated simply.

"Yes, you caused the organisation to lose thousands. No. Millions of pounds, not to mention two of our finest young men who lost their lives trying to protect you." Said Chance, completely losing composure and pressing his hands to his face. Shaking uncontrollably.

"It was an accident." Howard whispered, but he didn't seem to believe it either.

"Lisa." Chance ordered in a shaken voice. I took a place by his side, despite the wobbling in my legs.

"You said her name was Robyn." Howard said, seeming to have accepted his fate. It was true, Chance had managed to create completely false identities off the top of his head.

"Why can't you do it?" I whispered to Chance.

"Because you must, for your loved ones." He sighed and stared at his feet.

Tears were hot on my cheeks as I took aim. "I'm sorry." I cried.

"Goodbye, Robyn. Goodbye, David. I'm sorry about your men." Howard said to myself and Chance. He close his eyes and smiled peacefully.

Because the pistol was silenced, the only sound that followed was a click and then the sound of a body falling.