The Phantom Conspiracy

1. The Genesis

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 Venice, Italy, 03:45 am

The cold concrete pressed against her delicate cheek. Her chest heaved as she attempted to catch her breath. The salty metallic taste of blood spread in her mouth; the wound on her lower lip had deepened. She shifted in pain and grasped onto the stone jutting out of the wall. 

'Aah... I shouldn't have come here.' She clutched her stomach. 'Oof... now I don't know if I'll ever be able to leave.' The churning became worse, she tilted her head to the side and coughed up some blood.

'I had almost caught her; she has to be hiding here somewhere.' A voice whispered. 

The thud of heavy shoes on the gravel grew louder. They seemed to have turned the corner and were now briskly approaching the main alley. 

'Seriously! How did you manage to lose her so easily?' Another voice chipped in. 

'Oh God! They'll find me soon. Save me, someone.' Tears streamed down her cheeks and her sweat beaded forehead glistened in the moonlight. She placed her palms on the ground and pushed down in an effort to pick her frail body off the pavement. Unable to bear the weight, her arms slipped and she fell back against the wall.

'Just a minute, did you hear that?' The voice said again. 

'Yea, she has got to be around here. You go cover that side of the street; I'll get hold of her here.' The other replied. 

The two walked off to the opposite ends of the alley and closed in slowly to capture their victim.

'I'll get caught any minute now. This is it! Oh God, this is it!' Her voice trembled and she buried her head into the stone wall. The muddy scent filled her nose, fresh dewdrops had made it warm and musty. She had no other way out now. Not only was she weak, but her predator had also captured the entire alley, there seemed to be no escape anymore.

Gun shots sounded and bright sparks flew into the night sky. 

'Come out of hiding, woman.' The voice boomed. 

Very soon a figure emerged from the shadows and cautiously approached her. Another lurked in the further corner, pacing back and forth with a gun, ready to shoot. She meekly lifted her head and spotted a pair of bloodshot eyes staring at her tear-stained face. A flicker of hope crossed her when she saw a glint of pity in them, but soon the sinister look returned.

'Please, please,' a feeble whisper escaped her lips, 'just let me go, and you'll never see me again.' She pushed herself up and strained her body in an attempt to steady it and face her predator. 

'I am freeing you of all the pain,' the voice hissed back, 'there's no feeling anything after this. You are only going to thank me for it.' 

The figure kneeled down beside her and pulled out a gold plated knife. The knife inched closer to her neck, the cold blade touching her flaming hot skin. 

'No! Please.' Her nimble fingers clasped the edge of the knife to move it away. 

'Shh, let it go, and do as I say.'

Before she knew, her body was lifted off the ground and slumped over a shoulder. She had been captured and was now being carried up the stairs of a rather huge building. It looked like a residential one with a couple of potted plants and lights. The silence was unnerving. Everyone seemed to be asleep, which only meant that she was now at the mercy of this devil.