Fated Retribution

24 [Target Alpha]

17th September, Wednesday, 7:32 pm, 2028

All the achievements and accomplished tasks in the world on one side and sneaking into a highly secured building and attending a gala organised by your enemy to interrogate him on one side.

My hands may have become callous and cut but the absolute adrenaline in getting into the Smoke Hall hotel through the top floor window was unmatchable. I pulled the windowsill up and entered the empty hallway, distinctly hearing the music of the Velvet Concord which played downstairs.

The idea had been a hit as far as it had been executed. As expected, many people turned up to see McPhinnon perform after her injury and personally, I never understood the hype over her skills but people did love her and I knew that because Brenda was a huge fan of the band too.

It bothered me all the damn time.

My combat boots clicked against the marble floor as I walked through the empty lobby of the hotel, trying to navigate my way to Zafar in order to get him alone, get answers out of him and get out, all of this while staying out of everyone's sight.

Brilliant.

My steps died down as I heard a distinct chatter and hid behind the nearest wall, the muffled noises now becoming louder and clearer. I tried to slip away from the lobby into the elevator when it opened to reveal two guards dressed in a navy uniform.

My eyes widened and all three of us stood frozen on our spots before I turned around to run, only to bump into two other security guards.

I looked back and forth between the four men and out of the corner of my eye, I noticed one of them slowly reaching for the gun tucked in his belt and acting out of pure reflex, I kicked his hand before elbowing him in the chest, making him land on the floor.

And then all hell broke loose.

I could still distinctly hear the band music that played downstairs as one of the guards who had emerged from the elevator charged at me and I grabbed his waist as he pushed me back to the wall, making my head painfully collide with the same. I stretched my hand over to my right and grabbed onto whatever I could, striking the man's head with utmost force.

Shards of glass flew everywhere as the man staggered back. Noticing the white lillies on the floor, I realised I had hit him with a glass vase. The other two men ran towards me and I ducked, sweeping my leg to make the pair trip over it as I pulled out the guns out of the holsters on each side of my waist and hit their heads with the barrel making them faint on the floor.

Piling their unconscious bodies in the corner of the lobby, I put my guns back in their place and pushed my hair out of my face, smiling triumphantly at my work.

God, I was loving this a little too much.

"Petrova, hold onto your knickers you're being the complete opposite of discreet."

Ivory's voice rang out in the earpiece I had forgotten I was wearing during the whole bout I had with the guards. Her and Sharon were in a van parked in the parking lot right outside the hotel, keeping an eye on my surroundings using the cameras Bridget had fitted earlier that day.

"Roger that, lieutenant." I whispered as I tip-toed my way to the end of the hallway I had entered where I could see a huge door and a metal plate which read 'RESERVED' hung on it.

Sneaking a glance at the ceiling for any cameras, I made my way towards the door when I could see none. Pressing my ear to the wood, I could hear a laugh rumble from inside accompanied by another giggle which sounded somewhat, male.

"That's him." Sharon spoke through my earpiece as I responded in the quietest voice I could muster, "How can you be sure?"

"He had come out to receive a letter a few minutes ago, we thought it was him but now we matched his photo, we're sure."

Sharon spoke firmly and I let out a shuddered breath, thinking of a way to get inside the room without creating a scene.

Just as I was thinking about ways to sneak inside the seemingly impenetrable room, my earpiece buzzed, "Daph- one- hind- you"

Ivory's voice was cut off by a static buzzing when a gloved hand wrapped around my mouth and I felt a sharp pain shoot across my abdomen as I was engulfed in the scent of cigars.

I raised my leg to push the heel of my boot into my attacker's pelvic bone who let go of me with a yelp and I didn't have time to catch my breath or inspect the wound he had given me before he raised his hand to attack me again and my eyes widened as I got a glimpse of his attire and the silver glint of the knife he held.

A trench coat, a straw hat and leather gloves on his hands.

I caught his hand right as it was above my chest, my eyes wide in horror as reality dawned on me and I understood how close I had been to my final breath.

I could feel blood seep through my clothes and my movements become sluggish as I groaned, trying to push his hand away from me but he stood his ground. With a final grunt escaping my lips, I successfully drove the knife away from myself, not noticing how the direction of the blade had completely turned in the opposite one.

I was finally able to catch my breath as I pushed my hand into my abdomen and winced feeling more blood seep into the wrinkles of my hands. My attention finally went to the man who lay limp on the floor and my heart leapt to my throat as I crouched to turn his body over.

I gasped.

The knife was driven deep into his chest and blood was oozing out of his lifeless frame, his eyes were wide open as if in part shock and part fear. I raised a shaky hand to his neck trying to feel his pulse.

But I didn't feel it.

I felt myself slump against the wall as my horrified gaze stayed on the body in front of me.

A man was dead because of me.

A man was dead because I killed him.

I raised my hands to my mouth, not caring if any blood got on my face, as I felt a lone tear roll down my cheek. My breathing quickened and vision seemed to become blurry as I continued to stare at his body.

The door in front of me opened with a creak and a man stepped out in a bathrobe, looking down at the scene in confusion and fear, I looked up and his features were immediately recognised by me.

Zafar Yusuf or how he is addressed as now, Ferlie Brent.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't Daphne Petrova-"

Something in me snapped as he let out a little scream when I stood up and knocked him down, pressing my knee to his throat in order to cut off his air supply and my fist in the air ready to punch him.

Him and Welfner had first driven me away from my family, tried to kill my friends, framed me for something I had nothing to do with and now I was a murderer because of them too.

"Where is Acheron? What's his plan now?" I spoke, my tone completely devoid of emotion, scaring a part of me as well.

Zafar remained silent and I pressed my knee further into his throat, my hand now flying to his collar, "Speak or I'll make you speak."

To my surprise, Yusuf laughed, a choked chortle rumbled out of his chest as he bared his teeth before answering,

"Oh sweetheart, you just made his job ten times easier by coming here yourself."