Unmatched Professionals

Prologue

Every choice defines us. Sometimes these choices are more permanent than we think. My name is Rogue. I don't have a last name, I was given up to an orphanage at a young age. The orphanage was in St Petersburg Russia. I lived there until I was 7 when I was adopted by the woman I only know as the Keeper. I only saw her once as she grabbed my hand and looked down at me. She promised me a life and after that I was a puppet as she pulled the strings. I was trained and honed to be the perfect weapon. By the age of 12 I was given my first assignment to kill a man and if I lived and completed the assignment that was my initiation into the life. If I failed then I failed as a human. To be Deemed unworthy. The man I was told to kill was labeled case 45639FICA. Our cases never had names, if they had names we humanized them and it was better to not humanize them. I'm ashamed to admit how easy it was. I didn't hesitate as I put my finger on the trigger and pulled it. Watching the bullet sink into his brain. That was how it started. When I exchanged my soul for a home designed with bones of victims. Painted red with their blood and inhabited by the souls I take.

Now at the age of 27 I have taken close to 56 lives. These people had homes and families. It got to the point where I couldn't look myself in the mirror anymore. The hatred and sick feeling. I could no longer just do as I was told and not see them as human. Because they were.

The last case I went on was the start. The reason for all of this. I was contracted to dispose of a united states ambassador. I was ready and about to pull the trigger until I saw her. The girl. Couldn't be older than 5. Running in calling him daddy. I remembered what I've been missing and what I never had. How can I take him from her and leave her in this cold dark world without a father. I froze and couldn't take the shot. I had failed.

The first time in 15 years I failed.

I knew what that meant. The consequences I would receive. In my world we don't defy the table. We live by a code and a set of rules. If we follow them we can obtain riches and wealth. But if broken....there would be nowhere safe for you. That was mistake number one.

Mistake number two was saying I wanted out. There is no way out for people like me. It's blood in and blood out. Once you're in it's for life. The only way out is death. I knew when I saw that wicked smile I knew they were planning my death. "You want out, alright you're out. But you're no longer welcome back. And fair warning it's open season. Don't be surprised when tables get reversed. You're free to leave" and he lit the cigar chuckling. I ran and knew I had to get out of the country. Not that it would help they have associates all over the world. Once I've been flagged I'm as good as dead. I ran all the way to my apartment packing a small bag and hit the road heading to the airport. My blood ran cold when I saw the phones ring. All at once. Normal people would probably think it was a weather alert or something but I knew what it was. It was the bounty. For me. The price of my head. I go to the stewardess at the desk to get the ticket. "New York please" I had one friend I could trust. Blaze. He used to work under the table. But he managed to get out. Maybe he can help me. He's the one friend that will. When I get the ticket and board the plane I look around me. A few people are watching me and I know they are here for one reason and one reason only.

I tense up when I see a familiar red head sit next to me. Tattoos on her neck and arm. I knew her. She trained me. She smirks as she opens her book. "It's alright don't make a scene don't need unnecessary attention. I won't kill you here. Your bounty doesn't hit for 48 hours. After that little bunny rabbit your mine." My blood runs cold I see the cruelty and evil in her voice and eyes as she looks at me. She may as well have been the devil himself. She knew I was trapped. She most likely knew where I was going. And she made sure I knew I was screwed.

After landing I ran hearing her laugh behind me. She knew even if I ran I'm stuck. The most I could do was play further into her hand. As I left the airport it was dark and empty streets j see a man walking towards me. The panic sets in as I see the large silver blade. He intended to kill me. "I still have time. I have 16 hours you have to wait" I try to tell him backing into the wall starting to see he isn't listening"they won't care if I kill you now. You made a mess of things Rogue. Your pretty ungrateful you'd have died in that rat infested orphanage you were given a choice now that choice isn't good enough for you" he looks at me with malice and I try to run past him as he grabs the back of my shirt. Throwing me into the wall knocking the air out of my lungs. I feel the pain in my ribs as I struggle to breathe. He grabs my hair yanking me up as he spits in my face "I've wanted to do this for so long. I always hated you. But you were always so fucking special." I kick him in the balls to get some sort of advantage in this situation. The guy is at least 2 feet taller than me pure muscle. I'm only 5'5 and 120 pounds wet. My skills were more for shooting not hand to hand. I hit him in the nose with my palm feeling it crack under my hand. Feeling the warm sticky blood as it covers my hand and clothes. I use his tie as leverage to swing around pulling him to the ground as I wrap my thighs around his neck, crushing it. I hear the snap and feel him go limp as I lay there catching my breath. I slowly stand up feeling the pain now that the adrenaline is gone.

Suddenly faced with the sobriety of the situation I begin the long trek to Blaze's house and prepare to explain everything. Hoping he doesn't kick me out. He retired 10 years ago. He might get mad at me for bringing all this shit to his door. But I don't have any other options. It's him or a coffin.