Wasteland // Kim Seungmin

31 - Eight Is Fate

"My name is Changbin," The stranger said softly, "No need to stand," He added with a cheeky smile. He must realize I can't, but how could he know that? 

"We actually met last night, but I doubt you remember that. You seemed to be having a lot of fun with your friend." he continued, sitting on the corner of the other bed in the room, unbuttoning his jacket and shrugging it off. Underneath he was wearing a cut-off muscle shirt, revealing large tan biceps. From the neck down, he looked dangerous, but his sweet, pouty smile stood out in contrast.

At once, a memory stuck out. The bathroom, the stranger who wordlessly handed me a pill. The drunk idiot taking them (that's me). And it all made sense, this is my drug fairy. He gave me anvil, the drug Sky told me about.

"Contract killers use it to make their prey a sitting duck."

This man gave it to me in preparation for this moment. To get me here, alone and defenseless. Trying to hide my panic and to stall, I asked, "How did you get in here?"

He chuckled, holding up a brass key, "My key, roomie."

I faltered, trying to sort out my thoughts. I had to keep him talking. I just needed to buy enough time for Sky to get back. I took a long pause, then started, "Why did you-"

"Drug you? It's a good question, and it comes with a long story, that I don't think we want to get into. Sorry, I do want to answer your questions, but I need to do what I have to do, preferably before Sky gets back."

My heart rate increased. He knows me, and he knows Sky, and he knows Sky is coming back. There was no doubt in my mind, he was here to kill me. Desperate, I tried to keep him talking, both to prolong my life, and to try to figure out why he was here to end it. "What do you have to do?" I asked, my voice a whisper.

At this he laughed, standing up to sit beside me on the bed. "That's the interesting part. I am not sure yet."

"Sky isn't coming back for a while, please tell me what you mean. I want to know." I rambled.

He sighed, "Listen, I am less than a month away from retirement. I haven't taken a job in weeks, but then about a week ago, your name started popping up. You, a new release who within a week had both a leader contacting me to be your bodyguard, which I don't usually do, AND a jilted lover contacting me to kill you, which is more in line with my typical menu of services. Then, I found out these two didn't even know each other, their reasons for hiring me were unconnected. Now that was a first. Did a bit more digging, and found out that you were released less than 2 days before you pissed someone else off enough to pay top price for your head, and endeared a leader enough to pay top price for a helmet. I guess you could say my curiosity got the best of me. So here I am, to figure out which payday I want."

His explanation made no sense. 

Well, that's not true, the jilted lover could only be Sam, and I just wish I could live long enough to rub a big fat "told ya so" in Sky's face. 

But the leader, who on earth could that be? The only leaders I ever met were the one that tattooed me when I paired with Sky, and the creep from our first night. Had that shameful strip tease left that big an impression?

I realized Changbin had gone quiet, watching all of this confusion play out on my face, so I gulped. "Sounds like you are a business man. Choice shouldn't be that hard. What's the bigger pay day?"

"Oh killing you, easy. Bigger payout, less hassle." Changbin answered with a chuckle. "Leaders are broke; all he could offer was food and protection at his haven."

I chuckled grimly and rolled my eyes, "And you don't want to hang out at that haven, guy's a complete pervert."

Changbin laughed, cocking one eyebrow in confusion, "Really? I didn't get that impression. Dude seemed harmless. Looks like a cinnamon roll, is a cinnamon roll type. The voice was surprising though... Hey, now you're coming around." He remarked.