Wicked Games

4-Eliana

Chapter Four | Eliana

"So, your mission is just to kill a childhood sweetheart?" Elena questions, leaning back in the armchair in mine and River's apartment. "Why didn't you just kill him when you had the chance back at the hotel?" She asks me, looking at her freshly manicured nails.

"I was in shock." Elena laughs and then shakes her head. "What's so funny?" I tilt my head, fiddling with the rings around my finger.

"You're an assassin, Eliana. A good one from what I've heard, and you're telling me this was a shock to you. People like us have been trained to hold back on emotions, we've been wired to switch off any feelings we may have for someone, and kill them, regardless of who they are to us. Because of what they have done wrong, they pay for it." Her words dig deep, and I turn my gaze to the wall. "You loved Reid, and you still do that's why it was difficult for you, otherwise you would have killed him straight away. You knew exactly where to stab him so he wouldn't die, you're not capable of making stupid mistakes."

"Damn, Elena. Maybe you should change your occupation to a therapist, if you've got free time, I'd like a session." River smirks, leaning against the kitchen counter, and opening up a bottle of water.

"Fuck off." Elena rolls her eyes, keeping her gaze on me. "I'm not here to help you kill Reid." I frown and so does River.

"So why are you here then?" River quizzes after taking a gulp of water.

"To kill Baker."

River chokes and then places the bottle down before clapping in excitement. "I knew I was going to like you!"

"Why?" I whisper, not sure if she heard me but I know she does when she sighs and leans forward, bracing her elbows on her knees.

"You've had a difficult childhood, Eliana. I'm aware of that. This is all you've known. But my job is to hunt down sick fuckers like Baker, and kill them, simple as that. I agreed to help kill Reid when really it's Baker that I want, and I know this will be my most challenging kill yet, but if I can get you onboard, it would be a lot easier for me, babe." Elena admits and I swallow hard.

'You've had a difficult childhood, Eliana.'

I scoff.

She doesn't know the half of it.

"Kick it harder!" Baker yells at my sixteen-year-old self as I stare at the tree in front of me, the brown bark tinted crimson red from my barefoot where the skin has shredded.

"I can't." I whimper, feeling sick start to rise up my throat. "I-I can't!"

"How do you expect to be the best when you can't even do this simple task? This is how you build your pain tolerance so stop being a stupid child and kick it harder!" Baker yells, the veins in his forehead protruding along with his anger. "Now!"

"I can't anymore." I drop to my knees and begin to silently cry, my chin resting on my chest. Suddenly, Baker yanks me up by the hair and then backhands me so I drop to the floor again, the stones digging harshly into the palm of my hands.

"You've been distracted a lot lately, Eliana. What is it?" Baker crouches down next to me as I breathe in a shaky breath and hold back my cries to avoid another backhand.

"I-I haven't been distracted, sir. Just feeling a little ill. I'll be better, I promise." I lie and he doesn't buy into it at all.

"Look at me." I lift my eyes and stare into his furious ones. "I've put a lot of money into your training, Eliana. You're special. A lot of people will be wanting to hire you when you turn eighteen and I need to make sure that you are living up to those expectations I have given them." I nod my head frantically, wiping the tears away from my cheeks.