Aligned

Chapter 2: Estrella

The jarring sound of my alarm clock yanked me from the restless night that had offered no reprieve. Squinting at my nightstand, I noticed it was already 8:30 am – just another monotonous day beginning.

Rising from my bed, I shuffled into the bathroom, absently brushing my teeth. As I peered into the mirror, my eyes couldn't help but fixate on the web of scars etched across my arms and wrists. These marks were not just remnants of a turbulent past but also storytellers of my own journey. They had once haunted me, but over time, they had transformed into silent memoirs of the lives I had changed.

Images of screams and last breaths echoed in my mind, a relentless slideshow of my gruesome past. Among those echoes, a single voice always stood out, "I love you, my ball of sunshine." The memory of this particular phrase pierced through my thoughts and yanked me back into reality.

With a deep sigh, I completed my morning routine, preparing for my daily jog. After grabbing my headphones and slipping into my sneakers, I left my home, ensuring to lock the door and activate the security system.

As I set off, I slung a small backpack over my shoulders, my pace gradually picking up.

________________________________

Huffing and puffing, I rounded a street corner, only to spot a blacked-out SUV parked conspicuously near my house. My heart raced as I observed the vehicle, trying to discern if it had been there for some time or if it had just arrived. The sight of steam rising from the car's hood confirmed my suspicion.

I came to an abrupt halt and retrieved a pocket knife from my backpack. This particular knife, a sleek black stainless steel blade engraved with my initials "E.R.," had been a gift from my uncle, Dan.

He had presented it to me following my graduation from training at H.A.R.O. – the "Highest Assassin Ranking Organization". Though my childhood self had perceived our summer trips there as fun road trips, they had, in fact, been a meticulously planned apprenticeship in the art of assassination.

My time at H.A.R.O. was marked by learning to erase lives efficiently. While I made a few acquaintances, one person held a special place in my heart. He had been more than a friend; he had been my driving force and motivation. His hazel eyes, a captivating blend of forest green and earthy brown, continued to haunt my memories. I longed for one more day with him, but like others before, he had slipped away from my life.

The melancholy of my thoughts began to well up, causing a solitary tear to escape, quickly wiped away. His memory, instead of offering solace, had become a recurring presence in my nightmares.

Keeping my eyes on the enigmatic SUV, I concluded that I needed to handle this situation smartly. I resumed jogging, albeit with a purpose this time, ensuring that the potential tail wouldn't lead back to my home.

Spotting the SUV maintaining a discreet distance, I tried to memorize the license plate. My mind shifted to Astrid, a genius friend who had shared my H.A.R.O. training. She had a knack for hacking and unearthing information at lightning speed. I pulled out my phone and dialed her number.

"Hey, love," she answered cheerfully, though I knew I had roused her from her unconventional slumber.

"Surprised you're not cursing me for waking you up," I joked, a hint of a smile playing on my lips.

"I know my sleep schedule isn't ideal, but no need to rub it in," she replied, stifling a yawn.

"Right," I conceded, turning around to check if the SUV was still trailing me.

"The reason I called is that I may or may not be followed by a blacked-out SUV license plate 1EST3RL9" I rushed to explain, trying to keep up my pace.

Astrid wasted no time. She acknowledged my concern and dove into action, her agile fingers dancing across her keyboard as she delved into her search. "Did you see anyone in the SUV, or can you provide a description?" she inquired.