Beyond the Kill

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This world is full of bastards, and I'm the biggest bastard in the whole world. My name is Maclovin. I'm a hitman who can kill anybody for money. I don't think twice before killing anyone. I have no principles and only one rule: finish the mission at any cost.

Many times, my victims have asked me how I can be so cold-hearted. How can I kill without hesitation, without emotions? How can a person be so emotionless? I always have only one answer: "I don't know." And I always answer after killing them.

Sometimes I think about these questions, and I don't have any answers. As far back as I can remember, I don't recall my parents-how they looked or who they were. I remember only one person who found me in a dump yard: my grumpy old man. He taught me everything-how to fight, how to kill, and made me a professional hitman. He told me to always work for money and earn as much as possible.

We were quite rich, but I didn't understand why the old man wanted so much money. We lived in the countryside, cooked our own food, and didn't need money at all.

One day, he passed away. It was sudden, a quiet end to a man who had been anything but. In his final moments, lying on that old, creaky bed, he grabbed my hand with surprising strength. His eyes, once fierce, were dim but filled with a strange urgency.

"Maclovin," he rasped, each word a struggle. "Promise me... become the wealthiest man in the world... ever."

His grip loosened, and he was gone. I was left alone with his final wish echoing in my mind. It was a strange request from a man who had never shown interest in anything but the kill. But it was his dying wish, and I had nothing else to hold on to.

Now, I sit in Dr. Michael Hayes' office, gun in hand, ready to kill him. But I find myself sharing my story, my past, and my old man's dying wish. Dr. Hayes listens, his expression shifting from curiosity to shock and fear.

"Why did you tell me all this, Kratos?" he asked, his voice trembling.

"You asked why I'm so cold-hearted, why I kill without hesitation," I replied. "I wanted to give you an answer before you asked."

"And what will you do now?" he stammered.

I pulled out my gun, the cold metal familiar in my hand. His eyes widened, and he started shaking.

"Oh my God, no!" he squeaked, jumping out of his chair. "Please, don't! I-I can help you! You don't have to do this!"

"Finish the mission," I said flatly.

My finger hovered over the trigger, ready to end Dr. Hayes' life. But just as I was about to pull it, he spoke up in a crying, cowardly voice.

"Please, don't kill me! I'll do anything! I'll always listen to you, Maclovin. You don't have anyone else to talk to, do you? I'll be your confidant, your secret keeper. Just please, don't kill me!"

I hesitated, taken aback by his words. No one had ever offered me that before. No one had ever promised to listen to me without judgment.

"Alright, doc," I said finally, putting down the gun. "You're coming with me. We're goingto blow this place to kingdom come, and then you're going to keep my secrets."

Dr. Hayes nodded frantically, still crying, as I dragged him out of the office. We made our way to the basement, where I had set up the explosives. I pushed him into the corner and lit the fuse.

"Run," I said, grabbing his arm and pulling him out of the building.

We sprinted across the parking lot just as the building erupted in a massive explosion. We kept running, not stopping until we were blocks away.

Finally, we slowed down, and Dr. Hayes turned to me, still babbling excitedly. "Oh my god, Kratos, that was amazing! I've never seen anything like it! I'm going to write a book about this, I swear! And I'll listen to you, of course, I'll listen to everything! Your thoughts, your feelings, your favorite foods..."

I rolled my eyes and muttered, "Just shut up, doc."

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