BLACK ROSE

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Rosa shifted her position in the dim room, eyes trained on multiple surveillance screens displaying live footage from the cameras scattered around the restaurant. For over an hour, she'd been watching her target, tracking his every move. Each flickering image sharpened her anticipation as she waited for the right moment.

The wind howled outside, but inside, the air was heavy with tension. On screen, she saw her target shake hands with the other man at the table, a forced smile playing on his lips. The meeting was wrapping up—his time was almost up.

As he stood, Rosa's pulse quickened. She pulled up the restaurant's layout on one of her screens, mapping out the quickest route to intercept him. Rising from her chair, she moved silently to the door, her combat boots barely making a sound on the floor.

Once outside, she blended into the shadows. She had seen on the cameras that he would take the side entrance, away from the busy main street. Rosa waited, steady and focused, her breath slow and deliberate.

As her target approached his car, Rosa pressed herself against a nearby pillar, her heart hammering in sync with the steps closing in. She slipped her katana from its sheath, its blade reflecting the faint light. This was it.

With a sudden, fluid motion, she shot out from her hiding place, crossing the distance between them in seconds. Before he could react, the blade sank into his back. His body went rigid, shock flickering across his face as he crumpled to the ground.

Rosa crouched beside him, pulling the katana free. Blood pooled beneath him as he gasped, panic filling his eyes.
"W-who are you?" he managed to stutter, his voice breaking with fear.

Rosa said nothing. She calmly reached into her bag, pulling out a single black rose. His eyes widened in recognition.
"You... you're the Black Rose," he whispered, trembling.
Rosa gave a faint smile. "In the flesh."

She withdrew a small pocketknife from her bag, running her finger along the sharp edge. "Nothing personal," she said softly, before slicing it across his neck. The blood flowed quickly, his body twitching before falling still.

She examined the lifeless form before her, then carefully placed the black rose into the open wound on his neck. Her gloves came off next, neatly tucked into her bag with the knife. Slinging the bag over her shoulder and sheathing her katana, Rosa left the scene without a backward glance.

Pulling out a black phone, she dialed the only number stored on it. "The job's done," she said flatly before ending the call. She removed the SIM card, broke it in half, and pocketed the phone.

By the time she reached her apartment, tucked away at the city's edge, the chill in the night air had faded. She preferred it that way—quiet, without too many neighbors to ask questions. Questions always led to trouble.

The door clicked shut behind her, but she barely had time to register the familiar figure waiting inside. She glanced at him and walked past, tossing her bag onto a chair. She reached the fridge and grabbed a bottle of water just as he spoke up.

"That's the warmest welcome I've had in a while," he said, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

Rosa ignored him, taking a long sip before finally responding. "That's what you get when you disappear without saying a word." She met his gaze evenly, unflinching.

He sighed, glancing at the clock. "You've been out late," he remarked, changing the subject.

She let him. "Work," she replied, voice flat. She passed the bottle between her hands, keeping her emotions firmly in check.

"You forget I'm the one who taught you everything about this job," he said, eyes trailing over her black attire.

"And you never miss a chance to remind me," Rosa shot back, tilting her head as she studied him. His hair had grown longer since the last time she saw him.