Short Stories

Assassin

The masked assassin swiftly flew through the open window, landing in a crouch on the wooden floor. He stood up and inspected himself, from the bloody knife at his belt to the boots on his feet. He carefully took off the mask, his eyes gleaming in the dark room when he heard a creak come from the door. His eyes immediately caught the source of the sound, a small child with a blanket in her hand and her tiny thumb in her mouth. She stared into the shocked eyes of the assassin, her eyes full of confusion.
She spoke in a small voice, "Daddy?"
The assassin smiled warmly, the mask in his hand, and he pulled back his hood to reveal a kind face. "Go back to bed, darling." He spoke quietly, in a smooth tone to help aid in getting the child to sleep. The girl still stared at him, confusion clear on her face. "Daddy? Why are you dressed that way?" She inquired, her soft voice ringing through the small room.
"It's..." The man fumbled for words, "it's for a show! I just got home a bit later tonight."
The girl's face relaxed, "Oh. Can you tuck me in again daddy?"
He smiled, "Of course."
She wrapped her tiny hand in his large one and they walked into the child's room. After she had been tucked in and the candle had been blown out, she asked one final question. "Can you sing to me?" Her hopeful eyes met his and he couldn't say no.
"Let's go in the garden,"
He began, his low voice ringing in the room.
"You'll find something waiting,"
The child joined him, her voice slightly off key but still mingling beautifully with his.
"Right there where you left it, lying upside down."
He smiled at his child, his eyes gleaming with delight.
"When you finally find it, you'll see how it's faded. The under side is lighter, when you turn it around."
The child yawned, but still sang along.
"Everything stays, right where you left it, everything stays, but it still changes."
He gazed through the window, his mind wandering away from him and thinking of him and his life, and what he had done to get here.
"Ever so slightly,"
Another job done, but what would happen if his only child had found him out?
"Daily and nightly,"
He thought to the fear in his victims' eyes, how he could be so sinister and cold-hearted just because he needed the money.
"In little ways,"
He looked at his beautiful daughter, who was fast asleep by now.
He whispered the last words to the song as he was exiting the room.
"When everything stays."