Shadow's Within

7 : Hiding is the best strat

"Where are we?" my target asks, his breathing hard.

Where are we indeed. We had trudge downwards and past down four floors beneath and ran past into a supply room. I placed my ear listening intensively for any wide-ranging sound around the door. It was dead silent. An empty condiment of noiseless surrounding.

"Shhhh" I told him.

I retreated myself away and landed on the stony floor. This is the perfect time to catch my breath. My stomach churns hard as if a butterfly flapping away its wing inside me.

"So...is it safe?" he asks.

"Maybe"

"Maybe?" he retorts.

I ignore him. Rolling my eyes away, enjoying the quiet atmosphere within this four wall dark compartment. What I'm supposed to do? My organization had turned me away, disregarding I as one of their one and are thwarting to eradicate me out of existence. I purse my lips. Trying hard not to shed tears.

"Not here!" My thought exclaimed.

Yes. Not here, not in front of him. I couldn't allow my weakness to be shown in my moment of feebleness. I push my tears back as far as I could deep down that my retina couldn't push them outwards anymore.

I need to gather my thoughts. We need to escape this trials of purge.

"HEY!" the shouting stops me back.

"WHAT!" I replied harshly.

"Not to rain on your moment. But there's a freaking KILLER on to us" He sneers but there's also panic.

"I know!" I ricochet. "I need some time to figure out a way to escape him."

"Who is he?"

"Nobody"

"Nobody huh?" he raises his eyes. "So, that's just some random guy who happens to walk in here with a gun and shoot the first person he sees!"

God, he's excruciating annoying. Why did I take him with me anyway. I should have just left him stranded back there and let the reaper took care of him. Then I wouldn't stuck here, I would have been out and free away from all this.

Then I glance at him. Fear struck in his face. The pale expression is haunting his face again. No, I couldn't left him back there. It wouldn't be ethically right.

Oh for the love of. I'm talking about something ethical. Me? An agent that's been killing for a living, never caring for the life she's taken. Despite me coming across as a cold hearted killer, I live through a set of rules. I only kill target and nothing more. If there's a person in need of certain help, I wouldn't think twice to lend my hand over to assist them.

I place my hand over his swath of darkened hair and caress it to calm him. I know he's nervous and scared to death. My hands are now covered in a think coil of sweat that was covered all over his scalp.

"It's okay" I said softly this time. "We're going to get through this"

He gazes me and the petrified look that's been haunting him faded away.

I place my ear again at the door, looking for any sign of movement or sound that could be the reaper. Silent again.

"Okay" I muffled. "Let's go"

I turn the door and the light from the hall cuts through the shady fog of darkness in the room. I lead the point forward while he stays behind for cover. I uncloak my gun and ready it beside me.

We pace forward slowly, feet shuffling sluggishly, not wanting to break any sound. The ornate lights brighten our path. Sweat cuddling over my cheek. I need to be focus, I couldn't afford to be careless for the both of us.

The inaudible journey through the hall is almost coming to an end. We're slowly coming forward towards the emergency stairs door. This is the 4th floor; three more level and we're home free.

Just as we're standing free over the door. A deafening sound comes into play.

KLUCK! KLUCK!

The noise is drawing closer. I gulped the saliva stuck in my throat. I pass my eyes back to look for the source of the noise. Nothing. The hall is unoccupied, no figures compliment the area. My vision didn't rest; I gawp away at the other end of the hall.

Convinced of the area is clean of reaper, I turn my back towards the door and suddenly a shadow leapt over us. The shadow circle us, and it began grew in size over our height and before I could react it had it arms around me. I try to break free and wriggle apart but the shadow prove to be much sturdier in strength.

The target is shock and got clipped hard on his head and immediately come into contact with the floor, chest first. He didn't move, just lay there unconscious. I tried sailing my hands to break free but the hands around me are too tough to mess with. I look up and saw him, the reaper, the same face that warns me yesterday of my failure. His expression is deadly, eyes hunger for the taste of blood and lips that wouldn't move even in the critical moments.

My vision's beginning to slowly dissolve. I couldn't comprehend the image my eyes is projecting, it's all coming to a blur. My breathing is compromise, hearts dropping fast. I knew my window of opportunity to slip by is against me. I'm on the clock. If I let him chock me for another minute and I'm done.

"Don't resist" the reaper spoke. His voice sound eerie. "Enjoy the moment. Savor your last breath and take this moment to reflect on your wrong doing. This punishment is not something one should be afraid, but it's something that one should embrace the agonizing death of knowing one had failed in completing the order given."

I hate this guy. I try jerkin away but it's futile. All it did is given him a more satisfying relief to kill me. I glance my hand at his sturdy arms, checking for any sign that would allow to work in my advantage.

My hands go up and the higher it went the more I get to feel his durable body. This is not going to be easy. I raised my hands over his face and land a lean punch over his face; he didn't budge, so I turn my finger and began scratching his cheek. My fingers graze his cheek a measurable length.

"ARGHHHHH" he shouted. "How dare you!"

I took this opportunity to break free and arc my legs between his crotch, and I kick it hard, so hard that I could possibly hear the sound of breaking apart.

He yelped and down on his knee. I turn my body and give him a full karate kick over his face. He took the hit and fall hard on his face. I still wasn't finish. I pull him back and started pounding on his face and chest using my bare hand. He took the pulverizing punch and a river of blood pour by his lips.

I didn't let that stop me. I continued and continued not caring what state he's in. I'm excited. The pleasure of killing began pouring into me. I didn't stop. I kept going. More and more before I could realize the damage that I did. I'm now standing over a body with bruises and blood all over his body.

The reaper breaths slowly, I knew he was in pain. I crouch down on top of his face, looking him straight into his eyes.

"Don't be scared" I speak softly. "You should enjoy this. Take the pain and bring it with you."

I pull my body up. Gripping the Beretta, fingers lock on the trigger. Without hesitation, I click and the gun jerks backwards, slamming its bullet into the reapers head, gushing blood all across the room and some of it rest on my skin.

The reaper dead body laid waste, his face no longer recognizable.

The scene that would bring horror into a person nightmare, but not me. I turn away, hauling my target into my shoulder and descend into the stairs, into the outside world.