his shield

001

the air is crisp as i walk down the street, well as i walk across the many different roofs belonging to the buildings on the street.

it's a better view up here. it's easier to track him, to keep a close eye on him.

jaehwan chats away happily on the phone, completely unaware of the person slowly stalking him.

but i am aware so he will be fine. this is my job. who knows what this mans intentions are but that is why i'm following the pair.

so i can step in if i'm needed.

my boots make more noise than i would like on the tiled surfaces but no one can hear it. nor can they see me.

the police would probably be after me by now if i could be seen. it's pretty shady seeing a man dressed in black, following people as he walks over roofs.

i could whistle a tune if i wanted but what's the point. it would be a waste of breath.

breath. i haven't needed breath for a very long time. it's amazing how little you require when you are dead.

the stalker lowers his hand and pulls something from his waistband. it's a gun.

before he has the chance to even aim, i jump off the roof and kick it out of his hands.

"what the hell?!" the guy exclaims as he aimlessly looks around to see who is attacking him.

i step behind him and pull a small, round pad from my pocket. i blow on it and gently but firmly, place it against his forehead.

he freezes and takes a deep breath before collapsing to the ground.

i look ahead at jaehwan and i can sense he is about to turn around.

i quickly crouch beside the man and place my hand over his chest, clamouring him as well.

jaehwan turns just as i thought he would but he sees nothing. he shrugs to himself and continues on his way.

i release the man and again he is visible to the world. i dust my hands off and climb the sides of the buildings until i am back on the roof.

my senses tell me that jaehwan will be fine now but i follow him home just in case.

you never know. my senses are rarely wrong but just in case they are, i follow.

i have a reputation for being the best of my kind but that is only because i don't always listen to my senses.

it doesn't take long for jaehwan to arrive at his tiny apartment. he is a university student so his funds are low.

as soon as he is inside, i jump back onto the pavement. i walk over to the nearest brick wall and pull a piece of chalk from my pocket.

i check my surroundings to make sure no one is watching before i draw a winged symbol onto the wall.

the middle of the drawing begins to glimmer and i speak the word which will allow me access,
silencieux.

the whole symbol lights up, too bright for a mortals eye and i step straight into it.

•

i step out into a dark passageway. i sigh in annoyance as i click my fingers and all the candles which are placed on the walls light up.

it annoys me more than anything when people forget to leave the candles on for others.

it's common courtesy.

i get to a door at the far end of the corridor and it opens for me to reveal a very crowded workspace.

it's a large room with many high tech tables in the middle. at least three people are seated at each monitor.