Walking With Darkness

Chapter 6

"And? Was the mission successful?"

It had been weeks since the order had been given to retrieve the prodigy. Not that there was anything special about him. The higher ups just wanted him out of the way as a contingency. They didn't want him developing any world-changing abilities on the eve of the operation. Why it had taken weeks though........ that still baffled me. We had known about his movements in the Shadow Zone for months, and could've dispatched a seek and destroy to all our shadowers and shadows in the area as soon as the order was given. But once again, interference from the people above delayed the operation date to yesterday. It was always something with them.

I bit my lip, my eyes darting from face to face of the people in front of me. I felt a bead of sweat form above my brow. I didn't get an answer immediately. Four of the eight people before me couldn't even look me in the eye, instead choosing to bow their heads and look at their shaking legs. The other four had masks on and were staring straight at me. Something I didn't see often. Obviously hand-picked by the top dogs. I should punish them for their insolence

Still, I wondered why I hadn't gotten an answer yet. There was more silence. I clenched my fists and through gritted teeth said, "If you do not answer, you will die.".

And so the tallest one stepped forward. She was built like an Olympic weight lifter, her biceps showing through her all black armour. The pinnacle of perfection.

"My lord, it is a rather..... complicated situation." she said. I felt the pain as my nails dug into the palm of hand. "As you know, it was a joint operation" she continued. "But we were not there when our associates captured the package, and as it is still day time there, haven't heard from them since."

This complicated things. The higher ups would want a report as soon as possible. This could end with me losing my head. "I see. And the others?"

"Both the birther and the liability have been secured and are now being taken to their respective prisons. If all goes to plan, the package will be following." She concluded and stepped back into the line. At this point, the remaining seven had found courage enough to look at me with confidence as if I wasn't about to kill one of them. I stood up from the cushioning comfort of my seat walked to the male on the far left. his blonde hair stuck to his face by sweat, lip quivering. His blue eyes were glazed over. I whispered in his ear

"Death upon you" and stabbed my hand into chest.

I absorbed myself in the feel of it. The warmth of his blood in my hand, the coppery scent that materialized immediately. The way his heart continued beating next to my hand, the silent but impactful sound of his ribs cracking.

Then I sent his lungs to the Shadow-Zone.

He collapsed in front of me. I wiped my hand on the silky shirt of his former comrade and walked back to my seat. I looked at the remaining seven, a warning clear in my eyes. Do not fail me again.

"Report this to the superiors. Dismissed"