The Hit

Chapter Seven

 I sat in the chair next to the bed staring at Alissa. She was still alive but hardly looked it. I didn't know how much time had passed. The syringe filled with bad heroine was in my hand. It should have been done already. I got up and walked around the bed taking my belt off as I did, I leaned on the bed, rolled her left arm over and put the belt around her arm. I looked down at the syringe in my hand, popping the cap off of the needle. I stuck the needle in her arm then pulled the belt tight. My thumb was shaking as I let it hover over the plunger. I hesitated for what felt like forever. Finally I took the needle out, emptying the contents of the syringe onto the floor. I adjusted Alissa's body to make it look as if she had shot herself up, placing the now empty syringe in a manner that looked as if she had dropped it onto the bed. I pinched where I had inserted the needle, squeezing as much blood out of her as I could. I took a photo and sent it to the organization.

 I wasn't going to do this anymore. I wasn't going to kill innocent people. I wasn't getting soft as Anneka had suggested. I wasn't going to blindly take orders from people whose motives were unclear. Alissa wouldn't die today, she wouldn't for as long as I could help. 

 I waited for Alissa to come out of what I was beginning to think was a coma, for what felt like hours. I glanced at the motel clock. One twenty seven in the morning. She started to come to. Confusion immediately spreading across her face.

 "Where are we? Why am I here?" she said. "My friends."

 Her friends had been calling her all night. She was supposed to be at the club with them.

 "Where is my phone?"

 "It's in my pocket, listen to me" I replied.

 "I need my phone! Take me home!" Fear was beginning to replace her confusion.

 "Calm down, listen to me. This is important!"

 "Give me my phone!" She yelled trying to stand up. The agent hadn't quite worn off and she ended up remaining seated on the edge of the bed.

 "Just listen to me!" I squatted to meet the level of her eyes. "Look at me." I reached out to hold on to her arm. She pulled away.

 "You're in danger" I said.

 "I know!" She snapped back "You're fucking crazy! What did you do to me?".

 "Nothing! I swear. Nothing bad."

 "What do you mean?"

 "You're in danger, I was supposed to kill you tonight."

 "What the fuck! What are you talking about? Give me my phone! Tell me where we are!"

 "Listen, we have to get you out of here. You can't go back home, you can't contact your friends. I bought us a little time but we have to get moving."

 "I'm not going anywhere with you, you're a fucking psychopath!" She yelled.

 "No! I said" a sternness now coating my voice. I pulled out my pistol. I didn't point it at her, but I needed her to know how serious I was. I hadn't thought of how counterproductive it was. She didn't say anything. She stared at the gun for a few moments, then slowly started look around the room, taking in the scene. Her eyes stopped on the syringe still laying on the bed. She started to rub her arm where I had placed the needle, as if she just now noticed the puncture wound.

 "What did you do to me?" more timid now. The reality of how dangerous I was sinking in.

 "I told you I was supposed to kill you tonight, I was going to shoot you up with bad heroine and leave you here. But I'm not going to kill you. I want to help you."

 "I don't want your help. Just let me go home."

 "I can't do that, they will send someone else."

 "How do I know that. How do I know you aren't a serial killer? You could be lying about all of this. You are you psycho! Let me go!" She was yelling again.

 My phone rang. Anneka. "Fuck!" I shouted surprising Alissa. "I have to answer this. I need you to be quiet." raising the gun a little to punctuate the statement.

 "Hello" I answered.

 "Where are you?"

 "Home."

 "Really?" she inquired snidely. "So are you going to answer your door?" My stomach sank, I was sure I went ghost white, Alissa's face confirming it.

 "Ryan?!"

 "I needed a drink" I said.

 "Is it done Ryan?"

 "Yes! I sent the picture."

 "Frank wants to know where the body is. He isn't convinced. Where is it?"

 I hung up and turned off my phone. I took Alissa's out of my pocket and did the same. I took them both to the dresser opposite the bed and used the but of my gun to do as much damage to them as I could.

 "No!" Alissa yelled, getting up and trying to restrain my arm.

 I spun around, looked her dead in the eyes and grabbing her elbow said, "we don't have time, we have to move. Now!" Directing her towards the door.