Assassination 101

Lesson 5: Bird Watching

Lesson 5: Bird Watching

I was getting ready for university, packing up things here and there. Yes, it didn't start for a few more weeks but I'd always liked to be prepared.

My summer had been pretty normal except for the interviews I did thanks to the whole restaurant fiasco. One person did die due to fatal wounds and about four were injured in some shape or form but other than that my 'hero move' worked out quite well. Avery got out unscathed though, not even a scratch on her annoyingly perfect skin.

I'd get her one day, maybe when this whole mission blew over or during; I wasn't opposed to either.

However, that wasn't my focus today. Today, something awful was supposed to happen and I wasn't sure how I felt about it. That was a lie; I hated even the idea of it. It had to happen for the good of the mission but I internally wished it wasn't necessary — of course, I never mentioned that to Luca because an assassin could never have doubts or weakness.

Shaking off these thoughts, I continued to pack. I shouldn't have been questioning this. Luca knew what he was doing and I trusted him wholeheartedly.

Julie and Mike (my 'parents') were away for the weekend but were supposed to be coming back sometime later today. They had been very good to me, treating me as if I were their own despite the whole situation they'd been faced with. It warmed me a little on the inside, knowing that they cared and I wasn't alone here in England. That didn't stop me wishing that I was back in Italy. Everything there was so much more lively and fun. Maybe I was just saying that because I missed the mafia lifestyle but I doubted I could ever truly call England home.

After running my fingers through my thick hair for the millionth time, I zipped up my suitcase. Everything was packed and ready. MI5 needed to hurry the hell up in discovering and recruiting me because I was extremely bored. It turned out that not sneaking into places and killing people was so very dull.

I probably should've thought through everything more carefully before I accepted the mission. I thought it was going to be full of action and danger but so far it'd been rather stale and I needed that to change soon because I could only stay bored for so long before I started to lash out.

Deciding to go for my regular walk around the park by my house before it got dark out, I slipped on my combat boots and a jacket, making sure to lock the door behind me as I left. Children were laughing and playing as I walked by, enjoying the play equipment to the fullest extent. There was a small smile on my lips as I watched them having fun and laughing. It was so refreshing to see such innocence and happiness.

I took in all the details as I walked around, observing everything around me. I liked to have a clear image of everything. It was a habit if mine that kept me out of trouble on missions. You never knew when the tiniest detail would come in handy so I was always one to be on the safe side.

Breathing in the fresh air, I released a pleasant sigh as I smiled at a few of the kids before finishing my lap of the park. I was on the way back to my house after my nice walk when I heard a muffled scream. My brain went into overdrive, raking over all possible scenarios for what that scream could have possibly been about.

Deciding that I was just being paranoid, I carried on walking. I was not on a mission right now so I needed to stop overanalysing every little detail.

Just as I was about to step onto the pavement, leaving the grassy earth behind, I heard another shriek, this time much louder. I halted dead in my tracks but made sure I didn't look suspicious by bending down to tie up my shoelace. You never knew who was watching.

This wasn't part of the mission so either it was a figment of my imagination or something bad was about to happen and my gut was screaming that it was the latter. I always trusted my gut. Looking as oblivious as possible, I turned to do one more lap of the park, no longer on my way home.