The Assassin

Chapter Three: Persistent

SOPHIA POV

I woke up and walked downstairs, freezing when I heard voices. I paused and squatted down and out of sight as I listened to my mom talk to someone in the kitchen.

"I'll see you tonight then." A deep male voice said.

"Okay. I love you." She said happily, and I heard them kiss loudly. I heard the man's heavy footsteps heading towards the door, so I peeked around the corner and saw a tall man with a black jacket and dark jeans. He was about 6'5", and he looked extremely intimidating. I gulped as he left, and then I quietly went back upstairs, not wanting my mother to know that I had finally gotten a glimpse of her "boyfriend". He looked scary, but then I remembered the stranger in my room the other night. He looked even scarier than my mom's creepy boyfriend. I shuddered again when I remembered I had almost died for reasons unknown. I hope whoever tried to kill me never came back, because if he did, I was dead.

CHRIS POV

I woke up around five pm, yawning and knowing it was time for work. A slow smile spread across my face as I got out of bed and reached under my bed to unlatch the small door and grab my duffel bag. I got out of bed and threw on a blue t-shirt and dark jeans before grabbing my keys and heading downstairs. I would go pick up the bounties for tonight and then get to work. The sun was already setting, so I could start immediately and then be done early. I smirked and got in my car with my duffel bag in the passenger seat, heading towards the warehouse.

Once I got to work I strode into Boss's office. He greeted me briefly and then handed me a stack of about ten bounties.

"This is it?" I asked. He nodded and motioned for me to get the job done, so I nodded and tucked the envelopes into the side pocket of my duffle bag.

I walked into the bathroom and changed quickly, relieved to feel the slight weight of the dagger at my waist, and the pistol beside it. I tossed my duffel bag in the corner of the main part of the warehouse, and then I walked outside and leaned against the wall of the warehouse. I slit open the first envelope and read the contents. Hmm.... His name was Michail. Easy enough. I opened the next few envelopes and looked at how much I would be getting paid tonight, and then I chuckled as I prepared to open the last envelope. My eyes scanned over the details, and then my fingers went numb.

Sophia Riley, reward: $2,000.

My breathing accelerated, and I saw a note at the bottom from whoever had written the bounty. I squinted my eyes to read the messy handwriting.

"I know you didn't kill her last night, because I saw her this morning. Make sure you get it done. I even raised the pay." It said. I shook my head. I couldn't believe this. Who wanted her dead that badly? I decided to ignore the bounty for now, but I knew I needed to check in on her, as much as I didn't want to. I needed to figure out why someone wanted her dead.

***

Half an hour later I only had two more bounties left, and one of them was Sophia. I didn't plan on killing her. First I had to kill Adam though, whoever that was.

Once I arrived at Adam's house I looked at the bounty again. He was 26, so he most likely lived alone. I scaled the side of his house and slid up one of the windows, slipping inside and landing with a muted thud in the middle of a hallway. I crept along the hallway until I saw a door, so I pressed my ear to the door as I slid my dagger out of its sheath. I heard music coming from the room, so I creaked open the door, spotting a guy laying on his bed with his eyes closed. I laughed softly and then walked into the room, standing up when I realized he wasn't gonna open his eyes. I quickly yanked him off the bed and put him in a choke hold, sliding the dagger across his throat without a second glance. The blood drenched my blade and my gloves, dripping onto the front of my cloak. I smirked and then dropped his body onto the floor, opening his bedroom window and slipping outside, dropping down to the ground. Now to check in on Sophia.

I made my way to Sophia's house as fast as I could, something inside me wanting to keep her safe. I didn't know what it was, but I listened to it.

As soon as I arrived at her house I made my way to the roof, where I could see into her bedroom window from the position I was in. Her room was dark at first, but a few seconds later the lights flicked on and I saw her shutting her bedroom door as she walked over to her dresser. She dug inside, finally pulling out a pair of short shorts and a white tank. She pulled off her shirt and I quickly realized that she was going to get dressed. I knew I should look away, but I was a guy and she was a girl. I was hooked on the sight. Her shirt hit the floor, exposing her black bra. She slid her pants off her waist and then reached up, unhooking her bra and sliding it off her shoulders. I cussed under my breath as I felt my pants tightening at the sight of her breasts. I saw her glance towards her window and then she blushed. I ducked into the shadows, and she walked over and closed her curtains, making me chuckle. She had obviously forgotten that she left them open. I looked down at the bulge in my pants. Well, I had certainly gotten a show. I let out a deep breath and then checked my watch. It was 9pm. Why was she going to bed this early? I could still see a sliver of light peeking through her curtains, and I sat, perched on her roof, until I finally saw it disappear. I waited a few more minutes before I decided she wouldn't see me slip into her room, and then I walked across the roof until I reached her window. I silently slid it open and slipped inside past the curtain. I shut it behind me and then dropped low to the floor, my ears listening for the slightest sound. I heard quiet sobbing coming from the direction of her bed, and I froze, listening. Why would she be crying? I stayed in her room listening to her sob before her sobs slipped into light snores. I waited until I was sure she was in a deep sleep, and then I silently moved over to her bed. I sat on the edge and my eyes quickly adjusted to the darkness. The moonlight shining through the window slightly illuminated her facial features, and without thinking I reached out and brushed her hair out of her face. Her long brown waves trailed through my fingers as I gently tucked them behind her ear and sighed. Candace... I closed my eyes and her face was there, smiling at me. I shook the image away and refocused on Sophia. She looked so beautiful... But I couldn't let myself be caught up in this. Not again. I took a deep breath and got off her bed, making my way back over to the window and slipping back outside, shutting it behind me. Then I walked along the roof and leapt onto the roof beside it. Time to go get my money.