Phantom Assassin (2015 version)

Chapter 13

When it was full, Hailey led the team into the miniature kitchen, setting the syringe on the counter. Dereck stared at it a moment and then picked it up. "Could you get me a paper towel, Hail?"

She nodded and walked a few feet to grab a square of soft paper towel, handing it to him. He folded it into fourths and laid it down. Then, he pressed the top of the syringe and a droplet of blood stained the white paper, corroding it like a virus.

The paper started to smell of something burning, and then the paper towel shriveled up, black and burnt.

"He's been filled with poison," Dereck said, mesmerized at the strange spectacle. He stared at Trace, who breathed peacefully in the comfort of the couch.

Shallomar hovered over him protectively. "Is it deadly?"

Dereck shook his head. "Probably not. It's filled with a certain virus that is taking over his neural sensors. It's controlling him, not killing him."

Peter spoke up, making his presence known. "But if something triggers it, a self-destruct plan will activate and it will kill him."

Panic swam over Shallomar's eyes. She looked down at Trace, whose eyes were gently shut and completely human. How could something so delicate-looking be so mercilessly controlled?

"Can't we wake him up?" Shallomar asked quickly. A tone of disparity rang through her lips.

Peter shook his head, his arms crossed over his chest. "No. That could be the trigger. Do you want to accidentally kill him?"

Shallomar shook her head, horrified.

Trace shot up, eyes wide, and turned to look at Shallomar. A confused expression crossed his face and then he started shaking, terrified of some unknown cause.

Shallomar, overwhelmed by his sudden awakening, leaned forward and wrapped him up in a hug. She was slightly smaller than him, but she was able to touch her hands together when she wrapped her arms all the way around. She held him there for only a few seconds, until he gripped her shoulders forcefully and shoved her back.

Breathing heavily, Trace stood up. His eyes shifted to different colors, a magical sight to behold.

Peter cursed aloud, hitting Shallomar on the back of the head. "Why do you have to be such a dunce! That could've been the trigger!"

Shallomar's eyes glistened with tears and she collapsed onto her knees, dreading she was at fault. It was all of her doing.

Trace knelt down, twitching, but under control.

"Sh-Shallomar," he choked, grimacing. Something was telling him to kill her. He was fighting it back.

"Trace-"

"Get away from me!" He growled, scooting back into the couch. Tears riveted down his cheeks, and sobs broke loose along with halted screams.

Shallomar started crying, too. "Peter, what's wrong with him?"

When he didn't answer, Dereck did. "He's fighting Phantom."

As soon as Dereck answered her, Trace snapped up and his tears dissolved into his skin. His cloak appeared over his body, his eyes hidden from his team.

"Mission C567 Start," he spoke aloud, nearly growling, inaudible. His voice was robotic and unreal.

WP7 panicked. Trace pointed a weapon at each of them, using some magical power to levitate the ones he couldn't carry.

"Don't follow," were his last words before he fizzled out of existence.

~~~~~

His heart was at a steady pace. The task was a difficult one, but Phantom trusted he could accomplish it. It was something only those without a heart could do, and he was the right one for the job.

Defeat the family and bring back the eldest sister for training, his Refiner ordered him. He humbly obeyed.

The transportation landed him outside of a cottage in the middle of nowhere. He didn't question it, but the place looked deserted.

He knocked on the door so he wouldn't seem suspicious, even though it wouldn't make a difference later.

A little girl answered the door. She had to be only nine or ten. Her hair was done in curls and her eyes were silver. "Hello, mister. Are you looking for my mommy?"

Trace smirked, nodding. "Yes, Maria. Where is she?"

The little girl, giggling, ran inside. Trace took the invitation and stepped inside, locking the door behind him.

She ran up a white spiral staircase. There was a little boy, maybe five years old, taking a nap on the floral sofa.

No human emotions involved, Trace drove a dagger through his heart. The boy didn't even let loose a scream--not a single sign of pain.

Trace covered him up with the purple fleece that was draped over the couch. He wouldn't be found for a while.

The girl came rushing down the stairs with her mom by the hand. The woman had just gotten out of the bath, wearing a tube towel. When she saw Trace, horror struck her features.

"Maria, run upstairs and hide." Her voice was grave and serious.

"Mommy-?!" Maria asked, nearly crying.

Her mother screamed at her, pointing back up the stairs. Maria obeyed, stumbling up.

Trace let out inhuman laughter, striding up to the woman. His eyes glowed purple and he pulled his Tool out. The magical shining weapon let loose a surge of electricity and stopped the woman's heart. She plummeted to the ground, dead.

Task done, Trace walked up the stairs. The little girl was crouched on top of the staircase, covering her ears and crying.

"Maria, you're going to come to Phantom. Everything will be fine, because Phantom will take care of you."

She looked up slowly, mechanically, at Trace. Her hands shook with fear, and her eyes proved her sadness.

Trace took her by the hand and held her palm open. She didn't respond to him, too shocked to move.

He carved an "x" on her hand with the same dagger he used to kill her brother. She started sobbing as blood dripped off her hand, soaking into the carpet.

"Come now," Trace ordered, closing her hand into a fist. He reached into the air and clenched his fist as well. The world dissolved around them and they reappeared in a strange building. First Chair awaited him with a smile spread across her wrinkled face.

"Well done, Trace. You did a splendid job."

Trace bowed gracefully, letting Maria go. She didn't move, but stared in horror at the sight of First Chair.

"Maria," the woman beckoned, opening her arms for an embrace. The little girl, confused, backed away from the two killers.

First Chair put her hands down and frowned. "Take her away, Trace. She'll enter with TU4 after getting her Modifier. Take her to Dylan. For now."

Trace obeyed, easily capturing the girl. She tried to squirm but soon gave up when Trace's grip was too tight for her.

He transported them to the dark room and left her to be. When he planned for a transportation back to Phantom, there was an interception.

First Chair found a mistake in his mission. A large one.

One that could foil the plans of Phantom.