The Assassin

He breathed deeply filling his lungs with the clear cool air, while walking towards the apartment building. The ever loud traffic of Bangalore seemed to be quelled down by his mind as his ears scouted for sounds from the immediate surroundings.

The heightened senses; something he never knew he had until this very moment, seemed to be on an all time high as the anticipation grew within him. He had been told in training that when excitement rises the body starts to quiver and a deep breath would calm the senses, but somehow his hands were steady in spite of the chill down his spine. He couldn't help resisting a smile when he was briefed for his first mission. True that he had undergone tougher exercises in training but a real mission, no matter how easy it sounded had successfully evoked the cold blooded anticipation within him; like a snake hovering its head over the ground just seconds before it springs forward to kill.

His commanding officer had told him that this was a silent stamp out mission and had handed him over the file with the target and his location. Atma Apartments, Sanjaynagar it read. Yet another smile. It was ironical that his first mission was placed in a locality he took birth; another birth perhaps was planned, the birth of a silent assassin. The target was believed to be lightly armed and was to be taken care of immediately. Casualties were to be maintained at a minimum and elimination of target was to be of the topmost priority. Anyone in the way was dispensable. There were no questions to be asked, no orders were to be flouted in any situation. In any case the rules were clear. Ask no questions, eliminate the target, Leave no evidence and wait for further contact.

The events that had led up to this night had quickly flashed through his mind, unnerving him a bit. Quickly he shook his head out of the reverie and silently made way to the apartment building after having to just scale the a 5 foot compound manned by a now asleep guard. It was easy in the night, infinitely easy for even the ever loyal servants cannot help but fall asleep during the cool nights of Bangalore.

Apartment D-3 had been scouted prior his entry and by movements, he noted that there were two occupants. They had retired to bed two hours ago in the bedroom facing east, the farthest room from the main door. The building had no cameras to monitor movement. He had chuckled. 'How often people watch movies like The Shooter, the Bourne Series and they dismiss the story as fiction or safely assume it happens only in the States and UK. Nobody suspects of an organized elimination team in India, which just benefits his people', he thought.

He chose the flight of stairs and tread on each step lightly and swiftly made his way up to the 4th floor of the apartment complex. The silenced pistol was slung around his waist covered by his jacket and a hypodermic syringe filled with KCl was also nestled in his jacket. Slowly he advanced to the corridor of the fourth floor and making sure that all the doors were sealed shut, its occupants in no state of consciousness.

The apartment had a pearl white paint finish, almost all doors were of polished teak; some of them even had steel grills attached for added safety. The corridor lights were dim and acted to his benefit as he inched closer to the 3rd apartment after crossing the first and the second. On reaching the main door of the target's apartment, he crouched down and opened his standard issue lock pick set and steadied himself on his knees and began to work, it took him a steady 10 minutes to hear that click as the levers gave way and the door swung open slightly. He stood up, grabbed the pistol and entered the apartment slyly. The moon was up but the clouds shrouded it to let a little light in, enough for him to get to work. 

He quickly swept the other rooms quietly first and then proceeded to the master bedroom. He was told the Target always slept with his gun on his counter and he had to be careful not to awake him till the Target's defense was neutralized. He crept in slowly; the door emitted a creak a bit as he swung it around and entered whilst crouching to avoid any influx of gunshots fired in the dark at eye level.

He could see two prone bodies lying on the bed, the target was to his left and snoring slightly and a lady on his left arm snuggling up close and looking away from the east facing windows. With an air of self reliance, the assassin got up, walked to the left side of the bed and silently grabbed the pistol on the counter and shoved it in his pocket. He smiled. Who knew what the target had done, but whatever it was it had angered his bosses to order an immediate execution instead of traversing through the courts of law, Justice it seems had to be served sooner. Justice had to be served and how he thought. The lady was unknowingly caught in a web that wouldn't spare her even if she had shared just a coffee with a target if not for the bed. 

With two paces, he towered over the prone figures and smiled again. This is what I've trained for he assured himself. This is what I've chosen to do and enjoy. This is how justice is to be served. No more shall wrongdoers hide outside prisons with bail and reasoning. 

He contemplated using the syringe but decided against it as one person stirring awake might cause problems to his retreat. He lifted his pistol and aimed directly at the target's mouth. Slowly he lowered the pistol into the man's mouth and disturbed his snore pattern. The target's mouth now contained the tip of the revolver, when he suddenly opened his eyes wide in shock. The assassin pushed the man into the bed with his left hand. Before the target could react, the assassin had thrust the revolver in an angle to ensure the passage of the bullet through his brain and fired. Repent now and you shall be forgiven he thought when pressed the trigger of the silencer.

*fwip*

The shot went home as a trickle of blood started flowing from the gunshot wound. The lady had seemed to stir due to the slight motion of the target's arm. He quickly set his pistol's sights on the lady and upon hoping that she would be forgiven for her involvement, he delivered her death quickly and efficiently with another headshot.

He quickly knelt down, prised opened the dead man's right hand and placed the gun in his grip. The exhilaration of killing gratified his senses and the purpose of killing i.e. for the good satisfied his conscience. Careful to not leave any evidence, he strode out of the room and out of the apartment, the same way he had come in; with the target's revolver and yet another smile on his face.

His work was unlike any other's work and he walked out a happy man from work.