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'Please...I take back what I said'...' I heard that feeble voice speak up. So cheap, so hollow, the voice had no depth, no pride, no love for itself. It made me flinch and I gripped the knife tighter.
''P.....please I promise I will do whatever you tell me to do but please, let me go...'' he muttered again. I was supposed to have mercy, I was supposed to feel Sorry but instead, I felt a smirk curved on my lips. The old man took in short breaths, he was shaking and I stared at him, holding the knife near his gulping throat.
He opened his mouth again and before he could speak even a word, my mind repeated- 'please', in that hopeless voice. I could not listen to that voice for another second.
I placed the knife under his chin and drew a simple stroke, like a stroke of a paintbrush on a canvas, I knew that voice stopped. The peachy, rough canvas slowly opened up to let the beautiful, red blood flow down and complete my piece of art. There was no audience to look at it, not even nocturnal beings were present in fear of witnessing the deadly painting that was created.
Soon the body froze. His eyes were still open, widened in pure shock. The pupils still didn't lose their shine. They were dazzling under the peering moonlight in full of liveliness. I grimaced, looking down at the silver thing dipped in crimson shades, laughing at me like a devil. Its blade shone under the pale moonlight.
'Your work is done, my friend. I need you no more.' rubbing the tang of it carefully, I threw it away to somewhere unknown. The darkness in the corner was ready to engulf its presence instant with its black void. Whistling through my teeth in a casual way, I sauntered myself out piercing through the faint light of the waning moon, that hardly illuminated the way. The whole alley was standing in silence provided with no living souls anywhere, making me seem like the only ruler of its territory, which I was, absolute for the current moment.
Pretty soon my walk stopped, getting out of the dark hell, only to get welcomed by another alike. Verily, the dark side of Seoul - luxurious, extravagant towers were not a part of it. Rich men, whose day starts with the sound of alarm clocks, who wake up on a cozy warm bed to sleep in the same at the end of the day, were not aware of it. It was the laborers, destitute and lower class people- they know this side, as, they live here. It is their place, their territory. People live to live, but they, live to die, some die even before when death appears itself to them.
Pretty surprising that even they can become a threat to someone else's living. For which, death is the only way to bring an end to their low ignorant existence.
The reason people like me who get sent to do the job. However, I loved what I get to do, I loved to be the reason for someone's end.
A small convenience store blinked in faint glints over the worn out street. There was no welcome sign before it, the only fluorescent bulb hanging in front of the entrance was highlighting its name, basically, its overall existence. Slowly I pushed myself through the door and leisurely strolled towards one of the freezers to grab a random drink. The cold aluminum surface froze my fingers, the exact same ones, that had got blood stained not too long ago. Like the way the can was cold, my heart was too, perhaps, even colder than that.
'That will be 6000 won.' The woman sitting in the checkout counter said staring with her droopy eyes. She was old, exhaustion clearly tainted on her face even though she was trying hard to mask. A smirk out of nowhere appeared on my face, influenced under the diverse imaginations running inside my brain. She was all alone, the store was wide open, if an intruder comes in, she won't be able to do anything. Her fragile self will keep lying down on the floor, or on her knees, shaking in fear, scared to lose the least lifeline that she still now have. There will be no one to hear, no one to help, all will be done in silence and peace...
How fun would have been that?
'Thank you. Be sure to come again.' Heading out of the store, I leaned against the wall, opening the can to sip down my drink. My eyes kept roaming down to glance over the rectangular device I had in my pocket, to see if it lit up. As it never did, I concentrated on my own moments. It was almost the middle of the night.
The place was almost vacant, except for a pair of people on the other side that drew my attention. A small family, comprising the mother, her little son and a baby in her lap. The mother was rubbing her hand over the son's hair, smiling through their endless random mother-son conversation. Their little chitchats and whispers were almost roaring in the pin drop silent night atmosphere. Even though they had to live on streets, fireflies of happiness glowed over their face. An unforeseen thorn needled my core out of the blue. My eyes squinted themselves, while my fist clenched tight, the can it held, in undefined rage. It felt like a mixture of certain, unknown feelings, rage mingled with insecurity I suppose.....
Happy family, huh? It's all void, and brief. Happiness does not come itself, happiness must be taken.
'Adeul, will you go look for him now? He is getting me worried. I will bring some food by then.' Sending her little boy out, the mom headed towards the store to buy their requirements. My lazy eyes followed her movements, perhaps, to find something specific to get laid themselves on.
As she disappeared from my sight, I threw the can in the air, getting it crushed against the wall on other side. The night breeze was getting colder, a little time more if proceeded, it will not be less like than the dessert's. My shielded body was getting tired now, the brim of patience was gradually lessening. How long will I have to wait more? I asked myself.
'MOM! MOM!' the thin, shrill voice of the boy stumbled in the air, carrying along his sobs and gasps of fear. The woman peered out through the store's exit, coming out with the small bag she shopped with. 'What happened? Why are you crying?'
'Hal-abeoji!' He tried to speak, but ended up mumbling. He tried so hard, but no voice came out of his mouth. He just broke down into infinite tears, his shaky index pointing to the certain place, 'I found him in there. I called but he wouldn't answer. He is just lying, in blood..!!!'
The bag lost its hold from her shaking finger, thudding on the ground. In a second, she ran into the alley, her loud weeps soon joined the howling winds sailing in the air, in more pain, more terror, more immobilizing emotions gathering at the same time. The silent street became alive all sudden, with only me, who was aware of what happened since when it was done.
The mother came out from the place, all red and frail. She didn't know what to do, she just let her tears come out with all their might. The little baby sat down beside her, trying to understand the reason, only if it could. The woman in the store came out, sleepiness was no more existent on her face. Trying to get a hold of the whole incident, she went to calm down the mother first. Soon a small crowd gathered by the place, it was just me who stood smiling, on the same reason that the rest cried on.
'Aigoo, what happened little boy?' Hearing my soft voice, the boy looked up at me through his teary red eyes. Other times he probably would have been concerned for meeting a stranger but now, he was not in the state.
'My grandpa,' his wobbly voice uttered, 'He...' he couldn't speak further, the tears he let out to leave off the rest of the answer.
'Oh no, I am so sorry to hear that. How did this happen?' I brought forth a sad expression on my face. 'I don't know.' he mumbled.
'Where is your dad? You should inform him instant.' 'I don't have my dad. Grandpa was our only shelter. If he leaves us now, what will happen to us? What will mom do? Where will we go...??!!! Who did this to him?? Why...??'
'Don't cry. Wipe your tears. Everything will be fine.' He lessened his sobs as I gently wiped off his cheeks with my fingers.
'Don't worry okay? The police will come by anytime and they will take care of everything.' 'Really?'
'Really.' I gazed in reassurance. However, little did he knew, those blue uniforms are not meant to get dirty by minding over people like them, who stand in a class beneath their narrow eye level. Only the hope, that can work here, till infinity.
'What's your name?' He replied in a low voice, 'Ji Sung. Who are you?'
The same smile from before got back on my face. Who am I? - a pretty big question, asked by an equally small boy.
I am.
Song Y/N.
A nobody.
Yet somebody.
Somebody to be feared of. Which one should, unless...
'Go to your mom. She needs you now.' Watching until the boy's figure reached his mom, I stood up, getting away from the scene the fastest I could. The long-waited ringtone finally came singing out from my pocket. I sighed, bringing out the phone.
'It's done.' I said in a parallel tone. The person from the other side made a tsk in satisfaction.
'Did anybody see you?'
'Not even an owl..'
'Great job. I have another work for you.'
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A pretty big rose that I have been,
I make you bleed, I hear you suffer.
Your pain is my color,
Your tears, are my water
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