Natalie:
"Shit!"
My foot falls through the rotting wood of the porch. My voice bounces off the double doors in front of me. I yank my foot back out and examine my ankle, making sure the leather of my pants had not ripped. I looked to the old beat down mansion again. In my hands I hold a Reaper 33, my right index finger hovers over the trigger as to be ready if anything were to jump out at me. With my left hand, I squeeze the rifle into my right shoulder and reach my right hand to touch the door frame.
As soon as my exposed fingertips touch the old mahogany, a hot energy pulses through me. I feel the history of the home in my very core. The older the house, the hotter its energy due to all the imprinted memories. I can feel the different woods and glass and metals put together to make this gorgeous, dull house. For a brief moment, I close my eyes and I see the layout of the house. I see the building process and eventually the full house in all its Glory. The house was mainly white with gold trims. I see flashes of faces, people who have lived here throughout the years. Then I see his face. Baxter, he's been here recently.
Once I open my eyes again I push open one of the double doors and see a golden shimmering orb pulsating in the middle of the entryway a few steps from the door. The orb hovers a few feet above the ground and it's energy tendrils swirled towards me slightly, it seemed to beckon to me, calling me to unlock its secrets with a simple touch.
I take the bait by pure curiosity, stepping up into the house, it creaked and groaned with each step showing how old this house really was. I stop in front of the ball of energy, with each step it pulsed brighter anxious to show me the memories imprinted on this building. I trailed my index finger across the energy field and instantly a blast of energy bursts outward transforming the colorless house into its original state. The walls turned a brilliant golden color, the crystal chandelier lit up above me casting rainbows in every direction.
I stare in awe as the scene transforms in front of me. It doesn't matter how many times I do this, it never ceases to amaze me. Suddenly I hear a prompt and eager knocking on the double doors in front of me. The previously rotting wood is back to it's golden glory. I turn as I hear footsteps clanking down the spiral staircase.
I see the fluffy pink dress before I see the girl that wore it. She was a beautiful girl with perfect golden curls cascading down her shoulders and back reaching her mid back. Her make-up was perfectly put on and it was mainly natural colors which accentuated her natural beauty. Her eyes were a striking emerald green, a color I had not seen in a long time. She reaches the bottom of the steps when the knocking picks back up, louder this time.
She heaved a long sigh and said "I'm coming, I'm coming!" She makes her way to the door, brushing right past me and I feel the air move as she pushes past. She opens the door without looking through the peephole and stops dead in her tracks. I feel her emotions bubbling inside my own chest, a warm fuzzy feeling I hadn't felt outside of these visions since my mother died. "-- Alex!" She wailed and threw herself outside into the arms of a man I could not see.
When I adjust to see the man holding this woman I notice he's wearing an army uniform and a bag was sat down by his feet. He was muttering under his breath and tears silently tracked down his cheeks to fall onto the girl's shoulder. "I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry." He whispered continuously.
As she lifted her head to capture his lips and wipe his tears I saw a gold shimmering light emanate from both of their hearts. It grew until it covered them pulsing with each beat of their synced hearts. This was the moment that got imprinted into the house. Slowly, the house starts to lose its color reverting back to its current dilapidated state. The last things to disappear are the two people still locked in a tight embrace. I watch as the golden bubble containing them shrinks pulling them both into their perfect moment forever.
As I stare at the orb that is back to its original size, I wonder if at any point in my life that I would feel an emotion strong enough to leave an imprint on this planet. I shake myself out of it and dismiss the thought. I'm sure I have, but not in the ways I would have hoped. Not in any good ways. I remind myself I have a job to do and turn around looking back up the falling apart staircase.
My name is Natalie Tornman and I am here because the government wants me to locate a felon by the name of Baxter Bentley. They insist he is a menace to society. They say he is dangerous, but I can not kill him. That's new for me as I'm a trained assassin. Everything about this job puts me on edge.
For a normal job, I receive a case file I can review listing their usually extensive and horrific backgrounds and crimes. This is an important part for me as I have a high moral compass. It's hard for me to imagine taking someone's life, but when I read those files, I know they deserve to die.
This time, they handed me a photo and told me the city he was assigned, my home town. Not only that but I knew the guy in the photo, I used to go to school with him. I pull the photo out of my jacket pocket and look at the gorgeous man in it. His eyes are a striking blue color and are framed by long lashes and glasses. His hair is a natural red color that is extremely rare these days, you'd think it'd be easier to find a man who sticks out like a sore thumb. Yet here I am, fourth day looking and no leads.
I have worked my way from the middle of town and made it to the outskirts. Although everywhere is a bit torn down in this city as it is one of the poorer cities. This also happens to be the town I grew up in- Aldavia. I have done everything in my power to avoid my old house. To no avail. In order to do this right, I have to look everywhere. While I had to look around the outside of my house, I couldn't find my way up those rickety stairs.
" With my luck he's going to be in the one place I haven't looked.." I muttered under my breath, feeling a little more discouraged.