I opened my eyes. My head was hurting real bad. I tried to remember what happened before I fainted in this cave.
Where am I? What's going on? Ugh. Did the assassins catch up yet? Did they find this cave? How do I survive now?
All these questions were running in my head. But to find my answers to them, I need to get out of this current situation I am in. I walked out of the cave to see a river nearby. Its water was sparking under the moonlight. I was up to the river but as I tried to sit down a sudden pain hit me in my chest. I placed my hand over my chest as I looked at it.
"Blood?"
Looking around I found a piece of torn clothing. I looked at my reflection in the water and tied it above the wound. The cloth and grass were wet meaning it had rained when I fainted. Seems like the cave saved me from the rain and the rain must have delayed the assassins.
Indeed, nature is a mother.
But where am I? I clearly remember my car crashing with a tree. There was also a huge fire. Shouldn't I be dead? Just how did I survive? The crash? Assassins? Well whatever, I'm grateful anyway. Let's first get out of here. It's night there might be many wild animals and since it had rained there might be bugs and snakes lurking as well.
So I concentrated on my hearing capabilities and I heard a few footsteps approaching me. I heard them inching closer and so I hid behind the tree. They were catching their breath.
"Search for her, she must be somewhere here." I heard a man say. The footsteps kept on increasing but I didn't know what to do. There must be a minimum of five men.
Just then I heard another one speaking, "But wouldn't she die after falling from that height? Why do we even have to search for a dead body?"
"Boss told us to check it. He doesn't want any mistakes. So concentrate on your work instead of complaining. We are getting a fat amount anyway. "
"Yeah." Ah! Trying to catch me. Well you have another thing coming then. This is going to be interesting. But what should I do? And who the hell was this boss?
My feet were bruised and scraped. I was bleeding, my body was close to giving up. My eyelids were feeling heavy yet again as if I could collapse any next moment.
I can't sleep right now. Let me deal with these people then I'll slowly figure out what is actually my situation.
Slowly peeking from behind the tree, I saw there were four men searching for me. I turned around and leaned against the tree. Looking down, I saw a branch, strong enough to kill a person if I strike the back of their neck at the spot of conus medullaris.
Slowly sliding down the tree to my knees, I picked up the branch without making a sound but while I was standing back on my feet the loose end of the branch broke, falling making a sound.
"QUICK! CHECK BEHIND THE TREE. I JUST HEARD A SOUND FROM THERE." I held onto the branch tight preparing for my hit. Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath as I heard the footsteps coming closer with each passing second.
As soon as the person walked two steps in front of me and was about to turn back. I closed my eyes and hit the back of his neck with all the force I had within me. Slowly opening my eyes, I looked and saw the person falling on his knees and then slowly laying down, his eyes closed.
Poor guy! But it's your fault that you chose such a profession. And now that you did it's not my fault that I have to kill you. I won't feel bad because I have a reason. I did it to protect myself and no one else comes before myself.
I moved out from my trance when I heard several footsteps coming near. I immediately picked up the gun lying close to the body of the dead man. Closed my eyes and took a deep breath, just then an image flashed at the back of my mind.
"Sophia, hold the gun straight." A man holding me close to himself whispered in my ear. I had a frown over my face.
"Mr. Parker, you are standing too close for my liking. I get why you adopted me but please don't try to get close to me when you are going to abandon me. After all, I'm just a pawn in your game." I said as I held the gun straight.
"Hmmmm. I like smart kids. Then, look at the target's head and...." He looked at me, smiled, removed his hands and moved back.
"Shoot." My finger left the trigger and the bullet went right in the head of the betrayer. A clean kill. But wasn't it too cruel to make a seven-year old your gun? Wasn't it the age of innocence? Why did you taint my innocence with blood?
I opened my eyes, breathing heavily coming back to reality. Need to get out of here and figure out this boss. Not the time to resent people when I was swinging to and fro between death and life.
My confidence started rising once again. I moved out from the shelter of the tree and stood in front of them and held the gun straight, making them stop right in their place. I aimed at people and my finger instantly left the trigger making one of them fall to the ground.
Two down, two more to go.
Instantly reacting, I ran away from them as they started chasing me. After a bit of running I finally lost them.
I climbed the tree nearest to me and sat on the branch, careful not to make a sound and waited for them to arrive. Soon enough they came looking for me. I aimed the gun at the man standing a bit close to the tree I was hiding in and my finger left the trigger, and the bullet went straight in his head. Hearing the gunshot his companion came running he looked at his body and then turned his head searching for me.
This is the last shot, after this I'll figure out everything. My head felt dizzy. No! I have come too close. Now is not the time to give up. No one else will decide what I should do or what I shouldn't. That will only be me. And I have to live to figure out the person who betrayed me.
There were no more bullets in the gun I was holding. I looked at the gun. Wait! An idea suddenly crossed my mind. I might not be able to kill him but I can definitely knock him out . I held the gun at its barrel and aimed at the back of the man's neck. Closing my eyes, taking a deep breath and gathering all the energy left in my exhausted body.
I threw the gun towards him. I watched as he fell to his knees and then his head came in contact with the ground. I stayed still for a while when I saw there was no movement in the body of the man I started climbing down.
As soon as I stepped my foot on the cold lush green grass, it felt cold and was acting as a catalyst as it decreased the pain of the wounds on my feet because of constant running. I heard the honking of a car. Seems like I am not far from the road. I started running in the direction where the sound came from.
Finally! Now I can return back.
I breathed a sigh of relief. That invisible wind which I was now feeling on my cheeks felt soothing. It felt good. It felt as if I was free. Free from all the shackles that held me.
Was this what Aren always talked about? Is this the happiness everyone feels in their hearts when the are free? Free from all those endless I and you's? Free to be whoever we are? Free to smile without being judged for a single thing?
I smiled. If this is it. Then it's a great feeling.
But with relief came exhaustion as I fell on the lush green grass beside the assassins, closing my eyes fading into the abyss.