Seven years ago…
A woman sitting in the back seat of the black sedan let out a series of deep coughs. She tried to cover her mouth with the back of her hand.
"Boss," a middle-aged man with a stern expression handed her a handkerchief. She snatched the handkerchief and wiped the blood on her lips.
"Boss, why don't you stay here?" suggested the same man in a black suit. Despite his stern countenance, his worry about her condition peeked in his silver eyes.
"I waited for years," she said, glancing at the bloodstained handkerchief. "There's no way in hell I will stay here."
The man had a slight frown on his forehead but didn't argue. He only gazed at her side profile, catching how her phoenix eyes burned with determination. Even if the world ended now, no one would be able to stop her.
Her name was Hera.
Few people know what her real name is. However, in the underground world, anyone who knew her flees whenever they hear the name she was known for. Hell. The woman at the helm of the most infamous and mysterious assassin organization.
For the past ten years, her name has gained stories that would make grown men shake in fear. Yet not many knew the real woman behind the name. All they knew was that she was an heiress of the previous don of the organization; that she got into her position because of her origins. Only a few truly acknowledge this woman's excellence in all aspects of life.
Sadly, this woman was counting her last days.
"Boss," the man quietly called, Hera simply cast him a quick side-eye. "Was it worth it? Ever since becoming the head of the organization, you've dedicated your life to finding the late madam's murderer. Although this goal of yours was within your reach, don't you have regrets?"
Regrets?
Hera smirked, casting a haughty look at the man beside her. This man had become her father; he was her mother's most loyal retainer. Thus, she understood he cared for her like she was his own.
"Regrets?" Hera leaned back, her leg was resting over the other. "Why would I regret anything?"
She glanced at the window on her side, watching some men in black approach the mansion in the middle of nowhere. "The only regret I have is I spent ten years hunting down that motherfucker."
"I could've done it in a year, but considering he was one of the valued members of the organization, it was understandable it took me a while. I could've married, had a kid, and played the role of a good housewife before I die."
The corner of her red lips curled up into a subtle smile. "Back then, I thought I was lucky to have supportive parents. They never pressured me to inherit this organization our family sustained for many generations. However, now that I've grown, it's not that they were supportive. They simply knew those dreams of mine were nothing but dreams because there was no way out of this world. They just didn't want to hurt my feelings."
"You could still do it!" the man exclaimed, hoping she would listen to him just this once. "Once this is over, you can just retire! No one knew about your condition. We can say you left for a mission and —"
"Thank you, Bear." Hera faced the man with a smile, cutting him off mid-sentence. "I know you want the best for me, but I am the Don in this family now. Maybe if I was lucky enough to get reborn, I'd pursue that dream. But now, I already pledge to spend my last breath being the head of this organization."
Hera took a deliberate pause, snapping her eyes at the window upon noticing a person approaching the vehicle. "There's no way out of this world. Even if I retire, my enemies will not stop. They will try to take my head for revenge or honor — I already pity my poor future husband."
"That is why I'd rather die as Hell and wish I'd get reborn in a normal family," she added, flashing Bear a bright smile she usually wore before the incident ten years ago. "Although it sounds ridiculous, having that thought comforted me in a way. So don't dare pop my bubble."
Knock Knock.
A man outside knocked on the window, but Hera and Bear just stared at each other. The latter let out a deep sigh and forced a meek smile.
"Whatever makes you happy," said Bear, nodding in understanding. "I'll pray that the blessings your family had received will fulfill the wish you have."
Hera chuckled whilst shaking her head. She then rolled down the window to listen to the man's report.
"We already contained the traitor, Boss," said the man outside the vehicle. He then gave her a run down on what the place looked like from the inside and he also told her what went down.
"I see…" Hera rocked her head in understanding before looking back at Bear. "... I guess it's time to skin him alive."
The man outside bowed, and then cautiously opened the door to Hera's side. Bear didn't need assistance as he also hitched outside. As soon as he did, he gazed over the roof of the vehicle, only to see the other man handing over his M16 rifle to the boss.
"There's a bomb planted somewhere?" The side of Hera's lips stretched from ear to ear, lifting the rifle and resting it over her shoulder. "Twenty minutes… that's enough. That pig will have the most agonizing twenty minutes of his life."
A sinister grin turned up on her face, which many people feared. "Men, let's go!"
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[ PRESENT TIME ]
Hera, now in Heaven's body, laid on her back with her eyes fixed on the ceiling as she reminisced the last moments of her life. After that night, Hera's health gradually declined. Although her health issues were kept a top secret and only a selected few in the organization knew about it, her death though was no secret.
Hera made sure everything was settled during her last few months before she quietly passed away.
"It's been five years since my death…" she murmured. She looked at the dark room where she was still baffled by the phenomenon that struck her life. "... is it because of our name?"
Hera, who was now in Heaven, mulled over it in silence for minutes. Her lips slowly stretched after a moment as her eyes sparkled.
"Whatever!" Heaven sat upright, full of energy. "Whatever the reason, I don't care!"
Heaven clasped her hand, only to gaze at it upon feeling the coldness in them. Her eyes brimmed with sentiments, remembering the agonizing months before she took her last breath as Hera.
"I'm alive…" she whispered in a shaky voice. "... I'm alive."
"I'm… alive!!" Heaven spread her arms wide open, cocking her head back, welcoming this new life wholeheartedly without any questions or qualms.