PART 1
The sound of chickens clucking in their thin wirey pen a shadow loomed before them. It watched them intently,moved and seeds tossed occuping the ground with the chickens. They gather quickly plucking them. It brought a smile to Costantine.
He wasn't the only one watching the fluffy blue birds, Panam gazes behind crossed arms that hugged around a knee close to her.
He blinked at the sun overhead then back at the pen, "I've allowed you to live here for a week now kid. I'd like my shed back, and I'd like that answer too."
The offer he had gave her from when they first met, and one she wasn't planning bringing up to him until now.
Panam shifted on the steel pile packed up high and she hopped down from it onto the dirt. Her eyes shifting from grain to grain as if looking for the words, "You know that answer, yes. I'll be your damn apprentice. The connies won't do anything, and I don't care anymore if I die in a ditch after."
He whistled, "Well..." his smile broadened, "I stopped listening after yes." He clapped his hands once, "Now then, where should we start."
Panam narrowed her eyes, "Am I going to regret this?"
Costantine tilted his head, "Of course you will, but I promise you. You will be a demon when I'm done with you."
Panam did regret it, everyday, every hour, every second.
Each morning, a few hours before the sun would peak and the light would touch the mountain he'd hunt her down in the forest. With a rifle loaded with plastic pellets and once the sun has shown it's rays, the game would stop. Bile and food she vomited would cling to her shirt soaking with her sweat. Beneath it were bruises and cut from the pellets and from running.
Costantine said that it was her endurance training, and in similar fashion he'd disguise it into games. To Panam, they were all terrifying to participate in but he knew she was at his mercy.
Four months past and when she fell on her knees swallowing back her dinner between pants. Then a rifle pellet struck her back.
"You still have 9 more minutes." Constantine said from the tree lines aproaching her slowly.
"I've been really thinking about just jumping off this mountain y'know!" Panam cursed under her breath.
"It's not a steep one. This side of it, is gentle." Constantine reply and Panam shook her head standing up when he continued, "You're done..."
She looked over her shoulder at him, "Done with what?"
"Done, as in phase one. I've taught you how to fight. Running increases your stamina, your endurance and the lessons I've been giving you for that reason. Next is Phase two, are you ready?" Constantine said slinging his rifle over his shoulder watching the sun rise.
"What's phase two?" Panam turned around to face him.
He looked back at her with darkened expression, punctuated by light only hitting one side of his face, "I'm gonna teach you how to kill."
PART 2
Panam stalked across the street, sitting at the bench outside a cloths shop. She took care not to look directly but keeping the object of her interest in her line of sight. A hotdog food vendor, the smell making her mouth water at the corner of her lips, and a man.
He had tattooed hollow cheeks peaking past his hoodie. His rolled up sleeves revealed his skinny forearms that extend to wiry fingers that type away at his phone.
This was her first target.
The man looks up finally from his phone as someone passes unassuming, but their exchange was less than suspicious. Now in his hand and quickly pocketing in his hoodie, a taped bag and now his off. Walking across the street, Panam followed him. The streets become more dirty and in disrepair as he walks to a more dangerous part of town, the one closer to the border. Panam's eyes dart back and forth from his small back and everything around that moved, looking back at her own shadow once too.
When he slipped into an alley once again Panam seized the opportunity and picked up pace.
She pulled the knife out of her pocket planning to catch him off guard and lead him out of town, her plans shatter at the sight of a long barrel of a gun.
The silencer extended it's length, a third time Panam has ever seen a real gun now, but the ominous feeling each time never really goes away.
She froze in placed and raised her hands in resignation.
The bolt slapped four shells out and three finds her, two digging a home in her chest and one burst into the eye and chews into brain brain matter. She crumbled to the ground like a puppet, whose strings had been cut.
Feeling began to return to her again, she felt like she could move.
Panam's vision returns and looked at the path in the alley and people walked past ignoring the violence. She got up to her feet facing him, the wounds in her chest are still there, but her eye healed. She spits metal fragments rejected by her body when she laughs inwardly.
The man was quickly reloading his empty gun, slowly walking back with a expression that suggested panic. When she tried making the next step she couldn't help but stay still, there was an inconspicuous feeling of a sudden disconnection from her body. Her senses were all sharpened, her body took off the mask she had on revealing her mouth salivating at the seems, her cheeks harden into bone. The thick matte black ink coated her limbs, now her eyes seemed locked on to the man and the dark alley seemed brighter, a deeper part controls her.
She heard the blood pulse, smelling his fear and saw his shaking hand holding up the loaded gun. Her body pulses to action too in a motion breaking into a sudden sprint, closing the distance between them. Ten meters closed in three seconds.
POP! POP! POP!
The shots were fired, it shattered on her jaw, another to her shoulder and the last missed her entirely as she ducked in within the range of his outstretched hand. Her ears pierced and rung by the sound. Before he could fire the last shot, she could feel her body muster ruthless might.
Still moving and grabbed his arm. Twisted it cruelly with speed that he couldn't follow with the movement. Instead his arm was swirled around it's socket, and yanked. It inevitably popped out of place, through her acute hearing she could hear a sound reminiscent of paper tearing in the joint.
He was about to scream in pain, when his throat is met by a petrified muscled maw sinking into his neck, crushing his windpipe and tearing through flesh.
Due to her acute sense, including sensation, she could feel everything with gory detail. From the feeling of live twitching flesh writhe on her tongue, the windpipe bubble and blow with blood into her mouth as he tried making a muted scream, hot steaming blood pumping past her jaws.
Swallowing the spurting blood. Panam wanted to vomit right then and there, but she couldn't, nor make a horrified gasp when her wounds started healing. She couldn't look down at her body, but the pain she felt started residing.
Her body dropped the man, who is now vainly trying to stop the blood.
She suddenly gained control of her body, she was reverted back. The maw seemingly withered into dust, she attempted to run away. Collapsing under her feet to the ground again, she couldn't move not even her fingertips.
It was bad timing because she heard foot steps approach her.
A familiar voice bellow out, "Monster, you are."
Constantine circled around her looking from me to the corpse.
Kneeling besides me, "you got some explaining to do, but dying man. You weren't supposed to kill 'em y'know."
He get's up disappearing from her sight, she felt her arms and leg get tied and a cold needle enter her wrist.
"There is hope for you after all." I heard him, the words echo in my mind as I felt unimaginably sleepy.
PART 2
POV: Panam
I found myself in Constatine's cabin again. In the scrap yard, inside it was run, down the wood seemed rotten and the floors creaked under each step weighty step he took. His figure moved about lit by The rooms illuminated by the candles laid around.
A thick smell permeated the house, is smelt like flesh being burnt, the vague sound of sizzling reached my ear. I was told to sit on one of the smaller of the two decrepit couches, waiting in the dimly lit room. The sun's lit hid behind the horizon, a rat scurried about the room and I sat fearfully at it roam about.
Praying the Empress' mercy that it doesn't decide to veer too close to me, I swear I will start screaming. I declared in my mind.
It found it's way onto the table in front of me, I stared. Taking steady low breaths. I finally noticed me, it glared at me, lowering it's stance to me.
I was eye to eye with a beady eyed thing for moments that felt to go on for too long. That's when Constantine came back with a bucket with blood at it's rims, the rat turned it's attention to him. He is seating at the sofa opposite to me, placed the bucket on a stand beside him.
"He lives with me." He says, dropping the bucket with a hollow clang, "I call her... Jill." he adds.
the rat tips the bucket over, the began licking the thick darkened blood on the bucket, "It enjoys eating the leftovers."
"I can relate now." I say to myself, the disgust leaving me slowly.
His glare seemed indescribable and the intent behind his words felt foreboding.
Crossed his arms, he leaned back breaking the eerie silence, "You know... I"m curious. Welp. time to talk, what was that you did before."
I didn't know myself, what did I know. All I know is one thing, I have a demon inside me and it won't let me die. How long has it been there waiting and finding a reason to come out. This time was different, I was conscious when it took over. I can control it.
I told Constantine this and he shook his almost not believing it himself.
Then I wondered wether I should be telling him this. Do I trust him? Should I kill him? I don't know how. Could I?
I didn't kill that man in the alleyway, Constantine did, he could've survived despite his injuries surely. I didn't kill Constantine and when I thought I did...
He glanced at the bucket, to the room, then back at me.
"You could maybe stand a chance against the gang... With some help." Constantine grabbed the rat half way into the bucket, it squirming in his grip, "I can only offer you one type of revenge youngin', and it's the only one you can get in your position. just cost a few more favours, bloody ones too that ought to be in ya element. Unless, you can't handle it. This time we'll see how unkillable you are."
I averted my gaze from him, staring at my feet.
I basically died on the first job, it would have been the end of Panam Frei a long time ago if it wasn't for whatever I have.
He got up from his seat leaving the rat, it was time to work.
PART 3
POV: Gudder Roien
Otem is the country of dreams. People think it's safe, secure and there's enough jobs to go around for everybody. Who wouldn't want to live in it? The thing about a perfect country, is that they don't exist.
things like guns, street racing and gambling are illegal. People like those things. Well that makes the demand, some would pay high for. They say those who managed to get in one way or another and caught would meet The Queens' hand or worse, what a rigid country right?
The cop are too, well most because I'd have lost my head otherwise.
Well because of that plenty of people are gonna do the things they aren't supposed to; like buying guns from a blackmarket dealer like me, if it's for a good buck I'd risk my head any day.
From rich high nobles of society all the way to the most feared criminal organisations and cartel want in on my goods. To do that without the cops' eyes on it requires skilful and sly manoeuvring.
Of course I wouldn't know because I'm just a cog in this big machine. My mules should be back by now dropping the gun to me, where we meet the buyers, I have all of them except one.
I puffed a cloud of smoke in the air, dropping my used up cigarette bud joining the pile at my feet.
I lit another in my mouth, and in my motions was tapping my foot impatiently.
We've been waiting so long for him that I'm on my last smoke.
I'm supposed to be at a apartment building, pretty run down, but it was where we usually trade since not a lot of people stay there and there's not a lot of witnesses.
The meet up spot was at the 5th floor, room 27. I checked my watch, it struck 9:34pm and the meet up time was 9:40pm.
He's 2 hours late! That bastard did a fast on one us. I clicked my tongue. I'll cut the bastards hand off if I ever find him- that's a promise.
"let's go, we're running late!" I Hollered, the group entered the van and started the engine.
Sure enough we arrived 10 minutes late, we hurriedly went into the apartment. I knocked the door to the room, "it's me!" I shouted, there was silence inside the room and then foots steps approached the door and opened. A woman dressed in a provocative dress was at full display for me to get an eyeful.
She stepped away in boredom, walked to her seat at the couch next to the customer.
Behind him was 3 people with rifle in hand, he wears striped suit and round glasses.
Compared to me his suit was spotless in contrast to me and the dull room.
He's voice became very light and positive, "You're here, I was starting to think you ditched. That was gonna create problems, you don't like problems… do you?"
I audibly gulped, "No, it's just one of our mules was late. Stocks not complete but the good one are here." I walked my boys in front of the table opposite to him placing the duffle bag with a heavy metallic thud.
He leaned forward and opened the bag, 3 rifles and what should have been 6 handguns inside.
He made a long whistle, "This is quite a sight. So many in one place. You guys are the real deal indeed. How much?" He asked taking the guns fiddling with them with the curiosity of a child with a new toy.
I walked forward as the two backed beside me, "80,000 Toks... each."
He's shoulders lowered, his smiled stretched as he fell back to the couch stretching his arms around the woman's shoulders.
He chuckled lightly, "No, no, no."
"Is that a problem?" I replied, raising a brow.
"Very much a problem, my goodmen! I was under the assumption that you lot were professionals. Not a bunch of rag-tag-ruffians who are tardy, inorganized and complacent." He reasoned, "That's why to make up for it, I need a... promotion offer. To keep up your reputation. 20% off, so... 64 000 Toks, each."
"64 000 Toks each?" I muttered. that was still half a million back at my home country but I still gotta split it and that wouldn't cover my expenses. "Nah. 80 000 for each of them."
The guards gripped their rifles tighter, my boys reached for their guns at their side.
I realised that atmosphere became thick and heavy, I'm beginning to weigh my options.
He smiled still, "Alright I'll compromised, 70 000Toks that or there will be problems."
He folded, I can keep pressing, "I don't think so, you either pay in full or I'll find another buyer." I declared in deep tone, looking at him straight in the eyes through his shaded round glasses.
He threw his hand up, "hmph, fine you-"
Our heads snapped to the door that broke open, emerging into the frames was some lady. Dressed like she's ready for a street fight, a surgical hugged her face and her eyes were dard and sharp behind it darting around the room.
I was so shocked that I hadn't realized the shotgun in her hand until she brought it up to rest on her other hand. Leveling the deadly end at us the others rush to bring theirs.
Ear piercing shots echoed in the room simultaneously, I felt light headed but I knew I wasn't shot, for now. I whipped my head to the client, his head was split apart it's contents splattered onto the girl's face.
The shotgunner dived on the floor. She must've rolled forward evading the bullets fired by the guards, her shotgun levelled.
BANG
The guards were peppered with buckshot, riddled with lead seeding themselvesin their chest, the girl was screaming bloody murder curling it a ball. The shotguner racked another empty shell eying the open door. I turned back and now in the place of where the girl once was, now a bulky man in an overcoat. Hunting rifle aimed and readied around the frame of the door, "Oi! Aim there!" I yelled.
The threat of big man made me make poor judgement. A glass was thrown shattering on my cheek as the girl jumped over the table standing between me and my boys. Stunned I glance at the man who stood there doing nothing then to my boys. One of them was getting shanked by the girl grabbing his gun away from her.
My other boy shot at her side finishing his seven chambered rounds on her, when she finished gutting her victim she turned her attention to him. Slower now, with gritted teeth.
"ANTON!!" I called for him as he stumbled like a drunk crumbling to the floor, bleeding red. This chick is insane! I needed to do something.
I didn't have a gun on me, so I moved towards her grabbing her arm and head bashing it against the wall. She struggled under my hand as I held her in place rather easily, as I constricted my arm around her neck.
Who are these people, and how did they know our meet up. Was that mule a snitch! He sold us out! I bring myself back to the moment as I tell my boy to shoot for her head.
A familiar rack of a bolt then a deafening pop ripped throught the air behind me.
A body thuds on the floor. My last boy standing now had a splintered skull, the shattered bone attempting to excape his scalp. Heavy steps shook the floor and the room filled with the sent of copper and gun. The girl slipped through my petrified grip, and I saw the fear in her eyes that mirrored mine. They were dark tired eyes that looked as if she had seen all the horrors of the world. Her breathes were short as she felt the wetness on her side. I felt a hard kick to the side falling to the ground again.
"You're not strong enough to fight them close up like that. Fight smarter not harder." The deep voice reverberated to my ear so casually. I wanted to look up but for the first time in a long time, I was scared. I felt like a child, I wanted to be one at that moment . Feel the warmth and safety from my mother's embrace.
Thick rough hands held my neck pinning me face-down, I struggled underneath his cold grip struggling to breathe.
"D-did I kill any of them?" A delicate muffled voice came, when I writhed for air before my consciousness started fading.
the man looked around, the pained groans answeredin the room, "No, they ought to succumb to their injuries though. Don't worry I'll finish them off."
"The... uh lady? Will you kill her too?"
"No, she won't tell anyone about this. Won't you?"