Crimson red blood sprayed everywhere, on the pristine white walls, even the ceiling as bullets entered Zhang Lu's body from every direction in the luxurious hallway of the most expensive hotel in H City.
Bits of his bloody pale flesh were stuck onto a blue and white Oriental vase marring its aesthetic value. The carpet's geometric pattern was now stained into an abstract design. He couldn't help but wonder who would need to clean up this bloody mess. For some reason, he pictured a girl in a sexy short French Maid outfit with a look of disgust on her face.
Great! So this is how I die, trapped in this hallway leaving my girlfriend asleep in the hotel room. I thought it would be a quick trip to get some ice from the machine. I looked up to see a member of the Bloodlust Syndicate laughing at me sweating, too drunk on my birthday to even pull out my gun. I'm sure I looked like a pathetic clown as I stumbled to run away and fell down.
Even better! The last thing I see isn't my girlfriend's sweet smile but this joker's yellow teeth. My vision was fading
Couldn't you have burst into the hotel room and killed me? So the last thing I saw was her creamy white body pressed underneath me?
Well no, I wouldn't want the little school teacher to be killed or covered in my blood. It's good also you have silencers, she is a light sleeper. You will send the cleaners here right? I would hate for her to recognize any of this flesh as mine.
I knew being an assassin I wouldn't have a long life but I assumed I could be on the job longer than a week before getting whacked. I wondered why the agency sent a newbie like me to my first job. It turns out I was a sacrificial lamb so the real assassin was kept hidden in the dark.
Too naive...too excited about heading in a new direction I didn't use any of the analytical skills I honed in the last five years to assess the situation which screamed set up. Brought to the supervisor's office and praised for my outstanding ability. The only trainee they deemed worthy to keep he gushed. His face was hidden by a silver mask and now in retrospect I am sure his lips were curled into a huge grin as I visibly puffed out my chest like a pigeon. He probably pictured me as a pigeon...puffed out chest... fluttering my wings ready to take flight...definitely a bird brain.
Before the mission he arranged a team dinner and I was the star. The only trainee whose performance was so outstanding I was teamed with their number one. I felt like I was on cloud nine, dressed in a custom made designer suit and wearing a knock off Cartier watch.that I bought with my girfriend's credit card. I told her I found a second job and needed to dress to impress. I smiled and chatted with my new coworkers as Idined on Kobe beef and the tastiest lobster I ever ate. After several glasses of expensive red wine I told a few jokes and they heartily laughed. Now I know they were laughing at me not my well worn jokes.your lifeblood is fading into nothingness.
Funny what comes to mind when your lifeforce is fading into nothingness.
Fate really is a bastard. My civil servant job I studied for three years while wearing the same track suit, was getting me nowhere and I was dying of boredom sitting behind a desk. Now... I am just dying.
My destiny began one day while I was on my phone hiding as usual behind a mountain of paperwork surfing the dark web. My eyes lit up when I saw an ad, seemingly aimed at me..BORED? DEAD END JOB? BECOME AN ASSASSIN, TRAINEES WELCOME!
I chuckled, that is what I like about the dark web even the most outrageous jobs are advertised like they are looking for a sales consultant.
Suddenly I heard my friend, Chen's soft voice wafting over the divider of the divider between our two cubicles."Hey..hey Zhang buddy, Fatty is coming get off that webpage.."
I quickly shoved my phone into my pocket and picked up a thick folder."Thanks man, he said I would get written up if he catches me watching J tube or looking at Quickgram posts."
I don't want the nerdish man to know I am fascinated by the dark web. "Did you see that new post with the hot girls modeling lingerie on a yacht?"
" Yeah, its all over the internet the owner of the yacht just got busted for money laundering"
I can always count on Chen to have my back, luckily he is in the cubicle next to me or I wouldn't have this job. Fatty likes to stop by his desk and flirt with him on the way to my cubicle.
It's true Chen has a delicate face worthy of a Kpop girl group, but is a sad and disgusting sight to see Fatty drooling with a lustful look in his beady eyes. But I am a selfish man, so I encouraged Fatty to pursue him, it gives me time to look like I'm working.
My mind drifted to the mone laundering story Chen mentioned. Will I ever get a hot girl or be on a yacht or have any money that needs laundering?} I quickly switch to spreadsheets and data, data, data. But my mind is imprinted with the advertisement.
I excitedly clutch the folder but my mind moved on to the intriguing advertisement. Come work for us.. HIGH PAY..SHORT HOURS.. TRAVEL..INTERESTING WORK ATMOSPHERE.. ACCEPTING TRAINEES...PAID TRAINING. Looking for people with good eye hand coordination willing to learn a new skill.
I thought, I am #2 on three video games online, I'm always willing to learn a new profitable skill, did you say travel and interesting? So what if I have to throw away my moral compass, I don't use it often.
I couldn't wait to scurry out of my cubicle formy half hour lunch to respond to the ad. Jumping up from my chair I took a step then tripped on my shoelace I had stared at all morning being too lazy to tie.
When simple tasks like tying a shoelace seem monumental you know you are depressed. I saw hope at the end of the tunnel stacked with paperwork for new construction. I tied my shoelace.
I dialed the number on my lunch break forgoing my usual trip to the convenience store for instant Ramen. It was a recording, of course, I'm at lunch, they are at lunch. My timing sucked as usual. I have no idea what the job is but I'm intrigued and I don't care at this point, I will take it if it gets me out of that stuffy office.
My life being micromanaged by a fat sweaty bureaucrat was about to end, I left a detailed message. I erased it left a more detailed message sounding more enthusiastic.
I could barely work the rest of the day, although that wasn't unusual the fact I was looking forward to a phone call was. I kept staring at my phone willing it to ring. No call.
I went home and tossed my leather messenger bag on the couch. When I got the job at the Department of Construction Management, my girlfriend bought the expensive designer bag for me. The little optimist thought in return I would buy her the engagement ring she dragged me to see. She underestimated her importance to me.
It's been two years the bag is looking worn and so is our relationship. Maybe if I got this job I would feel something..anything..
The phone rings it's my girlfriend, she is a very pretty sweet girl who teaches Special Education, which is probably why she has the patience to deal with me. She is the one who bought me the leather bag with her first paycheck, sadly she is a little boring but surprisingly good in bed. I'm disappointed and can't hide my dissatisfaction with her timing.
"No, I can't go with you to the reunion, I have to work overtime." Now she is disappointed.
After listening to her whimpering and complaining I laid on the couch wondering what kind of perks they offer. I envisioned myself in a luxurious penthouse apartment overlooking the river with a beautiful girl between my legs as her head bobs up and down.
Ifell asleep in a weird position sitting on the couch and woke up for work stiff as a board. I rubbed my neck and looked at my stained pants. Damn...
On automatic, I showered and dressed in my usual faded blue suit ignoring the fact it hadn't been laundered in two weeks.
I saw Chen on the way into work he told me his wife is expecting again he was very excited, I think Why? You have three jobs to support your family now, with each new kid, do you need another job? You will be dead by the time you are thirty.
Needless to say I didn't know that would be my fate, dead on my 29th birthday.
But the upside is, YES! I transmigrated into the body of a shameless assassin who actually has amazing skills. I wish I had Chen to fist bump to express my excitement at my good fortune.