"Hey, Colin!" I heard someone yell as they ran towards me. I was perched on a roof, scanning the ground for guards. "Shhhh," I whispered, "They're still looking." "Oh, sorry." the man said a little more quietly. "But, I have a job for you." I looked up at him. "What is it?" "I need you to get this guy." He said, holding up a poster. I scanned it quickly, then glared up at the man. "And why should I do this for you?" He reached into his pocket. "This." He said, holding out a large bag of gold. I was sure it was a trap, but accepted anyway. As I walked towards the target's location, I heard him whisper, "Target is approaching your location, mission successful." I assumed it was nothing, but still stayed out of sight, until i was directly behind the target. I jumped down quietly, and, about to deliver to killing strike, felt a sudden pain in my stomach. I look down, and see he's injected me with... something. I look back up, and, next thing I knew, I was curled up in a ball on the ground, surrounded by guards, and couldn't move. How embarrassing. The most skilled assassin, brought down by a meekly injection. 'What was in that thing...?' I wondered, as I slowly lost consciousness, and was dragged away. When I awoke, I was in a cell. All my weapons gone. And it felt like I was being slowly eaten from the inside out. I heard footsteps, I didn't care if it was a guard or not, I was desperate for answers. I tried to yell, but it hurt too much, all I could do was whisper. "Ugh... where am I...?" was all I could make out. I couldn't move much, either. So I just stayed slumped in the corner. The guard walked up to my cell and spoke. "Don't worry, the worst will be over soon." Then he walked away. What did he mean, worst? Am I going to die? This was the first time I really feared for my life. I looked out down the hall, made sure the coast was clear, and tried to open the nearest window. It wouldn't budge. I tried another one. Still nothing. I didn't have the energy or strength To climb to the higher ones, so I gave up for now.

It's been a week. Still wondering why they're keeping me alive. At least I feel stronger now, maybe my body's adapting to the parasite. I climbed up to the top windows. Finally, one opened just enough for me to squeeze through. I fell to the ground outside, sudden pain slashed through my bones. I stood up, stumbling a little. Looked over, and saw guards. Luckily they didn't see me. I creeped over to a nearby ally and decided to spend the night there. A kick in the stomach jolted me awake. It was gentle, but it felt like they kicked me hard with steel boots. I groaned in pain and looked up at them. "Haven't seen you sleep that long since you were just a child."
I blinked a couple times then I could see his face clearly. "Ahh, Brother. You scared me." He helped me up. "Scared? Nonsense! My brother doesn't fear a thing." I grinned, "Yeah, nothing." He looked at me. "You okay? You don't sound so well. And, where's your sword?" I made up a quick lie. "I... must've dropped it somewhere." His eyes told me he didn't believe a word. "Well, are you okay?" I lied again. "Never better." "Well, then. Wanna race me to the top of that building?" He pointed to a very tall building, which required jumping many poles to climb. My stomach lurched. "O-okay, I'll race ya." "Okay, one three. One, two, THREE!" We both ran towards it, the first few pole jumps weren't that bad. But, when I jumped to the next one, Sudden pain went up from my shins to my skull, I fell, and blood spattered from my mouth as I hit the ground. "Colin!" I heard my Brother yell. I couldn't move. He jumped down right next to me, I was shaking, I couldn't stop. "S-someone get help!" He yelled. "N-no need... I c-can make it..." Was all I could say. "It's the Assassin!" A woman yelled, pointing at me. I felt her stop up to me, and gave me a good kick. "You murderer! You killed my husband!" I spurted out more blood and curled into a ball. She kicked me again, more blood. "That's it!" My Brother yelled, and gave her a nice smack. "Don't hurt my brother!" She backed away. "Y-you hit me..." She stammered, then started to cry, just as a docter showed up. Thank God. "What seems to be the problem?" He asked, then saw me. "I see.." He checked for injuries, then, finding nothing, he stood and looked at my Brother. "I'm sorry, there's nothing I can do. You need help from a doctor in a city." A city? We could never afford that, ever since Dad was killed. "But a city is too far away! He might be dead by then." he argued. "Well, then I guess all you can do is watch and see." The Docter replied, walking away. My brother sighed, and picked me up, set me down in his home, and sat down next to me. Atleast I'd stopped shaking. I started to get up, and nearly fell. "Whoa whoa whoa, calm down, there. You need rest." He said, forcing me to lay down again. "But... there's this guy I-I still have to..." I stammered. "That can wait." He said. "B-but..." "No buts. You need rest." He said, then walked out of the room. I uncovered my hidden blades. At least they weren't taken. I put them away, and stood up. I watched the door as I opened a window and sneaked out. I went around the building, and sneaked into the closest window to my brother, who was carrying food to the room I was in. As I wrapped my arm around his mouth, he dropped the plate, and it shattered. I left the window open, and the guards heard. "I'm sorry, Brother." I whispered as I stabbed my hidden blade into his back, and lied him down quietly. The guards were banging at the door now, demanding the door be opened at once. I jumped out the window and ran. The guards broke down the door and saw my Brother's body over the shattered plate. "He's been here." Was all I heard them say, before I was outside earshot.

What have I done... I've turned into a monster. I seemed to kill everyone I touched. I couldn't control myself. The urge to make everything bleed was too strong. Was the Parasite messing with my head, my actions now? What am I? How am I alive? All these questions running through my head. But the most important one was: Will I ever be forgiven for what I've done? I shouldn't get near my mother, I might kill her too. But I need answers. From someone I can trust. My sister was a no-go. She won't tell me anything, ever since she saw me killing the most respected man in the town. The only one left. I walked to her house, now that the Parasite wasn't effecting my bones anymore, I now had control of my body. I didn't feel the need to kill everyone now. I knocked on her door. She answered it. "Oh, Colin. I haven't seen you in years. Please, come in." I walked in. "So, what was it you wanted?" She asked. "Answers. I need to know just exactly whats going on with me." She looked at me. "What do you--" "Aghhh!" I fell onto my knees, head feeling like it's about to explode. "What's wrong? You need help!" She said, starting to run towards me. "D-don't come closer!" I said. The closer she got, the worse the pain did. My yells of pain turned into growls, I looked up at her. I needed to erase what hurt me. I took out my hidden blades and was about to lunge at her. "N-no... you can't!" I yelled, realizing what I was doing. I coughed up blood, and my head was pulsing. 'If you resist, I'll only make it worse.' I started to give in again, then I lunged at her. She didn't know anything anyway. I tried to stab the blade into her chin, but she grabbed my wrist. This thing didn't know how to fight. 'Let me take over, I'll finish her.' 'All right. But if you're lying, you won't make it through the night, nor will your mother.' I felt control again, then pushed my blade more towards her face. Just inches away... But then she grabbed a nearby sword. I knew she wouldn't hurt me, she couldn't. Not when she thought I wasn't in control. I growled more, pushing my blade closer. What would I lose from killing her? Besides, it would mean I'm alive. I snarled as tears fell from her eyes. I peirced her skin, hen er blood driped onto my hand. It burned. The Parasite's scream came through my mouth and I stumbled off her, The Parasite kept screaming, it was so high pitched that any normal human within earshot would be killed. I was on my hands and knees, and, as it screamed, as my hand burned, I was in control again. This was unacceptable. How could she hurt me -- us, like this. I lunged at the sword in her hands and grabbed it from her. I jumped to the other side of the room and put the sword away. I lunged at her again, getting the blade into her arm this time. More blood. I growled again and yelled, "You HURT us!" in a voice that I couldn't exactly call my own. I stabbed at her again, this time getting her throat. Success. As I pulled the blade out, she fell to the ground. I smiled, proud. Then I realized what I'd just done. 'Get it away!' It said, referring to Mother's blood. 'All right.' I walked out the door, then ran to the river. I pulled off a peice of cloth from my sleeve, wet it, then cleaned the blood off my arm with it. 'T-thank you...' She said. At least, I assumed it was a she. Sure sounded like it. The pain was gone. I stood up, and looked into the streets. No guards. I climbed up to the rooftops. 'Hey, do you have a name?' 'No, but I'd like one.' 'Well, let's call you Para.' 'I like it... what's your name?' 'Colin.' I looked over, and saw my Sister's house. I jumped down next to the door and knocked. I had my blades ready, and the sword, just in case. "What do you want, Colin?" She said as she opened the door. "I'll tell you inside." "Fine. But make it quick." I walked in, and closed the door behind me. "I need help." "With what?" "With this." I showed her where Para was, and she looked shocked. "W-what IS it?!" I growled. "Can you get it out or not?! You ARE a city docter, aren't you?!" "I-I guess... it'll hurt, though." "I don't care. Just get it out."
"Sit down." I sat, and she examined Para. 'W-what are you doing?! Are you going to get me killed?!' "Here comes the worst part." She pulled out a blade, and started to separate my skin from the parasite. When she got it out, She stitched the injury closed. Para screamed, 'You'll regret this!' then formed into the shape of a human. She grabbed me by my throat, and my sister just watched in horror. I struggled. "I-I was trying to help you...! You said you wanted to be like me, didn't you?!" "I-I did... yeah..." She put me down. When I looked up, I saw my sister about to hit Para with a hammer. "Para, look out!" I shoved her to the side and took the blow instead. "C-Colin!" Para yelled as I fell to the floor.

I awoke to see Para's face. "You're awake! Can you get up?" I sat up. "I'm fine. Where is my sister? She tried to kill you." "I took care of her. Come on, get up. We need to get you out of here." I got up, and followed her out. "We need to get out of town. Guards are combing this area for me." "Where to?" I shrugged. "How about my Uncle's place?" "Oh, okay."