Prologue
"Hey, hey, hey now," a man pled for his life as he stood with his back up against a brick wall. "I'm not looking for any trouble. I'm just here for the package, like usual." The man trembled wildly, hands held aloft in a meek gesture of peace. "C'mon… We've been doing this for weeks."
"Just cleaning house, kid," a nearby shadow spoke. "No need to be afraid."
"You're gonna shoot me; I know it!" The cowering man began to hyperventilate as he pressed himself harder against the wall. "Oh god, oh god..."
"Shh, shh, shh," the voice soothed. "We have a bit of a pest problem, it seems."
"-Oh god, oh god, oh god-"
"You know what we do with pests?"
"-Please-"
"You don't know?" the voice pressed.
"I ain't no pest, man!" the man sputtered. "You gotta-"
The shadow moved forward. A long, steel blade flashed in the weak glow of a distant streetlight. "Don't fight," the voice comforted.
There was a muffled scream and a brief struggle. Eventually, the noises faded into a soft gurgle, and then there was nothing as the body folded gently to the ground.
"What the-" A new voice came from a nearby doorway.
Pap. Pap. Pap pap.
And then silence.