I: Past Memories
Flashback Start.
My bruised and sweaty palm gripped the ledge of the 10th floor window. My other hand reached up to brush the sweat from my forehead that was making it's way towards my eyes. Geez, I haven't climbed like this in a really long time. Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out my most prized possession - or really the only thing I had on me at the moment to do the job - my Buck & Case knife. The blade was short, but that wasn't enough to demean the weapon in any shape or form, as it still packed a punch. It pained me to admit that this was given to me by that jackass, but I was thankful for the training I had endured while under his care. Even if the training was gruesome.
I hoisted my backpack on the side of the ledge as I pulled myself up to the window. Looking around, it seemed like no one was here. Looks like I'm in luck today. I brought myself onto my knees as I gripped the knife with two hands. If I were to turn around, the sight would be pretty freaky. Ten floors up.
I fidgeted with the knife as I attempted to wedge it between the window and it's frame. With a few failed tries and a handful of moments where I was awfully close to falling to my death, I finally heard a click. Praising myself, I dusted my hands off on my skirt and gripped the window sash, pushing it up with one hand as I took another quick glance around the room. Guess no one was here after all. I hopped down into the room, wiping my hands against each other. Looking down at my knees, I saw the unsightly purple bruises and fresh cuts with the beginning of blood trickling out. Ah, gross. Climbing in a skirt was a bad idea. I'm going to need to wash up. Better find the bathroom.
I took a good look at the room around me. Grey walls surrounded me in a four walled tiny room. There was a tiny wooden table to my right, accompanied by two sofas. To my upper left was what seemed like a corridor. To the right, there was a small kitchen that was so empty that I'd be mistaken into thinking that no one lived here. Wait, did anyone live here? If no one didn't, that would mean someone would be taking residence in here soon. Well, no problem. If they come, I can just kill them right? Their fault for picking this apartment complex of all the ones in this city. Okay, I know, that was a bullshit excuse, but it wasn't like I cared for petty lives of people I didn't know.
I wonder if there's any food in that fridge... Well, I'll just have to check later. My main priority at the moment was washing up. These cuts were starting to burn, and I wanted to find a bedroom so that I could take a thousand year nap. And hopefully never wake up. I made my way to the corridor, examining the layout. Two rooms to the left, one to the right. Sigh, choices... Guess I'll be checking out the rooms in order by which ones were closest.
The first door I arrived at was the closest door to the left. I lightly pushed it as it creaked open, peering into the space that was engulfed by darkness. My hand blindly searched for a light switch, and once it found it's target I flicked it on. Hmm, it's only a closet. Albeit a very small one - no fun here. I began to make my way to the second door, only to take interest in the farthest door. I could see light emitting from the crack underneath the door. I crouched down, turning my head in an awkward position in order to get a glimpse of where the light was coming from. Was there an unblocked window? Maybe it was moonlight.
Better safe than sorry. I turned the knob slowly, wincing as the door made proclaimed creaks and screams. Geez, this place must be as old as my grandmother. Okay, I take that back grandma, I'm sorry and I really love your cookies.
I shook my head, trying to get the images of grandma's cookies out of my head. Man, I hadn't had those in a really, really long time. Snapping back to my surroundings, I peeked into the room. From what I could see, there was a faint shadow stretching over the bed. So this was the bedroom. In order to see the room fully, though, I'd have to push the door open a little wider. I began to silently pray to whoever those weird religionists always preached about, before fully opening the door with one quick push.
I was relieved to see the light emitting from the window, until I noticed that there was something in the corner that was making noise. It sounded like people talking. My heart fluttered as I began to scan over the millions of possibilities of events that could take place at the moment. Sucking in my breath, I began to make my way towards the object. Only when it was fully in my view did I realize that it was only a television. I laughed to myself, embarrassed because of how much I overreacted. I turned to leave the room, pleased with my discovery of something entertaining here, until I was stopped dead short by a woman in her twenties looking at me with fear. Oh shit. Where the hell did she come from?!
Silence took over as her face morphed into shock, before it was launched into fear. God, I needed to say something before she had a full out panic attack. Think, Reina, think. Oh God, she's shaking. She's going to scream. What do I say?! I need to play it cool. Think... think... Damn it, think!
I pulled my hand up with an unmoving wave as an awkward smile pasted onto my face. "Uh, hi."
Her mouth gaped open, twitching as her eyes widened. Her shaking hand pulled up to point at me, as another reached up to cover her mouth. "Wh-who are you? How'd you get in here?!"
Damn, how was I supposed to reply to that? Oh, you know. I just broke into your place because I'm running away from the mafia. I didn't expect anyone to be here, though, so I'll be on my way. Sorry about that. Hell, if that's how I replied, she'd scream for sure.I need to think of a lie... That's it! My appearance is a little girl. Surely I could trick her by using this to my advantage.
I pulled my hands behind my back as I put on my best pouting face. "Actually, Miss, I'm lost... I can't find my mommy. Could you help me find her?" That made no sense, why would I be looking for my mother in this woman's apartment? Oh well, just bear with it.
A scream erupted from her lips as she fell to the ground. I winced at the sound, turning my head away. "Damn it, lady! You're gonna blow my cover!" I ran, jumping towards her to close the distance between us. One of my hands covered her mouth as the other was wrapped around her neck. "Don't make a soun- Ow! What the hell?!" My grip released as her teeth sank into my skin. I stood up, studying my hand. The sight was not too pretty. Blood oozed out of the skin, dripping onto the floor. "Oh, you're so going to pay for that." I looked up at her with dark eyes. "I was going to make this easy for you, too."
She looked up at me with quivering fear, before another scream escaped her lips. "I told you to quit that!" I yelled at her. I went to grab her, but she dodged by mere centimeters. Climbing to her feet, she ran towards the room I had originally came from. Crap, if she gets out of here, I'm done for. I ran after her, watching as she tripped on an elevated piece of hardwood and fell to the ground. I began to close the distance between us. She looked back at me with bulging eyes, before climbing to her feet once again and making a run for the door to the apartment. I was there in a second, holding one hand against the door as I looked up at her with a smile. "Uh-uh. I can't let you go there." Her hand once again returned to her face as her mouth hung open in an O, before she turned and made a dash towards the living room. I quirked my eyebrow up at her disappearing shadow. Why was she going there for? The exit was right here.
I brought my hand up to my face, smacking myself with the realization. There was a TV in the bedroom. This meant there had to be a phone around here. I took off after her, cutting a corner. I was brought with the sight of her clammy hands gripping the phone with dear life as she attempted to press the buttons with a shaking finger. I leapt towards her, aiming for the phone. It was whipped out of her hand and landed a good few feet away from us. My eyes met hers before we both soar for the phone. I was a split second too late. Her hand enveloped the phone as she pulled it towards her for dear life. I landed on top of her, attempting to wriggle my hand underneath her body and rip the phone out of her hands.
"Come on, lady! Let go!" I knew my pleas wouldn't be acknowledged. Instead of reaching for the phone, I changed targets. My hands wrapped around her heated neck and I squeezed, cutting off her source of oxygen. She began fighting against me, and I toppled over as she turned, attempting to get my hands away from her throat. With the phone in my line of vision, I grabbed it. I looked at her, wiggling it in my hands. "Looking for this?"
She turned to me and gasped. Before she could attempt to get it from me, I tossed it out of the window. Thank God I was too lazy to close that. "Oops, sorry. I don't think you'll be getting that anytime soon." Fear took over her face, and she took to using a different route of escape. She began screaming at the top of her lungs, causing my ears to ring.
"Heeeeeeelp! Somebody, help me!"
I snarled at her, clicking my tongue against my teeth. Guess I had to do this. I pulled out my precious knife, giving it one good look before plunging it into her stomach. My hand pulled over her mouth, muffling her pained screams. I smiled as I rammed the knife into her flailing body over and over. Blood spurted everywhere, landing on my clothes, arms and hand. At this point, though, I didn't mind. The feeling of her warm blood on your skin is very exhilarating, isn't it?
Yes, I smirked. It is. I want more. More bloodshed.
The blood plunged into her lifeless body once last time before I stopped. I looked at her, before a slightly surprised yet bored expression took over my face. Oh, she's dead. I stood up, examining my attire. Everything reeked of fresh blood, and I was coated in it.
"Ah, gross." I looked up, only for my entire body to freeze with shock. There was a boy no older than ten looking at me with surprise etched on his features. Shaggy silver hair covered his forehead and partially blocked his eyes from my view. Bright blue eyes reflected an unknown type of fear and disgust.
I looked between the dead body and myself, before shaking my hands in front of me dramatically. "Ahhh.. this isn't what it looks like. Actually, it is - damn, I screwed up." My hand slapped my forehead, before I pulled it back in disgust. Fresh blood was smeared onto my face.
"Why did you kill that woman...?" his voice wasn't as scared as I expected it to be. No cracking, no stuttering. It was as if he was used to the sight of murder.
I scratched the back of my head, before pulling my hand back with the realization that I just did the same thing that I had done a few seconds earlier. I hurriedly wiped my bloody hand on my skirt, although it didn't change the situation much. "Well, her screaming was going to blow my cover. I didn't really want to do it, she gave me no choice."
He looked at me with uncertainty. "You looked like you were enjoying yourself over there."
I looked at him with confusion spread across my face. Everything clicked and I mentally slapped myself. "Ohhh. That's... a long story. I really don't enjoy murdering. I was just brought up to do it subconsciously, I guess..."
He crossed his arms, studying me carefully. "You really don't enjoy killing?"
I nodded, and he pulled his hands back to his sides. "Well, I don't know if that's true after what I just saw, but I'll take your word for it. I'm Killua."
"I'm Reina" I said, stretching my hand out to him. He looked at it, then back up at me. My eyes scanned my hand, before I quickly pulled it away, hiding it behind my back.
"So... what are you here for, Killua?" I asked awkwardly.
"You want me to be honest?"
"Uh... yeah?"
His hand reached up to grip his other. Claws were formed out of what was once a normal palm. "I was sent here to kill you."
I looked up at him with shock, before I looked down at my feet. "Oh... so that's how it is."
"You know, I never expected you to be someone my age..." He scratched the back of his head, before retracting his claw and pulling his hands into his pockets.
"And I never expected to meet such a young assassin."
"Hmm.. that's true. I'm a Zoldyck."
I looked up at him with awe. "Woah, for real?! That's so cool! What's it like?"
He grimaced. "I hate it. I don't like to kill people."
"Me neither." I felt guilty saying this, considering the fact that I just looked like I was having the time of my life over there while draining the life out of that poor woman.
Silence.
"I gotta get back to my brother. He's going to come on his own if I don't return soon."
I looked up at him with hesitation. "Hey, Killua?"
"What is it?"
"Would you... like to be my friend?"
He looked taken aback. Shock was present on his face as he looked me over, as if expecting me to burst out with a 'Just Kidding!'. But I wasn't.
"F-friend?"
"Yeah. You seem really nice and I think we could be good friends."
He scratched his head, looking at the floor. "Sure, we can be friends..."
Joy spread across my face and I ran to hug him. "Yay! You're the first friend I've ever had!"
"Uh... Reina?"
I pulled away, gripping him by the forearms as I stared at him with confusion. "Yeah?"
He motioned down to his attire, which were now coated in the blood that I transferred to his clothing. "Oh God, I'm so sorry!" I attempted to rub at the crimson red, which only seemed to make the stains worse.
His hands shot up in embarrassment, pushing me away. "It's okay. At least this way it'll seem like I finished my job. Although I'm probably going to get lectured by Illumi for not doing the job cleanly."
My mouth gaped at him. "So you're not going to kill me?"
He looked at me with a confused expression. "Do friends kill their friends?"
I placed my hand under my chin, pondering about it for a moment. "I have no idea. I'm new to this whole 'friends' thing."
He chuckled. "Me too."
I backed away, awkwardly looking around the room.
"Well, I should get going. If Illumi comes here, he'll kill you. And I don't want him to kill my first friend." His cheeks reddened as he said this. He shuffled over to the dead body on the floor, extracting his claws.
"What are you doing?"
In one swift motion, the woman's head was disconnected from her body. He stood up, holding the head by her hair as he glanced at it with distaste. "Gross." He made his way to the window, lifting himself up until he was crouching on the sill. He turned to me with a bland expression. "I have to show something to Illumi as proof. Don't worry, he has no idea what you look like, so this will do. He might come back to make sure, though, so you should leave this place as soon as possible." He contemplated over his words for a moment. "Scratch that. You should leave the city. Oh and, uh... Reina?"
I looked over at him curiously. "What is it?"
He looked away, facing in the direction of the city. "Th- thanks for asking me to be your friend..."
And with that, he was gone. I happily jumped around. My first friend! This was so exciting! Oh, right. He told me to leave the city. I glanced at the blood soaked clothing I was wearing. I'll follow his advice, but I should probably wash up first. I skipped to the closet I had seen earlier, picking out two pieces of attire. The woman was obviously much older than me, but these managed to fit. I took one last glance at the dead body before grabbing my backpack and rushing out of the room. Where I was going depended on where my legs would take me.
Flashback End.
CHAPTER ONE'S VERSION 2 IS RELEASED!
I never exactly "publicly" stated that I'd be re-doing this chapter, but I felt like it'd be a favor to you, the followers, as I want to give you the best writing I can possibly manage. Hope this version of the chapter appeals to your tastes more(:
[I DO NOT OWN THE COVER IMAGE USED FOR THIS STORY! Creds go to DeviantART user "koustoki"]
