?: Prologue
"Git up, ya worthless runt."
A solid kick lands in your side, jerking you awake. You sit up to see a large, brutish Dersite scowling down at you. Your brain helpfully provides the name 'Hearts Boxcars' as you rise to your feet.
"What."
Your voice is flat. There's no lost love between the two of you, in fact, a hatred. One of those hatreds so intense and yet completely inexplicable. The tense silence stretches for several seconds before he speaks again.
"Boss wants to talk to ya. So ya better hurry up, worm."
He turns and walks away.
"... Well, good morning to you, too, big guy,"
You mutter disdainfully as you shrug a pinstriped waistcoat on over your white dress shirt. You exit your room and stroll down to the main chamber of the hideout, where Spades Slick stands waiting for you in all his greasy, violent glory.
"What took ya so long, kid? Time is money, ya knows."
He looks vastly unimpressed, so you decide to try and appeal to his sense of style.
"I was getting dressed. I mean, I didn't think you'd want me to show up in my damned birthday suit or something."
Spades rolls his eyes, but apparently deigns to let it slide as he begins his spiel.
"So, ya know the Felt. I want you to use some of yer... 'special skills' to get rid of Big Green's right-hand man."
You shuffle your feet slightly.
"And who, pray tell, would that be, exactly?"
Spades scowls even more than usual.
"That damn kid. You know, the one with the dark hair? Glasses and a stupid expression?"
You pause.
"Yeah... so you want me to..."
He huffs.
"Off 'im! Cut 'is throat, shoot 'im, not like I give two shits. I just want 'im dead!"
You take a deep breath.
"Got it, boss."
You turn to go back to your room so you can gather up some equipment for the job.
"By the way..."
Spades' voice floats down the hall after you.
"If you fuck this up, I'll come after the both of you little shits myself."
Your breath catches in your throat as you continue walking. Your name is Dirk Strider, and you have just been assigned to kill Jake English.