PROLOGUE
She lay under the soft, cool bed of earth.
Unmoving.
Unblinking.
Shamelessly vulnerable.
And suddenly, oh so suddenly, her dreams snapped open so wide, greeting her to consciousness as her amber eyes started to flutter to reality.
She was greeted by a blurred vision of falling dead leaves and clear blue skies, a vision masked by tears that dared to fall.
Her skin felt damp. Her breathing seemed ragged as images started to flash quickly at the back of her head.
Leaves. Brown. Red screams. Blood. Death.
Another death.
One by one, drop by drop, her tears fell, as they danced together with the painful scent of bronzed memories.
'Never again…please…never again…'
Snap back to reality.
Her amber eyes are alert now, forced to open by the annoying screech of the alarm clock and the more annoying thrum of her phone.
The time declares 7:30 AM. Too early yet too late.
Still having traces of the nightmare she wished to push away (though also equally aware that it will never do for it IS forever a part of her), she hesitantly rose from her soft haven called her bed and dutifully answered the exasperating machine.
"Speaking", she declared, her voice having the edge of professionalism with no traces of lack of sleep whatsoever.
"I have a new mission", replied the familiar voice, bringing her to alert attention.
Not again…
"Following."
She never thought that she was fond of one-line responses. She who is so different…who dared to be different…
I love that sweet creamy skin of yours…
She cringed at the memory.
It was the voice on the other side that brought her back to her bearings. Again.
"This job will earn you a lot of money, but it equally is as dangerous. Give me the best abled men that you can find. Meet me at this time and place…do you have a pen?"
"Yes."
"Well then."
And the voice on the line very carefully gave the directions. The place revealed sure sounds like a labyrinth in its own right.
So much for the pen.
"Please be there tomorrow, 8:00 AM sharp. Meet us at the booth in the farthest corner on the right as you enter the door. The details to be given will be brief so I am counting on your professionalism with regards to punctuality. So please, don't try to waste my time."
"Yes, sir. We will be there as ordered. Thank you and goo-"
The other end's sharp slamming click was all she heard afterwards.
Does he have a temper…
As opposed to her client's manners, she softly replaced her phone as she began to think.
"Guess it's time to get those guys to eat again."
And she wondered, as she started to prepare for take-off, it this one won't bring any nightmares this time.