AN: this is the next chapter and it is sort of a bridging chapter. This is a crucial chapter as it links her work with her almost non-existent social life (much like mine). Sorry I haven't put a chapter up earlier, just had exams and boy was I flat out. Enjoy this and have fun.

Hot soapy water surrounded her body. This was her time to…ring ring…ring ring…let go. Sighing loudly, she reached for the cordless phone near her head. Doesn't anyone want me to relax before I go insane? She thought to herself. Staring at it blankly, she decided that she should answer it, even if it meant drying her hands to do so.

Pressing the pink button, she answered the call, "Hello?" Her voice was slightly cheerful. Quietly, she was hoping it was a family member sho was going to stop by that afternoon. Anything other than another job. It was all that she could hope for in her line of work. Please let it be my mother, she prayed as she waited for a reply from the caller.

"Hello, is this Shadow Stalker? I have another job for you" it was that cold voice. She was dreading another job. Inside, she was screaming. Why me… why me of all people? Sighing to herself, she gripped the bath tightly and shut her eyes.

"Yes, it is me, what is this new hit?" cold and emotionless. She hated this part of the job. A new hit meant learning new habits, new skills so she could keep watch, plus new sleeping patterns depending on how they worked. Sinking lower in the bath, she half heard the name of her new assignment. Putting a face to the name, an image of a blonde guy with untidy hair came to mind.

"I want him done for by the end of this coming week. It is crucial, as he knew Tyson Granger very well and we would not like him to talk. Understand the situation Shadow Stalker, he is high priority," the computer generated drone had finished, time to relax.

Placing the phone on the bench top, she sank lower in the bathtub. Water was covering her face, little bubbles escaped from her lips. Everything was dissolving into manageable, bite size pieces. She was tired of this life she led. Avoiding the cops and feds was one thing that she could handle, but not questions and family members.

Breaching the surface, she took a deep breath of the heavily scented Heavenly Frangipani. Even the strong smell couldn't drown out or stink out her tasks. Inside, her stomach turned itself over, a sickening feeling it was. Pulling the plug out of the bath, she draped her black silk robe over her body and tied it loosely, allowing her to move freely.

Just as she entered her small kitchen, her body revolted against her. Running to the toilet, she threw up. Work put a lot of stress on her body, this was one of the ways it would cope. The little food which she had eaten was not hers anymore, it belonged to the over-fed, tabby cat sized sewer rats that lived below the city.

After she stomach was finished cleaning itself out, she walked over to her phone. Looking at the hardly-ever-touched, black shiny phone, one of the many buttons and lights winked mockingly at her. Staring at the phone blankly, she pressed the button. Turning around, she walked to her old comfy couch near the window.

"You have 10 messages in your account, message 1," shaking her head at the long drone of the computerised voice message machine.

"Hi Hillary! Remember that this weekend is that person's birthday and about how Enrique asked you out. You still have to reply. So see ya latas chicky babe, oh just in case, it's Matti," the happy go lucky voice said. The answering machine droned on again.

Matti, Matti…Mathilda! She thought to herself. How long had it been since she had seen her? A month if she could properly remember from their last meeting. She had forgotten all about her. Which was strange on her behalf. Shrugging she continued to sip her coffee which had been left forgotten on the floor.

Hillary P.O.V

Holding my beautiful rifle, I was leaning on the stand it sat on. Taking aim, someone tapped me on the shoulder. Turning around, I was confronted by a large mass of blonde hair with gorgeous ice blue eyes staring out from underneath. They peered out at me with wonder, piercing to the soul.

"Enrique? Is that you Enri? I haven't seen you in ages and boy don't you look fabulous. I've missed you so much cutie," I said to him. Looking deeper into his eyes, I saw an unknown, untouchable sorrow, "What's wrong Enri? Enri?"

"Hillary, I'm sorry but you just can't keep disappearing on me! You leave alone, with no one to comfort me when I am down. Don't you see that you are hurting me! I love you Hill, don't abandon me please. You mean everything to me God dammit!" Enri wailed at me. I was lost for words, I hadn't seen the Italian for ages and he was telling me that I kept disappearing on him.

Resting my gun on the ground, I stood up to face him. His eyes had welled with tears and it was a sad sight to see. "Enri, I don't know what you are talking about, I've been working a lot and I haven't seen you for about a month. It cannot be just me that has hurt you," my heart was bleeding for him, it was destructive.

Shaking he head furiously he spoke, "NONONONONO! It was you and no one else. YOU left me alone, YOU never called and YOU broke my heart Hillary! NO ONE ELSE!" His words had shocked me to the core.

I walked over to him and cupped his head in my hands and looked into his face. He pulled away from me and all I could do as watch as he ran off the roof. Suddenly, his scream filled my ears and I ran to the ledge. His lifeless body lay on the ground surrounded by his blood. I tried to scream but nothing came out.

Suddenly, I found myself lying on the couch in the dark. I turned my head to look at the VCR clock. 6:00 it said. I knew it was in the morning as it was in 24-hour time. Sighing, I stood up and walked to the bathroom.

Turning on the shower, I let the silk robe fall to the ground in a crumpled fashion. Taking step forward, I let the hot water wash over me. Washing away my nightmare of losing Enri. I knew I was alone.

Always my mother told me to relax and unwind, but I only ever looked at her and said yeah right! I could never relax, not when another job lay ahead of me. Not ever.

I turned off the shower and walked to my room. In my mind, pictures of my next hit plus the previous three replayed like a movie without sound. They would forever haunt my dreams until I go down. So will the dream of Enrique.

Pulling on a pair of jeans and a brown halter neck top, I grabbed my sneakers and walked out the door. Today was going to be a very long day. Relaxation was not going to come to me any time soon.