Chapter 01

He reviewed the information in the package that was presented to him several time, though there really wasn't much of interest provided within it. His client wished for Jack Fenton to be killed, the manner of which didn't matter so long as he was out of the way. Vlad frowned at that as he disassembled one of his guns, cleaned it, then reassembled it perfectly. His dark blue eyes glanced at the clock when he was finished. Bested his time by three seconds. It was habit he picked up over the years in his line of work. There was something calming in the action, helping to clear his mind and focus it on the task ahead.

It still baffled him that someone wanted Jack dead. His mind turned back to their days in college, best of friends and roommates throughout his entire time there. Up until the incident that caused him to have ghost powers and left him in the hospital for several years while he recovered from a terrible case of ecto acne. It was only after he was released, announced as completely cured by the doctors, that he discovered his best friend betrayed him to marry the woman that he loved.

Vlad frowned, setting the gun down carefully upon the table beside the chair in which he sat. He never actually spoke of his affections for Maddie, merely gazing at her from afar and quietly pining away at her. They were members of the same club that researched into paranormal activities, sought to uncover the truth about ghosts. In the beginning, it was only he and Jack, but at the beginning of their second year at the University of Wisconsin, a third member joined them. Maddie was just as interested in ghosts as they were. She was smart and beautiful, and Vlad fell for her at first sight. It still stung at his heart to know that Jack married her. If not for that accident, Vlad would have asked her on a date that day, but his chance was cruelly stolen away from him.

Beyond his own personal grudge toward the man, Vlad could see no reason for anyone to seek to kill him. The client's name was unlisted, only stating that he would receive a deposit of two million dollars into his account when the job was done. Someone certainly wanted to ensure Jack's death by hiring him. On any other assignment, Vlad would never even bother to question anything about his target. He would go to the destination, watch for the best opportunity, and kill the target without being seen. But this time was different. This target hit too closely to home for him. This was his old friend, his college buddy, the man with whom he spent nearly four years of his life living in the same cramped apartment. This should be a godsend to him, the perfect excuse to eliminate Jack then swoop in to comfort Maddie and slowly win her heart. But the question kept turning over in his head: why Jack?

Vlad stood from his chair, deciding he spent more than enough time in the ritzy hotel room. The comforts didn't even compare to his castle. His gun vanished into one his hidden holsters where no one would even notice that he was carrying the weapon. A silencer was in his suit pocket. He carried daggers, strapped to his ankles, hidden in sleeves, tucked behind his back, and all within easily reachable access. He could kill just as easily with his ghost powers, but he preferred not drawing attention to his supernatural abilities. He made his kills easily recognized for natural weapons: guns, knives, sometimes poisons. Things like energy balls would make the coroners that examined the bodies start asking too many questions, as would some other methods he could think of employing.

He left the hotel, looking the part of a successful business man, a perfect disguise that threw off those searching for the infamous hit man. He doctored up documentation that no one would be able to prove false. A smirk drew subtly across his face as he thought of how easy it all was. Those in his profession that got caught were fools, amateurs too stupid to understand the necessity for discretion. No one could last in this business without knowing how to cover their tracks, to keep their heads low and not brag and boast over every kill.

His first task on any mission was to stalk his prey. At their homes, or hotel rooms, was usually the easiest location to kill the target. Some assignments required a more public showing, clients wanting to be present to throw suspicion off them. Vlad shook his head at such thoughts, never understanding the minds of those clients. He had the feeling that this case would be more complicated. Jack was married to Maddie, that much he knew without need of reading the file. Killing him at home would require some finesse. Vlad didn't want to endanger Maddie's life in the process of performing his job. He needed to find a time when Jack wouldn't be in Maddie's presence.

The past week Vlad spent his days observing Jack's movements. Rarely did Jack go anywhere without his wife at his side. Ghosts were a more frequent part of life in Amity Park, Vlad discovered on the very first day when he trailed the Fentons to a ghost attack. Their weaponry impressed him, seeing their research assisted the improvement of their inventions. Maddie was as skilled a fighter as he remembered. Jack was - Well, he hadn't changed much either over the years.

But he had a plan for creating his opening. Hacking wasn't a difficult task to accomplish, especially when he happened to know of a ghost that could control all technology. A simple message that appeared to be from her sister got Maddie packing in a hurry. Vlad checked his watch. At this very moment, Maddie should be on a plane to Arkansas to see her, supposedly, ailing sister Alicia. And that meant that right now, Jack was finally alone, a sitting target for a hit man like Vlad to easily take out.

Night already started to fall, the sun almost completely vanishing beyond the horizon. The street lights flickered on as Vlad reached the house with the gaudy, tacky sign that read Fenton Works. Jack never was one for subtlety. The eyesore made Vlad cringed, but at least he never had to doubt that this address was correct. A light was on in the front room, signaling that someone was in fact home. Vlad glanced around the quiet neighborhood before he approached the house. Cautiously, he peeked into the front room, spying Jack sitting on the couch as he miserably flicked through the channels on the television. Not more than a few hours passed since Maddie left for the airport. Why did Jack have to look so pathetically crushed over the short separation with his wife? It was irritating to know how much in love the two of them were.

The click of the safety releasing on a gun was a familiar sound to him after all his years as a hit man.

"Turn around slowly."

Sammi: 8D Yay, I was sneaky~

midnight: Jack, run! D: Thanks~ =D Glad you liked it~

maltese: Everything Vlad x Danny! 8D *shot* XD;;;

Rebecca987: I'm happy you think it's good~ =)