It was like Central Park. But it was an entirely different state, wasn't it?
It was all empty, save for a poorly dressed old man that was lying on his back in the wet grass. A single cricket made itself known with its cheerful nightly chirp. The leaves in the trees rustled slightly from the timid wind. A snail slimed its way along the concrete, completely silent.
Anthony sat slumped in a park bench. He paid no attention to the leaves, cricket, or snail. He was staring at the sleeping man intently. He didn't carry an expression of concern, but one of pensive thought.
You know you want his blood.
Rather the information was what he wanted.
It had been some hours now, waiting on the park bench. It was hard, but no harder than the marble floor of the L.A. Theater. The wooden planks creaked slightly as he moved to a slightly more comfortable position.
It was a strange reaction for one who had just been stabbed through the heart. After a single day he was sitting in a park bench staring at some old man sleeping. He hadn't eaten or walked around aimlessly or prayed to some god for answers. His azure eyes stared unblinking at the sleeping body, as if sending some unspoken message.
The man's head slowly turned to face Anthony, eyes open and awake. The man coughed slightly and sat up, hands now on the dark earth and optics still on Anthony.
"I thought he killed you."
Anthony didn't respond but his eyes blazed evermore.
"Must not have been that hard of a fall. But I must say that 20 stories plus would be a death wish to most."
He answered with silence.
"Still not talkin'?" The bum scoffed and started rummaging around in the dark. Anthony slowly stood up, hand wandering to where his rapier used to be. He was so familiar to the blade but it was gone now.
The rummaging stopped. As Anthony stalked closer, he could see the bum, who had been stuffing things in a big black bag, now staring up at him. A flash of fear went across his eyes, but it was quickly replaced with anger.
"What do YOU want?" he hissed out.
Anthony quickly grabbed the man's dirty collar and pulled him up so he could glare right into his ugly face. He slipped a stiletto from his belt and placed the point beneath the man's chin.
"Ah," the man said shakily. "I know. You want to know where Seamus is."
Anthony's hand shook with anger, almost digging the blade right into his jaw.
"Relax, kid! I stopped workin' for him when he cut my wages last week. This guy I know, he told me where he's residing now. You know the large mansion past the café around the corner?"
He nodded.
"That's where he's supposed to be. You wouldn't mind cutting the bastard's throat for me would you?"
Anthony blinked, giving the appearance of one who hadn't gotten what he asked for. The wind picked up, making his raven hair fly across his face.
"I told you what you wanted, kid, you can let me go now." The bum pulled Anthony's hands off his collar, straightening it. The assassin didn't move as the man picked up his black bag and slung it over his shoulder.
"Turned soft, have we?" he said in farewell as he turned into the blackness, walking away silently. Anthony stared after him, and twirling the blade in his fingers, he let it fly into the night. The screech and thump informed him of his direct hit. He heard the black bag fall and items rolling on the cement. He calmly walked up to the fallen body and retrieved his blade from the man's back. He did well to search for some cash as well. Even the wind had died down to drink up the sounds of murder.
Anthony pocketed the money he had found and lifted the blade to his eyesight. There was no light in the park but he could see the dripping blood shining on the metal. It was dripping down the handle and onto his fingers that enclosed it. He sniffed the fresh scent of blood, feeling almost as excited as if he was holding a clump of hair. His tongue met the blade and he tasted the sweet red liquid, feeling the heat go down his throat. Once his blade was clean, he hid it once again behind his belt. He didn't look back at the dead body as he turned around and headed away into the night, the darkness engulfing him.
