There was cold and there was pain, they're all gone now.

The world around Shoe was fuzzy and grey when he wearily cracked open a tiny eye, there was nothing to see. It felt as if Shoe had been living the longest dream within a patchwork of vivid, surreal fantasies. There were bits and pieces he could recall, fleeting memories so vague he could only remember their lasting impressions. A twinge of loneliness washed over him.

He felt himself floating up, then down, rising higher and higher with no end in sight. Soon he heard voices, muffled, incomprehensible words. Then a tinny sound, soft and consistent, it swam and reverberated in his tired eardrums - did they come from inside his head or was something waiting at the end of this dream?

...

Footsteps, slow and steady, echoed in whitewashed corridors splashed with sunlight. Doors and numbers in the line of sight ran left and right. The unmistakable hiss of inhaled breath, held, released in a gentle rush.

This habit never failed to direct focus on the task at hand. It helped every time men were struck dead where they stood from high above.

Today would be no different.

The footsteps fell silent as they stopped in front of door 215.

Knock knock.

...

Adrian Andrews had just stepped out of the shower wearing a towel over her hair, a long black t-shirt and a pair of denim shorts. She wandered towards the kitchen to go over the mail she left on the table. Her job interview for an art curator placement went well and today was when she would hear from the employers.

Life after imprisonment was difficult but she had managed to do well on her own considering she couldn't use any of her old connections anymore. With encouragement from new friends she made during last year's trial, she was able to put her most of her old life behind her.

Of course that didn't stop the rumours and articles detailing her ordeal, but that's fine as she was willing to accept it all. There was no denying that the past always has a way of catching up to people -

Knock Knock.

Adrian turned her head towards the door.

Knock Knock.

Walking carefully on bare feet towards the peep hole.

"Yes?"

There was a FedEX courier with a parcel in his hands.

Ah hello there, I've got a package for an Adrian Andrews?

What a pleasant surprise, Adrian didn't think the F-16 resin model kit she ordered off the net last week had arrived so quickly. Having recently assembled a 1/800 scale model of the USS Enterprise, she thought she could use another distraction while waiting for people to get back to her about job openings.

"Sure, just a second -"

Adrian then opened the door to write an electronic signature for the delivery, catching a brief glimpse of the courier's odd-coloured eyes that thinned at their corners when he flashed a smile at her.

"Ok, sign right here please, thank you very much… Beautiful weather out there isn't it!"

Looking up towards the window where the man was staring at, she saw the trees bearing tiny green buds that glistened from the melting snow in the spring sunshine.

"Yes… It's nice that it's getting warmer these days".

She finished putting the last flourish on her signature and was handed her parcel, which felt heavier than she thought it would.

Without thinking Adrian asked about the man's odd coloured eyes, then quickly caught herself and apologized for the inquiry. The courier reassured her it was fine, explaining that he was partially blind and had to wear a corrective contact lens in his left eye. He tipped his hat, bid her goodbye and walked off as she answered in kind and closed the door.

Walking towards in the living room Adrian set the package on her coffee table. When she was about to open the box, her ears picked up a faint ticking sound that nearly sent her flying into a state of panic.

Racing to her room to pick up her cell phone, she was about to dial 9-1-1 before she looked back on the coffee table and noticed the box had mysteriously been ripped apart. Packing peanuts had spilled onto on her carpet, the source of the ticking sound came from a gold pocket watch buried in a pile of green and white foam. It looked rather old, upon closer examination of the engravings the craftsmanship was also excellent.

Just who would send her an antique watch? The condition of the box on the other hand worried her. A soft thump in the distance startled her and she looked all around her in a fright.

Something was in this room...

Before she knew it, she squeaked when that something had landed on her shoulder, knocking her onto the couch and pinning her beneath its weight.

Adrian caught her breath and turned to face her attacker; a cat was sitting on its haunches by her stomach, its tail twitching slowly from side to side.

Squinting as she readjusted her glasses, Adrian gasped -

Hello kitty!

Shoe perked up and pounced on her neck. Adrian practically screamed when he found a particularly sensitive spot and nuzzled her neck like crazy.

It took some time for Shoe to figure out he had been sleeping in a box. When he started moving around, his claws scraped against the cardboard, letting in a bit of light from outside. He scratched and scratched again until he was free to run around the room. Wherever he was, the old man was nowhere to be found.

Shoe held that thought when he caught that familiar sweet scent hanging in the air. When she came into his field of vision, he couldn't contain his excitement and decided to surprise her like he used to do. He missed her very much.

Adrian held Shoe in her arms to give him a gentle squeeze as she kissed his forehead and rubbed his neck. That was when she noticed a piece of paper sticking out of Shoe's collar.

She unfolded the typewritten note and began to read -

"Ms. Adrian Andrews,

I must offer you my sincerest apologies for the trouble I caused you during an incident that took place last year, the State vs Engarde case I'm sure you remember. Although it had been a mistake on my part to have placed my trust in my former client, it did not excuse my attempt to incriminate you in his stead.

I will not ask for your forgiveness, however I will give to you an item I accidentally acquired at the Engarde estate: a kitten.

He's a rather inquisitive creature - perhaps too curious for its own good - but he is an adoring and devoted creature who deserves a good home. Actually he had been pining for you ever since I adopted him.

For a young lady living alone in the city, I'm sure he will make good company. You might also find him to be very useful as a bodyguard, I had him trained to respond to certain commands for everyday tasks. The instructions for their use are inside the pocket watch, pull on the knob thrice and push back in to open the secret compartment.

Do not worry, I have no plans on visiting this continent again. Given the sort of lifestyle I am accustomed to, I am unable to give this kitten what he needs. As he had lived poorly in a previous life, I can only pray he finds good fortune with you in this one.

Yours,
Shelly De Killer.

PS: The kitten seems to have quite the appetite for tuna steak, please be sure to keep some in stock. It helps whenever you need to bribe him to do something for you."

With a small smirk and a raised brow, Adrian read the letter over and over till she finally set it down on the table. She carried Shoe with her to the window and looked outside at all the high rise buildings. She obviously wouldn't expect to find the telltale sign of a tiny lens reflection on any of the roofs, but she smiled and waved with Shoe. This was her way of saying thanks.

Spying on the two from the building across the street with a sniper scope, de Killer couldn't help but crack another rare grin as he packed up his rifle with the rest of his belongings and set off on a journey to make a new life for himself.

Tipping his hat one more time, he whispered -

May the both of you be blessed with longevity.

The End.