Chapter 2

Keith burst through the wax covering his entire body, the water underneath had been cold and icy making him more energetic and focused towards getting out of the healing bath.

"Morning, Lash." said one of the men walking through the room.

"Hi.....who are you?" asked Keith still slightly dazed from his encounters

"Oh no one, I'd get to the boss he's looking for you." said the strange man, now waiting patiently by the bath-side with a pair of jeans and hooded top.

Keith entered the huge library of recorded assassination targets, he looked around and took in everything he could, no member of the Fraternity is allowed in the record room, why he was being asked in was a mystery.

"Hello Lash, it's good to see you alive and well after somewhat failed mission." said Slater as he stood on the curled staircase to his private quarters.

"Hell....Failed!?" said Keith shocked that all his hard work was wasted.

"Unfortunately....You failed to assassinate the designated target, and so we cannot call you a member of the Fraternity."

"It wasn't me who got the information from a bad source!" argued Keith.

"But it was your job to check it and make sure it was 100% correct!" Slater said with an authoritative tone.

"How could I do that?!"

"You knew a man inside, he had more than was needed to hack the computer terminal of the employer to find his employee's days off!" Slater began walking down the spiral staircase to meet his student, his boots making a dull thudding noise every step he took. "Luckily you were smart enough to kill him from a different angle so our agent in the vehicle won't be connected, and the gang member's will be accused for the murder."

"I'm sorry sir!" said Keith assuming an army-style salute. Slater's well-toned body stood perfectly still and streamlined as he let the salute hang in the air for a second or two. His grey suit blazer and pants with an open buttoned shirt made him look more like an official CIA member, but then when you saw the outline of his Baretta M9 in his jacket the fear would return and the knowledge that he was the brutal heir to the Fraternity organization of assassins returned.

"Sir, I am sorry I didn't mean to make such a simple mistake. " Said Keith still in salute for his mentor.

"Relax boy, everyone makes mistakes" sighed Slater in a strange change of character.

"Sir?"

"We won't be found out this time, so there are no worries..." Slater turned to a bookcase to his left.

"Your taking this well sir?" Keith said letting his guard drop slightly.

"...for me." Slater said a sick smile crossed his face. Quick as a flash he pulled a combat knife from the holster strapped to his leg. Grabbed Keith by the arm, and slashed from the top of Keith's left shoulder down to his right leg. The burning pain went through Keith like finger nails on a blackboard go through little children.

"What the fu.." Keith said as he was punched to the floor.

"No one messes up in my Fraternity!" Slater kicked Keith to make sure he wasn't getting up again, "got that?!"

"Yes......Sir!" Coughed Keith in pain as he tried in vein to stand up.

***

Keith walked along the dark and dirty street back to his apartment, his dark brown hair blowing in the wind, his green eyes out of focus as he thought about what his mentor had done and what he'd left behind to join the Fraternity, his family, friends anyone who cared if he lived or died, all to join this agency of assassins who could bend bullets and do the impossible like it was an everyday thing! He tried to kid himself into thinking that this is what he wanted to do...to save his family. It was more likely that his family was dead because of him, that was an answer he'd have to find out later.

As he entered his apartment Keith could feel something strange. As if someone was there! Watching him as he went into his fridge to scavenge the little food left. He turned towards his bedroom and went to open the door, that was when they struck! Strange masked creatures came from nowhere! Quickly Keith threw his slice of pizza at the closest creature blinding it for a whole of two seconds while he drew his Baretta from his pocket and loaded the barrel. Before he could fire he found a creature centimetres from his face jamming a taser into his chest. Keith collapsed in a spasm of pain as the taser barbs blasted 12,000 volts into his system. Can't move a muscle! At that point his body gave in and he fell into the depths of his own mind as he lost conciousness.