We arrived in the dusk with red skies above us. The pilot said the plane would needs refueling and an engine check. As he put it, we were going to be in Massachusetts for approximately for a day or two.

"Seems like a pleasant place," Angela breathed in the cold air.

"You should see it in the fall," I looked around at the familiarity. One town over, in Auburn, was where I made my first contract completion. An assassination that would lead to many more and make me the top twenty most purchased hitmen in the world.

"So," Angela put her hands on her hips. "Where to?"

"I know a girl who can help us," I hailed a taxi. We rode into the town of Worcester and exited our ride near the residential areas. A few churches were up the street and the air was filled with Spanish music. There was some American rap, but there was also warm gospel interlaced in the noise.

"Hey, kid," I called out to a teenager who looked like he could pass for an adult. A goatee and some fluffy hair. He was slightly husky with muscle from a light workout made him nearly a hulking monster.

The kid came up to me. He was wearing a black backpack and some gym shorts. "Yes?" He said in a deep voice.

"What's your name?"

"Doesn't matter."

"Great. Look, do you have some alias you go by?"

"Seven Pop."

"Look, Pops. Do you know a Claire Life?"

"The girl? Yeah, she's down the street at the orphanage."

"Thanks."

Pops nodded and hiked off quickly to catch the bus. Angela looked at me. "How did you know he'd know who she was?"

"Because Worcester's bus brings some interesting people together. Claire has a knack for fronting on people like him and if she always drops a name and address."

We went down the street and came upon a orphanage. Some teens were hanging around. Some hoodlums and a beggar. A couple men coming from the YMCA and a couple of Puerto Rican women with grocery bags going into their houses.

As the night was falling, the trash seemed to be lifting on the breath of the wind and tongues of quiet light. As we began to approach the orphanage, I saw a car shooting down the street. I held Angela back and let it pass before getting across the street to the front steps.

We knocked on the door. A woman opened the door. "Good evening," she said. "Can I help you?"

"Very much so," Angela smiled. "We are looking for a girl by the name of Claire Life."

"What for?" The woman eyed me suspiciously.

"For one, we're old friends," I cracked my knuckles in leisure. "Another reason is that she knows some information that can help track someone down."

"What are you supposed to be? Undercover cops."

"The world's most wanted," I stated without a blink of an eye.

The woman clearly didn't believe me. "Well, whatever you are, she better be back here by eleven."

"She isn't here?"

"No. Is she in trouble?"

"No!" Angela exclaimed. "But right now she could help us do something."

"Peter!"

"He's not here," a young girl said from inside. "He's with Claire."

"Emma too," another voice said.

"I'm not concerned about Emma," she said. She looked back at me with the motherly fake smile in the world. "Can you go find her and bring her back safely.

"We'll try our best."

"I don't want your best, I want your word."

"You have my word that she'll be back before dawn safely." Angela smiled. "But I can't promise before eleven."

"Fine, go quickly."

The woman shut the door and we set off to find Claire. I walked down the street with Angela nearby. I had already known where Claire was as soon as that woman said she wasn't at home.

We arrived by the train tracks where there was a building for lease. We hustled inside and heard some ruckus. I slipped on the mask and told Angela I'd squeeze her right ear if it wparticipantisguise. I became a thin skinny pale teen with freckles sprayed all over my body.

As I got closer, I saw there were some kids in a ring. Ranging from twelve to sixteen. In the center was a girl with dyed green hair smiling with gloves on and a bruise under her eye. She looked battered up, but unlike the kid on the ground bleed unconscious, she looked pretty victorious.

Claire Life.

I pushed my way into the center with Angela looking on from the spectators. Claire looked at me in my disguised form. She slammed her fist into her palm.

"Ready?" She asked bouncing like a boxer.

"To knock you on your ass."

Claire grinned as she got closer with a poise of martial artist. She threw a punch that I dodged out of the way of. She tried to do a high kick and I just hit her foot back to the ground. I hit her in the throat before putting my fist square in her stomach. With the sucker punch taking a gust of wind from her, I used the edge of my hand to chop down on her neck and put her flat to the floor. I put my knee on her back and hit her six times in a chain punch between the shoulder blades before pouncing away from her.

She got up with less of a smile and more determination in her eyes. She tried to lock a sweep on my feet and I merely lifted my foot to stomp on her ankle. I was actually lucky just to sprain in and not to break it. I knelt down as she grabbed her leg and I hit her as hard as I could in the eye.

I got up and looked at the silent crowd surrounding me. "I'm looking for a girl named Emma and a boy named Peter." I announced looking back at Claire.

A girl with dyed pink hair stepped forward. She wasn't like my weight lifting idol Zarya, but she was in the same shade of hair. The muscles came nowhere close though. This skinny girl could probably only lift thirty five kilos max.

"I'm Emma," she said. "And that's Peter," she pointed at a boy about the same age as Claire or so. He looked he spent all his ime into philosophical books. I felt that he was beyond what I saw on the surface.

"Get your shit, grab Claire, and let's go," I commanded.

"What makes you the boss?" She challenged me. I stepped forward and pulled out the translocator to throw behind her. I hit her in the jaw, hit her in the chest, and kicked her back before translocating to dropkick her body in motion. She flopped to the ground before I high kicked Peter and picked up the translocator.

"If you don't want to be a participant in what I can do with a gun, get the fuck out."

The group dispersed quickly. In their haste, they tripped over themselves before regaining their fastest speed and running out without second thought. I took off my mask and shoved it in my back pocket. I looked at Claire and went to her before picking her up. "Hey," I shook her. "Wake up."

"Nyght?" She recognized me faintly. "Nyght? Nyght! Holy shit!" I put her down. She shoved me to confirm her doubts that'd I was real. "What the fuck are you doing here?"

"We're on the run," I explained. "And we need to place to lay low."

"Did you have to whoop my ass?" She asked.

"Very much so," I said nonchalantly.

"How did you even find me?"

"Your caretaker is looking for you and she requested find and return you before dawn. We're only in town for two days before we have to move out."

"You know these people?" Emma said standing to her feet.

"Yeah," Claire said on shaky feet. Angela kneeled next to her and began to mend her body with a quick injection of nano tech. Claire would be alright in about fifteen minutes. Peter rose up and rubbed his head where I kicked him. He was quiet and did not moan out.

"Nyght was my dad's friend. He used to visit me almost every summer to steal my dad for a week before making it up to me by teaching me something new. Blades and lassoing were the biggest ones I remember."

"Why are you in an orphanage?" Angela asked. "Shouldn't you be with your father?"

"He was killed in a car crash about a year ago," she responded. I was slightly taken aback. Jack was a good friend and despite I heard rumors of his death, I never got confirmation. Because rumors are rumors and you can't believe everything you hear, but sometimes you'd hear a sprinkle of truth and you might miss it completely. I knew Claire came to Worcester because I always found her and wanted to make sure was safe, but it never really occurred to Mme why I never saw Jack.

"Sorry," Angela apologised genuinely. "My bad."

"It's okay," Claire responded. "What's your name?"

"Angela," Angela held her hand out. Claire shook it.

"Well, I suppose we could lend you a place with my boy Pops."

"Pops? We just ran into him."

"No, no. I'm sure you haven't."

"A mixed kid. Slightly husky." I started to describe the kid we saw in the streets.

"Very much sure you haven't met him. The kid you met is just some rapper in Auburn. He's fresh out. Representing East Coast, but he's no Goshi. But as for my Pops, he's a codenamed gang member. The Pops. He's laying low in an apartment out by the churches."

"Why is there an imposter of your Pops and the Pops we saw?" Angela asked.

"No, no. He is Seven Pops and he came up with that name on his own while he was doing time. My Pops formed his gang five years ago before I even came here and everyone goes by the name Pops. They're not you're average gang members either. They work exclusively as hitmen as far as I heard."

"Take us to him," I demanded.

"However, that's a one night guarantee. Right now, Emma is supposed to be sleeping at my house, but Aliyah doesn't know. Perhaps we can have you lay low in a motel with her. I'll see you in the morn-"

A boom cracked through the building. Gunfire.

I pushed Claire to the floor while I swooped low with Angela in my arm. Emma and Peter were smart enough to throw themselves to the ground and start pushing themselves towards the back exit. I didn't see any police lights, so it was either gang members or Angela and I were fucked.

"Find them," I heard a feminine voice yell out. A Frenchwoman. I dragged Angela to the exit and met up with Emma and Peter. I looked back and realized the nanotechnology hadn't fully kicked in and she was still mobilely incapacitated. I looked back at the others. I looked at Claire. Jack would curse me from heaven if I didn't save her.

"Wait here," I said. "Angela, put the translocator down when you guys are a safe distance away."

She nodded and they three left me on my own. I was crouched and I moved towards Claire slowly. I pulled her next to a crate and covered her mouth. When I removed it, she knew to be silent. I heard quiet footfall and the air being whistled through with quick swiveled weapons taking aim and checking corners. I looked around and stayed still in regards to a movement area. I peeked over the crate and saw it was men and women in black optic gear.

It wasn't Blackwatch, but it had a similar style. Kind of like impersonating a person without the same voice. They seemed more stealth than boom, but that didn't mean they weren't just as lethal. I crouched back down and put Claire into a princess carry. My fingers underneath her hamstrings and my other hand under her armpit furthest from me. I navigated through the darkness between crates and shelves trying to stay out of ear range and eye sight assisted by night vision.

We stopped one meter from the exit when a womanly figure stepped in front of us. I stopped cold and stared down at Claire to make sure she didn't breathe. I looked back up at the woman. She was looking around. She aimed her rifle and peered through the scope. She twisted her weapon and turned on her heel.

"He must've put down a false trail," she barked. "Group up at the university. Clark University. We'll discuss further action there."

The soldiers began to march out. After about a minute, she was still standing there looking in the soldiers' direction. "You know," she said aloud thoughtfully. "I wonder why you just made everything so much more complicated with Angela." The woman looked down at me and she smiled. My eyes were glowing yellow.

"No," I said examining the facial texture. "You're supposed to be dead."

"Well, Talon has a way of fix me up," Amélie whispered. "And I heard a lot of your squad abandoned you."

"No," I rose up. "They left because Morrison took over. He tried to arrest me for many things, but probably because he doesn't want threat to his power."

"I give no fucks how things went down. You have a fat contract on your head that reads ten whole zeroes after a one. But you, you're my friend. I can't help you really, but I can promise you that Talon won't be hunting you."

I put my hand on her chest and pushed her slightly. She was real. Claire was still silent. Amélie smiled and slapped me. Yeah, she was definitely was real.

"Wait," I said as she was about to walk away. "We're going to topple Overwatch after I find my daughter. Can I count on you to be there?"

"No," Amélie whispered. "I have contracts to fulfill."

"Then you got one from me."

"You don't have the money."

"How about a favor from my family? If I die, my daughter will have to help you on one mission. Word has it she's the No. 1 on the most wanted list."

Amélie raised her eyebrow intrigued. "Who's the target?"

"Ana! I want a bullet right into her eye."

Amélie paused. "Okay," she said at last. "We'll have her gone in a few days."

I nodded and forced myself to translocate. I stood in front of Emma and Peter with Angela picking up the translocator and offering it to me. I put Claire down and she only had a limp, but otherwise she'd be good in a few minutes. She was going to be nauseous though. That was assured. I pulled Angela aside. "Amélie alive," I said.

"Impossible."

"Wouldn't lie to you."

"Is she hunting us?"

"The opposite. But she can't help us."

"Okay, well, that's a reassurance."

"Much so."

"Wait, whoa, whoa," Emma put her hands up. "If you're on some type of terrorist level blacklist, we can't help you. The most we can do is get you a motel room. We can't have you near any of our friends."

"Emma-" Claire began to protest.

"She's right," Peter observed me. "I'm not a snitch, but I can't have my friends hit up by snipers and mercenaries."

"Fair enough," I said. "But I do need someone to help me lay low. I'm not acquainted with these parts of town." I was lying, but I just wanted to get some information from Claire.

"I'll come see you in the morning," Claire said. "There's a bunch of hotels in Auburn. I'll say we get you one across the street from the mall."

"I'll be there," I said. "Let's get you home now."

Emma pulled Claire aside and talked to her privately. Peter was still observant of me. I looked over at Anglea and she gave a small smile that was thin.

"We'll talk when we get there," I assured her.

"I believe that."

"You're the second most wanted man," Peter said suddenly. "Nyght Nïver." I looked at him with a glare.

"Careful where you say that name," I said.

"I don't really care, all I know is you betrayed Overwatch. Why did you come here if all you'll do is put Claire in danger?"

"Because my plane landed here and it's refueling."

"But here, out of all places? From Switzerland, you could've gone to Canada, Saudi Arabia, North Carolina. Why are you here of all places?"

"I don't know. I'm out to New York in a couple of days."

"Okay," he nodded with suspicion in his eyes. "I'll see you tomorrow as well."

Emma pulled Claire along and we returned to the orphanage where I gave the teens over and we left for Auburn. We caught a public bus to the mall before hiking down from the from the mall to the motel. After paying for our room and receiving the keycard to room 5, we entered to a bed and a TV. Very quaint and roomly. Not a five-star, but not too bad.

"Tell me," Angela crossed her arms. "Start explaining how she could be alive."

"I don't know," I said. "She-"

"You need to come clean with me."

"What do you mean?"

"Look, Reyes said he didn't know about any drug being shot into you. That means there is no medicine to bring the dead back to life. That can't be Amélie or Reyes is lying."

"No," I shook my head. "I have death records on me. You've seen them."

"I have. Look, I did my research and the only experiential drug developed before I came was stolen or at the least, went missing. Everything else has come through me and I do not let those drugs be distributed or let out from, lock, key, and scanner sight. So either Reyes stole a drug or you were mistaken for dead and therefore Amélie doesn't exist."

"Claire saw her. I don't know what Reyes told you, but the others were sure I had died. My conditions are living proof."

Angela looked at me untrustful. "Okay, but, something doesn't add up."

"If we survive, I'm sure we can all talk this over."

"You don't get it," Angela blinked hard.

"Get what?"

"Because if you're describing everything right, then you are the only recorded patient that was resurrected. You were literally injected with the cure to death."

"So?"

"If it worked once, why hasn't been made in mass production?"

"Wait, you're suggesting that we should've mass produced this and stopped death?"

"Yes," she had huge bright eyes. "We can be immortal. We can live together forever. We can bring back everyone who was dear to us. I can see my parents again. We can go and help those in hospitals. We can-"

I touched her shivering excited little body. "Angela, no."

"What?"

"We shouldn't be playing God."

"Why not?"

"Death is implemented for a reason. That's what makes life special."

"No, no," she put her finger on my lips. "You're always being Christian, but if we could be immortal, we could make our own Heaven. There would be no reason to look forward to an afterlife."

"Angela, we live in a world where Omnics live side by side with us. How the fuck did we get to this point with simple technology? We let electronics rule our lives and the afterlife gives so much more than brain dead people."

"But what about people who died too early?"

"Just let nature do it's work."

"What about Genji? He wouldn't be alive without the technology. And Mecree? He would be dead after his arm was blown off. We saved him. The technology."

I pursed my lips. They were some of my best friends. I couldn't condemn them to death.

"And what if I died?" Angela looked up to me. "Wouldn't you want to bring me back? Or if you died? I would go from both ends of the Earth to get you back."

"Angela, stop!" I put my hands on her shoulder. "You are speaking madness."

"No," she said battling tears in her eyes. "I can't go on without you. I already lost my parents. Just imagine if I could gtet them back and we could live-"

"Angela! I'm right here. Don't focus on the future. You'll never notice what we have now," I let my eyes slip into a dark hue of honey. "Look at me."

She hugged me to hide her face. "I want them back," she cried. "It's so unfair."

"The world is unfair," I let myself hold the embrace. "We have to carry on."

"Nyght, I don't want to lose anymore people."

"Angela," I pulled her away and leveled myself to her height. "I am right here and I am not going to leave you. After this and a favor to Reyes, we are done. We'll retire to a peaceful place where you can be the doctor you always wanted to be around the greatest physicians and psychologists in the world and I can be calm with a pen in hand writing a book. We can have a kid and show the world we're able to be retired with no affiliation to Overwatch."

Angela started snivelling as she nodded and brushed the back of her hand over her eye. Her face was dark red as if she blushed with a split vein. A shade of vermilion. Those tears were nothing but dross and I yearned for her to wioe them away so she'd return to her happiness. I do not condemne saddnes nor do I believe it should be suppressed, but madness over life and death! Those must be put to rest. They'd tear any man or woman apart like a rag in the woodchopper.

I smiled and embraced her. We were just due here for a day more. We merely cuddled in the bed and watched some TV until she fell asleep in my arms. I tucked her in and went to get in the shower.

My white skin was like my flashbang knife and was painful to look for an extended period of time in the midst of white humidity and white tile walls. After cleaning myself and drying off, I looked at myself in the mirror. I observed myself. I was hideous like a swan. Strangely elegant, but so weird like the defect of having a long neck. Except unlike a swan's long neck, I had the brighter complexion of it's feathery armor. My eyes were pure white as I was bored.

I wrapped the towel around my waist and went out to lay next to Angela. She was already curled on her side. When my back hit the mattress, she moved closer to me and held onto me. I laid there for a couple of minutes and watched the movie play out. Something about a dude with claws popping out of his knuckles going by some animal name.

"There's a pizza place that still open." I said suddenly. Angela didn't seem to be awake. I sighed. Maybe she was really asleep and she was just attracted to heat sources. Only way to find out. "They have Swiss chocolate," I whispered carelessly into the air not looking at her.

"Yes," Angela said after momentary silence.