A/N Another update! Let me know what you think.
It was early in the morning when I had to wake up and get dressed into a black leather jump suit. The clothing hugged my figure for comfort and mobility. Pulling on a pair of black boots, I attached a few weapons that had been supplied; a handgun to my thigh and two small daggers against my lower back. Heading out into the hallway, a guard escorted me up several flights of stairs. I'd noticed that the smear of blood made by the Doctors untimely fall still stained the concrete a slight orange colour.
Continuing up until we reached Base Level, the layout is much large as it's located at the top. Twisting and turning through a variety of corridors, I realised how secure the Facility actually is. With an abundance of fingerprint locks and camera's positioned everywhere, it's nothing like the lower level I lived on with the other girls.
Arriving on a wide platform in a large tunnel, there's a black van waiting along with Krupin and three guards, who are more heavily armed. Stopping in front of Krupin, one of the men held open a silver brief case and Krupin took out what was inside. Loading a syringe gun, he pulled my hair aside and shot the capsule into the side of my neck "This is a tracking chip, to make sure we can locate you afterwards" he placed back the syringe gun "Now, what's you mission?"
"Find and eliminated Markus Gregory" I replied confidently. I'd spent hours after the meeting going through the files and memorizing all that I had on my target. Searching through the information, I found leads on where he might be, but the most secure option is to follow him from his work place.
"Good. Remember, you have a week. No more" nodding my head in confirmation, I stepped into the van. The door slid closed as I sat in the back. The engine rumbled beneath me. The experience is different. I've never been in a vehicle before. Moving forward, we headed out a giant metal gate that lead out of the Facility.
Watching though the tinted windows, the world in real life looks surreal in a way. It's different than the one described to us in the textbooks. Things are bigger or smaller than I imagined they would be. I had to come to terms with the fact that, for the first time in my life, I'm no longer in the confined space of my underground world; where everything is dull and sterile. Instead I'm in a vast open space that feels as if it's unlimited in so many ways.
Pulling out a tablet, I searched the address of Marcus Gregory's workplace; which is an incredibly large building that's hard to miss. I decided that the best option is to wait in the opposite building and follow him home, after that I'd find my window of opportunity. Continuing to drive for several miles day and night, we eventually arrived in Dresden.
Reaching the drop-off zone in the cover of night, the door of the van swung open and I climbed out to see we'd pulled up in an alleyway. A guard handed me a black rectangle case that held a sniper rifle. I don't want to get close and personal when I didn't have to. One clean shot is all it takes "Meet us here for extraction" spoke one guard before closing the door.
Watching as the vehicle pulled out onto the main road and headed further away, I realised I'm now on my own. Being so late at night, there's no one around which makes moving about easier. Using the shadows as cover from the street lights, I rounded a few corners; the building lights and neon signs lit the way to where I needed to be. Standing across the road from the large building complex that's the workplace, I made sure it was the right one before slipping into another alleyway.
Coming up to the middle, there's a scaffolding that leads all the way up to the rooftop. Climbing up on to the large bin beside the brick wall, I jumped and grabbed hold of the metal bar and pulled down the ladder. Ascending with light steps and the metal case in hand, I made my way to the top with the wind blowing through my hair.
The building adjacent to the workplace has a quarter-walled trim going around the square edge of the roof which provides decent coverage. Placing down the rifle case, I stepped up to the quarter-wall and sat with my back pressed against it. It's cold tonight and my skin shivered a little with goose bumps. Peering up, I could finally see the tiny speck of stars coming from the sky. Those were the last things I saw before I drifted to sleep for the remainder of the night.
Waking up, the sun had already risen and I could hear the movement and various car noises coming from down below. Furrowing my eyebrows, I shook my head. I'm not used to so many noises – distractions. Even when studying the world inside and out, it still feels incredibly foreign. I don't feel as if I belong in their world. It's not the one I know.
Sitting against the quarter-wall, the day passed slower than anticipated. Looking up, an abundance of clouds crossed over the sun every now and then; temporarily blocking out the warm rays. Reaching down to my belt, I read the small toggle that told me the time. It's a few minutes from four o'clock and there's still no sign of Marcus Gregory. Sighing as an abundance of loud chirping sounded from above, I saw a flock of white birds flying over. Their wings are spread wide and they look free.
The day began to pass and the sun is setting in the sky; turning everything a mirage of colours. Watching over the ledge, I held a pair of binoculars as I looked over at the revolving door of the building. For a few minutes I did nothing but stare as men poured out of the building in a mass of bodies; all of them dressed in neatly pressed suits. Now's the time I assumed Markus would be leaving and I was right.
Standing in the middle, I spotted a familiar figure dressed in a grey suit and vest as he waved his colleagues good-bye. Tucking away my binoculars, I grabbed the metal case and quickly descended the scaffolding down the side of the building. I can't lose sight of him. Following behind, I weaved through the several buildings and alleyways.
After studying the local map, it was easier to predict his path even before he got there. Walking several blocks, Marcus eventually turned left and entered into an apartment complex made of orange brick. The sky had turned dark by the time we arrived.
Standing across the road, opposite of Marcus Gregory's apartment, there's a similar building that seemed to be abandoned. Going down the narrow space that separated in-between the abandoned building and the one beside it, I found a window and broke the old glass with my elbow. Dropping the metal case in first, I squeezed through the gap and avoided as much of the glass as I could.
Once I was on the other side, I glanced around to find I'm in a torn apart living room; graffiti everywhere and a few bits of rotting furniture. Finding my way to the front door, I brisked up the main stairs in the hallway until I got to one of the top levels. Kicking in the door for the room that I needed, dust began to fly through the air as a musky wet smell entered my nose.
Grimacing, I stood in the living room. There's a window that looked out across the road to overview Marcus' apartment. Old yellow curtains draped around the window which offered me coverage. Taking my time, I placed the case on the floor and opened it up. Assembling the sniper rifle, I laid the tip of my gun on the ledge of the window for some stability as I peered through the scope.
I still had to find which apartment he lives in. Scanning each of the windows, I waited patiently until I found Marcus taking of his tie after walking into the kitchen. Shifting, I made sure I had a bullet in the chamber before aligning my shot. But just as I was about to pull the trigger, he'd moved out of site only for a blonde woman in a blue dress to replace him.
The woman was talking with a smile on her face. Good news I suppose. Suddenly, Marcus stepped into view and the couple shared a passionate kiss. Picking her up, he spun her around before gently setting her back on the ground. The whole scenario was bizarre until the moment finally clicked. Marcus laid a gentle hand on her stomach and looked down. The woman is pregnant.
The sudden realisation took me back to doctor Krupin's words – that Marcus been compromised. The Facility must have been tracking him and the woman for months. It wasn't the fault that I'd previously thought; that he didn't do his job or someone had discovered what he was up to. Instead, it was because this man had fallen in love, and now he's a liability.
Of course, it'd crossed my mind that killing a father to be is a heinous and horrific act, but I'd come to terms that everyone has someone; a father, a mother, even friends. The fact is, no matter who you kill, there's always someone in the equation. It's not my job to sit here and ponder on what to do or whether it's right. I was sent here to kill Marcus Gregory, which meant pulling the trigger is the just the end of a mission.
Facility Surveillance
A large room filled with monitors and various screens, Surveillance is one of the many important rooms that the Facility contain. It allowed access to tracking chips, camera's, controls and is also responsible for both giving and receiving Intel and reports nationwide to other bases "The Asset has confirmed, target eliminated" announced a guard sitting at one of the many desks.
"Good, pull him out. She's done her job. We won't be needing him" sipping from a cup of tea, Krupin let out the breath he'd been holding. He'd hoped that the surprise news wasn't going to hinder Katya's ability to complete the mission, and he was correct. Although, if things didn't go according to plan Krupin had sent the Soldier to finish the job as a precaution. Perhaps, he thought to himself, Katya was indeed the girl he'd been waiting for.
The next afternoon I'd been extracted from the alley by the same black van, it was days before we arrived back at the facility. After showering and changing back into my usual grey uniform, I made my way to Krupin's office for debriefing. It was short and to the point, the way it should be. Of course I'd answered with the news of my success, but I suspect he would've known much earlier than now.
Weeks had passed as the rest of the girls one by one left for their own missions. Some of them came back and other didn't. It made sense that they didn't waste time in taking out the ones that fail their assignment. It only proved that it was indeed another test. I'd noticed over the course of time since getting back that we'd yet to see the Soldier. He failed to show up for training. I assumed he must be the one to get his hands dirty if one of the girls couldn't manage.
We stood in the showers, getting dressed after another ballet session with Madame. A conversation had sparked up "Josephine came back yesterday. She's in the medical bay. Her target shot her through the ribs" obviously stealth isn't Josephine's strongest suit.
"Is she going to live?" asked Juliet; a skinny girl with mousy hair.
"Fortunately for her, he's a clumsy shot. She'll live"
Pulling on my pants, I don't think fortunate would be the word I'd use. Getting up from the bench, I ignored the rest of the conversation as I made my way to the mess hall. Sitting down with my tray I started to think. Katlin was the last girl to complete her mission, she's only been gone three days so she still has plenty of time. If Katlin's smart she'll do what she's been ordered to. Knowing the red head, I have a feeling her kind heart will her downfall on the assignment.