Before you go🖤

I watch a girl walk down the hallway to her room. She can't see me standing in the dark corner, covered by shadows.

She opens the door, and grins. I don't move, already knowing who’s in there. He smiles at her, the same way he smiled at me. He pulls her into the room, and I hear the click of the lock.

"Fine, I'll do it." I mutter.

Micheal materializes beside me, smirking. "Thought you would."

"Shut up." I snap. "When does it need to be done?"

"Sunrise, if you do it." He says. "And keep the girl alive, Rez."

I scowl, hating the name they all call me. "Fine."

He disappears, and I sigh. Being an assassin, I've never hesitated to kill someone. But this is different. He was the love of my life.

I go down the hallway, the lights flickering as I pass. I need to calm down. The more anger I have, the more my power takes control.

I walk to the window at the end of the hallway, and open it. It's a long fall, but I've climbed this hundreds of times.

I reach for a branch, swinging to the trunk, and climbing till I find a sturdy branch. I sit there, and pull out my bag, examining my knives.

Leo.

I wince at the voice in my head. I don’t know why it's there, but it is. "What?"

Are you really going through with this?

"Yes." I reply.

I thought you loved him.

I do. But I also have to do my job. I should've known better then to fall in love. Micheal warned me.

Well, I have an idea. The voice says.

"No." I snap, but it's too late. They bring me into a memory.

 ----

"Who are you?" He asked me.

I scowled, and tried to kick him. I couldn't. I was tied too tight.

"Why are you here?" He asked.

I was in a small apartment. The whole thing was one big room, and I could see everything, including my knife on the counter by the sink. The boy in front of me looked my age. He had curly black hair, and light skin peppered with freckles.

I closed my eyes, and let the shadows take over. When I opened my eyes, he was wrapped in them.

A tendril of darkness cut through the rope he tied me with, and I stood, and frowned at him.

"Who are you?" I asked.

He struggled, but gave up quickly. "I'm Carlos."

"How did you catch me?" I demand. I had never been caught before.

"It wasn't that hard. You fell through my window, with a knife in your hand. Then you passed out. I didn't know what else to do."

I had just killed a group of guards. They must've hit me harder then I thought.

"Well, I have to kill you." I said, plucking my knife off the counter.

His eyes widened. "Please don't."

"Why?" I asked, putting the tip of the knife to his throat.

He bit his lip. "I have a family. They can't make money, so they depend on me."

"How do I know you won't tell anyone about me?" I asked.

He shrugged. "No one would believe me, anyway."

"Fine. You can live." I said. The shadows disappeared, and he dropped to the ground. "If you tell anyone, I'll kill you and them."

I walked to his window, but before I could leave, he stopped me.

"Are you ever going to come back?" He asked.

I tried not to smile. "We'll see."

 -----

"Why would you show me that?" I mutter, rubbing my head.

You needed to see it.

"No, I didn't. Are you trying to make me feel guilty?"

Yes. Ready for the next memory?

"What? No, don't-"

 ----

"Hey, Leo." Carlos said, smiling at me.

I smirked at his pajamas, climbing in through the window. Yes, I told him my name. I trusted him enough.

He pulled me to him, kissing me softly. He stopped short, finding a cut on my neck.

"What happened?" He asked.

I sighed. "Guy fought back."

"Come here." He said gently.

He had a first aid kit in the bathroom. I was convinced it was for me due to how many times I got hurt. I could do it myself, but, even though I'd never admit it, I loved how he cared for me.

"There." He said. He wrinkled his nose, which was adorable. "When's the last time you took a shower?"

"Rude." I said. Then, "A week."

He shook his head, smiling. "Shower, Leo. I'll wash your clothes."

"Fine, whatever." I muttered as he left the bathroom.

When the door shut, I smiled. I really loved him.

After the shower, I put on one of his hoodies, and a pair of pants.

I was tired, but I never fell asleep at his house. I couldn't risk it, no matter how much I trusted him.

I walked out, and he grinned at me. He was sitting on the couch, a blanket over his legs. He held out his arm, and I curled up to his side. He was reading a book, but put it down.

"Will you read to me?" I asked. I had never been a great reader, since it wasn't a skill I needed. I didn't tell him that, but he always read for me.

As he read, my eyes slowly started to shut. I tried to keep them open, but I was tired, and comfortable, and before I knew it, I was asleep.

 ----

"You really hate me, don't you." I say to the voice.

I'm trying to help you, Leo. I know you don't want to do this.

"Why wouldn't I?" I demand. "He probably hates me."

Do you remember what happened? Really?

"I - yes, of course."

That's not true. I've tried not to think about it too much.

Liar.

"So?"

I'll help you remember.

"No, I-"

 ----

"What? No, Dad, it's not-"

I woke up to yelling. I sat up immediately.

Carlos was standing in front of me. I looked around him, and saw someone who must’ve been his dad.

“I didn’t raise you like this!” He bellowed. He slapped Carlos, hard, making him stagger backwards. He doesn't look suprised, and I assume it's happened before. That makes me really mad.

A second later, I pinned him to the ground. I scowled, my skin black, and steaming from anger. He screamed, until he didn’t.

“Leo!” Carlos yelled, pulling me off. He dropped to his knees, putting his hand on his dad’s chest. “Is he..did you kill him?”

“He’s fine.” I mumbled, reaching for my clothes, which were on the coffee table. My knife clattered to the floor, and I picked it up, going to the window.

“Leo, where are you going?” He asked, grabbing my wrist.

I pulled away from him. “I don’t know.”

“Wait, please, I didn’t know-”

“Carlos, please. I’ve got to go.” I snapped, opening the window.

I pulled myself up with a branch, and climbed to a thick branch. I covered the window with shadows so he didn’t see where I went. When I looked back, he was crying.

 ----

“Would you just leave me alone?” I demand.

You know you don’t want to kill him. You still love him.

“No, I don’t. I hate him.”

 Why would you hate him? You're just jealous.

“I am not.”

You miss everything about him.

“Stop it.”

You think it’s your fault.

“It is!”

But you left because you were scared. You thought he would hate you. But he misses you. He still loves you.

“Why would he love me?”

You were just trying to protect him.

“Shut up!” I shout, gripping my head. “I’m killing him. I don’t care what you do!”

If you hate him, why did you keep his hoodie?

He’s right. Of course he is. I still love him. 

“You don’t want to kill him.” 

I blink. That was the voice, but it wasn’t in my head. I look up, and there’s Carlos, sitting across from me.

“Carlos?” I say. I knew the voice sounded familiar.

He smiles. “Hey, Leo.”

“I - I’m so sorry. I don’t know why I ran, I was scared you would hate me, and -”

“Leo.” He says softly, taking my hand. “It’s okay.”

I shake my head. “I’m supposed to kill you.”

“I know.” 

“I don’t want to.”

“I know.”

“I-”

He kisses me, and I let him. I missed him so much. I wish I never left him. And now, I agreed to kill him, but I’m not going to be able to do it.

“Break it up, you too.” Someone says. 

It’s Micheal. He’s sitting on the air, legs crossed. He looks bored, like usual.

“Boss said you don’t have to kill him.” He tells me.

I sigh in relief. “Thank you.”

“Whatever.” He says before disappearing again.

I smile at Carlos. “I love you.”

“I love you too.” He says. “But I have to do this. I'm so sorry.”

“What?” I ask.

Suddenly, something flies towards my face, knocking me out of the tree. I pass out before I hit the ground.