Karma With A Bow On Top

The holidays. Almost everyone I know loves them. But for me it just reminds me of the life I could’ve had… The life I threw away all those years ago. But why does that matter? I chose this path and I can’t take back what I did. Not ever. So I just keep a low profile and when duty calls, I answer it. Usually this time of year is super busy for me.

 Weird, right? I guess they find it the easiest time to hire a mercenary to take out someone. Maybe it’s because it is always busy at this time and if someone doesn’t show up, they just guess they took the weeks before the holidays off. No one expects that person to be dead…

But this year things have been rather… Calm, to say at the least. I’ve only gotten three calls since the season began and now the time is finally coming to the end… Christmas was only a couple days away if that… Almost no one is at work or school. So they are out and about, enjoying time as a family. Most of the time careless of those around them.

There was a knock on my door, quick and loud. I instantly knew it wasn’t anyone I knew. But I still got up and opened the door. But nobody was there. Only a carefully wrapped box, sitting on my door mat, a golden bow on the top of it.

Well, that’s… Odd. 

I picked it up and brought it inside and set it on the table. Still utterly confused. No one dares to come near my house anymore… I like it that way… They all just say there is something off about me. That ain’t far from the truth, that's for sure. 

So who would have the guts to put that box there… And more importantly why?

No one really did anything kind, just to be kind. There was always a reason behind it. I pulled off the note that was on the box and peeled it open. 

“Happy Holidays Gregoryan, I thought you could use a little something to make your days a little brighter.”

Hmm… Yeah right… I thought, grimly.

There was no signature, which raised my suspicions even more. I carefully unwrapped it, and opened the box. Laid hidden under a cloth laid a dagger, the handle neatly engraved. I backed away, it was my weapon of choice… But who knew that? More importantly, how? 

Pull yourself back together man! I yelled at myself. I walked back over and lifted up the knife. Tied to the handle laid another note. I fumbled with the string until it came undone, then I picked up the note and opened it.

“I know what you really are Gregoryan. You can’t hide from me. If you want to find a way out of being sent off to jail… Meet up with me at Bramblscar. Bring that dagger with you. I don’t care if it makes you more dangerous. It’s more of a sign you got my letter. I’ll give you two days… If you don’t show… I’m sending the cops. Then good luck getting free. Even the most skilled mercenary can’t escape their grasp.”

I stared at the note for a long time, my blood ran cold. I knew what would happen if the cops found out, death would be the best outcome…

I could run…

But I knew the cold facts. Even if I did run, they’d find me and my life would be ruined even more. I had no other choice, I had to go meet up with this stranger to see what they wanted. I glared at the dagger on the table. I knew it was probably a trap. But I had to take that risk. I had done so much to avoid the cops… I wasn’t gonna let them take me now. 

I picked the knife up and slid it in the sheath that it came with, then clamped it onto my belt. Then hide any evidence of being a mercenary before walking out the door, knowing I would regret it later.

***

It takes a day to get where they wanted me to go. Which worries me that I'd be too late. But as my destination came into view and there weren't any cops trailing me or anything. Which helped me calm down a bit.

I walked into the small building, and looked around. But it didn't look like anyone was there.

"Hello?" I called, trying to keep myself calm. I had never been the one who liked being in the unknown.

The only answer was an eerie silence.

Bang!

The noise made me jump and I whipped around to see the door was shut. I walked over and tried to open it. But it was locked. My heart instantly sped up as I pulled at the door with all my might. But it wouldn't budge.

"Give up, Gregoryan." A cold voice hissed. "It's locked from the outside. You're stuck with me."

I whipped around to see a man staring at me. He wore a cold dark expression.

"Charles!" I scoffed.

"Why didn't you just tell me you were a killer for hire?" He scoffed back.

"You think I would just openly say that?"

"Well, I'm not letting you leave without a discussion."

"Fine." I scoffed, sitting down. "I'll talk..."

"It wasn't a question."

I shifted, I already didn't like this. "Okay... What do you want."

He gave me an innocent look. "I want to talk about your fate Gregoryan."

"What about it?" I asked, roughly.

"Well..." He started, "I now know what you are... And I can't just let you leave..."

I stared at him, anger burning in my eyes. Seemingly unaware of my face he continued to talk, "I'll give you three options..."

"And what would those be?" I snarled.

"One; I can call the cops. Two; I could kill you, or three; you can drink this." He slid a via over to me.

I picked it up and sniffed it, a bitter scent rushed into my nose. I began to cough rapidly.

"Tearpoison? You monster... That's the worst kind!" I hissed, in between coughs.

He shrugged "The choice is yours..."

"I'll die either way!" I hissed.

"Maybe you shouldn't have been so clumsy on your last job than Gregoryan. Now chose your fate."

"I hope you regret everything you ever do beyond this day." I scoffed, raising the vial to my lips, "And that you will always be haunted by the guilt that you killed a man, a day before Christmas." I poured it into my mouth and felt the affects of the poison instantly.