Familiar Angel

I dreamt of Heaven.

With its cascade of trumpets, they greeted me in like a mother embracing its young. Like I belonged in the arms of heaven. My eyes fluttered and marvelled at the beauty of my creator, the band of angels singing a choir with the air vibrating in harmony. I have never seen the sky moving closer to me before.

Or is it me?

"Oh no." The voice pierced through my mind, "Why was I so afraid for falling for you?"

The moments of that scene played like a broken recorder, blurry and obscure. The touch of his hair. The gentle strokes of his hand which seemed to match with my heartbeat. More than a mother's embrace. I caught a glimpse of his smile. It was not warm or cheery. Rather, it was sorrowful and wistful. Like the pain of losing a pet or moving away to a new place. Those gentle moments became a myriad of memories, from sensitive heartbreaks to lustful thoughts. With each passing moment, all the recollections of this life took off as soon as you approached closer to the radiant glow in the sky.

The rays of the light bore through my eyelids with a tear in my eye.

"Ade, are you awake?" The sound of my partner's voice which seemed like an alarm clock jolted me awake. My eyes got flashed by the sudden sunlight which escaped through the tents opening. The air was stiff and unmoving as I got up, groggily rubbing my eyes. The forest scent remained on the cotton of the tent, with fresh rain making it seem chilly.

"You are finally awake." She hummed with a hint of worry, "I heard noises coming from your tent. Is something wrong?"

"No, nothin." My dry throat tried to reassure her.

Having lucid dreams like these are normal. I would scream and shout while in deep sleep, and would also hurt myself by digging my nails in my arm or pulling my hair, but very rarely. Back in my town, I used to tell people about their future that I see in their dreams. They usually will not believe a little kid like me and when their fate has hit them like I said it would, they blame me for putting a curse on them. As a child, no one knew what they should do with my powers so they tossed me aside just like my parents did when i was much younger. No orphanage would dare take me in and some people even tried to stab me in the back and kill me.

So i ran.

And ran.

I never stopped running.

Until fate has hit me too. A group of people picked me up form the streets and took me in. They were different. Like me. A batch of oddballs trying to change the status quo. If the world won't like us, then don't like them back. It was the only place where i felt secure and safe. Where my heart and mind can rest and not worry about a thing. It was where I thought I was wanted and loved.

However, good things never last.

"Rosie, have you packed your things?" I prompted.

"Yes. And I went out of my way to pack yours too!" She avidly said, with her cheery, bubbly tone, causing a crease on my mouth to form. My partner always had this way to brighten my day.

I rose to my feet, tossing aside my cover. My legs stepped forward warily as i lifted up the tent's flaps. It was a new day in camp out in the wilderness with the air gushing at me.

"Let's go, Rosie."

+++++++++++

The chatter of people was replaced by cars bustling in the air. The town, busy as always, had the smell of cement and industrial smoke stronger than usual. With the women walking down the sidewalk in their tight corsets and fancy dresses and men with neatly buttoned up suits, I was sure that I was in the right place. The gravel underneath my foot crunched as i crossed the street, the scent of petrol pungent as it reached my direction. This is the other side of the town, Castle Combe, with one of the beautiful forest beside it.

"Curse these hooligans, always trying to advance in technology." I muttered under my breath.

Rosie gave me a pat on my back to reassure me. She knew how much I loathe this place and dread coming here just to complete a task ordered by one of our higher-ups. Once I was taken in by the organisation- my safe haven- Deluse, they started training me as a war machine, driven by the hatred for 'normal' humans.

"The target will be at the meeting location tomorrow, midday, so we should find a place to stay and plan on 'meeting' him." I instructed.

"How about that place which we stayed before?" Rosie asked. I shook my head as we walked down the sidewalk. I knew she was an intermediate of assassinating targets, but she must know how to avoid danger too. I buried my face into my scarf as passer-by's walk by, as to not cause any suspicion. Rosie followed behind me, a height taller than me and walking like a normal person.

"Since our target is in the same organisation with one of our previous target, they may have their eye on that apartment," I explained quietly, " so we will go stay at one of our ESP spies instead."

She received the message and nodded.

+++++++++++

I sat at the chair of the little tea shoppe across the busy streets of Castle Combe. This corner of town was quiet and peaceful with very few residency. With my situation, I needed some time off and reorganise my thoughts. Sipping on the tea, I acted like a normal lady in town, with heavy makeup covering my face. Rosie was busy hanging out with men like she would usually do. I flipped through the pages of the newspaper idly with my mind floating in the clouds. While dozing off, someone stood across my table and peeked at me through the edge of the newspaper to make eye contact.

"Angel?" He said with hesitance.

I looked at him with big eyes and blushed with his deep tone reaching my consciousness. I took a good, long look at his face while he smirked.

"I'm sorry?" I chuckled in disbelief. This man really randomly came up to me and called me by a term of endearment, "Who are you talking to?"

He brought down the newspaper and observed my face too. My eyebrows knitted together with my face turning red. I brought back up the newspaper to my face and hoped he will go away. He stared hard at my bracelet around my wrist me Master gave to me a long time ago with a gleam in his eye. I peeked to see his raven, black hair and tight, black blazer and white shirt complimenting every muscle-

No, what am I thinking?I rearranged my hair and frowned even harder, trying to ignore him. Suddenly, he walked away after tapping his tattooed finger on the table and licking his lips. Oh, he was hard to ignore. That weird interaction was surprisingly making my heart race even after only making eye contact. I bit my lip and thought about it. Shaking my head, I knew that this town had its own outcasts so maybe it was normal to be hit on like that.

I looked back to see he was gone from the shoppe on the streets with his pockets in his hands. He was familiar and strangely attractive.

++++++++++++++

Rosie met me at the tea shoppe a minute after she bid her goodbyes to her 'friend'. I pulled out a map to show her the layout of the place. I directed my hand towards the location where we were supposed to meet our target on the map and marked it with a pen. The target will meet us at half past six, so we have to set up everything and get ready before that. The location, a bar in the most furthest part of town and was partially deserted. The perfect spot to secretly meet up with someone sketchy to discuss about drug trading. And also to plan an assassination on someone.

Our target belonged to a small organization of hitmen. Not really popular but has the potential to be a blooming company. Grandmaster felt that before they overtake our company, we assassinate the leader first.

"I am entrusting this mission with you, Adeleine." Erwin said, " I believe you have the skills to finish this quickly and quietly, my…" He stroked the back of my hair gently then whispered, "my precious darling." He said the words to soft to hear.

"We have to remove the informant out of the way for the others to destroy them from the inside." I said in my quietest voice. Rosie glanced at me then looked back at the map.

"But what if the informant is formidable?" She questioned.

"That is why want to start off with the assassinating the bodyguard first. Apparently, he has got an attraction for girls like you," I said bluntly and watched her reaction as it unfolds.

"I'm… I'm a decoy?"

I nodded my head and proceeded to further explain the plan. She sat there stunned, playing with her skirt and biting her lower lip. I could tell that she was not focused so cleared my throat, jolting her.

"Hey," I said, "You'll live. I am sure of it."

+++++++++++++++++++

Wooden stools lined up along the bar's counter. The night was the adult's playtime here, where they can drink however they like. The bar where we were supposed to meet our target was awfully small and was popular with people who were poor and could only afford drinks here. Laughter filled the air with unmelodious singing filled the air. Rosie had already made some friends in the bar. Male friends I bet she will be bringing home. She had a pretty face anyways. She giggled innocently to the men's jokes, with one of their hands running down her waist. 'Henry' was his said name by Rosie. The bartender with rolled up sleeves moving from one end of the counter to the other approached both Rosie and me.

"Why not follow me home, pretty damsels-" 'Henry' suggested, his eyes glancing at my body, before he was interrupted.

"Hey." The bartender said. That voice. He took the arm of 'Henry' and slammed it onto the table. The glare of his eyes was boring holes in my heart with every palpitation of it getting faster. 'Henry' pulled back his arm and rubbed it like it was shivering cold. The bartender and I exchanged some looks then he went back to the man.

"You have been here for an hour without ordering a drink." He said. My eyes were glued on him for that unexpected answer. Rosie bit her lip while she stared at the bartender. Seems like she is interested. The man shook his head and retreated out of the bar after tripping over himself. Serves him right.

"You both have been here for too long too, angels, want any drinks?" He said calmly while wiping a cup in his tattooed hands. He offered a cup to me and placed it on the table. He looked at me the same way that man from this morning looked at me-

"Some margarita, please." Rosie ordered. He poured some mixture in her glass and slid over to her side. He looked at me like he expected me to say something but I was stuck in a trance. Rosie glanced at me nudged me. "Ade, hey" she brought me back down to earth as I shook my head.

"Hard whiskey, on the rocks, right?" He assumed. How did he know? A smile formed on my mouth as I nodded. The look on his eyes when he prepared my drink sent chills down my spine. I was ready to get drunk tonight and chose my favourite drink to get wasted. With a smirk on his face, he filled up my glass with glass with the drink and brought it to me. I chugged it down and left my seat. Unfortunately, I was a lightweight drinker. Gathering all the courage I had, I randomly screamed out and the whole club echoed back. I watched behind me and the bartender had an unreadable expression on his face.

With that, we became drunk and the night went by fast.

+++++++++++++++++++

Me and Rosie walked down the streets towards the apartment we were staying in. Rosie's feet were wobbly from drinking and I swear I was afraid she would trip any second. I was no different, though. I had been having hiccups and screaming out loud just after my first glass. I could still hear the noise from the bar. My head was spinning and I barely could walk.

The night's air was cold and we looked like two psychopaths giggling to themselves in the streets.

"I'm cold." Rosie hummed. Taking off my scarf, I wrapped it around her neck and smiled. She felt embraced in that scarf and held it close to her face. With a few glances at me, she continued walking with her arm intertwined with mine. My partner was definitely the reason for me to smile in this cursed town so I presumed I should pay her back with some simple gestures.

"I know you think I am a whore and like to flirt with men," Rosie projected her voice, "but I think you and I could get closer as partners." A wide smile was plastered and I appreciate her words. She admired my skills and looked up to me as her senior but as the time we spent together, I see us as equals and would call us 'sisters from another mother'.

To break the silence, I started humming 'The last Waltz' by Engelbert Humperdinck and Rosie peeked at me.

"You have a nice voice, Ade." She grinned at me.

"Not really, Master's was better-" I blurted out before covering my mouth. Glimpses of his face flashed through my mind. Turning to my side, Rosie patted my back again, this time with comfort instead of reassurance. She knew about me and my 'Master'. The empathy I received from people like her about my backstory was tiring and I was sick of it. So, instead, I pushed her hand away and continued walking, with Rosie following me behind.

I should not grow too close to my partner because…

++++++++++++++++

I knocked on the door, with a sequence only known to the person who resides in the house and me. The apartment looks the same as ever, with the little window at the end of the corridor. The wallpaper has gone mouldy, but other than that, it doesn't raise any suspicions. Apparently, we are supposed to stay here until tomorrow. The alcohol was still stuck with us so it was a good time to crash in here. The two locks were unlocked, then the third, then the final one.

"Ade." He addressed me.

"Georgie." I replied, "You received my message, yes?"

" Yeah, little miss, I have."

The moment I tried to walk in the house, he used his arm to block me for coming inside. We exchanged a few glances, then he finally spoke.

"Little miss, I have received news that you are resigned from the job." Georgie's tone was off-putting, with his suspicion in his voice. Whatever this is, it must be a mix-up. I do not recall ever sending a message to the higher-ups a mention of resignation, neither did I age enough to be considered a senior for retirement. My heart beats out of my chest as Georgie took a step back, holding his gun from his back and pointing it at you.

"I thought I knew you, Little miss." He said, his mouth quivering.

"Rosie, please go." I told her, foretelling that this is going south. She sensed the tension in the air, then bolted to the stairs. My focus shifted back to Georgie, with his grip on the gun shaking and unstable. I have been trained and could win over Georgie in combat, but with his speed powers enhanced and a gun to help him, there will be some blood shed.

"Who sent you the letter, Georgie?" I questioned, needing some explanation. I could see fear in his eyes and a tinge of betrayal. He did not answer but instead closed his eyes and attempted to pull the trigger. I braced for impact and squinted.

"Georgie, put the gun down." A familiar voice was heard from inside the house. His eyes widened in realisation in what he was doing and dropped the guys down like it was on fire. Grandmaster Erwin walked behind Georgie and placed his right hand on his shoulder, while keeping the pose of a high noble. Georgie turned to face the Grandmaster, seeking for answers for Erwin's calmness. Instead, he smiled and nodded, admitting me inside.

++++++++++++

"Adeleine, you are being followed." He said, out of the blue. I was taken aback. It did not process with me well and it clearly shows on my face. I looked around, now suspicious of everything around me. The calm expression on his face really made this situation worse. His stature was always so chill and focused, like he was a robot. The way he looked at me had this sense that he was expecting some questions from me. The drinks from before had definitely taken effect and made my head have a migraine.

"Grandmaster, what are you doing here?" I asked, obviously intrigued by his presence. He was the grandmaster of the mafia organisation I was in so he got a lot of other pressing issues he must deal with first. Why does he mind this simple mission of assassination? Plus, assassinations are usually followed by spies of the enemy so I am used to this.

"This target, I overlooked him," He confessed, "maybe underestimated him too. All I am asking is that you move on to another mission instead."

"No, Grandmaster. I want to take this mission-"

He held up his hand like pressing a button for me to stop talking.

"It is far too dangerous, Adeleine. I command you to resign. From now on, this mission is over."

+++++++++++++

Rosie was a far distance from the apartment and slowed down her speed. She stopped to catch her breath near an alley, hiding from a potential range of Georgie's gun. She did not understand the situation but she believed that Adeleine could take care of it. There were footsteps from the alley. Rosie's guard was up again, with her feet ready to sprint again.

"Baby, wait…" the voice said. A gun shot near her face, slicing part of her cheek with blood shedding from the cut. She whimpered and the injury staggered her reaction to run, allowing the assaulter to catch up with her.

Rosie ran like there was no tomorrow out of the alley with her scarf in a mess. Her heart was jumping out of her ribcage, her breath heaving. She held her hands to her chest as if safe keeping her heart from bursting, her blonde hair flying in the air. It was only at the end of the sidewalk where it gets narrower. It was remote, with not only but footsteps following her slowly. Thumping one after another, there was the sound of a gun. The liquor she drank was finally coming to punish her body and she slowed down.

She panicked even further and lacked experience and knowledge, not like Adeleine. Her legs ran as fast as her lags could carry her before they betrayed her own conscience and will to run. The pain was stinging and yet she does not want to die. The feeling of being trapped by a predator like some prey filled tears in her eyes, driven by the fear.

"Look at you, Ade." The voice of a male behind you scoffed, "You are still so young. Why are you running so slow now?"

'Ade'? Does this person know Adeleine? That can not be Georgie's voice.Whoever he is, that random assault-and-chase that person did back at the streets just now when I ran was beginning to look like a planned murder instead. She heard him reload his gun with a new barrel while she was running out of length to run to. The path was turning into a dirt trail, leading into the forest where the tent was.

"Hey, angel. You forgot me?" He taunted.

"I-" She spoke her last words, with a bullet piercing through her chest.

Her heart really burst this time.