1 Once Upon a Time

🎶Please allow me to introduce myself

I'm a man of wealth and taste

I've been around for a long, long year

Stole many a man's soul to waste🎶

Ghost tapped his fingers on the steering wheel of his Red Camaro L78 as he parked at the basement of Elliot Enterprises. After turning off the song from his phone, he raked his fingers through his midnight black hair and took out his Glock 19 from the glove compartment, the cold and sinful steel felt heavy on his calloused hands. The words 'trust no one' was engraved on the barrel of his favorite gun. The 10 9mm rounds resting inside the gun was enough for him, a safety precaution if things went south.

Sliding out of his Camaro, he rounded the car after securing the Glock on his waistband, opened the trunk, and grabbed the waterproof duffle bag which holds the evidence of his finished job.

He stepped inside the lift and continued to hum Rolling Stone's classic.

The hallway to the CEO's office was uncanny at this time of the day - night technically. It smelled like old wet papers mixed with bleach. He saw a few janitorial staff as he walked by and Ghost wanted to strangle each and every one of them for using bleach. He just hated that smell. It hurts his sense of smell and reminds him of a not so appealing memory of his mother.

When he reached the farthest mahogany door on the top floor which bears a plaque that says 'John Elliot, Chairman and CEO' in cursive writing, he didn't bother knocking and twisted the knob open.

The chubby gray-haired man behind the office desk looked up to him, his brown eyes widen in fear at the sight of him yet the man forced a smile on his thin pale lips.

''Ghost'' John Elliot stood up and offered Ghost a seat on the couch resting adjacent to his desk.

Ghost tossed the duffle bag on the glass coffee table before flopping down on the black leather couch John offered. ''It's done.'' He murmured bored, pulling out a pack of cigarettes from his leather jacket pocket.

John Elliot's eyes widened, ''smoking is not allowed in here.'' His lips trembled when he realized he just raised his voice at Ghost, the most feared gun for hire in New York City.

Ghost pulled out one stick from his Treasurer pack, trapped the stick between his full lips, and lit it up with his personalized lighter. ''Money.''

The chubby CEO choked comically on his saliva, pulling the placket of his gray suit jacket as he stood up and rounded his desk. Pulling out the right bottom drawer, he took the black duffle bag containing five million dollars and placed it beside the duffle bag Ghost brought. It puzzled John why Ghost had to bring a bag with him but he was too scared to ask him why.

''H-how do I know it's done?'' John silently watched Ghost check a few bundles of the money he got from the bank this afternoon, sitting uncomfortably across the feared gun for hire. He would have never wanted to make business with Ghost if not for the threat the new real estate company Marino put up competing against his company.

Ghost merely hummed, taking a long drag of his cigarette, puffing the smoke through his nose, trapping the stick between his lips while he checked the money for tracker and poison. You can never be too sure in this kind of business, Ghost knows this very well. ''Check the bag, Marino will smile back at you.''

John gasped audibly, the blood on his body seemed to evaporate to thin air like Ghost's cigarette smoke. ''W-what am I gonna do with his head?!'' He muttered shocked.

Ghost shrugged, ''I don't really care what you do with it.'' He secured his payment back in the bag when he was sure it was safe. Standing up, he stared down at the paling old man. ''Dry it in the sun, make it your trophy, dump it in the ditch, that's really your choice. Nice doing business with you John Elliot.'' With that, he turned his back on the CEO and slammed the door behind him.

Pussies, Ghost silently whispered to himself. Most of his clients are like John Elliot, they want someone dead but they never wanted to get their hands dirty. They're all pussies.

He put off the cigarette on the wall of the lift as it halted in the basement and placed the still warm bud inside his pocket. DNA can easily be traced back to him and he can't let that happen. Sliding inside his car, he tossed the duffle bag on the passenger side and started his drive to Marriot's.

🎶Just as every cop is a criminal

And all the sinners saints

As heads is tails

Just call me Lucifer

'Cause I need some restraint🎶

Humming along the short drive to the club, he parked his car on the reserved spot for him and walked inside the building with ease.

The rainbow-colored lasers that dance to the tune of the remixed song by the DJ greeted him mixed with the smell of sex, smoke, alcohol, and pot. Making a beeline through the sweaty grinding bodies, he soon reached the stairs that led him to the VIP lounge. It was much more subtle inside and Marriot herself welcomed him.

The blond and full-figured club owner guided him to his usual spot, her hips swaying melodramatically as she walks making her red skimpy sleeveless dress hiked up her thighs. She was sexy as hell, Ghost knew this but he never mixed business with pleasure and Marriot is just business for him.

''The usual?'' Marriot leaned on her hands when Ghost finally settled down on the booth leather couch, making her dress throw up her DD boobs. She batted her fake long lashes like she always does, her pale green eyes eye-fucking Ghost shamelessly.

Ghost nods, ''add a double cheeseburger and fries to that.''

''Sure'' Marriot flipped her waist-length long blond hair and tended to Ghost's order.

Ghost waited patiently for his food, he sure was starving after killing two people today. He silently watched the crowded dance floor through the glass wall of the VIP lounge and wondered what it would feel to be that carefree. To not care about the world like these experimental teenagers down him. Sure people in that crowd weren't innocent, most of them are grinding against each other, making out under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Marriot's place was never clean, people like him choose this place for its secrecy. It's like those saying that what happens in Marriots' stays in Marriots'.

''Am I late?'' Storm's voice woke Ghost from his wandering mind.

''You're always late'' Ghost studied his best friend's face and shook his head. Storm has red lipstick smeared all over his face, surely he wasn't always his first choice. It had always been girls and fooling around for his best friend before business.

Storm raised an eyebrow at his best friend before he realized what he must look like right now. The brunette he made out at the dance floor earlier must've smeared his face with her cherry-flavored lipstick. Wiping his face with his hanky, he was grateful that Marriot brought the bucket of beer Ghost order all the time but this time, he had a plate of double cheeseburger and fries. He was starving as hell when he saw how delicious-looking Ghost's food was so he reached out and aimed for a piece of fries but his friend swatted his hands.

Chuckling, Storm shook his head and settled for a bottle of beer. ''I got a job for you'' he murmured.

Ghost placed down his burger after taking a big bite on it, wiped his lips with a napkin, and sipped his beer. ''When?'' It had always been time for him. 'Who' doesn't matter and 'how' was always up to him and he liked his job that way.

''Two weeks from now, the target will be in Italy'' Storm was hesitant to even speak of that place, it was not an uncharted territory for them but they were marked to never set foot in that country, their motherland.

''Did you accept it?'' To Storm's surprise, his best friend didn't put a bullet between his eyes and asked him calmly.

Storm shook his head, ''I want to let you know first.''

Ghost was glad that Strom wasn't stupid enough to accept the job. Storm was far from stupid, he was genius with his 190 IQ but he do stupid decisions. ''Decline the offer'' he murmured calmly, finishing his burger.

Emptying his beer bottle content, Storm cleared his throat, ''the target is Martin Avinetti.''

Ghost's heart was hammering on his chest at the mere mention of Martin's full name; he was sure it was louder than the upbeat song from the speaker. The man who brought sorrow in his life was a job. He longed to end that traitor's life more than he could ever reckoned. Every kill, every drop of blood, every life he takes, it was that man he imagined his target to be.

''It's not yet time, Storm'' Ghost's words were like vile that came out of his mouth.

Storm saw this coming, he just wanted his best friend to have the luxury of killing the man who banished both of them from Italy. The man who made their life miserable. He felt endless anger for the Avinetti's but he can only guess how much Ghost wanted it, he craved for it. Ghost's hatred for them was clear as a calm ocean reflecting a cloudless blue sky.

''Well'' Storm said nonchalantly, breaking the veil of sorrow that was hovering over both of them, ''you did your job and now I'll do mine.'' He took the duffle bag resting beside Ghost. His job was a walk in the park compared to his. All he needed to do was find a job for Ghost and hide the money. Much easier than killing powerful men.

''Do that'' Ghost stood up and patted Storm's shoulder as they walked out of the VIP lounge out to the parking lot. ''I'll walk home. Take Baby.'' Yes, he named his car Baby and he's proud of it.

Storm's green eyes shined like jades under the moonlight at the idea of him driving Ghost's car. ''Really?'' He squealed like a school girl seeing her favorite boy band and Ghost slapped the back of his neck. ''Aw.''

''Act like a grown-up or I'll change my mind'' but Ghost already tossed his keys to Strom.

Storm didn't need to be told twice nor he took the time to think why Ghost was acting that way. He thanked Ghost and drove Baby away before he could change his mind.

Ghost watched his best friend drive Baby away and started walking in the opposite direction. It would probably take him 30 minutes to walk the two-mile distance from Marriot's to his place but he needs to cool down. He didn't want to go home with anger bubbling inside him. It had been five years since he and Storm left Italy but his anger for Martin was doubling day by day. It was eating him up, losing himself in loathing wasn't easy to prevent and he was barely moving forward if he can call living the way he does now moving on.

The night started to get noiseless when he finally took the turn separating the city from his property. He liked the silence of his two-hectare estate, a paradise in the city, that's what the real estate agent called it and he couldn't agree more.

The leaves brought by fall was the only sound he could hear as he took each step. The glassy moon surrounded by winking stars was the only guide he needed as he got lost in the crackling of the crickets taking refuge in the large forest surrounding his mansion.

He lives a lonely life, Ghost knows this but it's okay to be alone than to be surrounded by traitors, he told himself this too many times over.

A shrill angry yelp made him snap back to reality. Although he couldn't see anything, he can hear twigs breaking and leaves crushing, footsteps of approximately six men about thirty yards away from him. The shriek sounded again, it's a distress cry for defense and it was clear now that it was a girl. Ghost was now running in cautious steps, careful not to startle whoever was trespassing on his property. He was breathing evenly even after the fast pace he took, he was silently thanking all the cardio and exercises he had every day, it made him fit and always prepared for a fight.

He can only see shadows from the six feet distance he gave himself away from the fight. Five silhouettes of men and a petite figure came to view under the silver moon. The girl was fighting two men at a time, she threw her fist in a straight jab and collided with one man's jaw while her roundhouse landed on the other guy's crotch. The two unscathed men rammed the girl and her back hit a tree trunk. They got both her hands and the last guy was quick to land an uppercut to the girl's jaw.

Ghost saw enough, no matter what the girl did, it wasn't a fair fight so he decided to step in. Taking the butterfly knife from his biker boots, he twisted it skilfully as if he was about to cut an apple from the tree. He didn't think twice and stabbed the guy, who punched the girl, on the back of his neck killing him instantly. He front kicked the guy holding the girl's right arm on his torso, making him stumble back and secure the girl by throwing another front kick to the guy on her left.

''You good?'' He asked, seemingly calm even after the run and the attacks he made.

The girl didn't speak, she merely hid behind Ghost's back as the four remaining men stood their ground around the two.

''Mind your business mundane'' one guy spoke, his voice so deep it sounded like it came from hell.

Mundane? Ghost mentally rolled his eyes, who uses mundane these days? He thought.

The four men acted as if they were one, they all took out something from their jacket pocket and pulled out daggers with different glowing gems. Blue, yellow, purple, and green. They moved in unison, Ghost can only see shadows but he was sure they were aiming the daggers in their hearts, Ghost was confused but the girl held his right hand with her left and her right hand was holding something on her chest.

A light blue glow came from her chest, it was as bright as the sun at its peak but a lot colder, as if it protected Ghost's whole being from being burned by the light.

It was a quick occurrence yet Ghost saw how the men disappeared like ashes. Even the dead man slowly disintegrated into thin air. It started from their hands and feet until there was nothing left of them.

''What the fuck?'' He whispered in disbelief, unable to comprehend what had happened but the girl lost consciousness and tumbled on him.