Misha

-Boom!-

-BOOM!!!-

I'm never using explosives for a job again! Bullshit arms dealers had ammunition stored at his home. Why does he need a warehouse like that where he lives? He's begging for trouble. Well, not that it matters now that he's dead. Welp, it's time to head home. 

After I finish a job, I like to have a cold beer to calm my nerves. I sip on my beer as I open my account to make sure I was paid. Of course, when I open my account, I see a new job listed. Seems like this job was a special request. Usually, I won't take jobs requesting me specifically. My father always told me to be wary of jobs that ask for me directly. They are usually traps. He told me that it's a sure way to get killed. However, I can't just let a job with this high-paying pass by. I will have to be vigilant. What's the worst that could happen?

I can't ever catch a break. I just got done with one job, and now I have an even higher-stakes job order. If I am going to retire next year, this job will be detrimental. I can't wait to retire. I know I am only 26 years old, but being an assassin is too damn dangerous. I only got into this line of work because my father was an assassin. If my mom hadn't dumped me on my dad's doorstep, I would've probably lived an everyday life. I mean, what kind of 7-year-old starts training to be an assassin before they even learn how to read? Funny, I say that I learned how to read to spite my dad. He always used to say, "Books are for people who can't handle a knife." 

Of course, that made zero sense. I never understood his logic. He was nothing more than a meathead. I learned what kind of man not to be from watching him. I never liked killing. Sadly, I got used to it over time. I want to quit. If my dad hadn't left behind so much debt, I could have stopped years ago.

"Let's look at the job details," I say to myself as I open the encrypted file that was sent through the Assassin network. 

Verified client 

Job listed 10/02

Special Request: Misha Minari

Raven Macao 

36 years old

Appearance: Black short curly hair

Brown eyes (scar over left eye and eyebrow)

Aporx. 5'10, 260 lbs

Raven Macao is the leader of the Raven gang in Teradi city. Has a large crime network with over 500 known subordinates. Hideout location 43°00'37.9"N 71°32'58.1"W

That concludes all the gathered information.

Job: Eliminate before 10/25. Picture to confirm. Leave no trace.

Pay $75,000 ($25,000 bonus for early termination)

Raven gang? I think I have heard of them before. Yeah, last winter, I had a job that involved some former member of the gang. She left the gang to start her own "massage parlor." She was cruel to the male masseuses who worked under her. One even had his sister killed in front of him. It was an easy enough job, especially morally. One less person like her in this world is no skin off my back. I can't remember her name off the top of my head, but if I looked through my coded name list, I would be able to tell. Not too many female jobs are posted, and I end up taking even less. Well, let's get started—it's time to do research and make a game plan. I have to take my time with this one. It's a big one. No mistakes can be made, or I'll be dead.

10/21 8:30 Pm 

Well, if everything goes well today, I will get the early termination bonus. With all my research and planning, a sniper shot from this hill will be the easiest and safest bet. I have a planned escape route and several backup plans. Now I have to wait. Raven's schedule is pretty consistent, so I was able to determine today as the best day for the job. This hill is secluded and close enough to have an accurate shot. I can't see anything going wrong, but I have to stay on my toes. I set a sensor nearby to help alert me if someone is nearby. So, no one should come up behind me. Hmm, it looks like some people are on the move, but there is no sign of Raven yet. I could be here for a while.

10:21 Pm

-Snap!- 

Shit! What was that? Better check if the sensor was tripped. Huh…nothing is showing up. Oh well, I need to focus and not get distracted. 

12:45 Pm

Oh nice, there's more movement. Ah! There you are fucker. Making me wait for hours. Time to say goodnight, Raven.

-Crunch-

-Crack!-

Just as I had Raven in my crosshairs, I heard something behind me. Before I could react, I was Knocked out. 

-Thud-

When I open my eyes, everything is all dark. It looks like they put a bag over my head. I move around to find out my situation and determine that my arms and legs are tied. I hear footsteps approaching me at a smooth pace. The man reaches me and pulls the bag off my head. I try to focus my eyes as the man sits me up. When I focus, I see none other than the leader of the Raven gang himself sitting behind a large desk. Raven Macao. He has a very ominous aura about him. A chill runs down my back, and I look over my shoulder. I see over a dozen men standing behind me. Well, I fucked up really bad this time. I should have listened to my damn father's advice. 

"Hello, Mr Minari. It's nice to be able to put a face to the name. You know you are one tough guy to track down? It took me almost ten months, but I had a brilliant idea to speed up the process. Do you want to know my brilliant idea?" Raven says menacingly. 

He is holding a revolver on top of his knee. How intimidating. What is he, a movie villain? 

"Honestly, I would rather not. I have a feeling your monologuing will put me to sleep." I say with a snarky attitude. 

I know he is going to tell me either way. I can't help but poke the bear. It's a bad habit. 

"You must not understand your situation, Misha. It'd be wise to keep me in your favor. After all, I hold your life in my hand." Raven says with a half smile. 

I scan the room in hopes of finding some way to escape. Unlucky. I swear I'm just plain unlucky. There is nothing I can do this time.

"You see, Misha, I was the one who put the hit out on myself," Raven says, raising his hands in declaration. 

Someone is full of themself. What would this nutjob do if I managed to complete the job? I wonder who put this idea in his head and why? 

"I wanted to get you in front of me as soon as possible. My revenge was put on hold for long enough." He says while standing from his chair. 

He walks to the front of his desk, leaning against it. 

"Revenge? I think you have the wrong guy here. I have never crossed paths with your gang, let alone you." 

I have no clue what this dude is talking about. 

"Don't try to bullshit me! You killed her! You killed my Zoey!" Raven yells as he stomps over to me.

He crouches down and grabs me by the collar. 

"Last winter, you shot her in the head and left her body lying in the dirty street like a piece of trash. I have connections, and they found out who put the hit on her and who took the job. I already killed the guy who put the hit on her. The piece of shit was her competitor. She didn't deserve to die because he sucked at his job. Then I found out you, Misha Minari, pulled the trigger. You were a lot harder to track down, however. Now that I found you. I will give you the same fate as her. A bullet to the head left dead in the street." Raven says.

So, that was his lover. Zoey Wen. I found no information about their relationship. I made the job look like it was a mugging gone wrong. Though dying out in the gutter was a fitting end. In his line of work, he should have expected this to happen. I understand, however. I have a lot of people looking for revenge against me. I knew one day this would happen. I got cocky. I must say, I don't want to die. I made a lot of mistakes in my life. I wish I could try again. 

"So, Do you have any last words?" Raven lets go of my collar and steps back, pointing the revolver at my head. 

I look up at Raven and say, "Uhhh… Memento Mori?" 

I have to stay true to myself even in my final moments. Smartass till the end. Raven tilts his head back and laughs toward the ceiling. 

He looks me dead in the eyes and says, "Goodnight, Mr. Minari."

-BANG!-