Page 5 of Shifted

Hope(1:05 p.m.): Again, get me the info. You know I don't negotiate without reasoning; that's how I work. Now, either tell me the history and send over the background of the hit, or forget about it.

I shut my phone and packed my bag, preparing to leave as the check was returned. So much for brunch, but at least I got to see Arabella. It was ironic how, this time, her work was budging instead of mine.

?

The coldness of the air swelled against my cheeks as I stood in position on the roof. There was no sight of my target in the room yet, just two guys dealing jack black in the study.

The man I was after was one of the biggest traffickers in the country. One of the most disgusting people in the world happened to be in my city, just an alley away. If anyone deserves death, it was him. My crimes are ones I don't count as sinister. I count them as an act of saving. Hence my name.

"Angel?" Another's voice alarms me as I was not expecting company. So, the unrecognized voice caused me to turn, and within an instant with my gun, I pointed at him. I felt my heart palpating in my chest at the sight of the masked man, 6’5 in all black, once again. I couldn’t identify him even if I wanted to. But it seems our chase continues.

"How'd you find me?" He ignores me and instead walks beside me as my gun remains aimed. As I look back, my target finally arrives, and the masked man turns back to me as if the weapon doesn’t exist. Not an ounce of fear revealed itself in this man.

"Manswell?" He stated the name of my target—the man who harmed and ruined thousands of lives. People had been after him for months, but nobody could get the job done. I wasn’t going to allow some random guy to fuck it up.

"You have the same target again?" I ask, glancing back over to the room. He continues to deal around the table while sloppy men sit around him. The smoke in that room added a mist to the air, making the room look more like a pit.

"I guess I do? But lucky me, I get the bonus of spending time with the famous Angel herself.” He pauses, taking one step closer, trying to intimidate me, but I don’t budge. I stare at his mask, “You know you have a fan club of people looking for you, right?” His boots squeak as he draws one step closer. The gun almost pressed against his abdomen, not even a flinch. Maybe I should just get the job done. I click the lock, and he shakes his head within an instant.

"We are both on the same mission, aren't we?" I turned to see him, Johnathan Manswell, still in the same position seconds ago. He was attempting to distract me from my job. I swiftly moved, turning back before he could try to unarm me. I slip the gun from his side and aim it towards him.

“I don’t play games; this isn’t some playground. What do you want.” Shocked by my fast movements, he stands still and then looks back to the group of men. It causes me to do the same, in which he attempts to grab the gun back, but I sweep out his feet, and he falls to the ground. "I have a job to do if you'll excuse me," I turned, and my knees collided with the ground, causing a stinging pain in my kneecap and surely a bruise for the morning.

Then, I felt a sharp blade pressed against my throat.

"Easy tiger." I mumbled, “Don't get too ahead of yourself." I gripped the blade, groaning as it sliced my palm. I felt the warmth of my blood fill my palm. But chucking the dagger to the side, I pinned him over the rooftop's edge. I stare at the empty alley below as my blood trickles against his skin. Nobody would notice if he went over at this hour, and he’d be found in the morning.

"Angel." He croaked as I gave his throat a light squeeze. But I only wondered who the fuck hired such a rookie. Past my better judgment, I loosened my grip and chucked him to the side as my hand stung. I ripped the corner of my shirt and squeezed my hand into the cloth. Then, I returned to taking my aim at Johnathan Manswell. As the gun fires, my target is eliminated within a second. But as I look over, he’s still down on the ground.

"Get your ass up before they find and kill you."

Offering my non-cut hand, he sat up and took it as I pulled him up. I turned, not saying a word, and began to run down the building's staircase, almost tumbling to the lower levels. After swiftly exiting, I found my way to a convenience store and fled to the bathroom after stealing first aid. My hand was a crime scene, and the stinging feeling gave me a gruesome headache. I shoved the rag into my mouth as I took the alcohol, pouring it into my wound. The rag contained my muffled screams as my breathing grew heavy while it burned. I felt slightly dizzy as I stared at the open wound. I wrapped it slowly, looking at the rusted window. I throw five dollars and hoist myself onto the broken heater, cracking the window open as it made a screech, pushing my stuff through, and then crawling out.

My burner phone buzzed as I managed my way out, startling me as I sat against the back of the shop. I grabbed it quickly to view Isaac's message.

Isaac (12:02 a.m.): The transfer should be in tomorrow.

CHAPTER TWO

Hope Taylor

The lock to my apartment clicked, and I quietly pushed open the door. Softly shutting it behind me, I walked to a closet, tucking my black hood and mask away. Slipping past the dimly lit living room, I saw Bella asleep on the couch and Joely staring at her with her eyes wide open.

The TV softly played some children’s show as she patiently waited for her aunt to wake. She looked slightly sleepy in her purple Rapunzel nightgown but seemed adamant about not caving in. As I came into view, her face lit up. Throwing her lion stuffed animal to the ground, she quickly leaped off the couch and into my arms.

"Mummy!" She beamed as I held her tight. It was nights like these where I felt guilty for not being at home, for not being here with her. But I wasn’t always out, and I made sure to tuck her in and be the mom I never had.

"Joely, what are you doing awake? It's past your bedtime?" I looked at the clock to see the time listed as 12:45 a.m. She should’ve been asleep hours ago, but instead, she was up waiting for me to come home.

"Aunties sleeping." She giggles as she points to Bella. Her face is smooshed into a gray throw pillow, and her dark hair is loose in a bun. As Joely laughs once more, Bella wakes and slowly sits up. Her eyes immediately widen to my presence, and she quickly glances at the time. But before she could get to it, she looked at my hand.

"Oh my god, what happened?!" My eyes shifted to Joely standing beside me, and Bella piped down. I smiled as I looked down at her half-awake state; she wouldn’t remember the conversation come morning. "I dropped a glass of water, and it shattered. I cut myself while picking up the pieces," she grimaced and then stood slowly, stretching out her arms as the Barbie on Bella’s lap fell to the floor.

“Looks painful,” she murmured, turning to Joely, bending down to meet her face.

"It's been a pleasure, per usual." Enveloping her in a hug, she kissed Joely on the head. "I have to get home before my roommate Issa kills me." She stood, taking me into a tight hug. I knew she was skeptical of my hand. Sometimes, I’d come home with scrapes and cuts, but I did well at hiding them from Joely. She usually would be in bed when I arrived home, and the sitter wouldn’t question me.

"Bye, Joel's, bye, Hope." Grabbing her purse, she then left.

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