The Complete Assassin Episode 5
written by kayemjay
SIX HOURS EARLIER…
The atmosphere was tense. There were two nurses and the female doctor hovering around Dorothea. The heart monitor showed a flat line. There was worry written over their faces. Dorothea’s expression was blank, lifeless.
The doctor removed the stethoscope from her neck and threw it sideways not caring where it landed. She removed her white overall and folded the sleeves of her shirt. She held a difribulator and rubbed them together again for the third time.
Increase the voltage a little.” She ordered.
One of the nurses went to the control switch and turned a little knob.
The doctor took the device, hitting it gently on Dorothea’s chest. Her body jerked lifelessly as they all watched the monitor hoping for a miracle.
“Clear!” The second nurse screamed.
“Come on. Come on!” The Doctor said, hitting the device on her patient again.
“Clear!” The nurse replied.
“You can’t die Dora. Don’t die on me! Come on!!!” The Doctor said raising her voice.
She rubbed the device together again and hit Dora’s chest again, hoping to jumpstart her heartbeat.
They watched the heart monitor for a few seconds hoping that the flat line they saw would change into any form of wave, any sort of change whatsoever.
Nothing happened.
A tear dropped from the Doctor’s eyes a she put the defribulator and covered Dorothea’s face with a long cloth.
“Time of death 4:18am. Heart attack.” The Doctor said.
She moved away from the scene and approached the door. She turned as she opened the door, her eyes were red and ready for a deluge of tears.
“Charity, get me Detective Samson’s number when you are done. He is the only one we can contact now.”
“Okay Doctor.” The nurse replied.
The doctor walked out of the room.
**********
Steven stared at the principal, afraid, hesitant, and expectant. The principal saw the curiosity in his eyes. In as much as he hated to be the bearer of bad news, there was none other qualified to break the information to him.
“You know you are a man now, Steve. A lot rests on your shoulders. Ever since your father died I have watched you grow and mature even beyond your years. I am proud of you Steven.” The principal said and paused.
He looked at Steven through the open space above his glasses. Steven waited. He waited to hear what it was the principal, in the company of two strange looking men had called him into his office to tell him. He was intelligent enough to know that whatever it was, it was not good news. The accolades, encouragements and sweet words at the beginning of his speech were just a preparation for the bombshell. Steven shifted uncomfortably in his chair, but still held the Principal’s gaze. He had a few guesses in mind.
He guessed that the school authority probably wanted to kick him out of school because they knew he had no relatives and would not be able to do afford tuition and other fees.
Could it be that they wanted to strip him off his prefect position because he was now withdrawn and anti-social due to the emotion? He was still wandering in this abyss of uncertainty when the principal’s voice jolted him back into reality.
“Steven, your mother died a few hours ago at the hospital. Those men outside are working with Detective Samson and have come to take you to see your mother. Be strong my boy.” The principal said, getting up from his chair and walking to where Steven sat. He sat on the table and faced Steven.
Steven did not move. He did not blink. He just stared into space. He heard what the principal said quite alright but his brain was still trying to process the information. Steven was shell shocked. How could his mother die? The only one he held dear. Why?
“Steven, are you okay?” The principal asked putting a hand on Steven’s shoulder.
“I am fine sir. When can we go see her?” Steven replied.
“We can go now if you are ready.” The principal said.
“I am ready.”
The principal led the way as they left his office and went into a black SUV parked just outside the school, with the principal and Steven behind, and the two strange men in front.
They got to the hospital and Steven’s legs got the better of him. He walked very fast and briskly, straight to his the ward his mother had been. It was empty. The bed had been taken away and the metallic bed holders had been folded. The principal caught up with him a few seconds later and stood at the door, watching as tears filled Steven’s eyes. He opened his arms wide as Steven ran to him sobbing and sniffing,
“It’s going to be fine boy. It’s alright.” The principal said, resting his back on the wall while petting Steven who was crying uncontrollably.
They stood like that for a few minutes, the principal allowing Steven to cry to his heart’s content.
Just then, they heard the Doctor’s voice in heated argument with Detective Samson.
“. . . how dare you detective?! How could you? You took such a decision without consulting me?” the doctor said, her voice rising.
They were approaching the ward where Steven had run into.
“We thought it was in the boy’s best interests. You know we would not do anything if we knew it would affect him negatively…” Detective Samson countered.
“But you just did!!! Why didn’t you tell me? Why?” The doctor said and entered the ward.
She melted at the sight of Steven sobbing away in the embrace of the principal. At that very moment her decision was made. She was going to adopt Steven.
FIFTEEN YEARS LATER…
Steven was in a small dark room. He was not alone by himself. There were other people in the room too. It had been hours and the air in the room had begun to choke and it became very difficult to breathe. The room was dimly lit by the little amount of sunshine that trickled in through holes in the ceiling. There was no ventilation of any sort as they breathed in each other’s air. A woman puked beside Steven. He turned quickly but he was not fast enough as some spittle fell on his arms and face. His hands were tied to his legs as he sat with his back against the wall. He looked at the people around him. There were three men and one woman. They all had bruises on their faces. They all looked glim and starved, bound by chains and ropes.
Suddenly, the wooden door yanked open. A rough looking man carrying a very sharp cutlass came into the room. He looked around the room for a while, as if he was trying to make a decision. After about two minutes, he moved towards the woman and grabbed her by the collar of her dress.
“Please. Please. I am innocent. I have not done anything. Please…” She pleaded meekly but the man turned deaf ears.
He pulled her, dragging her to the door and pushing her out of the room with her legs still bound together. As the man was about to close the door behind him, there was a voice from outside, a strong commanding voice. It roared across the whole area and Steven trembled where he sat.
They could not see the owner of the voice through the tiny space left by the door but it carried enough power to melt them to their very bones.
“Take the woman back. Bring me the pretty man, with the fine yellow skin.” The voice ordered.
Steven’s heart did a few backflips. He looked at the three men hoping someone else would fit the description. None did. It was him. He was the one with very light complexion and smooth hair on his skin. The door opened. The dangerous man came in again, brandishing his cutlass.
“I need his head!” The voice commanded from outside.
The dangerous looking man smiled. A happy mischievous smile. He approached Steven and raised his cutlass high above his head. And in one fast swift movement, the cutlass landed on Steven’s neck.
Steven woke up.
His forehead was covered in sweat as his heart beat gradually reduced to normal. The air conditioning was blowing at the coolest temperature. The lights in his room were off. He stretched his hand behind him, traced the wall till he got to the light switch and flicked it on.
“What the hell is this dream?” He asked himself touching the side of his neck where the cutlass in his dream had landed on.
He looked around his room, watching for any suspicious movements. He did not see any. He had been having this particular dream for four days running now. He made a mental note to call ‘Sensei’, his master later in the morning.
Getting up from his bed, he walked to the bathroom and ran the tap. Cold water gushed forth into the sink. He took some of the water in his palms and doused his faced. Raising his head, he scrutinized himself in the mirror in front of him. He had come a long way. He had outgrown his fears, mastered his weaknesses and perfected his strengths. He now had an athletic body; his chest was broad and his biceps, huge and bulging. He had a smooth velvety skin and his upper torso was strong and taut. He could pass for a sexy and seductive model when he wanted and he could turn up a menacing look when he desired. He had been training for five years with Sensei, and he felt like he was ready. He broke every record that had been previously made. He set new ones. He was now a feared member of the Shadow Organization. Sensei nicknamed him the Ultimate Weapon.
Two weeks back he had undergone the last and most difficult test. He had killed a woman in cold blood for having s3x in a room with different men while forcing her six year old son to watch. It took only a twist of his hands. The operation had lasted fifteen seconds, another record. He was now Shadow Prime, the next in command after Sensei himself. He was ready. He had waited for ten long years to begin his plan, to pursue his vendetta. Yet, Sensei was not willing to send him forth. He was the best student in his cadre, and at 29 was the youngest ever to be Shadow Prime. Why the hell was Sensei dragging him back?
“Damnnit!!” Steven shouted angrily hitting his right fist against the mirror on the wall.
The mirror cracked but did not shatter. Steven looked at his knuckles and saw blood. He smiled. He did not feel the slightest pain. His body had been trained and conditioned to be the slave of his mind. If he did not want to feel, he would never feel.
He took a roll of tissue paper and tied it to the wound. He sat down on the edge of his bed, opened the last drawer of his bed side table and took out a picture. His father Jeffery and his mother Dorothea sat close to each other on a long couch while Sharon and Stella sat on their opposite sides. He was sprawled on their laps, supporting his head on a propped elbow on Sharon’s laps. Everyone was all smiles. It was the last picture they had taken as a family, just a few weeks before his life was changed forever by the men that invaded their home that fateful day in December.
Steven kissed his mother, his dad, and his two sisters respectively in the picture and said quietly to himself,
“Soon, justice will be served. I promise you that.” He said.
As he was putting the picture back in the drawer, there was a knock on his door. The door opened before he could answer.
“Hey, Steve. Is everything okay? I heard noises.” A woman said walking into his room.
“Everything is fine Doc. Just a nightmare.” Steven replied
“I have told you to stop calling me Doc. What was the nightmare about?” She asked.
“I’m sorry Aunt Vic. Doc is just one syllable and is quicker to pronounce.” Steve teased.
“Silly boy!” Aunt Vic replied hitting him playfully on the arm.
They laughed and joked and after sometime, Aunt Vic slept off in his arms. She reminded him so much of his mother. She had been there for him all these years, sending him through school, taking care of him, and providing for his every need. She was no longer the doctor that helped him in the hospital. She was his mother now. He did not joke with Aunt Vic.
He laid her down gently on his bed and covered her with his duvet. His mind was troubled. He had been having the same dream for four nights consecutively. He closed his eyes and tried to meditate. He could not.
He made up his mind. He was going to see Sensei and was ready to face whatever consequence it might bring.
