M. Assassin's Heart

Assassin's Heart.......
M.A. Leslie.......

His peering eyes tilted as the unassuming target approached, slightly, he slumped to hide his shadowy figure further into the blackness of the lone alley. He had been trained in the act of killing and knew his target would be a fairly simple matter.



Half of the payment was already in the bank and for an unknown reason an exorbitant amount of money had been paid. However, the target didn’t seem to match the price. He had killed much more dangerous for much less in the past, but he wasn’t going to say no to people who paid generously. Cautiously, he watched from his post and pulled out the tools of his twisted trade.


He knew that the ones with him may pose no extreme threat, but the protective instincts of a mother could be that to recon with. Just like clockwork the baby carrier was taken from the back seat of the car and the pair made their trek to up the concrete path to the apartment.


The time to strike was now, the light was all but gone, and the chances of an outside assault were minimal. Like a well trained predator on revolt, he jumped from the darkness and the smell of fear filled the air like the stench of a skunks spray.


First the man was taken, it wasn’t sexist, just convenient, and he knew who the real threat was. The man gurgled and fell to the ground as his contents poured out around him, posing no future threat. Then the weapon swung and despite the few defensive actions of the victim, she fell lifeless to the ground, in a cross over her dying partner.


Being out in the open was nothing but a constant threat. Taking heed, the assassin stowed his tools and took the handle of the carrier as he turned out into a run. He knew where he was going and that the chance of witnesses was nil. The destination had been set by the men who had bought the fate of the child.


In a smooth steady run, he went his hidden vehicle and with little concern for the child in the seat, he shoved the carrier into the passenger seat and took off to his destination.


Once he was at a reasonable distance from the dangers of the scene, to insure that he would receive payment, he pulled over and took down the mask that was laid over the child. Despite his nature, he slid the cloth down gently and peered into the flame blue eyes of the babe.


With forgiveness, the child caught his eyes and together they locked. A small coo sounded from swaddled package and from nowhere a hand appeared. The assassin reached in and allowed the minuscule fingers to tightly clutch around his finger.


He knew what he had been told and knew what he now felt. While the men with the money told him that the child would need to be destroyed, that he was the coming of the end of man, it just didn’t make sense. The innocence of the child told him otherwise. It was not the child or his bleeding parents that had been the threat. It only took those eyes to convince him, he had made the wrong choice. And, for the first time in his career, he would not be getting the job completely done.