Assassin's Girl

The Nightmares

Not edited

Everything was burning down into ashes. My house, my walls, my body and my family. Fire rolled down the walls, getting down on the floor and I heard the screams of my mother, my father. Somebody help us! But I couldn't shout. My chest was filled with the smoke and I couldn't breathe. Like everything was getting blur and only smoke filled the air. My mother was crying in pain, in misery but I couldn't help. I was stuck myself. I felt my right arm burning. As if someone was ripping the skin of my hand and I cried in pain. Never did I ever feel this type of pain again.

I sat upright on the sofa I was sleeping, my whole body trembling as the terrifying past kept haunting me. I had been getting nightmares for a while now. Some nights I sleep well. Some nights I couldn't even keep the lights off. Darkness scared me. And some nights I craved for the darkness because it was the only thing that engulfed me. My fingers reached up my right arm, rolling up the sleeves to see my half burnt arm. It doesn't pain me anymore but it haunts me. Like the fire was still on my skin, burning me down but I couldn't feel the pain, I once embraced.

I quickly turned the lights on, breathing heavily. One thing that calmed me down in such horrific nights were the piano piece my Dad also used to play when I couldn't sleep. I never learnt piano, fearing he would stop playing it for me once I learnt it. But today, I had nothing but those memories in my mind. I grabbed my laptop with my trembling hand, browsing online one of the piece my father always played. It was nothing like what my father played for me but it was still something. The sound in the laptop was a little low but loud enough to calm my aching heart. I leaned against the sofa, closing my eyes but sleep was nowhere in my sight.

What can a person lose more than his own identity? I remember the days when my parents used to call me by my name. Zara. My Dad kept my name. He had always been so excited for the new start.

The music must have disturbed my roommate because the next moment the room where Lucian Matthew was sleeping opened and came out a really annoyed assassin. His eyes slightly sleepy but open wide enough to glare at me. I opened my eyes slowly, feeling no more anger towards him, no more hatred. I just wished to be alone. I only wished to lie in the light with the music soothing my dead heart.

I didn't care that he just had a pair of sweatpants on with no shirt. I didn't care that he stood there with his bare upper torso. I felt numb. I felt rather helpless. Elina Green inside me had already crumbled down and Zara Larsson was surfacing; her pain, her sorrows increased by tenfold. Elina Green had the power to fight but Zara Larsson— she was tired. She didn't knew how to fight back. She only knew how to weep. She had lost then and she is losing now. I looked down, losing myself in the patterns of my sweatshirt.

"What kind of drama is this? Playing music at three in the f*****g morning!" He barked out and I just kept staring at the random pattern, zoning out on the them. The fearful night still flashing in front of my eyes. How they killed my parents. How I was burned that night.

Sometimes I wished I would've too died in that house fire. At least, I wouldn't have to face the painful reality every single day. I wouldn't have to die every single hour, thinking of the night I lost everything— my family, my identity. The only thing they gave me was Elina Green. A fiery and revengeful spirit. A part of me that is savage. A part of me that doesn't feel the pain but only carries the dark desire to kill people. The part of me which is hungry for blood. Bloodlust.

"I am talking to you, damnit! What are—" He froze when I looked at him. I didn't knew what astounded him more, the tear in my eyes which I didn't let to fall or the helplessness that laced my face. Whatever it was, it made him to stop whatever he was saying.

"What...... are you okay, Green?" He asked lowly. And I almost snorted, my fingers still rubbing my right arm. Almost to calm my heart down. The music still played in the background. How I wished to learn the piano.

One moment, Lucian Matthew wanted to slit my throat. He had his gun pointed at me one day and now he was concerned for me. Or maybe he was just curious. What could break Elina Green? Her past or her future? Her scars or her memories? They all wanted to know. First, they were curious for Zara Larsson and now they are curious about me. I snorted.

"Green," He called out again and I blinked out of my torturous mind. I looked up at him and nodded my head, swallowing down the lump that formed in my throat. I am broken. But you can't mend me, darling. No one can.

"Hm? Hm. I am fine. No need to care for someone who blackmailed you, Matthew." I said with a smile but he didn't retort back like he always did. Something flickered in his midnight eyes. An ounce of empathy? I wasn't sure. Must have mistaken it for sympathy. But I didn't like what I saw in his midnight gaze.

He looked at me for another long minute before he walked inside but this time he didn't close the door. He didn't left it open, either. But left it slightly open, as if he was too listening to the piano I played on the laptop. His lights were now off but the sense of somebody being in the apartment made my nervousness to calm down. It felt wrong. So wrong to feel calm just because he stood beside me but the emotion bubbled inside my chest like never before. I didn't knew if he slept that night or not but I didn't. And I let the music to play all night.

~~~~~

"You need to break in Carter's system again, Miss Green. I need every inside data of his office on my table in forty eight hours." Benjamin said, looking straight in my eyes and I rose my brows at him. Forty eight hours?

"What do you think am I, a jinn? I am a hacker, Benjamin, not a bloody magician to break into someone's personal data in just forty eight hours." I said, keeping my feet on his table and his jaw ticked in anger and I simply smiled, leaning back. I am a f*****g jinn but you don't deserve my magic, Benjamin.

"You broke in his system in five days for the first time, Miss Green. What makes it harder this time?" He asked and I rolled my eyes, taking my feet down, leaning closer to the table, pressing my elbow on it as I looked in his eyes.

"For the last time, Benjamin. I broke in his system in four days. Do not disrespect my talent. And it's different Because you're asking me to break in his personal data. This will cost me more time and for you— more money." His eyes widened at the mention of more money and I knew I would age him early, not that he was young now.

"More money?"

"More money." I agreed and he looked ready to pass out, cooling my chest down and I continued when he didn't speak anything. "Think of it, Benjamin. Carter's personal data would earn you a fortune and you're only giving me an ounce of it. It's like you're giving me a hundred dollar from the millions you'll get."

"And you're sure you'll provide me data worth of million dollar?" He asked and I smiled almost with a known smirk. Oh, Benjamin. The data would be worthy of millions but it will drag you on streets too.

"Millions of dollars, Benjamin. You don't know how worthy I am. And how less you're thinking of my capabilities. Final the deal and I shall provide you your millions in the next seventy two hours."

"I'll see you on Wednesday then, Miss Green. You hand me the data and I'll give you the money. But remember, Miss Green if you play me, I'll destroy you." He said and I smiled. How ironic of you to say this, Benjamin.

"Even if I'll play you, Benjamin, you wouldn't know." I said, smiling and he gritted his mouth, not saying anything and I stood up, leaving his office back to the apartment where lived the devil, who was adamant on making my life a living hell and Lord, he was no less than the Satan himself. I wouldn't be shocked if he one day he turns out to be the ruler of Hell. I wouldn't be shocked if he is the devil himself. But him being a human is what shocks me. Poor species, they had to be associated to someone like Lucian Matthew.

I walked down the apartment, opening the door to see Lucian Matthew on the chair, watching a comedy show but his face had no single trace of humour or at least an amused smile. He was basically insulting the show. He looked ready to murder. His impassive gaze could turn anyone into stone and I was still astounded how I am alive, living with him under the same roof. Must have done some sins in my past life. Lord, bless me with energy to deal with him. And as if sensing my arrival, he tilted his face, still not looking at me.

"Welcome back, Green." His odious voice greeted me as he slowly turned to look at me and I froze. Holy spells of his midnight gaze.

He sat there in a pair of light t-shirt and a pair of sweatpants. His midnight orbs looked ready to freeze even the Sahara and I was still a human. The way he looked at me, I knew his mind held unholy plans, he wished to execute on me.

"I've been waiting for you for so long, sweetheart." He said with an evil smile and I burned holes into his forehead, glaring at him.

"Why, sweetheart? Missing my charms, already?" I gritted out with a tight lipped smile and he shook his head, letting out a dark chuckle as he stood up from the chair, turning the television off before he started walking towards me.

"I am hungry, Green. And you should complete your assigned work before leaving my apartment." My jaw clenched as I took one threatening step ahead. How dare he?

"I am not your maid, Matthew. Remember this now and till the time I am here. And if you want to eat the food, f*****g cook yourself." I said and he rose his left brow, shaking his head with an evil smile.

"You astound me, sweetheart. Yesterday you looked so..... timid. Like that of a kitten and now like a tigress, ready to pounce on me."

"Be it a kitten or a tigress, Lucian Matthew, remember both of them belong to the same family."

"You're a mystery, Green, I am so determined to resolve. I know you're not what you show. You are what you hide. And what you hide is what fascinates me more." His words made my heart to pound and I licked my lips before smirking at him. This guy is even more deadly than I thought. A murderer is dangerous but an observer is deadly. And he was a combination of both.

"Beware, sweetheart. On the way of resolving me, don't end up falling for me. What often fascinates people, they end up losing it." He laughed at me, taking another step forward and I could smell him. His dark and masculine scent that made me swallow dangerously.

"I don't fall for someone who isn't what they show, Green. I am however not sure about you." I snorted at his words. Me? Falling for him? Impossible.

"Now go and cook for me. Remember you're under my roof and you......."

"I am under your mercy. I know, I know."