Freeing Illeona: Living for Hope

I looked at myself in the mirror again. I was trying to remember what number the last one was. Had I really lost count? I was definitely going to hell. I couldn't dwell on that though, I had already received instructions for the next job. The people I worked for were definitely not known for patience. I looked a moment longer, then pulled my long black hair into a tight bun on the top of my head and pulled my black beanie on over it. I wondered if it really made a difference, honestly, I was already pretty much invisible. Heaving a huge sigh, I zipped up my hoodie and walked out of the bathroom. Ryan was sitting on my couch waiting impatiently, kicking the leg of my coffee table dramatically. "Oh, calm down," I snapped, instantly annoyed, "I'm going." "You need to be going faster. Lily won't wait forever." "And what's she gonna do?" I asked. "It's not like she would leave the office long enough to do it herself." "Maybe not. But she might find someone else to do it. And you know what would happen then!" Thinking about that made my teeth clamp together hard. I hated when he mentioned that. As if I needed reminded. As if I would be doing this otherwise. I decided not to answer. The last thing I needed was my babysitter reporting that I was being uncooperative. Instead, I grabbed my duffel from under the table and stalked out the door, slamming it behind me. As I made my way down the quiet street, I thought about the best way to do this. I hated thinking about it, I hated doing it. Taking lives was the surest way to ruin your own, even after you died, if you believed that sort of thing. Which I guess I sort of did. But it was better that I only ruin my life than my little sister's too. I had to save her from a life like mine. Even if that meant that my family would never learn the truth. I would rather they continue to believe I was dead than have her end up like me. I walked for a long time before I reached my destination. I read the text again to confirm the address. I was definitely in the right place and I could smell the delicious aroma of expensive food coming from the building in front of me. Yep. Right place. The guy I was looking for was definitely in there. This was the kind of job I hated the most. I would prefer to do this from a distance. It was easier on my mind to do it that way. Instead, the person who ordered this wanted a message delivered as well, making it more personal. I suppose it was fortunate for me that the guy I was after was rich enough that he reserved the entire restaurant every time he went out. I walked along the side of the building to the back, looking in the windows to make sure he was alone. Of course he wasn't. He had to have a woman with him. She looked like the kind that classified as professional company, but I couldn't tell for sure. Either way, I was about to f**k up her whole week. When I got to the back of the building, I was relieved to see the back door standing open. I silently thanked whichever kitchen employee it was that needed the cool air. I stopped next to the door and reached into my bag, grabbing my pistol and silencer. As I prepared myself to go in, I heard an employee ask another to close the door. No time to steel myself for this one. I threw the bag over my shoulder and walked quickly into the kitchen, seeing the faces of the staff I passed go from confused to terrified as they saw my gun. I heard them running, probably out the door I had just come in, though I didn't turn to check.  I slammed through the doors to the main floor and saw my target straight ahead. I was to his table in three strides. He began to stand but stopped when I raised the gun. "What the f**k is this?" He demanded loudly. "This is what happens when you torture and murder children. Hallie's mother sends her regards," I told him evenly. His eyes widened as he understood, then I pulled the trigger.  The woman stared at him in shock for half a second as he fell forward onto the table, then she began to scream. I turned and walked out just as calmly and quickly as I had walked in, passing through the empty kitchen and out the back door. I heard sirens and quickly removed my beanie and hoodie, stuffing them in a trash can as I passed it. I let my hair down and calmly walked back in the direction of my apartment. Police cars sped past me, lights on and sirens blaring, but none stopped. I wondered if shedding my extra clothes really altered my appearance that much, or if they just hadn't received a description yet.  Suddenly, one screeched to a halt beside me. I stopped in shock, trying not to appear too tense. A man got out of the passenger side and came to stand in front of me. I knew him. Well, sort of. I knew he was a detective and had seen him at a few of my jobs as I waited to leave. The first thing that hit me was his smell. Calming and enticing, like warm forest and summer rain. The second was how outrageously good-looking he was up close.  Damn it, Illeona! Summer rain? I thought bitterly, Get your s**t straight! "Hello," he said in a deep, sexy voice, "My name is detective Tallow, can I ask you some questions?" "Um," I hesitated, trying to look appropriately cautious and confused, " sure." "I am sorry if I startled you, but a crime just occurred not far from here. I wanted to ask if you saw anything." I looked at him cautiously, as if I was just some innocent girl who was randomly stopped abruptly by a stranger.  "Um, I'm not sure. Where did it happen?" "A restaurant about two blocks that way," he said, pointing behind me. I turned to look behind me, then back to look at him, shaking my head.  "I mean, I saw a few people in white uniforms running down the street, but I didn't ask them what they were doing. I try to avoid people when I'm walking by myself at night, ya know? What happened?" "I understand," he answered slowly, looking hard at me, "I can't give details, but someone was killed." I feigned surprise, careful not to be too over the top. "Oh my god." He crossed his arms over his muscular chest and for a moment I wondered what it would feel like to be pressed against that chest. I shook off the thought and mentally scolded myself. What the hell? "So other than the people in white you didn't see anything?" "No," I answered, pretending to think. "But I wasn't really looking either, ya know? I was just walking and thinking. Trying to get home. I prefer not to stay out here alone longer than I need to." He studied me for a moment. I started to get nervous under that stare but I didn't let it show. He was really intense. My attraction to him wasn't helping either. Again I scolded myself for being so stupid. "That's smart. Can't fault you for that," he finally said, "here. Take my card. In case you remember something." I took the card he offered with a quick "thanks, I will" then stepped around him to head home. "Hey," he said, catching my arm lightly. Electricity shot up my arm from his touch and I pulled away instinctively. He stared at my arm, looking just as shocked as I felt. He must have felt it too. For some reason, that thought warmed my blood. "Uh...what- what's your name?" He asked slowly. "Illeona." I answered softly. Then I turned and walked away, feeling his eyes on my back. When I finally got home, I closed the door behind me, relieved to see that I was alone. I leaned back against the door and sank down to the floor, putting my head in my hands. What the hell? I replayed my interaction with detective Tallow in my head. Maybe I had finally lost my mind? I didn't know. Then I replayed the job I had just done and like always, I put my hands over my face and wept silently.