May 5th, 2012; 21:34pm
"Please! Don't! Agh!"
The sound of gunshots fill the air, a cold, deadly silence following. The only sound coming from the nearby TV. I pay it no mind as I go through the clothes of my latest victim, taking what his corpse doesn't need anymore. Money, cigarettes, his car keys, and a couple other worthless things that I'll just save as a souvenir from this latest mission. After I'm through with the body, I continue to search through the house, looking for the Hydra journal he stole. It doesn't take too long to find it. The man was clearly an idiot. Who would hide such an important item under their mattress? The chatter from the TV continues to fill the room as I leave the bedroom. I was about to leave when a news reporter says something that catches my attention.
"The attack on New York caused a lot of damage to a majority of the nearby buildings. It will take some time rebuild all that was destroyed. The number of casualties and fatalities that resulted from this disaster is still unknown. The only thing that we know for certain is that we owe these heroes, these Avengers, a debt we might never be able to pay."
'Avengers?'
The news segment ends shortly after that, as I'm left puzzled. I don't pay much attention to what goes on in the world unless my job requires me to, though it usually doesn't take me long to find out whenever there has been an attack somewhere in the world. That wasn't the part that confused me, however. It was the "heroes" the woman mentioned. The "Avengers". I have an extensive knowledge of many groups, gangs, organizations and even some cults from around the world. I have never heard of the "Avengers". I was tempted to stay and see if there was going to be more talk of these heroes, but I stop myself. Shaking my head, I internally scold myself for letting that report break my focus.
'I do not need to dwell on this. My boss Kazimir will probably know of these Avengers. I must regain my focus and finish my mission.'
May 5th, 2012; 23:44pm
I finally arrive at the base of opertations for the new group I'm part of. Well, they call themselves a group, but they're more like a glorified gang.
Not paying any of the other members any mind, I walk straight toward the boss's office. I pause after I enter. The room is dark. The only source of light coming from a small lamp on the desk of my superior. Even after my eyes adjust, I still struggle to see if my boss is in the room or not.
"Are you in here?" I ask
Kazimir emerges from the shadows over by his bookcase in the corner, looking as if he was just one with the darkness. "What is it, Alkaev?"
"I finished the mission." I tell him, setting the Hydra journal down on his desk.
The man carefully picks up the journal. He brushes the tips of his fingers across the front of it, giving it a form of reverence I'd never expect anyone to give what is essentially a pile of paper. He continues to look all around the journal, eventually opening it up and flipping through the pages. He skims through most of it, stopping to read through only a few pages. After a short few minutes, he places the journal back on the desk and turns to me.
"Well done. Once again, you've proven to be a useful and irreplaceable asset to this group and our cause." He says
"Thank you." I reply, acting as though I appreciate the comment and legitimately believe in their cause.
"You are excused." He says, walking over to sit down on his chair.
I turn to leave, but I hesitate. I remember what I heard on the TV earlier. Against my better judgment, I proceed to ask Kazimir about it.
"Sir… I've a question."
"Make it quick, agent. I have other matters to attend to."
"What do you know of these… 'Avengers'?"
The man's body seems to stiffen at the mention of that name. He slowly turns around to face me.
"What… did you say?" He asks, just barely trembling
"I said 'do you know of these Avengers'?" I repeat, feeling vaguely intrigued by my boss's behavior.
"There! That's it! That's the word." He says, the look of fear apparent in his eyes.
"What word? 'Aven'-"
"Don't say it! You are not allowed to speak of them for as long as you are here with us. It is forbidden!" The man exclaimed
"If simply saying the name is so taboo then they must be a threat. I feel like I should know who or what they are so I can deal with them accordingly." I reply
"You will not be dealing with any of them."
"You underestimate me, sir. I can-"
"Enough! I have had enough of this! You will not speak of them ever again, you will not go out and do anything that involves them. You will stay far, far away from them and you will forget you ever even heard the name! And if I find out you've disobeyed me and my orders… you will die a death so painful not even you could imagine the pure agony you'd feel. Do I make myself clear?"
I resist every urge I feel to slice his throat.
Unfortunately, I fail.
In what seems like a flash, the man that was once my boss falls onto his desk, blood beginning to pool around him.
I take a few moments to regain my composure before exiting the room. No one else should have a reason to go into Kazimir's office, at least not for a while.
Besides, by the time someone does enter and sees that their lovely leader is dead…
I'll be long gone.