The Girl
by Cassidy L. Sung

I glided through the ballroom silently, easing my way through the crowd without attracting attention. My eye was on the girl. The girl in the red dress. She was quite easy to spot in the sea of black and white. A girl begging for attention, begging for compliments. Men goggled at her fine curves and deep cleavage as she walked by, and she savored the attention. She flirted and blew kisses and everyone fell in love with her.

It seemed such a pity that she was going to die tonight.

I approached her gracefully, with a faint smile on my face and a martini glass in my hand.

“Martini?” I asked, presenting the delicate glass full of intoxicating liquid.

“How do I know you haven’t poisoned it?” she replied with a joking smile. Her voice was sweet and melodious, as if she was singing. She was a blonde, with curls that bounced when she walked. Her face was enchanting, her lips coated with bright red lipstick that matched her dress.

She took the martini and swallowed it in one gulp.

“So what’s your name?” she asked. There was something about her eyes, but I couldn’t quite place it. They were dark, deep, and fathomless, yet at the same time seductive, as if they were black holes sucking me towards her. At that moment it was undeniable that I was dangerously attracted to her.

But no, I had a job at hand. Come on James, keep your cool.

“Burrows, James Burrows. And yours?” I replied with a smile.

The Girl:
“Winters, Sophia Winters,” I said.

James was trying to keep his cool, but I could tell I had him. It was the way he couldn’t help but stare into my eyes, being silently seduced by my hypnotic gaze.

He didn’t look too bad himself, standing at about six foot two with dark sleek hair and a rather warm smile.

It seemed such a pity that he was going to die tonight.

“Well Sophia, care to join me for a smoke on the balcony outside?” said James holding out a hand.

On the balcony we’d be perfectly isolated from the rest of the party. I felt the silenced beretta strapped onto my leg tingle with anticipation.

I held out my hand.

“Lead the way handsome.”

James:
I took her hand and led her across the ballroom floor. We didn’t share a single word as we walked. All I could do was stare at her smiling face and her mysterious eyes.

The balcony was deserted despite the beautiful display before us. There seemed to be an endless amount of shining stars in the vast night sky. The city was busy and full of people several dozen stories below. An exotic mixture of city aromas floated in through a light breeze. It was one of those scenes that you just can’t help but pause and take in the moment. The faint sound of a saxophone playing a steady tune could be heard in the background. I turned to Sophia Winters and looked into her wondrous eyes.

“So what do you smoke?” she said, looking at me with a seductive smile.

“Winston tastes good like a cigarette should,” I reply, reaching into my coat pocket and tapping a cigarette out of the pack.

She takes the cigarette. We lean forward on the balcony and stare into the night. The smoke from our Winstons gets swallowed by the breeze, melding into the city’s smell. I found myself studying her figure. Such a perfectly shaped woman stood before me. It was amazing how she had such composure, how subtle she was now seducing me. It was hard to imagine this was the same girl bouncing up and down, blowing kisses at all the men in the ball room.

“So what do you think of the crowd of high rollers in there,” she said, blowing smoke at my face, “You obviously aren’t one.”

She saw right through me. Right through the expensive suit, the martini glass, the classy smile and the suave speech. And I thought I blended in with them perfectly.

“Scumbags,” I said, taking a puff from my cigarette, “But I didn’t come to the party for them, I came for you.”

She smiled. This smile was different; it was real.

“For me?” she looked flattered, “and why would you go through so much trouble for a girl like me?”

“Cause we’re the same type of person,” I replied coolly, taking another puff from my cigarette, “and that’s hard to find.”

I feel the cold steel tingle in my coat pocket. It was killing time and I needed to be ready. I needed to chill my heart; turn my blood cold.

“What makes you think I’m the same as you?” she asked. She looked amused, intently waiting for my response.

“We’re both killers,” I said, gazing into her eyes. Such beautiful eyes, “ready to steal each other’s hearts, and we’re both aware that if we don’t succeed we’ll fall victim to the other person’s charm. I know you want me Sophia, just as much as I want you.”

A gust of wind blew past us, fluttering her hair and dress. Her eyes sparkled and her smile widened. In the corner of my eye I saw her reaching for something on her thigh.

“Come with me Sophia,” I grabbed her and kissed her. The wind blew with new found energy. Her lips felt so soft against mine. We kissed passionately, as if we were lovers reunited after decades of separation. I thought the kiss would never end; I didn’t want it to end. I wanted to moment to last forever.

Alas she drew back. Her eyes interlocked with mine, the mist within them danced excitedly like flames from a fire.

“I will go with you James,” she said, grabbing my tie, “Prepare for the night of your life.”

She walked off into the ballroom.

“Where are you going?” I yelled.

“Ladies room.”

I turned back towards the view of the city and lit up another Winston. Doubts started to rise in my head as to whether or not I could kill this girl. There was something about her that seemed so different from all the others that I’ve killed. Either way, this would be my last job, last time I would ever have to kill another person. 100 kills, my debt would be paid.

“Hey, you,” it was a girl’s voice, not quite as sweet as Sophia’s. In fact, there was a scolding tone to this voice.
I turned around to see an attractive brunette with a small nose and thin eyebrows. She wore a white dress, just like the others in the ballroom, and an irritated look on her face. Yes, Rebecca Johnson knew of my mission to kill Sophia Winters and was here to oversee that I would accomplish it.

“You just missed your perfect chance,” she said fiercely, “This is your last job, I don’t want you screwing up.”

“I know,” I muttered, trying hard not to look at her stern face, “It’s almost over.”

Becky and I go way back, since I signed that contract with Don Valentino to kill 100 targets. She’s been watching my back ever since. We were like brother and sister. She’ll be the only thing I’d miss after I quit the job.

“So what’s your plan now genius?” said Becky, “You damn well know you can’t kill her in the company car.”

“I’ll take her back to the suite, you just make sure you’re covering me with a sniper.”

“Alright,” she replied, her expression softened, and before I knew it she had wrapped her arms around me.

“Be careful James,” she whispered, “Don’t die on me now.”

“I won’t,” I whispered back.

*    *     *

“A Carrera GT?” Sophia looked impressed, “I guess I was mistaken when I said you weren’t a high roller.”

“It’s a company car,” I pointed out quickly, “I just get the benefit of driving it once in a while.”

We were now in the parking garage, staring at Don Valentino’s voluptuous vehicle: a jet black Carerra GT with tinted windows. The garage was quite empty, and I was tempted to end the whole ordeal right then and there. Sure it would take longer to clean up, but the most dangerous part would be over.

“So are you going to open the door for me?” Sophia’s singing voice interrupted my fleeting thought.

“Oh, sorry Sophie.”

I bleeped open the car doors and we climbed inside. The interior had that new car smell. It was just as dark as the exterior. With those tinted windows, no one would be able to see what was going on in the car.

I hit the gas pedal and the car emitted a clean rumble from within. Sophia held my arm and gazed at me. We zoomed off into the careless night.

The Girl:
The plan was ruined. Burrows was supposed to die on the balcony. Shot by a gun in the head. I was supposed to be in my car, driving towards the money instead of this expensive metal box that his “company” owns. What went wrong?

Oh yes, the kiss. The god damn kiss. I was distracted.

Now what? Do I kill him in the car? I checked the speedometer. A hundred miles per hour. There was no way I could kill the driver at this speed. I’ll have to wait.

“So where are we going?” I asked, trying to sound composed.

“Suite Valentino in the Seaside Hotel,” James replied.

I tried to remember as much as I can about the profile I received.

James Douglas, 6 foot 1, 190 pounds.

He was a divorced car salesman, a lonely man. He just wanted to be loved.

Most importantly, the bounty on his head: one hundred thousand dollars.

The job seemed easy so I took it. And now I was in a car, speeding away to the Seaside Hotel with an unknown sequence of events about to unfold.

I sighed and look at the handsome salesman next to me. What was I doing?

James:
“What’s wrong?” I asked. She seemed to be deep in her own troubled thoughts.

“Oh, nothing,” she waved off my question, then after a slight pause added, “Do you do this much?”

“What do you mean?” the question caught me off guard.

“I mean, do you usually take home random girls that you meet at high profile parties.”

I wasn’t quite sure how to answer. If she was having second thoughts about going to the hotel I would be forced to take her out in the car.

“No,” I tried to sound sincere, “To be honest, I was swept off my feet the moment I saw you. I want you, Sophia.”

She smiled. This time it wasn’t a real one.

*     *     *

I pulled up in front of the hotel and handed a young valet the keys.

My phone rang. It was Becky.

“I’ve got to take this,” I said in an apologetic voice.

“No problem,” said Sophia as she pulled a Winston from my jacket.

I picked up the phone.

“I see you in front of the hotel,” said Becky, “I’m in the building across the street and I have a clear view of your window. Just remember to keep the curtains open.”

“Ok,” I replied, making sure I didn’t sound suspicious in front of Sophia.

“Good luck, James,” and with that she hung up.

“Don’t worry I’ll finish up the sale tomorrow,” I said before hanging up.

“Sales call?” asked Sophia, putting out her cigarette.

“Yea, shall we head in?”

The hotel was just good enough to satisfy Frankie V’s picky personality. Perhaps it was the polished white marble floor or the enormous chandelier that hung over the hotel lobby, but I’ve never felt very comfortable in the Seaside hotel. Everyone in the lobby was dressed in suits, smoking on cigars and sipping scotch while they conversed about golf or the economy or their future retirement plans. Pompous bastards.

Sophia and I walked across the lobby, paying little attention to the rich men sitting on the plush couches and enjoying their money. My mind was focused on the matter at hand. The beautiful woman that I would need to kill once we reach the suite. I gazed into her eyes once more. The mist within them seemed to swirl towards me as if telling me to come closer.

Ding

The elevator had arrived and we stepped in. I pressed for the eleventh floor.

“You keep looking into my eyes like you‘re studying them,” Sophia sang in her sweet voice, “I feel like a specimen on display.”

“They’re beautiful,” I said simply.

“They’re one of a kind,” she replied, “My mother used to tell me that she could tell how I was feeling by just looking at my eyes.”

Sophia was one of a kind. Deep down inside I knew that I didn’t want to kill her, but if I didn’t finish this, the other ninety nine deaths would go to waste. Freedom was just around the corner.

Ding

I pulled out my keys and opened the door to Frankie’s suite.

The suite was elegantly decorated and inexplicably clean. I doubt there was a speck of dust on the floor or a single crease in the bed sheets. A small bedside lamp emanated weak a weak orange glow. Moonlight washed in through the bay windows, bathing us in white light.

“So handsome, why don’t you close the door?” said Sophia.

She closed the curtains and a shadow was cast upon the room, obscuring her face.

“Maybe we should keep the curtains open,” I said, closing the door, “It’d be –”

She cut me off with a passionate kiss. Her eyes were staring deeply into mine, the mist within them swirling faster than ever. My mind was thrown off track. I didn’t want to kill this girl. This sweet wonderful girl that I felt I could fall in love with. After all, why did I kill people in the first place? Was it not just to save my own life? Were the lives of a hundred people worth trading for my own?

All of a sudden, the mist within Sophia’s eyes stopped swirling. In fact, the mist completely disappeared altogether. In its place was a sick dull color. Her eyes had turned cold, dead, emotionless.

SNIP! SNIP! SNIP!

Silenced gunshots. I felt a million pounds of lead pressure rip through my chest. My blood was spurting out uncontrollably. I was dying, a victim to my own breed.

“It’s a pity I had to kill you,” said Sophia, reaching into my coat pocket to grab my cigarettes, “I was just starting to like you.”

I tried to speak, but all that came out was a splutter of blood. I lost control of my legs and collapsed. My muscles relaxed. My vision blurred. I felt an overwhelming wave of sleepiness wash over my body. Death was just around the corner. I saw the faces of the ninety nine that I had killed; they stared at me with blank expressions. I had taken away their hopes and dreams; their lives. I had it coming. Did I believe in an afterlife? Even if I did, heaven surely had no room for me. So tired…

“Sleep baby, sleep,” sang Sophia in her lovely voice.

Of course, you’re right Sophia, sleep is what I need. God, you’re beautiful.

Sophia:
What James Burrows was doing in Frankie Valentino’s suite I would never know. My heart slowed back to a calm rhythm. The job was finished.

I opened the glass doors and walked onto the balcony. The suite had a great view of the beach. Ocean waves rolled in and out softly. The moonlight reflected off the water, illuminating the calmness of it all. It seemed poetic almost.

I lit a cigarette and took a long puff. I’ll cash his check in the morning.

Rebecca:
Sophia Winters smoked quietly on the balcony, her dress splattered with blood. That could only mean one thing…

Tears rolled down my face uncontrollably as I aimed the sniper’s crosshair onto Sophia’s head.

“Rest in peace James,” I sobbed.

BANG!

BIO: Cassidy is a recent University of Washington graduate with a passion for writing. He is currently residing in Taiwan as he prepares for law school.