The Story of Blood and Roses

"If you ask anyone who I am, they will not be able to tell you. That is how good I am."

"You think you are so good, don\'t you? Have you ever been on a mission, boy? Looked into the eyes of the most feared men in the society and shot them between the eyes?" He trembled under my glare. "I\'ve been doing this since I was your age. While all of you sit here and chat away your time, I was on the field, undercover and taking down every man that came in my way."

"Do you want more proof?" I goaded. None of them spoke. I removed the long sweater at one go and stood in front of them in my jeans and my bra. I knew no shame. I had lost it long back. I pointed at each scar on my skin, I told them who had made them, what had happened to them.

"They are all dead," I told them. "That is how good I am. I am in front of you because I have fucked up so many people on this planet that it is better if I disappeared." With that, I slipped the sweater back on and started to walk away.

"You\'re Agent Vincent," I heard Adam say. I turned back and saw the conviction in his eyes.

"Come with me." He followed wordlessly.

He was going to be a wonderful addition to the team.

.

"Are we set for today?" I asked as I entered the huge hall we had rented. Normally used to hold weddings and galas, the hall looked phenomenal with the crisscross of electrical wires. There were desktops and laptops all set up. Huge screens surrounded the room; microphones to enhance coordination. It was the wet dream of every hacker.

"What is this?" Adam sounded awed by what he saw.

"We\'re set," Daisy answered, ignoring the boy. "Are you ready to take over the controls?" I shook my head. "I thought you were excited about it."

"I am, but I\'d rather watch the plan run smoothly and Murray\'s empire burn down," I told her casually. "The boy here," I gestured to Adam, "will be taking my place," I informed her. "He\'s a hell lot better than me, and he knows his shit. I trust him not to blow our plans." I was starting to walk away when I heard her call me back.

"Yes?"

"Have you told him what is going to happen?" she asked, exasperated.

"I\'ll let you do it. You\'re way better at explaining things than I am," I told her. She knew that it was a subtle jab. I had not forgiven her from hiding the truth from me.

"Ma\'am?" I heard him call.

"Yes?"

"Thank you for the opportunity," he bowed his head.

"Keep up the good work, kid."

That was when I realized that I missed Sean horribly.

There were only ten minutes until the clock struck twelve. Every person in the room had their fingers on the keyboard. I stood above them, looking over them as they completed their final checks. My eyes scanned the floor to see Daisy. She was staring back at me, her expression somber. I gave her a prompt nod and saw her give them the orders.

"We are supposed to create a zero hit. We coordinate and attack the weak points in the system all at once." She went on to explain which groups would work on which parts.

"Today, the Web of Lies shall fall," she announced. She looked up at me and returned my nod.

I clutched my phone in my hands and waited for anarchy to take over.

A minute before the clock struck twelve, the silence was replaced by the furious noise of typing. It was music to my ears. A smile spread across my lips as layer after layer of protection fell away. The hackers retreated, extracting all the information. The mission was complete. I heard the cheers, but I wanted to hear the devastation in his voice.

I pressed the cellphone to my ears and waited for the rings to give away to his voice. I heard the dial tone disappear.

I could hear him breathing harshly. Reality had dawned. I could almost hear the moment when he knew... he just knew that it was me.

"Happy birthday to you... Happy birthday to you... Happy birthday dear Anthony... Happy birthday to you..." I can hear the laughter in my voice. Oh, how I enjoyed wishing him on his birthday. "Thank you, dear Anthony... for all the love you\'ve shown, the lives that you have torn. The rampage ends today; so does your dynasty."

He had the audacity to laugh. That is when I truly know that he feels nothing. I shake my head as I hear the wonder in his voice.

"Mia," he says. I shudder.

"Anthony." I switch off the phone.