The rain fell heavy, drowning everything that dared come outside on this unusually cold summer night. Darrel stood in the alley just out of site; the shadows concealing him like the deep ocean would conceal a shark. Water poured off his head; rain pounded his shoulders and his back and soaked down to every single fabric he wore. Chill set in upon him as the night wore on, yet he stood, waited and watched without moving a muscle. His eyes were locked past the entrance to the alley and on the diner that sat adjacent to it.



The golden glow from the windows tried to pierce the darkness of the street it sat on, but the rain drops outnumbered the rays of light a million to one. Inside, wet customers were seeking out shelter. Waitresses were zipping around from table to table, taking orders and delivering hot coffee to warm the bellies of the storms victims. There was one customer in particular that Darrel had been observing; a man that Darrel had been hunting for the better part of two decades.



Seventeen years ago, Darrel received the order to execute his mark but, that is another story. What was of great concern now was that the assassin had been waiting for this opportunity for a long time and now here it was right in front of him - presented on everything short of a silver platter. It felt off. It would be too easy, the way the worm on a hook is too easy for the fish to pass up. But he was smarter than the fish. He didn’t like it, so he spun on his heels and egressed from the alley.



Sticking to the shadows, he maintained a brisk speed. He didn’t want to be around to find out whatever it was that was trying to make him take the bait. From street to street, alley to alley, he moved. Zig-zagging across the city, he made his way back toward his temporary home on the east side; regularly doubling back and making circles to check and make sure he wasn’t being followed. But his mind began to wonder. He did his best to keep it from doing so, but eventually the questions started to fill his head.



Why here? He had only stopped in Chicago briefly to rest. He had no business here.



Why now? After evading him for so long, why did his mark come up for air tonight?



Who? Who was making this happen? Who arranged the trap? It was a trap after all, it couldn’t be anything else.



Darrel replayed memories in his head, memories from a time long past. He was desperately searching for clues, clues that would lead to answers. Answers were the only things that were going to keep him alive now. Someone was trying to draw him out, and the only reason they would do that is so that they could kill him.



Ok, stay calm. Stay focused. Don’t get distracted.



It suddenly hit him. In the blink of an eye Darrel knew that this was all a distraction. His gaze was locked onto the sidewalk, not scanning his environment like he usually does. His thoughts were sporadic, not clear headed. He glanced around, realizing that he had ended up on the wrong side of town. He never made mistakes like this. He tried to take in his surroundings quickly, searching to regain his situational awareness but there was just too much. It was like someone turning on the overhead light after just waking up. His senses were blinded.



It has to be her.



There was only one person that ever got into his head like this.



He needed a moment to regain control of himself.



Slow down. Breathe.



Panicked, he ducked into an alleyway searching for somewhere to hide. Suddenly a sharp pain pierced his lower back just above the kidney. Stars sparkled in his vision and a loud ringing shot through his ears. Two more jolts of pain followed in quick succession. Grabbing at the wound, he spun around, stumbling and falling to the ground. A dark figure appeared to hover over him, and then his eyes met hers. Even through the stars in his eye’s he could make out her face.



It could only be you.



“I knew it...” he whispered, just before the darkness consumed his vision and the ringing in his ears faded to nothing.