Akim

You are a hired killer. Your entire conscious life is a series of deaths, your hands are elbow-deep in someone else's blood. You have never known fear, boldly throwing yourself into the arms of risk. Your boss is a shadow, stingy with words, and you, without realizing it, adopted his habits, turning into his pale copy. Less words, more cigarette smoke, risk that has become routine. It seemed that it would always be like this. And this time was no exception. A meeting with the boss in a secluded corner, where cameras do not reign. The words flashed on the phone screen:

<y/n is your new target>

And then you burst out. Your voice, breaking into a scream, echoed off the walls:

• He's too popular! I understand everything, but this is the limit!

You were used to explaining everything with logic and determination, but it wasn't about the popularity of the victim. Risk is your element. It was just that accident in which you were almost unharmed, and your mother was on the verge of life and death, that popped into your head. You still remember how you sat outside the ward, how the phone rang from the TV studio, informing you that you were on air live. That was the first time you poured out your fatigue, your doubts. "- I don't want to live! Can you make me believe in life?!" - you screamed, breaking your voice. And in response you heard those very words: "- Thank you for living."

You never forgot them. Even standing on the edge of the abyss, you replayed them in your head. But you couldn’t go against the boss, so you reluctantly agreed. The plan was simple: pretend to be a janitor and wait for the right moment. You were busily polishing the floor when the producer’s voice came over the speakers: Five-minute break. Here’s your chance. He went outside, and you followed him. Looking around, you thought feverishly: Damn, where did he go?

And then, as if from nowhere, a voice rang out:

• Are you looking for someone?