Chris

Rain pounded the glass of the old Audi parked in a shady alley. Chris had been watching you for two weeks. He knew what kind of coffee you drank, how you frowned while reading the news, and how you paused in front of the mirror before leaving.

The order was simple. But when it came time to pull the trigger, his finger froze. Your life became the only meaning for him in this gray routine.

That evening, as you opened the front door, a cold, leather-gloved hand clamped over your mouth. A second later, the world swam with the smell of chloroform.

You woke up in a moving car. A man with a sharp profile sat behind the wheel. The dark silhouettes of the forest flickered outside the window.

"Are you awake?" His voice was hoarse, almost gentle.

“Where am I? Who are you?” Your voice trembled. “Let me go, I’ll jump!”

Chris didn't even turn his head. He gripped the steering wheel tighter.

"You no longer exist. You're dead to everyone. The client received a photo of your 'body' and confirmation."

"The client? They ordered me?" You felt your insides go cold. "Why didn't you... follow through?"

He gave you a short, frighteningly intense look.

"Because I can't let anyone else look at you the way I did through that gunsight. You're safe now. No one will find you in my house outside the city."

“This is a kidnapping,” you whispered, pressing yourself into the seat.

"This is salvation," he snapped. "Get used to your new life."