The sound of a small bell pierced the deafening silence like a knife as I opened the door before me. The steady ticking of the clock that hung on a wall of the dilapidated diner was the only discernible sound as I entered. Thankfully, no one paid me any attention.

The slow rasping of my breath against the helmet I wore was soft against my ear, and I stalked over to the faded blue and gold bar that dominated the center of the diner. There were equally-faded tables of the same color that lined the walls of this establishment, and I noted there were only three other people present at this time.

Good. I thought to myself. Makes my job easier.

Sitting down without a sound, I waited with the patience of a black widow.

"Um...Can I...Help you?" A middle aged, balding man–presumably the barkeep–prompted me. His eyes were glued to my expressionless visage, and I couldn't stop the snort from escaping me when I saw a bead of sweat run down the side of his face. How pathetic. As barkeep, you're supposed to have balls of steel. Be glad there's not a bounty on your head.

I tossed a few credit shivs onto the grimy countertop. "A pint."

With a stifled grumble, the barkeep grabbed a mug and filled it up with what I suppose qualified as beer. I could hardly tell, though. If I didn't know any better, it might as well have been shit water. And here I thought the alcohol was going to be better on Erastus...

Right as my drink was set before me, the door opened with a resounding ring. With my back to the front door, I waited.

"This our guy?" I breathed, my voice barely picked up by the headset built into my helmet.

"Yep," A voice responded, "Felix Penticon, age 28. I take it you don't need me to remind you the reasons why this guy has a bounty on his head?"

"That will be unnecessary, Boreas." I whisped out, still not turning around. "Dead's good enough for me, so let's get this over with."

"Okay Mr. 'I know everything.' Just make sure you eliminate the target quietly." He stressed the last word. "We don't want a repeat of your last bounty."

I couldn't help but chuckle. "Still got the job done."

"Yes, but it was rather messy."

I would've continued talking, but the barkeep interrupted me.

"Are ya gonna...drink your drink?" He inquired, laughing to himself. "Cuz'...I don't think you can through that...That thing on your noggin."

I glared at him, and the fool averted his gaze with another nervous titter. I doubt I'll take my helm off in front of you, let alone anyone else.

I attempted to listen to any conversations going on around me, but I couldn't pick up anything.

"Where's my target?" I breathed.

"Mr. Penticon is seated in a back left table. Don't try to get close-just wait. You'll blow your cover if you try anything."

And so I waited until I received another message.

"Mortifer," Boreas stated, catching my attention. "Your target's getting up. I suggest you follow after them."

I heard my target and his accomplices talk rather loudly as they walked past me. One of them jostled me, which caused the person in question to snap at me.

"Watch out, you twat!" The idiot barked, giving my shoulder a rough shove. The same could be said to you, jackass.

I didn't respond, and the group exited the diner soon after.

"My dude..." Boreas began, "It's a nightmare trying to see through the shitty cameras that are in that diner. If I were you, I'd get up and follow our target."

"On it." I breathed, standing up from my seat and leaving the diner without so much as glancing at my drink.

The left lens of my helmet adjusted to the lower visibility of my surroundings, and I studied the rubbish-infested city block I had just walked out into. The buildings nearest me were bathed in darkness, and I spotted a few silhouettes darting between alleyways. Soon after, I had a visual on my target and his friends–two males, by the looks of it–walking down the street. Judging by the way they stumbled around, my guess would be they had quite a few drinks before departing.

Avoiding the overturned garbage cans that sat in my way, I started ghosting my quarry.

"H-Hey, Felix," My helm picked up, "Is something following us?"

"...Can't tell," Another voice chimed in, "Take a right-we should be able to get away from whoever's following us."

Wrong move.

And so I followed the three gentlemen down the alleyway, which just so happened to be a dead end. Without a sound, I drew a hand gun custom-made for me by my partner and cocked the hammer back. 

"Fuck..." I heard one of them breathe. "What now...?"

"I'm not sur-."

The soft click of my weapon silenced the person who was speaking. Another shot had my target's other accomplice dead on the concrete ground. 

"Wh-Who the fuck are you?" Felix Penticon demanded, a momentary ray of light illuminating dirty blonde hair and wide emerald green eyes. "What do you wan-?"

A shot to the head silenced his rambling. Blood splattered onto the wall behind him, and the thump of his body against the ground was the only sound in the quiet alley. All too easy...You should've done more than ramble.

"Target eliminated," I informed my partner, Boreas. 

"Good. Make sure you collect something from the target's body to present to the client, and dispose of the bodies before they're found by the authorities."

"With pleasure," I breathed.

"I take it the new silencer mod I installed into your side arm worked perfectly?" Boreas prompted me as I holstered my weapon.

"It did."

His laughter caused me to crack a grin. "Good. God knows you don't know how to be silent when you try to take out a target."

I huffed. "It's not my fault they put up a fight."

"That didn't mean you had to throw that mob boss into a meat grinder."

I loosed a rare laugh. "Boreas, shut up."

I could hear the smirk in his voice. "Sure thing, pardner."

And so with the shadows lingering around me like a dark curtain, I cleaned up my mess. It was as simple as tossing the bodies into a nearby dumpster and closing the lid.

I'm sure the rats in this abysmal city will have a field day with those fine gentlemen. I thought to myself in disgust. It's time to get the hell out of here-I need something decent to drink.