I slowly enter the big ballroom. Couples dance everywhere around me. The rhythm of the music accelerates my heart, or maybe it's the adrenaline pumping in my vains. The clear sounds of the violins calm down my racing thoughts.
I came here with a job, one that will save my family, one that I cannot miss. They promised me that if I kill that person, they will free my familiy. "He's just a monster with no heart. You can do it, if you want to see them again." they said. Him, my target, this entity which I only heard dark and horrible stories about, seems like a ghost, a demon with no feelings. I did it before, I destroyed people before for money: criminals, thieves; I can do it again. I...
"My lady, would you offer me this dance?" A deep, alluring voice of a man breaks my train of thoughts. I look at his extended hand, at his long fingers.
He is wearing a mask; after all everybody is, at this masked ball. His dark black eyes seem to be constantly burning. I hesitate only for a second.
"Of course." I manage to lower my voice to a mere whisper, as if afraid to scare this person; my target.
The instruments suddenly start to sing faster, the whole room moving in time with our hurried steps. His hands are hot, unlike a ghost's, burning my skin even through the long dress.
"You are here for me. They sent you to kill me."
"Yes." I reply, my heart suddenly skipping a beat.
"Do you think you are capable?"
For a second I wonder myself. His pale hands are so clean, but I almost can see the blood slowly dripping.
"You are a monster." The families he killed, the lives he destroyed...
"And are you innocent? Those people you are working for... have they ever told you who you actually killed?"
"They were criminals." This was only manipulation, to wash my brain, to stop me.
"They were innocents. All of them were innocents. That young boy you killed a few weeks ago? He was the son of a duke from the neighbour country. A honorouble man who never hurt anyone. "
My throat tightens. It is not true. He is lying. He is lying!!!
"And that woman you killed last week... and that old man a month ago...You still don't understand? They use you to kill those who oppose them, to kill their enemies."
"So you are innocent? I shouldn't kill you?" My voice trembles uncontrollably.
"I am not innocent. I am what this world made of me. I killed who I needed to kill and I destroyed who I needed to destroy. The difference between you and me, my dear? I don't pretend to be something I am not."
My thoughts are a mess and my walls are crumbling. Am I really a cold blooded assassin who kills innocents?
"If I don't kill you...they....they will kill my family."
I look into his eyes and hope he can see my fear and my desperation for what I hold dear. He leans forward, his lips slowly approaching mine. Will he kiss me? Almost when our noses collide, he changes his direction and I can feel his burning breath on my ear. It is a whisper and in the loud surroundings I almost miss it.
"Your family.... is already dead."
My whole body freezes; the music stops.
