The Skin Thief

Chapter 29

Slowly, I attach the silencer to the pistol. My hands are steady as I do so. In my chest, my heart beats in even, rhythmic thumps. I take in calm breaths and come to a stop outside his office.

He sits at his desk, staring intently at his computer screen. Sprawled across the table are files upon files. He's loosened his tie and there is a shadow of dark hair around his mouth and chin. He lets out a long sigh and rubs his eyes.

He's always working late.

I open the door. At the movement, he turns. His eyes widen as he sees me.

My mind goes blank.

As my arm raises, the gun heavy, it almost doesn't feel like it's me in control.

His mouth drops open and he gulps. Slowly, he lifts up his hands. Tears fill his eyes.

"Please, I have a fam-"

Just hearing the beginning of that word makes an image of Mother appear in my mind. That image is all it takes for me to pull the trigger.

Do not hesitate. Do not let them speak. Your targets aren't human. They aren't people. They are your target and only your target.

Three loud pops interrupt him. They are slightly muffled against the silencer. If anyone were on this floor, they would have heard it. But there is no one here. No one but security, who will be down in the electrical room right now.

Blood splatters across the office. My target's body convulses and crumples onto the floor.

I lower the gun.

I remember that day before I left home. I remember Mother executing Mr Hans. I wondered if one day, that would be me and here I am.

"You are the one good thing I'm putting into this world, do you understand?"

The words ring back in my mind and my body feels horribly heavy with a pain I can't quite understand.

I'm not good, Mother. I'm just like you.

A scream sounds behind me, breaking me out of my confused daze. I spin, my stomach lurching. A woman stands in the corridor, her eyes wide and her cheeks stained with tears. She looks at me with an expression of pure terror.

Shit.

How did I miss that?

Panic swells up inside me as she turns and bolts toward the stairwell, screaming for help as she does so.

For a few moments, I can't think. I could run. But I need to complete the second part of my plan to make it work.

Fuck.

I take off after her. I push my panic down and zero in on her. My adrenaline fuels my body and I catch up to her quickly. She looks over her shoulder and screams once more. Her shaking hands reach for the door and she opens it. She screams for help, her voice echoing down the stairwell. As she is about to step into it, I wrap my arms around her and drag her back into the room.

She is sobbing heavily, begging me not to kill her. Before I even think about it, I slam my fist into her head. Her body crumples, going silent.

I've punched enough people and am expert enough in my combat abilities to know that she isn't dead, just unconcious. I will not have two people's blood on my hands tonight.

I turn and run back to the office. I will have to act quickly now. Surely someone heard her screaming.

For a second, I pause as I enter. My eyes fall on the deep red blood that has oozed across the grey carpet. I force myself to look away and rush over to one of the filing cabinets, I pry it open forcefully. It doesn't take me long to find the file I need thanks to the alphabetical ordering. I yank out the folder and then tear away at the paper before throwing it across the desk. Then, I destroy the office. I work quickly, tossing the tables and knocking over the draws. I even go as far as to smash the glass walls that surround the room. Then, I stand over the body and shoot it a few more times.