"Hmph." Haut looked down at the young girl who was clearly still shaken up from the situation. He was amused by how she'd tried to threaten him with her empty gun, just like he'd predicted.
"You're a very ambitious young lady, aren't you? But it seems you have no clue how the world actually works. If you want someone to surrender without a fight, make sure you have some way to back up your empty threats, or you'll just come off as a desperate nuisance."
The way he stepped closer to her, bringing his face close to hers, which made her flinch. "If you want to intimidate someone into emptying their pockets, you should try someone who actually looks vulnerable, not someone who looks like they could take you apart without breaking a sweat."
She tried to back up, but he grabbed her gently by the wrist and pulled her back towards him before she could flee. He leaned in even closer, bringing his face mere inches away from hers. Then he smiled, revealing his sharp, even teeth.
"Now, look at me closely and tell me, who you think would win in a fight between us two." He said, his tone soft at first, then gradually getting more menacing.
The girl was trembling with fear, her whole body was shaking. She swallowed hard and said in a low tone, "You. You would win in a fight between us two."
"Good. At least you have a bit of sense then. So keep that in mind as you decide how to proceed from here." He kept his grip on her wrist firm, then finally let go of her. He turned on his heel and began walking away, but at the last second, he stopped and looked back at her.
At that moment, the girl heard the sound of police siren. They were getting closer and closer, and she finally realized! When he suddenly grabbed her wrist. She tried to sprint away, but he was too quick for her. He spun her around and pinned her against the wall, and even with the sirens getting nearer and nearer, she couldn't break free.
"Just as I predicted." He smirked, "Look at how desperate you are now. The police will be here any second, and they will surely arrest you.
You're no threat to me. Once they take you into custody, you'll be locked up for years, and I'll simply continue to live my life in peace. After all, who is going to believe the words of a mere robber?
Well... good luck out there, my dear." He winked at her, his cold smile growing even more twisted.
It was almost 12am now, Haut sat on the terrace, his feet dangling over the edge. He looked up at the bright stars, feeling the cool night breeze against his skin. He took a deep breath and let his mind wander. He thought about the endless possibilities of the universe, how tiny and insignificant he was compared to it all.
But just when he was about to close his eyes and drift off to sleep, he felt a small tap on his shoulder.
He was startled by the sudden interruption, and he opened his eyes to see who it was. There stood a figure in black, their face shrouded in shadow.
"Who are you?" Haut spoke in a cold, nonchalant voice.
The figure stayed silent for a moment, then finally spoke in a deep, raspy voice.
"I am a man who has been following your exploits for some time. I have a message for you."
Haut raised an eyebrow, his face blank and betraying no emotion.
"And what would that message be?"
The man leaned forward, his face still hidden in shadows, and lowered his voice to a whisper.
"I have heard that you've become bored in your work. The same old schemes, the same predictable outcomes. It's no fun, isn't it?
Well, I can help you with that. I have an opportunity that will be sure to spice things up for you. Would you like to hear more?"
Haut's eyes flashed with interest. The promise of something new and exciting was exactly what he was looking for.
"Go on," he said, his voice dripping with a cold, dangerous anticipation.
"There is someone I need you to take care of. It won't be a simple little job, this is a very important target. But if you succeed, I promise you'll never be bored again.
You'll have to plan and execute the perfect crime, and it will be a challenge unlike anything you've faced before.
Are you interested?"
Haut took a moment to consider the offer. The chance to do something truly challenging and unpredictable, the possibility of taking on a truly formidable opponent. The prospect was very tempting.
"Let me hear more.
" The man nodded, his face still hidden in shadows. "The target is a young girl who has been causing quite a bit of trouble lately. She's unpredictable, unpredictable in a way that makes her dangerous.
But you should be able to handle her. The details are all here." The man pulled out a folded piece of paper and handed it to Haut, who took it and opened it up.
Haut skimmed the paper carefully, taking in all the information that was provided. The girl's name, her appearance, her exact location, even her routine. Everything he needed to know was right here.
"I see." He said, tucking the paper into his jacket. "And what exactly is the reward for completing this job?"
The man's shadow-shrouded face broke into a wide smile.
"That's the fun part. If you successfully take her out, the reward you receive will be beyond your wildest fantasies. It will make all of your previous exploits look like child's play.
You don't want to pass on this opportunity. It may be a risky job, but the stakes are just as high. The rewards could change your life forever.
Well, what do you say? Ready to take it on?"
Haut chuckled, amused by the man's bold promises.
"You had me at the word 'fun'," he said, a hint of playful malice flickering in his eye. "I'm not someone who backs out of a challenge, especially when there's so much at stake.
Consider it done. I'll make sure she's taken care of. And you'll keep your word, right?
Haut's expression was cold and dismissive. He read through the paper carefully one more time, taking in all the information provided.
"I see." He said, folding the paper and pocketing it. The details of the job were laid out before him, and in his mind, he was already formulating a plan of action.
"So you want her taken out, does it matter how I do it?"
The man nodded.
"No, it doesn't matter how you do the job as long as it's done cleanly. Just make sure no one ever sees you or can track it back to you. The target is an unpredictable one, so if you slip up, she might find a way to get away or retaliate. But I have faith in you.
As long as there's no trace of evidence, the job will be considered a success. Now, are there any other questions you have before you begin?"
"Just one." Haut's tone was cold and dispassionate. "What happens if I fail to complete the job? If I get caught, or if I slip up somehow, what then?"
The man's face hardened, and he leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a cold whisper.
"If you fail, you'll pay a heavy price. I am giving you this job because I trust you to be able to pull it off, and I hope that you will not let me down.
But if you do fail..." The man paused, his tone menacing as his face darkened. "Let's just say it wouldn't end well for you. So make sure you don't fail."
"I won't." Haut said, his expression unwavering. I'm not going to let some girl get the better of me. I will make sure she is taken care of, and you can count on me to do the job...
"The man disappears in the shadows"
It's so dark there I can't even see properly, the girl whispered!
The girl was walking home alone late at night when suddenly she felt a hand press down on her mouth and pull her into a dark alleyway.
She struggled to break free, but before she could even scream, she felt a sharp pain in her side, and she realized that she had been stabbed. She fell to the ground, staring in disbelief at the blood stained blade she felt in her hand. As life slowly began to fade away, she heard a cold voice whisper in her ear:
"Such a shame, you were a fun one. But my work here is done, so goodbye," The man said, removing the blade from her body and wiping it clean. As he walked away, he felt a warm breeze brush his face, and he smiled to himself. Another job well done.
The man sighed, a look of satisfaction on his face as he washed the blood from his hands. He slipped the blade into his pocket and made his way out of the alleyway, a faint smile on his face.
But suddenly, he heard a rustling sound from deep within the darkness. He stopped in his tracks and listened, his eyes scanning the shadows.
He could make out the subtle sound of footsteps approaching, but they were quiet and cautious. He whirled around, his hand reaching for the knife once more.
His eyes scanned the shadows, trying to spot the intruder. He reached for his blade, readying himself for a fight, when suddenly he felt the cold tip of a dagger pressed against his throat.
"Well, well, look who's caught in a bit of a mess now.". He froze, his hand halfway to the knife when his mind finally registered the voice he recognized. It was the girl, the one he had just killed. "And here I was, wondering if you'd noticed".
He went went pale, his eyes widening in shock.
"How? How are you..." He gasped, struggling to find his voice.
"Let us not keep you in suspense," the girl said, her voice as calm as ever. "I was faking, of course. But you did seem so eager to kill me, so I decided to see if you'd go through with it. And it appears you did..."
He was stunned, his mouth hanging open in disbelief. The girl had orchestrated the whole thing, she had planned his every move, and he had fallen for it hook, line, and sinker.
"You..." he began, the realization slowly setting in. "You... you were playing me the whole time..."
The girl let out a soft chuckle as she watched the man's confusion and terror, his mouth hanging open in shock.
"You're not used to having the tables turned on you, are you? I always expected you to be smarter than that." The girl continued, her tone mocking and scornful!