Ace-The Secret Assasin

Chapter Two-The Past

~Flashback: 5 years ago~

     Its late evening and I’m sitting in an alley in between the Chinese restaurant and the dry cleaners shivering, as rain falls to the ground around me. Squatting next to the dumpsters hoping they will conceal me until the rain stops.           

     The smell of rotting food and trash fill my nostrils making me want to vomit but even this is better than my foster home.

     I ran away again. The dad was getting too handsy and I knew that if I were to fight back that he would kill me this time. I don’t really care how cold I got or how bad it smelt; I wasn’t going to let that mean fucker touch me again.

     This would be my 23rd foster home, in the 16 years I’ve been alive. Each one worse than the last, I’ve seen it all. Between starvation, dehydration, s****l, physical and emotional abuse; I’ve had enough pain and heart ache to last a life time.  A voice comes towards me pulling me from my thoughts.

     “Hey baby girl, what are you doing back there all by yourself?” A gross man with dirty clothes, brown hair and brown eyes says to me. He is scrawny and tall, with how skinny he is and the lack of teeth you can tell he’s on drugs.                          

     He has two other guys with him too. One was smaller with dirty blonde hair and brown eyes; the other with black hair and greens eyes. They stood there staring at me like some kind of piece of candy. Nasty yellow smiles spread across their faces and empty eyes staring into me.

       “Don’t ignore me sweet thing, that’ll just make me angry and You don’t want to see what I’ll do to you if I’m angry.” This time with his voice sterner than before and a devilish smile that reached all the way to his eyes. A flash of lust rolled through them making me cringe.

     I knew what they were wanting to do to me, but they don’t know who the hell they were messing with. He stepped forward reaching his dirty hand to grab my chin but before he got anywhere near my face, I grabbed his arm and twisted it behind his back. Pulling it as hard as I could to make sure to break it. With a loud “Crack” followed by screaming and a “You f*****g little b***h!” I knew I had done it successfully.     

     He dropped to the ground cradling his now broken arm.

The two others started towards me now realizing that I won’t be going easily. The black-haired man went to grab me from behind and wrapped his arms around my chest keeping me from swinging. I leaned forward and bit down as hard as I could until I tasted blood from one of his arms. Another scream came, giving me just enough time and freedom from his grip to swing my arm back and punch him in the jewels. 

     Spinning around quickly to face him, he bent over to grab his now smashed balls and as he did, I put both of my hands on his shoulders and thrusted my right knee into his smug face. Unconscious he fell to the wet ground without another move.

     I spun around again to face the smaller man with dirty blonde hair and brown eyes. Without hesitation he swung forward trying to slap me across the face but I ducked just in time. He stumbled forward for a second giving me enough time to grab whatever I could get my hands on in the dumpster. I reached and grazed something with my finger tips that felt smooth like glass.  Grabbing it quick I pulled it out and swung towards the back of the guys knees causing the glass lamp to shatter and knock the man onto his hands. 

     Using the broken part of the lamp I swung again hitting the back of his neck. Causing a long cut across the top of his shoulders. Blood coming out quick but not fatal.  

     Standing there with the broken lamp still in my hands I stared at their body’s laying on the ground. They weren’t dead but they won’t be bothering me again. From such a young age I had to learn how to defend myself so I wasn’t afraid to use those skills whenever I needed to.

     Then from behind me I heard a chuckle and slow clapping. I jumped at the sudden noise and turned quickly ready to defend myself again. A tall older white man stood there wearing a very nice tailored suit. Short peppered grey hair covered his head and beard. He was really handsome for his age. Rings littered his hands and a very flashy watch sat on his left wrist. I snuck a look at the green eyes staring at me with amusement and something else like pride.

     Finally realizing that he probably just saw the whole thing, I drop the lamp causing the rest of it to shatter into pieces. Turning to run before he called the cops I sprinted toward the other end of the alley and ran into something that felt like a wall. Looking up I noticed a very large and built African American man standing in front of me dressed in all black. I jumped at the impact and tried to run past him until he grabbed my wrist so tight there was no way I was getting out of his grasp. 

     Finally noticing that the clapping stoped, I looked back at the older man “That was absolutely amazing!”  He said to me with excitement in his voice. I stood there shocked staring at him. He stared back at me waiting for me to say something but I stayed quiet. He’s probably going to turn me into the police. I thought to myself.

     He walked closer to me with the same smile plastered across his face but his eyes looked at me questioning.     

     “What’s your name sunshine?”

     Still I stayed silent, he really thought I would tell him something to incriminate myself? Yeah Right! Glaring back at him with no expression on my face but challenging him with my eyes.

     “Hmmm… let her go Toby.” He said making the man holding my wrist release. I reached for it and rubbed the area he was holding trying to get the large grip mark to go away.

     “Are you hungry sunshine? Let’s get you something to eat and we can talk.” The older man said as he nodded and walked out towards the sidewalk that led to the alley. Slightly confused I stared at him walking then felt a nudge from behind me telling me to follow. Cautious I moved my feet slowly following the same path the strange man went. We kept walking, him leading, then me, then his muscle behind me until he stopped in front of a small diner right down the road. Opening the door, he ushered me in like a gentleman. I didn’t even think of running or screaming because I knew that the tall strong man, who I thought to be toby, was ready to stop me at any second.

      A waitress told us to sit wherever we wanted and that she would be with us in a second. Walking towards an open booth I sat on one side while the stranger sat across from me. Looking behind me, I noticed toby sit down at the bar top right across from our table. Looking back, I see the old man reading one of the menus interested in what they have.     

     Noticing me staring he looks at me with a wide but kind smile “So what are you hungry for sweetie?” I shrugged at him trying to keep from actually starting a conversation. I don’t know what this mans end game was but I don’t know if I want to stick around to find out. He glared at me for a second then nodded and went back to looking down at the menu.

     The waitress from earlier made her way to us with her note pad in hand “Hi y’all my name is Jamie, can I getcha something to drink to start?”

     “She will have a hot chocolate and I’ll take a coffee if you could.”  He replied without even giving me a choice.

“Just make it two coffees.” I say to Jamie as she’s writing the small order down. I’ll need something to help keep me awake if ill be spending another night on the streets. I look over to see shock on the man’s face, must be because it was the first time, he’s heard me speak. Then giving a slight nod he looked back at Jamie.

     “And I believe we are ready to order as well. Just two regular cheeseburgers with fries.” He glances at me to see if I’ll protest or say anything but I just give a slight nod saying that’ll be fine. After writing them down Jamie walked away to put our order in. Leaving just me and him sitting staring at one another.

     “So, I want to introduce myself first. My name is James Walker.” He paused to see if I will make a reaction but I keep my face stone cold. “I own walker enterprises a multimillion-dollar company.” he says like that should mean something to me. “I’ve got to say I’m very impressed with what I saw you do in the alley back there. I’ve never seen a girl your age handle herself so well against three grown men.”

     Jamie came back up to the table to drop off our coffees. I stared at the steam coming off the hot liquid sitting in the mug. Without waiting for the drink to cool I went ahead and started drinking it.

     “Do you have a place to stay tonight sunshine?” He said almost making me choke on my coffee. He handed me a handkerchief from his breast pocket to wipe my mouth. “I’m just offering a warm dry bed to sleep in. You’ll be under protection so no one will touch you. You just… you remind me of my daughter so much…” He trailed off. Looking into his eyes I could tell he was telling the truth. He was smiling but his eyes showed sadness, maybe of a past memory. I suddenly felt close to this stranger, he knew what it was like to have pain.

     “Okay.” I finally said to him. The word coming out of my mouth surprised me. I barley know this man and I’m only 16. How do I know he’s not lying? I guess I really don’t have any other choice.

     James looked at me with a smile that reached his eyes, it was very heart warming. “Good” Our food got dropped off at our table “Now eat up.” and I tucked in. I was starving, not being able to eat in days. This new foster home puts locks on the cabinets and fridge so you can’t eat without having a key. Plus, I have a tendency to get in trouble so I would often get punished with no food.

     I had finished my entire burger, fries and three cups of coffee now. James tossed a hundred-dollar bill on the table and stood up, indicating it was time for us to leave. I followed him and toby followed behind me. Walking back out into the rainy and chilly evening I started to shiver again.     

     Looking up I see James get into a large all black SUV. Another nudge from toby tells me to follow along again making me roll my eyes. Damn he’s pushy. I get in as toby shut the door behind me. The car is sharp and already nice and toasty. Looking up I see James staring at me again smiling. What the hell is this guys problem and why is he always so happy?!

     “So, I need to ask you something and I need you to actually answer me ok?” Oddly I want to know what it is and if the answer will change his mind about me staying with him tonight. I give a nod saying that I understand.

     “Where are your parents and how did you learn to fight like that?”  The question stung a little but I had gotten used to it by now.

     “My parents died in a car accident when I was one. They had no extended family or friends so I was put into the foster system. That’s where I learned how to protect myself. I’ve had a lot of shitty foster families and homes so I had no other option.” Looking down at my hands and picking at my nails like I always do when I’m nervous. I don’t know why I’m nervous. Maybe because I want to trust this James guy. He seems like a good person.

     “And your name?” I still didn’t look up at this question. Fiddling with my hands.

     Letting out a deep breath I finally reply “Emma”

     “Well Emma, you have a natural skill set that applies to a line of work of mine. I see great potential in you and I want to train you. If you accept you will stay with me and end up working for me.” I finally decide to look up from my hands and see him staring at me intently. I was in utter shock. What is so special about me? He wants me to stay with him and protect me? 

     “What exactly will I be doing?”

     “You would eventually become an international hitman.”

~End Flash Back~