"I'm sorry for barging in like this." Soft-spoken, meek, and humble. That's what Richard said I shall do.

"It's really fine. You were standing in the heavy pouring rain. What were you doing in front of my house anyway?" An adult woman, early twenties, married, no children. My client... is her husband.

"I was being chased by a bad guy! He was carrying a knife! I-I tried to hide from him, but he... He just kept chasing after me until I passed out in front of your house coincidentally. I'm really sorry. I know I shouldn't bother you like this." I hung my head low and clenched my fists together. Shivering from the cold and fake fear, my face and hands are numb from the cold, cold rain outside.

"Do you remember what the chaser looked like?"

"I-it was dark. And the rain fogged up my eyes. I-I was crying too! If only I knew his face, I would-- I would-- WAAAA!!!" I broke into tears. Crocodile tears. They may be crocodile tears, but they are more than enough to convince this soft-hearted woman.

"Shh, it's alright." She held me close to her, wrapping her warm arms around my cold, soaked body. "After the rain is done, let's go back to your parents, okay? They might be worried. Don't worry, I'll accompany you until we go to your house. I'll beat that guy away for you, alright?" She smiled. A wide, bright smile that brings me hope.

This woman... Gabriela... She's the mother figure that I wanted to have all these years. It makes me sad that she is today's target.

A drop of a real tear fell down from my right eye while staring at her wooden brown eyes.

I'm really sorry. My emotions are a hindrance to my job.

"Huh?"

She didn't notice the knife in her abdomen. She still has some energy left, so I stabbed the knife deeper, damaging her lungs and stomach. Blood came oozing out from her mouth, her eyes widen in sheer shock and confusion.

I am the one who last saw her alive, and she will always remember my face as the cold-blooded killer who tricked her into being vulnerable.

In her last moments of breathing, her eyes slowly rolling up, she grabbed me by the shoulders with her every last inch of strength and mouthed a word. Only one word that I often ask myself whenever I do this kind of thing.

"Why?"

"I'm sorry." I can only say...

Trust me woman, I am burdened with more pain than you are. I am burdened by the souls of the people I killed, may they be evil or nice. I don't choose my targets. If only I can do that, I wouldn't have chosen you.

•

"My job is done, Boss." I entered, still soaking wet from head to toe because of the rain.

"Richard's in the bath. Here." Francesca threw me a bath towel as she was going down the stairs. "Dry yourself or else you're going to flood the mansion with rain water."

I quietly dried myself in the corner. A random corner, facing away from Francesca.

"Hey, you." She suddenly called out. I did not respond, but her mouth continued moving. "Don't let your emotions hinder your job. Unsteady wavelengths may cause you to do your job sloppily."

"Boss is a liar." I merely said, barely moving my lips, but loud enough that Francesca hears it. "He said that there's no one today."

"Richard was supposed to decline today's client. But a little persuasion from me made him change his mind~. You can always quit, you know. If you want a mother figure like her exist in your life." She was being smug, telling me to go and quit again. I really don't like her. I'd happily kill her if she becomes a target.

I stayed silent for a few seconds. Of course, I won't be swayed by her words. She may be right, but I will never give up after doing this much. Besides... "I have always wanted a mother figure exist in my life. The problem is: there's no one in this house to fill that role."

"Hmph. Smartass." She scoffed...

Afterwards, silence wraps the whole mansion. If not for the grand clock on top of the middle stairs, I would be deaf from silence. With or without the clock, I think I would still be deaf from the eternal silence-wrapped residence of this.