Day 79

Erin took one last look in the mirror, tucking a few loose strands of hair behind her ears, and clipping them back with a large flower barrette. She smirked at the cheerful effect it had, and turned to leave.
She grabbed her gun from the table as she passed and tucked it into the back of her pants, covering the bump with her perky, checkered dress, then left the apartment, striding purposefully down the hall and down the stairs.

A text message arrived, almost on cue, as she made her way across the courtyard:
 He's in. You should have a clear shot.
Erin smiled and pressed the button to reply.
Thank you. You'll be paid within the next day or so. Once the job is finished. 
She felt very pleased with the way things were working out. She could not have even imagined that his roommate could have been so easily bought.


She continued walking, heading down the empty corridor until she found number 36. She put on her softest expression and knocked softly. Nobody answered. She knocked again. After a moment she heard a voice speak tentatively from behind the door.
"Who is it....?"
Erin affected her voice to sound shy and sweet.
"Is Justin there?" she asked, tilting her head for effect, in case he was looking at her through the peephole. The door cracked open and an eye appeared.
 "What do you need?" the voice inquired suspiciously.
"I need to talk to Justin..." Erin replied, shuffling her feet and looking unsure. There was a pause.
"Are you hunting me?" he asked nervously, though opening the door a little more. Erin raised an eyebrow at him as though confused.
"Show me your hands," the man behind the door commanded. Erin complied. "Now turn around." Erin did so. She spun around; a useless action, as her dress concealed any lumps she had in her jeans -- her keys, her phone, and especially her gun. Were he smart he would have patted her down, but he appeared to be too much of a gentleman.
"Okay..." he said slowly, pulling the door further open. "Come in. But don't try anything... I'm not afraid to kill you if I have to..."
Erin smiled reassuringly and stepped forward, feeling smug. Men were all too willing to open the door to a pretty face and an innocent smile -- or even a suspicious one. Her hand briefly moved back to brush her gun -- a stupid instinct that was liable to get her in trouble.
"Hey! Hands where I can see them," he warned, closing the door slightly again. Erin raised her hands and waved them innocently. He lowered his eyebrows and stepped back from the door so she could enter.

He certainly was well armed. He had a pile of grenades on the table next to the door, almost as though he were expecting an army. She saw no weapon on his person however.
"Alright. What did you need?" He asked, lowering his voice.
"Last time we talked, we discussed some information you had... I've just come to collect it," she said, nonchalantly.
"Right," he nodded. "Let me get it."He turned his back and began to retreat to his room. Seeing her chance, Erin reached behind her back and seized her gun, whipping it out and aiming it at the back of his head. Unfortunately, he chanced a glance behind him just as he did, and immediately jumped into action, ducking her shot and popping back up behind her, throwing himself on her back and trying to wrestle the gun from her hand. She fought him off, despite the significant size advantage he had over her, firing several stray shots that hit the walls and the floor. Finally, she managed to drive a shot into his gut. He grunted, shocked, and stumbled backward. Acting quickly, Erin spun around and fired a shot into his forehead. Immediately he fell to the ground. Erin fell to her knees beside him, panting, and rifled through his pockets hastily until she found what she was looking for. She read the paper quickly, scowled, then stuffed it down the front of her shirt, leaping off the floor and heading for the door. She hadn't been very subtle, and somebody would have heard. She had to get out.
I need to work at being a better assassin...  She reprimanded herself, pounding down the corridor away from the scene. Indeed, it seemed she had been heard, and soon a shout came from behind her and shots started to ring out down the hall, ricocheting off the walls. She continued running without looking back. Trying to ignore her pursuer, she turned her thoughts to her next target. It would be harder this time; the new mark had a much higher profile. She'd have to be more creative. Even as she thought it, she saw him, through the window of his apartment, working on his computer. How easy would it be to stop right now and bump him off. But as she began to slow her pace, a bullet sang past her ear. She'd have to do it later. Of course her luck would never allow her to make a kill so easily. As she flew across the courtyard, bullets pelted the pavement around her. She looked up to the balcony and gave a mockingly apologetic smile. 
"Sorry, friend! It's just business!"

Erin stumbled slightly over her feet as she ran, red faced and sweating, across the parking lot, leaping into her car and starting the engine. She would have to leave town, at least for the day. Perhaps she could visit her cousin. Clearing would definitely understand her situation and take her in. She could wait until the vengeful hunt died down, as well as avoiding her own tracker. She only hoped the others would be okay for the time being...

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It was late in the evening. Erin and Beth looked up from the couch as a frantic pounding sounded at the door through which Erin had returned home just a few minutes ago. Beth leapt up cautiously and went to the back to hide. Erin crept towards the door, looking through the peephole. There was a man there, but it was far too dark to see who it was. Erin paused.
"State your business," she commanded.
"It's Andrew, let me in!" the man outside replied, sounding very nervous. He was an ally; it was safe. Immediately Erin opened the door and stepped aside. Andrew entered, looking disheveled.
"I need to borrow a gun," he said, looking around nervously. Beth emerged from her safe spot and joined them in the kitchen.
"Take one of the ones on the table," she said. He did.
"What's wrong?" Erin asked, watching him fumble with the weapon.
"I have to take a hit next door... But I think they've got my number... One of them is after me, but I have no choice. I have to do it now..." he replied.
"What are you going to do?" Erin asked.
"I'm going to get her before she gets me," Andrew said, stiffening his resolve and throwing open the door.

Erin and Beth peered nervously around the doorframe as Andrew crept quietly next door, slipping past the window so as not to be seen. He took a deep breath and knocked, holding his pistol at the ready. The door flew open, and Erin and Beth both stifled screams as he was immediately riddled with bullets. Andrew stumbled back against the railing of the balcony. Gasping, he held himself up on the rail and gave a rattling breath as a smirk crept slowly across his face.
"So it was you..." he said to whoever was behind the door. "Well then, it will be interesting to see what you do... you inherit my target... it's her... " he pointed a shaking finger at another individual. "...are you going to kill her? ...your own roommate? ...your friend?" Another shot rang out, piercing Andrew's skull and effectively silencing him. He slumped down against the railing. Erin held back a whimper, and she and Beth ducked back inside. Through the slightly open window, they heard the other door click shut in the hallway. After a long, tense silence, a shot rang out from next door, muffled by the walls, and something heavy fell. More silence. Erin and Beth looked at each other, knowing exactly what had happened.
"Everyone is a traitor..." said Erin. "Our last true ally is gone. Nowhere is safe anymore." She paused for a moment. "Where's Grosland?"
"She's resting for right now..." Beth said. Erin sighed with relief. "But she's going out to take a hit at midnight... we'll need to watch her back." Beth continued. Erin took a deep breath and nodded.
"How did we ever get ourselves into this?" she sighed.