"...And so all debts are now under your name, Mr. David." The voice on the other other side of the screen explained in a composed tone.
I smiled, my lips curling up in a rare moment of nostalgia. Then I asked, my tone matching his own composed tone.
"Are you by any chance crying, Number 2?"
A pause. And then suddenly as if all dams have crumpled, he broke down. His choked cry echoed as I could imagine the tears pooling under his eyes. This continued for a few minutes and through it all, I just smiled melancholically.
Even if I wanted to change my mind, even if I wanted to back off...I didn't have the choice anymore. The deed had been done and now karma has come to bite back at me.
As the voice quieted down behind the screen, I spoke in a soft tone as if educating a child. "Number 2, I understand that you are not in the right mind to listen to me. But when you sober up, do remember my words. Help Number 1 with all your capabilities....she would be needing all the aids possible."
I paused waiting for a reply. But none came.
Sighing, I spoke again.
"As of this moment, you are promoted to the rank of Number 1 and the now former Number 1 the official leader. In other words, she is now my successor."
"Dismissed." Saying the final word, I hung up the call as the blue light on the screen glowed dimly in the sunlight filled room.
"I really wish I could have done better." I looked up at the source of the sound.
A girl of no less than 6 feet loomed at the doorway. Dressed up in a crimson top and black slacks, she exuded a calm aura. Her face was immaculate amd her emotions carefully hidden behind her mask of indifference.
Now looking at her, different memories raged inside my mind. The teenage version of me holding a little girl as people passed by; the girl had slowly learned to walk, she had smiled back then. However as she grew, her childhood innocence had started fading away...and the 20 yr old me had no idea of it.
That is until....somehow she ended up in my work. My only daughter, the one whom I had adopted...followed the same path as me.
Carefully choosing my words, I spoke. "You have done enough for me, Nat. Although we both know I was disatisfied with you for choosing me over your own life...I won't lie if I say that today, I don't regret your choice."
Natasha tilted her head slightly, nodding as if saying 'I know'. But she didn't speak anything.
Her face was strangely silent today, I noticed. However I didn't give it much thought. Afterall what she was about to do must be painful for her as well.
Natasha stepped closer and opened her mouth to speak something. However, her words died on her tongue as a cacophony of sirens suddenly burst out in the neighborhood.
I watched as her lips tightened into thin lines. I said in a soft tone, "It's time, Nat. Just... remember you are no longer the Number 1 under me. You are your own leader from today."
Her blank eyes stared at me, not saying anything.
Ignoring the clenched feeling around my heart, I asked. "Are you disappointed in me?"
Her eyes shifted away for a moment as fine lines appeared on her forehead as if she was considering my words. Then looking at me, she spoke in a voice full of pride. "No, that would never be the case here. I wouldn't have followed something I would have thought as a heinous field of work. But I do regret few things..."
Her voice trailed off in uncertainty. My heart clenched even more and I instinctively started running my chest roughly.
Natasha's eyes widened as she rushed forward with a concerned face.
However I waved her off, laughing a little as I said. "Don't worry, Nat. It's not what you think. I am no sensitive man but oh well, chemotherapy really did a number on me...Sigh, it really destroyed my heart."
"Anyway, what were the things you regret?" I asked quickly, trying to distract her. But her eyes told me how poor an attempt it was.
Nonetheless, she answered. "Your chivalrous nature and your 'disease'." She spoke as if she was even afraid to utter out the word "cancer". She seemed to have really developed a trauma from the word, ever since I have contracted it.
Thumping sounds suddenly echoed from the ground floor of the house we were in. My eyes met with Natasha's.
"They have already broken into the house." I told as a matter of fact.
Understanding what I meant, she came closer as I opened a drawer and took out a Glock from it. She took it in her palms with a fender grasp, as if afraid it would recoil if held tightly.
Seeing this I couldn't help but pat her shoulders lightly. Closing her eyes, she asked me. "Did you regret what you did? Did you ever think...you could have probably made something else out of your life?"
With slight amusement in my tone, I replied. "What do you mean regret? This was my choice. Yes, I could have continued to live my peaceful life that I had been living for over a decade...but you know, I would much prefer to die on a battlefield than rot on a deathbed while being diagnosed with a fatal disease."
"I see." As she spoke, she turned around and pointed the gun at my chest.
Outside the footsteps approached even closer, their thumping feet vibrating across the walls and the floors.
"But, father...I had listened to every word of yours right?"
Her words sent me in a momentary perplexion. But I still answered her. "Yes, you have been the most wonderful daughter I could have probably wished for...I would even say, you were the greatest gift this world had offered me."
Then something strange happened.
She smiled...
It caught me off-guard as I blinked a bit too hard, gawking at her face incredulously. "You smiled...?"
Her curled lips didn't falter at my words but she started stepping back. Away from me and close to the opened window of the room.
A tear slipped down her cheek as she raised down the muzzle of the gun. But the smile...it remained plastered on her mouth. She looked like a broken sacrifice that had still not forgotten to show her happiness.
In a hoarse voice she spoke her next words. "Father, your words were kind just as you have been towards me. But this..." She gestured toward the gun as she continued, "I won't be able to do this. I can't kill you myself, no matter the reason."
I stiffened but before I could say something, she raised her right hand in the air as if asking me to be silent. Then I heard the last words out of her mouth.
"Don't you worry about the bounty...I shall have it all sorted. I...I just want to bid you goodbye with a smile on my face." Her smile extended into dimples.
'Such a sweet smile...' I thought.
*Whoosh*
With a startling intensity, something flew with a whistling sound from outside the window and struck me.
I staggered back from the impact.
Horrified, I looked down. And there, right at my chest, a bullet was lodged deep into it as blood gushed out and stained the clothes in dark red blood.
I tried resisting my already approaching death. This wasn't supposed to be happening. Natasha needs to kill me, not someone else! Otherwise, the plan wouldn't even work at all.
I looked up at my daughter with a glare that was equal parts questioning and unsure, both at the same time.
But in answer, all I found was a smiling face and tears spilling down uncontrollably. Her shoulders shook and her legs faltered; but the smile never crumbled.
I see it now....this was a part of her plan. Nothing to be concerned of then...afterall I didn't make her my successor because of nepotism. She was capable of the seat I offered.
'My legacy is in safe hands...'I thought as all resistance I had been building up inside me melted away as my body fell down on the ground.
The last of my consciousness warped away into complete darkness.
Finally, I can get some rest.