Title: Imprisoned And Alone

Genre: psychological/ thriller/action

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Chapter 1 - The Contract

In the dark and lonely confines of this cell is where I lay, hungry and starving, wishing I had taken a different route though life. However, I choose this route, this is the route I must persue to the end - my death. Which looking at my current state - isn't too far away.. Of which I am glad - suffering though this hell that is called "life" is hell. As to how I got here? Allow me to tell you, mere mortal.

Picture the tale I am about to write on this page for you, mere mortal - or if you are an alien, what the hell are you doing reading this when the earth is going to blow up? Why are you even reading this?

Anyway, I remember running through a forest, knives all gleaming and hungry for blood, death in their eyes. Trees staring me down, wanting to kill anything they didn't like - which in this forest was most things. I remember it was night; the moon staring through the light of the trees, my shadow fleeing though the light at as quick of a pace than I was. You might be wondering what I was doing in a forest, running at the dead of night with my blades as my only weapons and the moon as my only light source. Well you see - I'm quite special - as my brother is the King. As an assassin - my job is to well.. assassinate targets, that my brother wishes dead. In all honesty, he pays me quite well and fees me quite well. I remember, I was going to kill another royal - or some sort of noble figure. I have no name - or to those who fear me anyway. I have no name that the targets I go after know me by. I am only known as the silent assassin.

I was getting closer to my destination. The castle was now coming into view, its white and blood red flags flew in the shallowly menacing wind. Guards were undoubtedly standing outside, their helmets on and spears at the ready. As I got closer and the castle got closer as I ran nearer to it, and I'd been here to kill many nobels before.

My brother's orders ran clearly in my mind:

"Reduce the numbers of the troops and then kill the royal guard's captain. After that, when the king is grieving, cause him pain, then slit his throat. After his throat is slit, run back to my castle, sister."

I stopped in my tracks, hid behind a tree and listened: only owls and rustling of the trees. Normal.

I took a knife out of the many sheiths on my body. I stared at the castle.

From my position, I could see two entrances.

Two guards on each.

I had ten knives that I had on my person. I could afford to shoot these in the head and leave two alive, to slaughter with my blades. There was a fatal weakness with these guards; their head and body were very poorly protected. This royal, was obviously either idiotic or was heavily armored himself; leaving the guards with no resources.

I lined my knife up to the guard's heart and launched the knife towards their heart.

The words: "Reduce the numbers of the troops" ran through my mind.

They died with a scream.

I did the same with the other one on the other entrance.

I now had eight knives to use.

Carefully, I withdrew my sword from my back sheith, and carefully stepped within the trees towards the second entrance. Once I was there, I lined my back up with the wall, and whistled loudly. The guard turned the corner. That was the biggest mistake of his life. I stabbed him though the chest - though the heart, killing him. I ran towards the entrance, blades in my hands and a wary eye to watch for threats.

I breathed. Quietly but quickly, getting my strength for the final persuit - at least for this mission.

I stepped in the building. Eyes staring at me, many charged at me. I slaughtered many of them - all except one. I grabbed the one remaining guard by the chest.

"Where is your commander?" I asked, "don't tell and I'll kill you." I stated.

The guard's eyes grew in fear, sweat formed on his brow.

"H-he is upstairs."

"Thank you. I've changed my mind about not killing you."

"P-please d-don't; show me mercy, Assassin."

"King's orders I'm afraid."

With that I slit their throat and smashed their armour.

I ran along up the stairs until I came to the door. It was hard wood, surrounded by metal to secure it to the hinges. Last time I was here, the door had been burned and I could strike the commander's head straight off. That couldn't be done here. I had to think outside the box. I heard talking though the wood of the door: I listened.

"You know, I think that most of my army is dead."
"Just go careful. I think there is an assassin outside that door."
"If there is, be sure to put the place of my command on the most noble wall."
They both laughed as footsteps came towards the door.

I hid in one of the armour places in the wall.

There was a man, dressed in British era battle clothing; red overcoat with a white shirt featuring golden army buttons. Their waist contained a belt with a rapier sword in the hook. They walked past without batting an eye.

I waited patiently for their return.

Once I heard them walking up the stairs, I readied a knife, the dark shadows cast off it, radiating darkness and a devilish intent. This was a certain kill knife, which I had - like all my knives, coated with a special poison. It would kill in twenty seconds after the knife penetrated the skin. As the male walked past me, I stabbed the knife and twisted it quickly, taking it back, before going back into my hiding space.

I waited ten seconds.

The man ended up coughing blood.

Ten seconds later: he was dead.

You could see the fear in the king's eyes, his shock appeared in his shaking body. Tears pricked at his eyes; he was in grievance at his commander's death. He shouted and looked as though he was praying to the heavens. I would let him grieve for five seconds.

Then step in, twenty seconds to twenty minutes later he'd be dead.

Five minutes passed.

I stepped in.

The king saw my face; tears and anger surged though his features.

"Why did you kill him!? What are you!? Who are you?! Why are you even here?!"

"I'm not going to tell you anything about who I am as a person. I have a contract to do. I'll make this quick and painless."

"Please don't kill me!" Tears ran down his cheek.

"You should die - you have a reason to be killed. You have been idiotic in the treatment of the castle and its men. You are a king unfit to rule!"

"You know nothing of me, assassin!"

"Then what am I doing here doing what I've been asked? King of this kingdom, I will kill you!"

"Please don't!" He begged.

"King's orders I'm afraid. Disobey him; and I get killed."

"You are going to hell anyway!"

"I know I am. Now, shut up and die."

I got a sword and ran towards him, my blade cutting through him, putting an end to his life.

I successfully completed my contract. Now to go back to the castle.

Chapter 2-  The Plot Thickens

I ran back towards the Castle: my home. On the way, I slaughtered some wolves and rabbits and brought them back with me in a makeshift sack. I collected all my weaponry before I left the castle that I had just killed the ruler of. I had all my weapons, after a contract it is my code to collect my weaponry from the site I had just attacked. There are three rules in being an assassin:

Complete the given contract within 168 hours (7 days).

Must retrieve all weaponry back before leaving the site.

Must ensure you report back and receive payment for your contract. IF the assignment set isn't payed, you are entitled to kill the person ad take all their belongings.

I reached the castle, it was a large stone brick building with many towers and fearsome lion flags. There was a large wooden door barred with iron that was the only door in the castle. I knocked on the castle door a loud tap reverberated through the wall, one of the many maids opened the door. I handed her the livestock collected, she would use that as dinner for tonight.

I went to report to my brother - King Edward. He saw me come through the doorway, he stood up from the throne he was sat on and came to hug me. He then sat back down again, tapping his fingers on the arm of his golden seated throne. My brother was a fairly well looking man, blond hair, devilishly dark blue eyes and a kind smile which hid his ill will to all humans.

"So I see you're alive, Sister! Well done! Although I very much wish you were killed - so I wouldn't have to pay you.. Tsk! You and your great assassination skills mean less and less money for me and my kingdom."

"Thanks a lot, Edward. You sure show me much gratitude for my work of risking my life and all that. Now pay up - you know what happens if you do fail to pay me by weeks end."

"It has come very close, sister." He kept on tapping his fingers on his throne. "The money is over there." Edward said, as he pointed towards the table where the proper money - ( in this case £1,500,000).

Lay on the table - given in notes and gold. I collected it, signalled a maid to put it in the safe I had.

She gladly obliged.

"Now sister." Edward looked at me with a glance, moving his hand to tap on his other wrist.

"Yes, King Edward?" I asked.

"You know, Mary?" Edward asked, his face creeping into a deadly smile.

My heart beat faster at the prospect of what I would have to do to her. Mary was my closest friend in the castle - and even kingdom.

"You see.." his voice trailing as he stood up off his throne, "I suspect her of gaining too much power and knowledge on how to overthrow me."

"How do you suspect her of such?! It's Mary!"

"She seems suspicious. Kill her." He ordered.

"Go to your room and think it over as to how you can kill her. You have 7 days to complete the task at hand. Fail me and you are going to be killed."

"I know that."

I headed off into my room, closing my door. The winterly wind blew through the castle windows, making the room cool and free of distractions. I shut the windows and took off my assassin equipment and placed it under my bed. I got a knife from the uniform and hid it under my pillow - in case I ever needed to use it. I then got into my nightgown and started to lay on my bed. Many questions came into my mind:

Why did Edward want Mary dead?

How did he expect her of getting to much info to overthrow him?

Why didn't he just lock Mary up and throw away the key?

Did he have any mercy for her?

From what I knew of Edward, he hadn't ever been known to have this thing everyone else called "mercy".

I had knew him for many years, ever since he first went to school and was with other children at the school was the first time that he showed his true colours. I remember watching him as he beat up another child and yelled at him and kept on punching him. I remember it so well because in my final year there I got called "the bully's sister" and all the other things that are digotory for someone. Of course we had no idea that we were royalty at the time - we were only four or five years old.

I hadn't a clue why Mary was wanted dead.

I decided to try and meet her at the next opportunity - which would be tomorrow. I layed back in my body laying my head on the pillow, staring at the ceiling - when an idea came to me.

What if I could falter Edwards plans - by refusing to kill Mary?

If I refused, I would be killed. However, if I killed Edward, I would live but be hated by the kingdom - but its not like I hadn't got the skills to kill him. I'd almost killed him on many occasions - through hate at of what he had done - but advised against it. I knew my plan was risky; if I were caught I would get life in prison - I knew that much. But it was worth it to keep my friend alive. There were other options though:

I could kill Mary - and then Edward - getting life in prison - but not having to live with the fact that I killed my best friend. I could do what Edward was asking me to do - living with the guilt of killing my best friend. I decided to contact Mary and see what was going on the next morning; then formulate my plan from there.

I relaxed, listening to the owls and the wind and rain as it poured down.

I then fell asleep.

Chapter 3- The Suspect is condemned by blades

I woke up, as common place every morning, my eyes scanned the room. All was normal; all was fine. I got up, got dressed into my assassin outfit. Today started as any other. I went to the Royal table with all the people of the castle to eat breakfast. The room had high walls which had engraved were many British flags with quotes from previous occupants of the castle. In the middle was a large wooden table candles were lit and spread across the table to light it up.. I sat down at the table with all the others whom were there. There was bread and cheese at the table for breakfast. We ate before the day began. It would be the only relaxation that I got all day.

After we ate breakfast and all those who left did so, Edward pulled me aside. He stared into my eyes as a wicked smile played across his lips, he rested his hand on his sword; it was golden and sharp.

"Sister, have you thought of how you shall kill - or rather start the process on killing her?"
"Yes, I have." I stated.
"How are you going to kill her?" He questioned.
"I am going find out how she will kill you and wait for her to come her, then kill her."

"I wish you luck. If you need to go anywhere to get it done - do so." Edward went away, his smile still on his face.

I went to my room, got dressed into my normal clothes, a brown dress with a special sheath in each sleeve in which I could store a knife. My hair was tied back and put into a long ponytail. I put one knife in each sleeve, and decided to go to the market one I was able to. The market was where I would find Mary - mainly to find out the things I needed to for my assignment.

Carrying my knives and my mind with me I bid goodbye to those at the castle, and started letting off down the path to the market. I walked on the path until I smelt the fresh smell of food and the furnace burning while creating the clay pots to sell. I heard the chatter of the village a little while away.

I immerged from the path into the village square. Around me were many people, some families and stalls, which sold many things: pots, fruit, clothes, shoes, and many other medieval garments.

There was a lot of chatter, and many people, I walked through the crowd, to try and look for Mary; a brown haired, deep green eyed female. I looked around, my heart raced as I couldn't find her. I felt a tap on my shoulder and let a knife slip into my hand.

I turned around.

Standing there before me was Mary. I grabbed the knife and slipped it back into its sheath.

"Hello, Mary."

"Hello, Assassin."

"Look... Mary..." My voice trailed off as my heart raced at the news I had to tell her.

"Yes?" She asked.

"I need you to come with me." I told her, my lips grew dry and pulled her by the hand.

She followed me as I pulled her into the forest, I then let her go and turned towards her, I breathed in to slow my heart down and licked my lips to dampen them.

"Look, Mary. My brother suspects you of plotting against him. He has wished death on you - and I must do the service of ending your life. You may plead guilty and have this over quickly - and be killed for treason. Or, you may fight the claim, but the result will be the same."

Fear and disbelief filled her face.

"Me? Plotting against Edward? How in hell did he figure that out? I'll tell you - you're brother is quite smart for sitting on a bloody throne."

"So you admit to treason then?"

"Oh no no no, I haven't plotted against the king. I'm finding this ridiculous. That your own brother found me responsible for treason. While yes, I did wish to kill your brother for the people - It wasn't me who was going to carry it out. The leader was killed however. Guess he was shouted at and I was the next person whom to be suspected." She admitted, and held her hands up. "I'm guilty." She told me.

"But - why did you do it? What lead you to it?"

"Well - I might as well enlighten you. You see, I was mistreated. I wanted revenge, so I joined with those who wanted the old Ed dead. We were found out. I'm the last to be killed. The others? They are out in Normandy somewhere. They are long gone. So tell me assassin, do you have it in you to kill me?"

Tears came to my eyes, a lump in my throat.

"I see.. You can't kill me. I guess I better run away now. Nice knowing you."

I let a knife slip down my sleeve.

I threw it through the sky.

It landed in the tree.

"Oh? You want to spar? Interesting assassin. I'm not much of a fighter. But you are no match for me."

"We shall see, Mary. I may not look like much, but I've killed many a foe. I can end it in twenty seconds."

Oh? Can you? Let us spar."

Mary smiled, her eyes lit up with a blazing fire. She smiled, withdrawing a british longsword from her dress.

"You are no match for me."

Mary ran for me, sword hungry for blood.

This would be too easy.
Avoid. Strike. Kill.

Mary ran for me and kept on slashing, her endurance not wavering and her flame not burning out. I ducked under her blade, slid under her legs, got up and grabbed my knives from the tree. I put my knives back in their sheaths. Mary charged at me once more, her blade missing my head by a inch. She put her blade away and unhooked two knives from her belt of supplies.

She smiled.

I let the knives slide into my hands, gripping them tightly, I waited.

A second later, Mary smiled, then rushed at me, her knives seeking my life.

She slashed at my chest, blocking with my own knives, I pushed, my feet grounded and slowly pushing Mary back. She tried to rush at me with her knives but her slashes were to predictable. I countered each and every one of them.

I continued to push her backwards.

I flicked my knives towards her and stabbed towards her heart.

She blocked, her reactions laboured and slow.

She was not fit for fast combat.

I slashed at her chest, before I was going to kill her, I disarmed her knives and pinned her to a tree, putting one of her own blades though each of her hands to stop her grabbing and moving away. Tears came to her eyes due to the pain. She looked at me, smiling, even though pain was circulating like electricity through her veins.

"Go on.. You won...Kill me then. Go on. Or are you to chicken?"

"I-I just want to know why. What made you do it?! What made you do that? You knew I would come find you! You knew that I could - and would kill you! So why?"

"Why does anyone do anything?" She asked

"Because they can; or to prove a point." I told her in reply.

"I did it due to proving a point to the others, that I could do it." She told me.

"Yet they are dead.. You proved nothing to anyone!" I screamed at her.

"It made me feel loved; and accepted by someone - more rather a group of people." Mary sighed.

"And I never accepted you?! How idiotic is that?!" I screamed

"I never cared - and for that I'm sorry - please spare me.." Mary's voice wavered and was taken by her tears.

"Give me one reason as to why I should spare you? What merit do you have to me? You are a traitor!"

"I don't know..."

"This has reached its end. The horse and carriage had stopped; the wheels fallen and burned. This is the end of the track."

I put my hand in front of her mouth until she couldn't breathe very well - even though I had to kill her, I'd send her peacefully.

"Lord; please have mercy on Mary's soul. Allow her to be fairly judged, my Lord." I prayed.

I slit her throat then walked away after gaining my blades back and I took Mary's blades as a memoire to her death. I then put my blades back in their sheaths I walked away from the woods, bought some food and new clothes, and two swords and a belt to keep them in as well as any knives I would need as well as some poison, then headed back towards the castle.

Once I would get there... I'd have the worst time of my life..

Chapter 4- I fight for my life

I reached the castle, the guards standing at the entrance glared at me, their shields and swords forming a line of defence on every entrance; of which there were two. One on the left side, one on the right. There were Edwards guards blocking both entrances. I knew I'd made a grave mistake, but I had what I did. I would make it work. I was lucky that I had bought some suplies at the market.

I stood in the sight of the guards.

I knew what was about to unfold - or at least - I thought I knew.

Edward came out of the castle, armed with armor and his golden plated swords. His presence sickened me. This would mean what I thought.

He had indeed gone insane.

Well - mind you, he was always insane - but he wanted to kill me. Yet again. It's not like this was a surprise. The thought echoed in the back of my mind when he asked me:

"I want you to kill Mary." Those words echoed in my mind now, I shook them out.

"Ah! Greetings sister! I would say to you good morning, but honestly, you're too much of a nut to understand, you little unclean killer - you're going to hell! The devil will see to your soul. Quite ironic you have faith and you kill!"

"Oh dear brother, how idiotic your tone and how dumb and narrow minded are you, my liege? I'd lay on my hands and let you kill me, but you know better than anyone you can't restrain a killer. This would be what? Our seventh fight! You really think I haven't got enough hate for you to consider killing you?"

"You know what would happen should you kill me. You'd be locked up. A part of my soul says you'll kill me anyway. So let's get on with it, sister."

"If you so wish. You know full well that you're going to die, and when you do, your soul will be sent to Hell."

Edward was now smiling, he grabbed both of his blades and held them, twirling them in his hands. I got both of my blades and held them out in front of me, ready for Edward's attack. Surely enough he ran at me, his blades laying at his sides,he raised them, slashed at me, attacking ruthlessly, blades aiming ruthlessly for my head. His eyes turned to burning fury as I blocked his strikes; metal clanging, grinding, producing sparks, teeth gritted in fierce conflict. I pushed him back, I removed a blade from the conflict and slashed at his defence from the side, then ran backwards. I looked at both sides, checking there were no enimies that I could kill.

Quickly I ran at Edward, my blades pointed at his heart, I kicked him in the stomach, grabbing him I punched his face.

"Why did you ask me to kill her?!"

He laughed as he got up, and defended himself.

"I knew you would have to kill me cause you can't control your own emotions. You can kill me cause I'm not paying you. I knew what I was doing. Mary? She was payed and you - will never be." His voice muffled by the sparks flying and the metal grinding together. #

My anger soured. I slashed at him; he defended. I attacked him with ruthlessness in my strikes, my anger rising, blades clashing together as Edward devilishly smiled. He defended, death in his strikes; seeking my life was what he wanted to do. He slashed at me, blades trying to cut into my flesh, I blocked. I put away one of my blades.

"Come and get me, Edward."

"Gladly."

He tried to slice my head off; I blocked his attempts, disarmed him, and he charged, smiling. At the last second, he kicked me. Before I was forced back, I grabbed his leg, using my blade as a makeshift axe, I smashed on his leg.

He screamed.

Then I pulled his leg and brought him close to me, grabbed his clothing and got my makeshift blade axe in one hand, I let him go a distance I could still hit him. I swung the weapon at him; this made him scream and run at me with renewed malice.

He was outmatched.

I would kill him for what he did.

I knew exactly how I was going to do it.

I defended his strikes; blades producing sparks, creating small fires. The sun gleamed off both of our blades, they were worn out and bloody. I kept on pushing him back until I grabbed his blade and threw it, it flew until it was stuck in the wall of the castle. He was unarmed now. Edward went to reach for his other weapon, as he did that, I slashed the metal, causing him to fall to the side. He still got the weapon and tried to wield it. Many of his limbs were hurt now, he could only weakly slash at me, he still smiled, as he knew this would be his last fight in the world of the living. In the next ten minutes, he would be dead. I knocked the blade out of his hand, and also flung it into the wall.

He was now totally unarmed.

I grabbed his shirt and flung him towards the nearest tree, his body slumped at the bottom of it.

I got a knife out, it was one of Mary's knives. I would kill him with the knives spattered with the blood he made me spill: the blood of Mary.

I got the knives and put one of them in Edward's hand, and one to his throat.

"Why did make me kill her?!"

"Cause I hated you both; I had no one and you had he! Now you will be alone!"

"Goodbye, King Edward."

I pressed the knife deep into his throat and cut, blood pooling at his feet as his eyes rolled and turned to white.

It was done.

He was killed.

_______

A few months later

Long story short, I was trialled, found for murder and thrown into prison. I had to watch as they burned the key; my only chance at escape. My assassins licence was burned and I have been sitting starving and alone in this cell for years. Death isn't to far away now.. When it comes, I'll be done with this suffering. A light keeps shining in my eyes, giving me hope. Something tells me, that might come to pass. I have slowly watched the guards die.. I might be able to escape.. Until then, I am in the dark and lonely confines of this cell is where I lay, hungry and starving, wishing I had taken a different route though life...