A Field Day

11:57:32 PM

It was going to be a tiring night. Boone hadn't expected the celebrations to last this long. The agency had learned to have some fun over the years. Maybe after his repeated taunts, they had decided to loosen up for his farewell. 'Damned farewell', he thought. The mere smell of alcohol and the thought that he would be off the field or the rest of his life seduced him to revelry. Consuming alcohol after years made his head burn. He wanted to get some shut-eye now.

But it was going to be a tiring night.

11:59:21 PM

He didn't hear the door to his house open, but he heard it close with its usual thud and clicks. Someone was in the living room and he hadn't heard them intrude. Did he actually get some sleep? 'That's what's on my mind right now? There's an intruder and I'm bothered about sleep? Damned whiskey', he thought.

Whoever the intruder was, they weren't keen on staying quiet. He heard two very distinct thuds; the intruder had kept a gun on the floor. After years in the field with a gun as your best friend, he knew the muted clangs that the weapon made when you kept it down on a hard surface. The first sound was of the muzzle and the second, heavier one belonged to the magazine. So, his agency had sent one of its five remaining assassins to see him off.

He heard a bag unzip, and heard it drop to the floor. Then the unmistakable humming of a silencer being wound into the gun's muzzle. So that the neighbors wouldn't hear. Who was it they'd sent? The Razor? Morning Moon? Wisher?

A woman's voice came forth, 'You must've guessed by now that someone's here to plant lead in you, and you know you can't escape.'

They've sent Anathema. Shit. His protege. They sent the best to eliminate her maker. And she was going to use the very skill he had taught her to kill him. And he liked her very much.

'It's just struck you now Boonie that the silly party was a distraction. They agency had sent cleaners to swipe your place clean. You don't have any ordnance, no blades no means of escape. We've sealed your windows and the only way out of your room is through the door, straight into the living room. So, I can either come in or wait for you outside. Your call.'

When she didn't get an answer, she walked into the room, gun pointed up. The only problem was, there was nobody to shoot at. Just phone on mounted on a tripod stood on the bed.'

Thousands of miles away, Boone smiled and spoke into his earpiece and Anathema heard his voice crackle through the phone, ‘You see Annie, I've already stepped out,' and he pressed the button

Before she had the chance to turn and break for the exit, the explosion blew her into pieces. What was left of her was soon covered by the rubble of the destroyed cottage.

11:59:28 PM

Far away, Boone settled into his seat. The pilot announced over the intercom that they'll be taking off shortly. It was going to be a long night.