_____
"What was I to you, Prince Dio?" she asked as her voice started to crack. "Was I just a doll, who's perfect for Duke? Am I nothing but my face?" she continued as she started to scratch her face with her nails.
Skinned peeled off. Tears out of frustration started to race out of her eyes. "Why? Why her, and not me Dio?" She desperately asked while the Prince just stared at her blankly.
"Maybe… Maybe if you are not that ruthless, that wicked. Maybe there's a room for you in my heart." He said, without any reservation. Without any emotions.
A liar.
Even if I were as angelic as my face, even if I sell all my assets and donate it to the church. He will never love me.
He will never choose me, but her.
A scoundrel. A scammer. A user.
All of those were Reise's thoughts.
She just smiled at the Prince as if she finally lost it.
I see a woman like me. A woman whose beauty is equal to the goddess. A woman whose family is as strong as the royalty.
A woman like me was tossed aside for a commoner.
What a shame. What a scandal.
As those thoughts ran in her mind, she hopped on the railing of the balcony and turned around to the Prince. "You once said I was like a rose, that's why I came to like them. And been called a wicked rose. Thank you for the past ten years of unrequited love, My Love." she smiled bittersweetly and jumped from the balcony.
Horror was seen in the Prince's eyes.
Her body slammed to the ground echoed in the palace.
The Wicked Rose was torn apart.
*Angrily closed the book*
"It really creeps me out sometimes G6 your love for tragic romance." Says the man besides her while peeping in his binoculars.
"Shut up, and do your job." She said and grabbed her sniper from the bag and cleaned the lens.
"Well, it will be really weird for a Reaper like you to be hooked in a typical romance. Or were you just bitter because it's impossible for yo-"He stopped and fixed his position. "G6, the target is on the move." he said in a serious tone.
I got in my position and sniped the possible target.
Searching for a target. Zoom in.
"Target subject for appraisal." I said over the earpiece.
Operator:
"Target Confirmed. Proceed"
G6:
"Locked in."
*Gun shot*
The guard panicked. The bystanders are afraid.
G6:
"Mission complete. G6 signing-"
Operator:
"Mission ongoing. Mission ongoing. Apprehend the man in red. Apprehend the man in red."
G6 brows curled as she was only told to have one target. She immediately went back to her position and searched for the target.
"Explain the situation." She said in an irritated manner as she positioned herself to snipe.
Operator:
"The target disguised himself as the bodyguard."
What's the use of appraisal if you can't get it right? You damn system.
"Shit. He ran off." she calmly said.
"Secure the route, Pisces. I'll do the chase." She added and stood up.
"Copy." Pisces responded
G6 threw her sniper on the floor and started chasing the target in the car from above the buildings. She skillfully acrobats in every building and was like a spiderman in her use of gun rope in her waist.
Splendid. A shadow in the city lights. Death is coming.
G6: (while running with a gun in her hand)
"Activate the zoom in my left eye lens"
Operator:
"Zoom activated."
G6 ran 100 meters ahead in the car. And positioned herself at the top building of the Church.
Scanning. Zooming In.
G6:
"Target subject for appraisal."
Operator:
"Target Confirmed. Proceed without any reserve."
What a pain in the neck. G6 thought as she hit the trigger of the gun.
G6:
"Locked in."
Silence. The car crashed. The chaos of the city echoed through the sky where the Reaper's rule.
G6: "Mission Complete. G6 signing out."
She said bluntly, and jumped off with her hands wide open, serving like her wings.
Everyone, Akira Gemstone a.k.a "G6" the most feared assassin. Once your name appears in her target list, be ready as death awaits at your door.
[At the apartment]
"G6, this book looks so old. And why would that book end with the villainess death, kind of creepy to read." Pisces said while searching through the pages.
"Said by an assassin." She said and grabbed a beer.
Oh, relaxing vitamins. *Grabbed the little bottle of medicine and chewed it*
"Witherby, the author is already dead, 50 years have passed." She continued and sipped her beer.
"Really? This one seems good though, the story line between the commoner and the Prince soon-to-be Duke." -Pisces.
"It's trash, I'd rather strangle the heroine to death. She's pretty useless. What would you need the blessing of prosperity for if the kingdom was at its peak already because of the three pillars?" She said and crashed on the couch.
"You just hated the heroine. You are always on the side of darkness." Pisces said while giggling. He stood up and put on his clothes and handed her the book.
"I'll be out for a while, please G6 don't sleep while the TV is on, feel bad for someone who pays the bill!" Pisces's whine.
"Who cares about your money?" She said and turned up the volume.
Pisces was about to leave when he stopped and looked at G6. "Watch your eyes." G6 said without even looking. "Don't be so cold, I just want to say be careful you might end up as the villainess in that story." He said and giggled.
"It's going to be their doom, if I were." She responded without any attention to it as she was busy watching.
Pisces (code name) just shakes his head and head out. (TO FLIRT!) I HATE ASSASSIN THEY ARE SO UNCOOL WHEN THEY ARE NOT LOCKED IN.
Like G6, she may have sharp tongue but she's nothing but a drunkard 21-year-old woman and freeloader to Pisces. (Her junior/partner)
G6, was the 6th assassin to be named Reaper in Gemstone's family. In Assassin's Organization if you were called Reaper it means you have killed more than the standard, and mastered all ways of skills.
Marksman. Martial Arts. Ninja Arts. Swordsmanship.
G6 basically grew up in a household of assassins, it's no wonder for her to be Reaper as she was trained by retired Gems.
The reason she was being a hell to her junior is because she just wants to. It annoys her if she can't annoy anyone.
_____
*Birds chirping*
A reflection of sunlight from the windows lands on her delicate face.
Akira immediately grabbed a hand reaching for her. And she was shocked to see an unfamiliar face. She immediately pulled the woman down and pinned her down the bed.
Her brows curled as she stared at the maid.
"Who the hell are you?" She demanded with her cold, and sharp gaze.
Oh no… G6 is locked in
"Who are you?" She asked again. Who the hell does she think she's at?
Her eyes started to get teary. Huh? She's going to cry? What is she? A newborn baby?
G6 was startled when she heard a woman speak at her back.
"My ladyy! It's so early in the morning for you to throw a fit." said by the weird looking woman in a maid's clothes.
Wait- What?!!!!!!!
Ah, finally she realized. Was she really a renowned assassin? It took her too long to realize.
"Who are you? Where am I?" A panicked voice in her.
She moved away from the woman, and her eyes traveled in the entire room.
Where the hell am I?!
She looked to her right and saw a body mirror.
Who is that beautiful teen looking at-
Her eyes widened with horror as she realized that that young lady looking at her was her.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!" Her screams echoed throughout the West Villa.
[15 minutes later]
Akira was sitting at the corner still wearing her night gown. Still unable to process what was happening.
She looked at her hands. Ah, what princess-like hands. Hands never been tainted by blood. Was this really me? Who am I?
Her eyes stopped at the book under the cabinet on her side.
"The Wonder of a Wonderful World?" she whispered as the chills slowly ate her.
What the-!
As she stared at the book, a whisper curled in her mind—not her own. "It would be great if I was not her…"
G6 clutched her head as it started to spin. Were the memories of the real owner of the body trying to come back?
"My lady, are you okay? Do you feel sick?" A maid said to Akira that she snapped back in reality.
Why does she keep calling me my lady? Is she nuts? Where the hell does she think she is? Old era? Ahh! This is so frustrating. Was I dreaming? Hallucinating? Too drunk? What the hell?!!
Ah, looks like our Reaper is in trouble. She's literally losing it.
"Lady Reise, please speak to me. Are you mad because Prince Dio hasn't visited you yet?" The four-eyed maid asked Akira.
Wait, did I just hear her call me Reise? As in Reise Worthon, the obsessed with good-for-nothing prince in the book I'm reading?
Why even the book is here? What was that thing in my mind earlier? It wasn't mine. What was this I'm feeling?
Not only that, I've been having this disgusting feeling since I woke up.
Why do I feel heavy inside my chest? Why does my heart feel like weeping?
Akira slowly looks at the four-eyed servant, named Tina. Reise personal maid.
Is she this girl's trusted aid? Why do I feel comfort in her stares? Why does she look like she pity me?
Am I really inside of the novel? How could this be possible? Wait- did I die? In Pisces favourite genre of book when someone dies they are being reincarnated somewhere else.
If I die… (G6 lost in her thoughts)
While she was busy murmuring at the corner, Tina and the other two maids were quite worried about her.
"She must have finally lost it, since she's been here for a week and Prince Dio never came to visit her." , "Must be… Poor Lady Reise…" The whispering of two other maids at the back of Tina.
Tina clears her throat, a sign that they should keep their mouth shut.
I have to wake myself up from this weird dream!
G6 stands up… And the next seconds the loud sound of slapped echoed inside the room.
The servants. Tina. They were too stunned to speak.
"WHAT IN THE FUCKING HELL IS THIS?!" G6 yells after she slapped her face as hard as she can. (G6, Lady Reise may look delicate but it looks like the strength was yours. Lol)
"Lady Reise, what are you doing!" Tina rushed to her and held her swollen cheeks
What the hell? This pain is for real. Is this real?
G6 once again was lost in her thoughts. Ah- maybe her thoughts are literally in the universe right now.
"Everyone, leave Lady Reise alone." Tina demanded and so did the servant.
I have to get myself together.
Should I bother? Just kill me already, this joke is not funny at all.
"I'm hungover from last night—." She said out of nowhere to Tina. (G6 what are you doing?!)
"You had a drink last night, My lady?" Tina asked.
"I did. This must be it, this must be a joke. Ha ha ha" G6 said and laughed like a screw loose person. "Hey four-eye–" G6 words were cut as Tina started to sob.
What the hell? Why do people here easily cry?!
"This is my fault… I shouldn't have left you alone last night." She said while sobbing.
"It was mistake from my part for-" G6 words were cut again as Tina looks up to her with a deadly look
"No. It was mine, forgive me for my incompetent. And my lady, stop calling me four eyed. I told you, call me Tina." Tina said in a strict posture as if she didn't cry.
Wow, talent huh. She'd do a great job in disguise assassination. (Really? That was your thought?)
Oh wait- Tina? I remember that name, she was Reise personal aid.
So… THIS IS REALLY HAPPENING?!
G6 grabbed her head like a lunatic and slammed herself at the bed.
Tina looked helpless, just shook her head and started to prepare 'Lady Reise' needed for the day.
Reise Worthon has been known already as a dramatic, so-in-love kind of woman and most call her wicked as she yells at anyone who annoyed her, and she chastised every possible noble woman who likes her fiancee, Prince Dio.
But today was kind of far from her yelling at them in the early morning.
—
As Tina, the servant combs her hair Akira was lost in thought while staring in the mirror.
This wasn't a dream. Was it? What happened? Did I die? Did Pisces betray me and kill me? Did Pisces' enemy mistake me as him?
She shakes her head to erase the thought, while Tina repositions her head back.
What was I even thinking? It's impossible for Pisces to betray me as GAO does not breed a traitor.
So, was it that his enemy barged in his house and mistook me as him? Wait- Looking back, I did something before I got a beer from the fridge.
Now she's starting to remember.
G6's stomach dropped. As she was reminded by the medicine she took at the counter when she grabbed a beer.
"I ACCIDENTALLY TOOK MORPHINE INSTEAD OF RELAXING MEDICINE?!" She said and slammed her hands at the powder table.
I must be stupid! The aftermath must have shown when the adrenaline rush in my body calmed down.
I pathetically died because I accidentally took the wrong medicine??? What the- how would my family react to it?! They do act cool but prolly—they are killing me again in their minds. This is embarrassing.
(Morphine partnered with beer or any alcohol substance is highly dangerous.)
And our girl drank more than five cans of beer that night.
———
I can't remember how I ended up dying, it was possible in my sleep. It might have stopped my heart without any warning. Ah, I was assassinated by myself. What an embarrassment.
G6 continues to struggle in her mind, she still can't process everything as she still finds it hard to believe.
Her attention went back to her lap where the book of Witherby's at.
Has Reise been reading this? Impossible, this was a novel inside the novel where I'm at. Or the universe mocking her? Wait- or me? Did I offend the soul of the author for saying harsh things?
"If your soul may be listening there Mr. Witherby I stand corrected please forgive me!" She uttered with her hands pleasing looking up at the ceiling.
Tina asked me if I want to take a walk to wake myself up instead of slapping the shit out of me. And I refused, why would I walk around without any weapons in an unknown place? It was like walking naked.
G6's face turned pale when she opened the book. The pages were empty, only a message in the first page that never existed before—
"She was not the first rose to fall from grace—only the first to grow thorns in the dark.
Beware the petals left behind; they remember the hand that plucked them."
-Witherby
As she read Witherby's final note, scribbled in ink that never dries. Witherby's name smudges when she touches it, as if it's reacting to her.
G6 touched the back of her right ear as it felt like it was burning. She grabbed the small mirror and took a look at it— and she was surprised again!
It was her tattoo, rose-chain. The size of her thumb. An identity of G6 the reaper.
The tattoo burned faintly—just like it did during hits. Was it a tether to her old life... or a curse from the book?
What exactly is happening?
G6 tilted her head looking at the ceiling, as everything exhausted her.
I am still ignorant of the situation. So far, the tattoo, the book. These two are the only things that I owned. I must prepare myself and dig deeper.
As her thoughts continue to converse in her mind, G6's consciousness plunges into darkness.
_____
She stood on a balcony, her hands gripping the railing. No—not her hands. These were Reise's hands, delicate and trembling, nails digging into her own skin.
What the hell–?
A voice—her voice—spoke, but the words weren't hers.
"You once said I was like a rose… "
G6 tried to turn, to step back, but her body wasn't hers. She was a passenger, forced to watch as Reise's memories played out.
Prince Dio stood before her, his expression cold. The same look he'd given Reise in the book. The same look that had driven her to–
No. No no no—
G6 fought, thrashing against the dream, but Reise's body didn't obey.
"Thank you for the past ten years of unrequited love, My Love."
Reise smiled—broken, beautiful,resigned—and stepped onto the railing.
"STOP—!"
But Reise didn't.
The wind rushed past as the ground surged up—
G6 woke with a gasp, drenched in cold sweat.
Her hands shook. Not from fear—from fury.
The mirror showed Reise's face, but her own grey eyes burned in the reflection.
The chain-rose tattoo pulsed behind her ear, as if warning her "This isn't over."
G6 sat in the dark, clutching the sheets.
"Fine," she muttered. "If I'm stuck here… I'm doing this my way."
LOCKED IN.