This job has grown more complicated by the day. The client is angry I haven't finished it, but I can't trust them. I don't even know who the client really is. They want me to kill Eclipse, but I don't even know who she really is. So I broke in and surprised her. I'm going to get my answers from her....right now. She looks at my gun for a moment while sitting on a couch in the living room across from me. There's something odd about her. Something I can feel. I don't like it. Though her eyes show confusion and fear, they are both emotions that seem to be fading slowly as she looks back up at me. She may just be the type of person who would attack someone with a gun on her. For the past thirty seconds we've been in silence. She says something before I do.)

Who are you? What do you want?

(There's fear in her voice, but still she's calmer than she should be. I don't like this. Paranoia is a constant in my line of work and I'm not so sure this isn't some kind of elaborate trap to get me killed.)

Who I am isn't important Eclipse. Why I'm here is.

(I could have come right out with it, but I feel it essential to guage her response. So far this woman has been an enigma to me. Her tone is slightly calmer as she responds. Her fear is leaving way too fast. There's something really strange about her.)

So...why are you here.

(In conversational confrontation of this nature one must be very careful to maintain their dominance over their target. If you lose control of that, you lose control of the situations. Nothing good can come from that. Still, one must know how to maintain that dominance. I don't thing waving my gun around, or hitting her with it, will do that with her. Yelling won't either. Force of personality is the key here. She has a strong presence. There's no mistaking that. So mine has to be stronger. I have to make sure she knows I'm the one holding the cards. I won't string this along though. My next words will bring us close to the point and will let me know part of what I need to know.)

Tell me why someone wants you dead.

(She looks at me bewildered. Is it real, or is she just a great actress. Part of me believes her though. Even with the bewilderment she mulls it over before shaking her head. She grows rather upset, very quickly.)

What are you talking about? How the hell should I know?!

(She pauses for a moment and collects herself. I wait.)

So I take it you're here to kill me?

(She's already calming down quite a bit. It's strange to find someone who runs from one end of the emotional spectrum to the other in such quick fashion. Either she's semi-used to extreme situations or she's unhinged. From what she's written online I'm gonna have to go with the latter. How insane she is though, I can't determine as of yet. I nod in reaction to her question. Her voice is completely calm when she speaks again.)

So why talk to me then? Why ask me questions? There must be something you want.

(How perceptive. I now know full well that I truly have no idea who, or what it is, I'm dealing with here.)

You're right. I want to know why someone wants you dead girl.

(She slightly bristles at the word "girl" before actually laughing in a low manner. Either I'm starting to like her already or I hate her. I can't decide.)

You found me here. Which means you know who my parents are. No one I've crossed has the resources to hire anyone good enough to find me here. You tell me.

(She slowly stands up even though I have a gun trained on her. She's smart enough not to make any moves forward. It's also obvious she has a point. I think I believe her. The question is where do we go from here.)

Let's say I believe you. If someone wants you dead for what your parents have done rather than your own actions then our business is done here.

(An incredulous look crosses her features. I take a step back as I prepare to leave and let my gun arm fall to my side.)

Our business is done? That's it?

(I can see a flicker of anger in her eyes. So far it seems to only be frustration with the situation.)

Yes. I only kill those who deserve to die. Maybe I'll see you in a few years.

(My evening was uneventful, even relaxing, before a few seconds ago. I was enjoying the silence. It was almost peaceful. Well, the closest to peace I'll probably ever now. That was shattered when this unknown woman appeared wearing all white with a sword on her back. Now I stare at the black accessory in her hand...a large handgun. I feel panic fill me as it fully registers in my brain. I don't understand. I don't even know her. Is she looking for my mother? It can't just be a random robbery. Not with a sword like that resting on her back. My mind becomes a whirlwind of images and emotions. I look up at her eyes. They're a pulsing mass of violet. Eyes like that, they've seen more than most ever will...or should. It doesn't disturb me though. It should, but it doesnt. I just don't want to sit in silence here anymore. I really don't want to be shot. I am scared, but I'm not going to prolong anything. If I'm gonna sit here at gunpoint I at least want some answers.)

Who are you? What do you want?

(Her manner is calm, in control. Her eyes stay on me unflinchingly. She's a cold stoic figure. A thick slab of stone. Unmoving. Impenetrable.)

Who I am isn't important Eclipse. Why I'm here is.

(My insides are jittery, but at the same time I can feel myself mellowing out. Maybe it's out of annoyance. I mean she comes in, holds a gun on me, and then won't even get to the fucking point. I'm staying calm though. I'm staying calm. I'm not going to make this situation worse by listening to the thing inside me. I try to keep my annoyance out of my voice and stay matter-of-fact. Hey it works for her.)

So...why are you here.

(Her nexts words are even more measured. I feel like everything is designed to guage my response. Like she's looking for something. I really doubt I have the information she's going to want. If that's true then I don't know what that means for me. I may not be breathing much longer. I almost wonder if that's such a bad thing. Okay Eclipse, keep that shit out of your head right now. Focus. Her gaze hardens.)

Tell me why someone wants you dead.

(Wait...What?! There's no way she just said that. No one even really knows me. I'm not at my own house. If anyone wants someone dead it's my parents they want. I get a sinking feeling in my stomach. I've gotta sort this out. I can feel my anger, but I keep it at bay. This is ridiculous. If someone wants me dead what the fuck would I know about it?! I begin to unravel in front of her somewhat.)

What are you talking about? How the hell should I know?!

(I take a deep breath. No, this can't be. If she thinks she wants to know, well I think I wanna know a bit more than she does. It is my life in question here. I look at the floor for a moment and work to calm myself. Some people come up with mental images of nice places to help them be calm in bad situations. I don't know what a nice image is. I picture nothing but blank white. Nothing to fill the space. Hell there is no space. Just white. I look back up at her again, calm once more...for the most part.)

So I take it you're here to kill me?

(She nods in reaction to my words. Shock and surprise.)

So why talk to me then? Why ask me questions? There must be something you want.

(The hardness in her gaze begins to fade some. She must be thinking the whole situation over. Or she's about to reveal something really important. I'm not sure which. I just know I want answers now too.)

You're right. I want to know why someone wants you dead girl.

(Something about the way she says girl just annoys the crap out of me. Almost reminds me of my mother. Girl is better than whelp. This whole situation is almost surreal. Almost kinda retarded. This isn't about me. No one would even know I'm here without having to be really good at their job. She's no slouch. This is about my parents. It's so simple. It all strikes me funny in a twisted way. I can't help it, a low, bitter laugh escapes my lips.)

You found me here. Which means you know who my parents are. No one I've crossed has the resources to hire anyone good enough to find me here. You tell me.

(I slowly stand up. I don't care about the gun anymore. Hell, at the moment, there's a lot I don't care about right now. I don't make any sudden moves or anything. I don't want to get shot. I just no longer believe she intends to shoot me anymore and I'm tired of this shit. Maybe it will all finally sink in for her and I can get some answers too.)

Let's say I believe you. If someone wants you dead for what your parents have done rather than your own actions then our business is done here.

(So with that it's over? Nothing else? No threats? No nothing? Well at least she seems to believe me. Her gun arm drops to her side. She takes a measured step backwards. I can't believe it. She comes here and pulls all this and then she's just gonna leave without teling me anything?!)

Our business is done? That's it?

(I can feel my calm leaving me. Just like she now wants to leave me. Apparently she also wants to leave me in the dark.)

Yes. I only kill those who deserve to die. Maybe I'll see you in a few years.

(Oh there's the threat. My parents have done a lot of bad things. I'm not sure they deserve to die...not anymore times than they already have. Beyond that just because I'm their daughter doesn't mean I'm going to become like them. On top of it all this bitch thinks she's just going to waltz out of here. She starts backing out of the room and starts to turn. I stop her with my voice. I can hear my anger as I speak.)

Oh you thought this was over? Turn around and get your ass back in here. You won't be seeing me in a few years. You'll be seeing me right now if you don't give me some answers as well.

(She sighs and turns back towards me. Gun still in hand.)

Look girl, there's nothing I can really tell you. Some shady person or group wanted you dead. I'm cancelling the job. That's it.

(So she doesn't even know who she's working for. I start walking towards her. Her gun arm raises up. I find myself growing angrier by the second. Just seeing the gun pointing at me again causes my insides to start slowly throbbing.)

No that's not it. You've got two options. We either work together and find out what the hell is going on and who it is that wanted me dead....or you try to kill me now before I get to you.

(Her answer better be coming quick. I can feel things starting to shift within me and it's taking everything I have to keep from giving into the whims of my inner demon. She shakes her head for a moment before pulling out a crappy looking cigar. She lights it and blows a cloud of smoke towards me. Sighing again she replies.)

Fine, but if you slow me down I'll change my mind to option two later.