I Want to Die, But I Am Immortal-Chapter 61: App

His haven was school. It was an odd, highly ironic thought. However, school was the one location where he felt reasonably safe amid the turmoil and violence that plagued his life.

In the shadowy alleys and deserted homes, his adversaries worked. They had not yet ventured to attack him in his high school’s bright, crowded hallways. A temporary ceasefire in a war he was fighting alone, it was a neutral zone. He needed to get there.

Assassin Five let out a long slow sigh a sound of finality. "Alright" he said. "I’ll tell you what you want to know. I’m only doing this because you promised us a painless death."

Adam was genuinely surprised. He had been planning on giving them a quick death anyway. The threat of torture was just an empty-handed gambit. He hadn’t expected it to work so well. It seemed even professional killers feared pain more than death. His bluff had paid off. It was a welcome bonus a silver lining on a very dark cloud. He nodded his head once a silent agreement to the terms.

Assassin Four (4) listened to this exchange his mind completely numb. The reality of his situation was finally sinking in. This was it. This was his last day on earth. Tears started to well up in his eyes.

They traced clean paths through the grime on his face. He didn’t sob. He didn’t beg. He just sat there bound to a chair in a stranger’s kitchen and wept silently for the life he was about to lose.

Assassin Five completely ignored his partner’s breakdown. He was a professional to the very end. His focus was on the transaction. Information for a clean death.

"We got the assignment to kill you two days ago" he began his voice a calm monotone. "We had a plan to take you out yesterday evening. But you disappeared. You didn’t show up outside the school. You didn’t come home. We even planted a bomb on your front door. Set to detonate the moment it was opened. But that didn’t work either. You never came."

He paused. Adam listened intently. The mention of the bomb confirmed what he had experienced in a previous loop. It was a chilling reminder of how close he had come to death.

"Then late last night we got a tip" Assassin Five continued. Adam leaned in slightly his curiosity piqued. This was new information. This was what he needed to know.

The assassin said, "You need to understand something, kid," with a tone that was almost pitying.

"In this city, you have some formidable foes. We were informed by a group of information brokers that you were at a girl’s house. Sophia, a girl. We planned the raid on her house this morning for that reason. They were going to kill you and her whole family. We were the fallback group. We remained here in case you were able to get away somehow. It was our responsibility to find you and bring you to death door."

Adam was taken aback. He took such caution. He had made his way through the pitch-black. He had stayed off the major thoroughfares. He had done everything he could to be safe.

Still, he was spotted by someone. He had been followed to Sophia’s residence. He felt a chilly knot of fear at the realization. He had guided them directly to her. He had directly targeted her and her family.

"Are they after Sophia too?" Adam asked his voice tight.

The assassin smiled a thin cruel smile. "Not yet" he said. "But as soon as they find out you survived and that our entire team has been wiped out they will. They’ll go after all your weaknesses. Anyone you care about will become a target."

Adam had expected this answer. It was the logical next step for his enemies. But hearing it spoken aloud made it real. It made the danger to Sophia and her family immediate and terrifying.

"You said a group of brokers gave you the information" Adam said changing the subject. "Can you tell me how they work? Who are they? Where are they? How do you contact them?"

The assassin hesitated for a moment. He seemed to be weighing his options. But he had already committed to the deal. "We were given a special phone" he finally said.

"It came with an app pre-installed. An app called ’The Byrd’. We got the information about you on that app. Everything about you is on The Byrd. If you can get your hands on that phone that app... it might be useful to you."

The Byrd. The name echoed in Adam’s mind. It was a key a clue a thread he could pull on. It was a way to fight back a way to stop reacting and start hunting.

The game had just changed. He was no longer just the prey. He now had a way to become a predator. He now had a target.

Adam does not regret throwing his phone first because he does not have a cell phone.

However, Adam had never heard of such an app. He now believes that it has evolved into a new app or that it is a tool that assassins use exclusively and that regular people can not access.

Adam thinks, I will have to investigate.

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We are so grateful to each and every one of you for joining the adventure! Your assistance is greatly appreciated. I appreciate each and every one of your Power Stones, which are like mana potions that keep me writing if you are enjoying the story.

Let us have some fun now! I want YOU in this world. The new signature technique is about to be named by our hero. What ought it to be called?

Leave your most inventive suggestions in the comments section! I will choose my favorite, and it will be included in the story’s canon with a special mention for you.

I am eager to read your insightful recommendations!

Alphaboss

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