CH-14: End Of Manfredi

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When I said this hit seemed simple, I was talking nonsense.

As I stared at the warehouses along the riverside, surrounded by henchmen, I realized just how much I had underestimated this crime family, even if they were almost non-existent.

Finding Manfredi's operational base wasn't too difficult, thanks to the information in the file. However, the kill had become challenging due to the sheer number of goons Silvio had surrounded himself with.

There had to be at least fifty of them, all armed. Not that it bothered me—I could handle myself. The real issue was getting close to them without alerting Silvio to my presence. If I was too late to reach him, he could slip away.

Definitely not something I was looking forward to.

The warehouse had a main entrance from the road, an opening in the roof, and a back gate by the port side. Entering through the main gate without alerting them was out of the question. That left me with the decaying tiled roofs and the shoreline where the waves crashed.

It was a simple decision to make.

I jumped into the water and started swimming quietly towards the shoreline, staying hidden under the moonlight as I moved closer.

Emerging from the water, I remained perfectly still as I observed a couple of men lazily transferring packages from a boat.

Carefully and silently, I approached them, making sure not to create any splashes that would draw their attention. I reached out to the side of the boat and leaped aboard.

Crack!

My head snapped to the side as I turned to see a man a few steps behind, staring at me in shock.

"Uh... Hi?" I raised my hand casually.

His eyes widened, preparing to shout, but I was already advancing toward him, my claws extended, and plunged them into his chest and neck.

Lifting him into the air, I ripped open his abdomen with my claws and tossed him into the sea, staining the water a crimson red.

After disposing of the man, I took a moment to steady myself and let the adrenaline subside.

My gaze shifted from the boat to the men near the back entrance. One of them seemed to break away from their conversation and leisurely walked toward the bay.

Deciding to act swiftly, I dashed forward. Before he even realized my presence, I was in front of him. He took a step back in fear, but it was too late. I used my heightened strength to swiftly snap his neck.

"Hey!" I heard someone yell behind me.

I turned to see the other guard noticing me. His eyes narrowed at the lifeless body I was holding, and he instantly drew his gun.

"Fuck!" I cursed as he fired the first shot.

The bullet missed me by a wide margin, but I still instinctively ducked low and rushed forward. I knew that my presence had likely alerted every damn idiot within a mile radius. It was only a matter of time before a hail of bullets would be raining down on me.

"Fuck! Intruder!" I caught a glimpse of another guy emerging from my right. He yelled toward the men at the bay as I reached the back entrance.

"Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!" The guard continued firing at me, but I paid no attention and sprinted toward him, my claws fully extended.

Some of his shots grazed me as I closed in and swiped at his face, leaving a bloody gash.

I didn't waste time engaging with the remaining guard shooting at me. Instead, I immediately entered the warehouse.

Without hesitating, I ran forward. The warehouse had a few large lights hanging from the ceiling, resembling a chandelier. Metal containers were stacked high, creating a pathway within the building.

I wasted no time and swiftly made my way to the center of the warehouse. Venom growled within me, showing its satisfaction with each life I took in the process.

But once I reached the center I stopped, as I surveyed the surroundings, I realized I was surrounded from all sides. Men stood atop the containers, assault rifles locked on me.

In the middle stood a man wearing a white suit, balding with a distinctive monocle, a crooked nose and a tapping cane. He narrowed his eyes on me.

"Tell me who sent you, and I might make your death less painful." He offered, his voice dripping with arrogance.

I couldn't help but smirk at his proposition. I removed my hoodie, revealing my masked face, and slowly raised my blood-drenched hand, extending my middle finger toward him.

"Fuck you, Silvio."

Silence hung in the air momentarily, and then the men opened fire, bullets piercing my body. But I didn't retreat. I absorbed the onslaught, a smile spreading across Silvio's face as he believed he had me cornered.

Eventually, the gunfire ceased as their weapons ran out of ammo. Silvio's smile slowly faded as he saw me rising, bullets falling from my wounds, and the black goo of the symbiote covering them.

[I'm Famished]

Venom growled in my ears.

I couldn't help but smile, responding, "Well, you've got a feast."

Venom began to consume me, transforming into its beastly form. Its teeth grew longer, and its slithering tongue dripped with saliva.

Just as I was about to launch myself at Silvio, a familiar voice halted me.

"In a dead end, I presume?" I turned to see Stick standing below the roof entrance, the moon perfectly positioned behind him, casting an illuminating glow throughout the building.

The henchmen momentarily diverted their attention to the new arrival, neglecting my presence and I seized the opportunity.

I leaped high into the air, aiming directly for Silvio. However, he noticed me at the last second and evaded Venom's teeth by a hair's breadth.

"We need his head, Venom!" I roared at the symbiote, not wanting it to devour Silvio completely.

I needed evidence of his demise to collect the payment.

[Fine!]

It growled, redirecting its attention to the lackeys.

They resumed shooting at me but this time some of them were preoccupied with Stick, who effortlessly dodged the bullets.

Meanwhile, I unleashed chaos, tearing through my assailants with brutal force. Intestines and blood spilled out with each swipe of my arms.

Finally, I stood alone amidst the carnage, disregarding the ongoing skirmish between Stick and the remaining henchmen on the other side of the warehouse.

I approached Silvio slowly, relishing the fear in his trembling form.

He pleaded and bargained, offering to pay me off but I had no interest in his pleas.

Venom reached out, tearing off Silvio's arm with its teeth.

"Arghhh!" He screamed in agony, blood gushed out and bone protruding grotesquely. He thrashed around, unable to bear the pain, snot covering his mouth and his eyes bulging.

"Arghh! Please!" He continued to plead as I advanced closer.

"Stop it, young man." My steps halted as I turned around to face the blind old man.

He stood with his cane resting before his bloodstained shoes, his tattered brown shirt fluttering in the air.

I turned back to Silvio, intending to ignore the old man's warning but suddenly, something struck my head.

"Well, that's just rude." As I turned to confront the source

I received a powerful kick to my face, causing me to stagger backward as I failed to sense his approach.

"Didn't your parents teach you?" My eyes darted toward the voice but there was nobody there and once again, I felt a kick to my knees. "To heed an old man's advice."

I took a deep breath, regaining my composure. Venom receded into my body as I activated my mutation, extending my senses like a radar.

I blinked as I sensed his presence right behind me.

In an instant, he leaped forward, wrapping his arms around my neck in a bear choke. He applied pressure, attempting to cut off my air passage. It might have worked on a normal human but I was far from ordinary.

My claws reemerged and I swiftly plunged them into his arms, lacerating them.

"Yarggg!" He roared in pain as I knelt down, using his own weight against him and throwing him in front of me.

He crashed to the ground, face-first, crying out in agony while clutching his injured hand.

"If you're so old, maybe you should fucking retire." I growled as Venom enveloped me once more. I lunged forward, biting off his head before he could react.

Venom spat out the shattered monocle, interrupting its snack.

Suddenly my ears perked up as the sound of sirens reached me. I quickly dashed toward Silvio, paying no attention to his pleas. In one swift motion, I snapped his spine, ensuring I captured a photo as evidence. I couldn't forget that; after all, I needed it to collect my payment.

I exited the building and stood by the bay, watching as police cars swarmed the warehouse.

Officers rushed in with their guns at the ready.

They would find containers of drugs and the lifeless body I left behind but nothing that would connect to a Host. Most of the bodies remained intact after all.

I distanced myself from the scene as the flashing lights and blaring sirens gradually faded into the background.

Taking a moment to catch my breath, a mixture of emotions washed over me.

A sigh escaped my lips, a combination of relief and a hint of melancholy.

Yes, that was it.

My first official hit job had indeed ended successfully.

The target was eliminated and I had managed to escape without leaving behind any trace that could lead back to me.

It was a mission accomplished, in the darkest sense of the phrase.

But as I contemplated the outcome, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease.

The path I had chosen, the life I had embraced was one of violence and darkness.

While it provided a certain thrill and a means to survive, it came at the cost of my humanity.

I pushed those thoughts aside, burying them deep within.

There was no turning back now.

This was the life I had chosen, the path I had willingly walked down.

I had become a killer, a hunter of those deemed deserving of my lethal skills.

With a determined resolve, I turned my gaze forward, ready to face whatever challenges and assignments awaited me in this dangerous underworld.

The success of this hit would only fuel the demand for my services and I would need to remain vigilant, sharpening my skills and adapting to whatever circumstances arose.

The night was far from over and there were more shadows to traverse, more contracts to fulfill.

I vanished into the darkness of this city.

While the echoes of my actions lingered.

They were reminders of the path I had chosen and the consequences that accompanied it.

'It's a do or die.'