Ivy shifted slightly, causing the leaves framing her body to shiver as she scanned the surrounding forest. The branch beneath her fingers was damp and excreted a sticky substance that was making it hard for her to enjoy today’s assignment. The fading sunlight leaked through the treetops, casting lacey shadows across the forest floor. Red and orange encompassed her, allowing the unusual brightness of her hair to blend in more easily. Blue eyes hid behind sunglasses that covered much of her face, but the distinct sharpness of her features was undeniable.

Also undeniable was how bored she was. She’d been sitting in a tree for nearly twelve hours, waiting. The only company she’d had was the occasional creaking of the forest, and the one crow that had been bold enough to perch on the toe of her boot. She’d spent a good part of the afternoon talking to it, covering the mundaneness of her job, the predictability of it all, and the assignments she tried to enjoy, but secretly dreaded. Having a partner would have been nice, she often thought on days like this. Because sitting in a tree, with no other human interaction for hours, got old. The fact that this happened far more often than not was only slightly frustrating.

Nearby, the sound of footsteps began to creep into her consciousness. Pulling herself up using the branch that had hung in front of her face all day, she peered down at the mossy earth beneath her. Through the thick canopy of branches and rainbow of leaves, she could just make out the blur of a plaid jacket draped over a man’s hunched shoulders. Quickly skimming the photo she’d been holding in her hand all day, she nodded in satisfaction. Without batting an eye, she pulled a gun from her belt, cocked it, and took aim.

The bullet traveled swiftly and silently, lodging itself in the man’s forehead as he fell to the ground. Ivy emptied a round into his chest for good measure, then leapt nimbly from the tree and headed back to her car, putting her phone to her ear.

“Status?”

“Target has been eliminated.”

Copyrighted by SamanthaNicole