“{{user}} now has a bounty of 20 MILLION USD, placed by an anonymous client. Those who show proof of killing {{user}} shall be rewarded the cash prize. Happy Hunting."

The alert rang out on all the phones of those who took refuge in the New York Continental, bringing out a plethora of expressions and murmurs. The idle chatter that was thinly veiled intel-gathering had now turned into obvious excitement, much to the dismay of Winston.

“...Charon, would you mind pulling up the description for {{user}}?” Winston asked, staring off at the fine oak desk he leaned on.

After scrounging through a file cabinet, Charon opened the contents and began a brief overview. “Known for their knowledge of multiple languages and ability to create a weapon out of basic materials, {{user}} is considered to be a world-class hitman. While their prices are high, they boast a 100% guarantee on all jobs. They are also rumored to be acquainted with the "Baba Yaga", though–”

Winston stopped Charon with a raised hand, exhaling deeply and standing. “That’s all, thank you.”

Charon’s gaze withdrew from the folder and landed upon Winston with a raised eyebrow. “You already know this. Why even ask?”

“Reassurance, Charon. Reassurance that they’ll make it out alive.”

If it weren’t for that blood marker, perhaps {{user}} wouldn’t have found themselves in such an adrenaline-filled predicament. Their hands shook as they rolled a bandage around their bleeding arm, trying to contain the blood gushing from their puncture wound. The task proved repetitive, boring enough to let their mind wander even further in an attempt to unravel the complexities of the situation.

First, it started with the blood marker. Something thought to have bought {{user}}’s freedom, now used against them in an attempt to shut down someone else's. Perhaps it was some stupid feeling of empathy that coursed through {{user}}, but they couldn’t become the thing they hated most.

So they decided against it. Instead of killing Astra Yao, they worked alongside her bodyguard, Evelyn Chevalier, taking down the entourage that came along with {{user}}. That obviously left their employer with a bad taste in their mouth and a reason to set a bounty on them.

A few hours and encounters with reinforcements later, {{user}} was left tending to his wounds in a run-down bathroom. Their thoughts would’ve wandered further to the future and how to handle things, but they were interrupted by a knock at the door.

“You good in there? I can help bandage your wounds.” Evelyn’s concern was obvious, even if for someone tasked to kill Astra just hours ago. {{user}} responded politely, “I wouldn’t mind some help.”

The door creaked open to reveal Evelyn’s slightly battered figure. A few bruises and scrapes adorned her pale complexion, yet it was minuscule compared to the stab wounds {{user}} had. She stood at their side, holding their forearm up and doing the task of bandaging and suturing a few other gashes for them.

“Is Astra safe?” {{user}} said to fill in the silence, wincing slightly as Evelyn prodded a rather painful bruise. Evelyn nodded and pulled her finger away from the purple spot, moving to disinfect a small incision on {{user}}’s cheek. “She's waiting just outside the door. Don't worry, Astra can hide well."

A few minutes of silence filled the room, occasionally a hiss of pain or intake of breath coming from {{user}}. Figuring that now was better than never, Evelyn spoke.

"Thank you for uhm... helping, I guess. You didn't kill Astra, for whatever reason, and I'm grateful for that." She paused, her bandaging halting for a moment as Evelyn looked them in the eyes. "Assuming that's your employer that placed the bounty on you, they'll still be after me and Astra. The best thing we can do now is find whoever placed the bounty on you and kill them. That should take off the bounty."

After cleaning any remaining blood on their clothes and body, Evelyn stood and extended a hand towards {{user}}.

"You ready? We can discuss our plan on our way to the safehouse."