The Service (3/3) By Joe Hakim

(1/3), (2/3), (3/3).

I pause as a wave of guilt hits me, but it's a big mistake because it gives another one a chance to attack me. I feel a sharp pain in my arm as a knife penetrates my flesh. I swing my baton wildly until it hits something. I grit my teeth, ignoring the pain. I manage take down three more before the rest of them give up and turn and run. I stand there bellowing like an animal amongst the broken bodies of my rivals. I am victorious. I am a professional. I get the job done. I reach into my car and pull out a fire extinguisher and put out the flames.

The blood is pouring out of me. I need to get moving again before someone else tries their luck. I lower myself into my seat, my whole right side throbbing. As I start the engine, I wrap a tourniquet around my arm. I patch myself up on the move, because I can't stop. I have only half an hour left to reach my destination. Those people are waiting for me, and I can't let them down.

My right arm begins to tingle and go numb. They must have caught an artery. My head is swimming, but I have to carry on. All the houses and apartment block begin to melt into each other. I have to concentrate on the navigation system on my dashboard so I don't get lost. I can't even begin to think about the journey back. I have to focus on the job in hand. I have to answer the call. My breathing is becoming strained and I'm fading fast. Eventually I reach my destination, but there's the final run to the front door. I go into the back of the car and take the case out. My arm has nearly lost all feeling, and even holding onto the handle of the case is absolute agony.

As I limp towards the door, the bandage comes apart and my blood starts to spill out all over the pavement. I press the buzzer on the apartment door. There's a burst of static from the speaker before someone answers. "Who is it?" I press my identification to the camera next to the speaker. "Please... let me in," I mumble.

There's a loud buzz and then the door swings open. As it shuts behind me I collapse against it. I can feel the cold steel against my forehead, and it wakes me up enough to drag myself up the stairs. After an eternity I reach the door, and I tap on it with my baton. The hallway is flooded with light as the door opens. I slump to the ground. "Have you got it?" a voice says from above me. I push the case forward. The person in front of me picks it up and opens it. "Is...everything there?" I ask, as I begin to slip from consciousness. "Please, tell me... Is everything there?"

The person stood in front of me mumbles to himself before replying, "Six cans of Stella, two Snickers, three tubes of Pringles and a packet of blue Rizlas...yup it's all there." He crouches down and put some cash in my blood covered hand. "Thanks a lot, keep the change," he says. "I'm a professional, I get the job done," I say, and then I'm gone.

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