The night streets of the poorest part of the Green District were drowning in darkness. Only a few dim streetlights cast weak light, revealing crooked houses, shabby walls, and piles of garbage accumulating along the alleys. The stench of rot and dampness mixed with the stale air, making it heavy.
The streets were empty, and the atmosphere was grim. Every house and its surroundings resembled an old stone covered in mold and decay.
The sky was completely black, without a single glimmer of light.
Who would have thought that in the great Green District, the place everyone from the Black and Yellow Districts dreamed of reaching, such a place could exist? A place of decay, age, and filth.
But it was true. This part of the Green District was mostly home to the lower class or those who had lost everything and could afford nothing more.
This place was a dump. No, they didn't throw garbage here — they threw away people, treating them like trash. But the residents didn't complain. They still lived in the Green District, after all.
Amidst this desolation, a whisper echoed in one of the narrow alleys. Or rather, it was a voice — low, hollow, and filled with hidden fury.
— You messed up, — the man spoke slowly, deliberately, as if savoring every word. — Completely. Utterly. Failed the mission.
Sali stood before him. Her shoulders trembled, her eyes glistened with tears, but she didn't dare let them fall. She was afraid to even blink.
— I… I tried… — her voice broke into a hoarse sob.
— Tried? — the man laughed, but there was no amusement in his laughter. He stepped closer, forcing her to press her back against the cold brick wall.
— Ha-ha-ha, she tried! — his gaze turned manic, his tone shifting. — You damn bitch! Do you even realize how long we prepared for this operation?! Do you know how much we would've been paid?!
Sali shrank as if hoping to disappear.
— I'm sorry… please…
— Your apologies are worthless! If you had followed the script, there wouldn't have been any problems! Why did you rush forward?! You were supposed to say everything was fine!
Tears streamed down Sali's face like a waterfall. She couldn't stop.
— I… I couldn't kill them!.. There were innocent people there, especially on the first floor... they smiled at me... I just couldn't kill them... — she sobbed.
— Couldn't kill them?! Do you even understand what you're saying?! You worked there for two months! How could you develop feelings for ordinary rats?! Isn't your family important to you?! — his voice turned icy. — You know they're still with us...
At that moment, Sali's gaze went blank. She simply stared forward, expressionless.
The man smirked and continued:
— Oh, Sali, Sali… I hope you haven't forgotten that? Or did you think you could just ignore it and keep working at the hospital? — he kept pressing harder and harder.
— Remember this, Sali... You're not my only candidate. There are thousands of families in the Black District who would do anything to get into the Green District...
— I took you and your family out of the Black District not so you could stand here crying and making excuses. You were supposed to complete your mission perfectly so you could live well. But… — he suddenly grabbed her by the hair and threw her face down.
The man sighed, shaking his head, then, without warning, pressed his foot against her head, forcing her to the ground.
— But you couldn't even do that… — he muttered, leaning slightly forward. — I'm not some villain or a murderer, just a mercenary… I gave you a chance to change your life and your family's life. Did you succeed?!
Sali, pinned to the ground, remained silent.
— I repeat: Did you succeed?!
Finally, Sali opened her mouth and whispered:
— No...
— Louder!
Sali sobbed and screamed:
— No!
The man snorted, removed his foot, and turned away, ready to leave.
— Be grateful that I'm in a good mood today.
His footsteps gradually faded into the darkness, leaving Sali alone — trembling, covered in dust and tears.