Page 139 of The Darkest Hour

“And so. . .he told me that he was happy to go, because he believed that when we die, we reincarnate somewhere else, and he was certain the next life would be even more amazing.”

“Sounds like he had no regrets.”

“Not one.” This sad expression hit Havoc’s face. “Once the cigars were smoked and the whiskey was gone, I shot him in the head. Nice and simple. Made it as painless as possible.”

“And then?”

“Then I sat there for a while.” Havoc’s voice lowered. “I thought about his life, everything he’d done, and for a moment. . .I wished I’d had a life like his.”

I gave him a slow nod.

“He was the embodiment of the art of living and. . .dying.”

“And you took the book?”

“And others. Perhaps, I thought they would give me clues to how to live a better life or maybe. . .”

“Yeah?”

“Maybe, I was just resentful and a bit jealous. I don’t know.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “However. . .after him. . .I no longer wanted to be an assassin anymore. I just. . .was tired of it, but. . .I also knew that there was no way out. No possibility to write my resignation. No one who would take it and leave me alone.”

We walked in silence after that.

The sun lowered a bit more.

The air was still heavy with the scent of rain.

The silence between Havoc and me was comfortable.

That went on for a while, and then. . .I noticed a change in him—his pace slowed, his posture stiffened, and his eyes scanned the horizon with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine.

I was about to ask him what was wrong when he stopped abruptly, tilting his head slightly as if catching a distant sound.

I gripped the gun tighter. “What is it?”

He took a deep breath, and his nose flared slightly as he inhaled. “We’re very fucking close.”

“Yeah?”

“The smell of death is suffocating.”

I shivered.

“Death, paint, and. . .lots of metal.”

His words sent another chill through me. The combination was odd, out of place in the middle of this forested island where nature reigned supreme.

“You’re right about one thing, Onyx.”

“What is that?”

“We are definitely going to find some answers today.”

I frowned.

“Let’s just hope we like them.” He pulled the knife out of the bag and picked up his pace.

I followed his lead and began walking faster.

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