I was startled by a phone ringing, a phone I was not aware I had. I answered, my voice shaky. I knew I was in trouble. It was the head of operations. He only called if it was bad news. I took a deep breath as he spoke.

"What went wrong agent?"

"Nothing," I said innocently.

"The girl lived. You spared her life, and now your life is about to be taken. Was it worth it?"

I gulped.

"Please don’t do this." Such feeble words coming from me

"The Agency and I are willing to give you one last chance. You have an hour. If the girl is not dead, we’re sending someone for the girl -" There was a pause, then he continued, "and then, for you."

"I’ll do it." My life was hell, my life was a mess, but I was alive. I was breathing, and I liked it that way.

"One hour," and the line went dead.

I looked around my apartment, gathering up what I’d need. I didn’t have much of a choice because they left me with so little. This job was going to be tricky. I had to get to the hospital undetected. Satisfied I had everything, I left.

There were four men downstairs and two by her door. Her family was out of sight. I walked down a corridor and saw a nurse. It was the perfect disguise. I forced her inside an empty room. She bit down into my hand, and instantly drew blood. I hit her with my gun, and she fell to the floor. I quickly undressed her and put the nurses outfit on. It was too big for me, but I couldn’t let that bother me now. I found some bandage and wrapped my hand hoping it wouldn’t draw attention to me.

I walked out the room and up the stairs to the 2nd floor. The floor on which she resided. The two guards looked out of shape. I studied them, unsure of how to approach. My eye caught a nurse and a doctor at the far end of the corridor. They were doing rounds. I had an idea. I took a deep breath let my hand wander to the gun on my side. I walked slowly to the door, her door.