Meet James Black (1st Place Winner)

First place for round six of

ID: 1633223   (Rated: 13+) Character Creation Contest  Can you create an original character and bring them to life? by Adrianna

The moonlight glowed eerie and pale as the man approached the building. His left front pocket felt extremely heavy with the weight of the cash he was carrying. The Client took a deep breath, strengthening his resolve, and entered the old factory. Glass crunched under his feet, remnants from the explosion that had sent the building into its current state of disuse. It was drafty and terrifyingly quiet, nothing but the sound of his footsteps, or the odd crunch or crack when he stepped on something in the dark. The pounding of his heart thundered above it all.
         The man ran the last few feet, having spotted the stairs that would lead him to his goal. He opened the door to what had once been the foreman’s office. There was a large desk and a leather chair with its back to the door. Instead, it faced the gaping hole in the wall that gave a breath-taking view of the city. A single stark lamp lit the room. Two wooden chairs sat in front of the desk, just waiting for a new occupant.
         The chair turned slowly to face the newcomer. The Client felt a chill run down his spine at the sight of him. Goosebumps sprang up along his arms and legs. He very nearly bolted. The man in the chair had eyes like glaciers, ice blue and piercing. He was pale, but not sickly, and his thin lips were pressed together in a decidedly neutral expression. Dark black hair hung low over his eyes. He looked as menacing as Satan himself. Yet, at the same time, he emitted a dangerous calm.
         The man in the chair indicated that the Client should sit. He did so, fidgeting nervously as the icy blue orbs bored into his soul. Or so it felt.
         “Why have you come here?” The man in the chair asked, his voice smooth as velvet, deep, rich, and darker than sin.
         “To ask for your services.” The Client’s voice quivered with nerves. A bead of sweat was trickling from his temple, defying the chill draft that surrounded them.
         The man in the chair chuckled, an ominous rumble in the back of his throat. “Why did you come?”
         “I need the best, and the most ruthless. My contact suggested James. So here I am…” though now he wished he hadn’t come. He felt like he might be sick.
         James leaned forward, his elbows on the desk. He touched the tips of his fingers, seeming to contemplate the man before him. The seconds stretched into minutes of tense silence. At least, James spoke again, “What is it you would have me do?”
         His hands shaking, the Client withdrew a photograph from his pocket and handed it over to James. “This family… they know things. I want it quick, quiet, and try to make it look like an accident.”
         James studied the picture. “This is the most recent photograph you possess?” He asked.
         “It was taken just last week…”
         James nodded. “You know you have to pay for all three. And the girl will cost extra.” He set the photograph down, indicating the girl in the picture. She couldn’t have been more than thirteen. She stood between her parents, smiling and full of life and innocence in the captured moment.
         The Client swallowed dryly and pulled the thick wad of cash from his pocket. “It’s all there.”
         James took the money, and painstakingly counted it out. He enjoyed the uncomfortable squirm the Client had developed as the minutes ticked by. All first-timers were the same. It amused him to see them so on edge.
         Once he was satisfied the full payment was there, James stood. “I need their address and all you know of their schedule.” He pushed a notepad toward the Client. He turned his back, picking up the photo once more, listening to the nervous scratch of pen against paper as his Client put down the necessary information. He touched the photo with one long finger and smiled.

“You, my dear, are about to have a most unfortunate accident.”