Autumn Twilight

Cypress Adams was born in an exquisite autumn twilight. Her mom gave birth to her unassisted. The small bedroom window had been left open, letting the autumn breeze blow in and the leaves gush in. A cypress leaf found its way into the baby’s tiny palm and clung to it.1

Shawn Adams used to work in an underground assassin squad: the Autumn Assassin Squad. He only decided to leave the group when little Cypress came into his life. Even so leaving the assassin squad wasn’t a cinch; it was like driving close to his graveyard. There were eight assassins in the Autumn Assassin Squad and each had his code name. Shawn’s had been Shadow Spinner.They followed orders from a covert agent code named Hawk. They operated only every autumn.2

The seven assassins he had worked with for how many autumns were not pleased with Shawn’s sudden decision to quit. The first who openly voiced out his objection was Ethan Kaiser: White Fang. Assassins also had their best friends. And Ethan was Shawn’s best friend in the assassin squad. The two of them had been the best assassins in the squad and Hawk loved pairing them up for tough missions.3

No, they can’t just let Shadow Spinner go. But Shawn was obstinate and was determined to quit being an assassin to start his life anew with his wife and their daughter Cypress. If it hadn’t been for Cypress… his little angel.4

No one quits in the squad Shadow Spinner, White Fang had warned him. But one dies. But nothing held the Shadow Spinner back. Since he turned his back from the squad, death threats had been perpetually pouring out on him. But so far they hadn’t touched him and his family. Not after sixteen years.5

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That day was Cypress’ sixteenth birthday. She had excitedly slipped in her beautiful autumn dress and primped in front of the looking glass. At last, she’d be reaching her sweetest year come twilight. Her friends from the school had organized a party for her and the celebration would take place in the morning. She put on her wide-brimmed straw hat and wearing a steady smile, which looked nothing but sweet, Cypress hurtled out of her room. Cedric, her five-year old brother, met her in the corridor.7

“Happy birthday, sister Cy.” Cedric handed her his colorful candy rack filled with all of his favorite candies that he never once shared to her or to anyone. He didn’t allow anyone to touch that candy rack, and he always kept it away from Cypress.8

“Are you sure you want me to have this?” Cypress asked in a tentative tone, the smile lingered on her tamed face. That was a kind visage she had. Cypress was kind and loving in nature. Even if Cedric was a nuisance most of the time, Cypress palpably adored him. Cedi had never seen her angry, not even once. Love and warmth oozed from his sister’s every pore.9

Overcame with emotions quite new to him, Cedi flung himself to Cypress. She caught him and they were suddenly locked in an embrace.10

“I love you, Cy. I know I’m annoying but you’re always nice to me.” 11

“Aw, Cedi. You’re even sweeter than your candies.”12

“Please don’t leave us.” Cedi had absently pleaded that Cypress looked mystified for a moment. Then, she chuckled and ruffled Cedi’s jet-black hair. They had the same hair, dark as raven. Had the same color of their eyes that seemed to change from green to blue to brown.13

“I won’t leave you Cedi. I’m only going to my friend’s place. They’re throwing me a party. It won’t take long.”14

Cedric only tightened his embrace. “Dad received another death threat.” He whispered in a frightened little voice.15

“Not another one from the Autumn Assassin Squad, huh? You little paranoid!”16

“But Cy-“17

“Don’t tell me you believe that assassin squad really exists? Come on, big guy. It’s all a tale. Daddy made up all of this assassin-business to entertain us. It’s just a game, you know. All the ribbons and letters we often get from our mailbox. They’re all props.” Cypress smiled reassuringly. She felt tenderness for her brother whenever she saw his cherubic face.18

“What are you two doing there?” Shawn appeared behind them, carrying a box.19

“Embracing.” Cypress giggled and disengaged herself from Cedric. “What’s in the box, dad?”20

“It’s a surprise. Mom’s in the kitchen. You better go downstairs now, sweetie.” Shawn stared at his daughter, and a gnawing pain started to nag him. He ached for his daughter. She had that adoring look all over her face and Shawn scared to see it scarred with death. He didn’t hide any secret from his family. He told them everything there was to know. But Cypress never took it seriously.21

“Cedi said you got another death threat.” There was no trace of terror in her voice, only bored amusement. “Who sent it this time? White Fang?”22

“Cypress…” Shawn hesitated.23

“What is it dad?” her eyes were gleaming.24

“I want to hug my angels. Come hug your dad, Cedi, Cypress.”25

The two enthusiastically threw their arms around their father. “Happy birthday, angel.” Dad whispered in Cypress’ ear. “Come back before dusk, Cypress. We’ve got a surprise for you.”26

That was the longest hug dad ever gave her.27

-oo- -oo- -oo-28

Cypress ran to the kitchen and hugged her mother from behind. Shauna was watching the stove and she wore the orange-stripped apron that she only brought out every autumn. Autumn is your season. And twilight is your time. Mom told her all the time when she was a kid. And Cypress grew to believe it. Autumn had become so dear to her; it was her favorite season. Twilight, too, was her favorite time. She loved watching the spectacles in the sky when the sun set and darkness slowly claimed everything. Somewhere in between she saw her life emerging, the twilight materializing before her very eyes. It was always between daylight and darkness.29

Shauna turned and returned her daughter’s loving embrace. “Where are you bound to after the party?” she asked warily.30

“We’ll see a movie. I promised to treat them.”31

“Just be home before dusk, all right?”32

“That’s what dad told me. Oh, mom, if you know how I feel. I can’t wait to go home.”33

Shauna laughed in spite of herself. “Maybe you won’t leave anymore if you hear what I’ve got in mind.”34

“Oh?” Cypress’ eyes rolled in excitement.35

“I’m baking your favorite strawberry cake.”36

“Yummy. I’ll be home in time, mom. I can’t wait to see your surprise. Are we goin’ to watch the twilight come and pass?”37

“No sweetie. We’ll celebrate your birthday in a more wonderful way. We love you.”38

“I love you too, mom. You, dad and Cedi.” She kissed her mom and hugged her one last time before she left.39

-oo- -oo- -oo-40

Cypress went home at dusk unlike what she had promised. The house was still in an eerie way and she became suddenly tensed. She dashed inside the foyer and what she saw shocked the wit out of her. Cypress turned white in terror and her eyes were without tears.41

“Dad… mom… Cedi…” the words formed in her lips but they didn’t come out. Her family were dead. DEAD. Their corpses were swimming in blood. BLOOD. They were murdered. MURDERED. No… they weren’t just simply murdered. They were… BEHEADED. Oh, god! Whoever did this was a cold-blooded murderer. ASSASSIN? Oh, dear life! It’s not true. Please let it be just a dream. A bad dream. And, oh, please let me wake up. Dear life! But it wasn’t a dream. It was the painful and horrifying truth.42

Darkness fell around her, enveloping her frozen mind, body and soul. Twilight went by carrying the lives of her loved ones. Autumn Assassin? Autumn leaves crashed on the ground, burying the only people she adored. Autumn. Twilight. It was exactly the time when she was born. The time of her birth. And in a split second, it became the time of DEATH. Only it wasn’t she who was dead but her family. Was that fair? She was alive and all of them dead? Mom, dad, and Cedi.43

Cypress forced herself to cry, but not a single tear slid on her cheek. Her orbs, transfixed on her beheaded loved ones, shifted from green to blue… to angry brown. They killed her. Whoever they were. White Fang? Autumn Assassin Squad? They had finally gotten rid of the Shadow Spinner with his wife and son. An overwhelming hatred gripped every fiber of her being. REVENGE. That alone was the sweetest thing she can do for her murdered family. Dad… mom… Cedi… They died in an autumn dusk. Revenge would come on that same season when the leaves turned from green to orange to bright yellow and when they hit the ground and rolled past the path of the avenging autumn daughter… revenge would come. The twilight will carry them to their grave. Cypress Adams would stand as the executioner of those who were about to die come another autumn, another twilight. 44

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TWILIGHT SPINNER. Kill Twilight Spinner. Before she gets all the Autumn Assassins. That was the order from Hawk. One of the toughest missions ever handed to them. In the seven assassins only, four were left. Undertaker had went six feet under the ground with his headless corpse found hanging in a cypress tree in front of his stone house. His head had been buried at his own backyard. There was a note from Twilight Spinner. Hell Warrior your head is next. And she did come for hell Warrior’s head one autumn twilight. The merciless murderer had thrust needles in Hell Warrior’s wide assassin eyes. She didn’t kill her victims instantly she killed them in a slow, tormenting way. She tortured them to no end before she finished the job by slashing their neck; even then she still beheaded them rather slowly, prolonging the excruciating punishment.46

“I won’t let you die easily. I want you to die slowly, seeing only the face of your executioner.” Her eyes sparkled with revulsion, a fathomless hatred that that could kill you in a flash. “ This is your last autumn. And your last twilight.” Those were the last words her victims heard before they lost their heads.47

When the squad received a box that contained Prince-of-Death’s bloody head, they were seriously alarmed for the first time. There was a note from Twilight Spinner. Three heads down, four to go. White Fang, yours will be last.48

“Who the frig is this Twilight Spinner?” Fire Demon asked hotly when their mission had been handed to them. “An autumn assassin, herself?”49

“There’s a certain difference.” White Fang said quite calmly. “Our squad kills by dark in autumn. Twilight Spinner comes during autumn and waits for the dusk before she kills her victim. She wants our heads. We’re all safe… until the twilight-“50

“Cut the crap White Fang!” Midnight Devil snapped, her red hair seemed redder than usual. Or was it her temper? “Who on earth is this Twilight Spinner and how does she know about our squad?”51

“Temper, Midnight Devil!” Whit Fang smirked insolently. “Twilight Spinner is Shadow Spinner’s daughter. She’s after the Autumn Assassin Squad for revenge. You remember what happened to Shadow Spinner and his family?”52

“You bastard! You’re responsible for Shadow Spinner’s death!” Heart-of-Darkness glared at Whit Fang.53

“It was a unanimous decision to kill Shadow Spinner. I was the only one who delivered the verdict.” White Fang bared his teeth in a devilish way. “The girl was lucky she wasn’t home.”54

“And now she’s a first grade assassin.” Fire Demon shook his head, a beastly grin stretched over his lips.55

“And I’m responsible for that, too. I have awakened her murderous assassin blood. Believe me, the girl is a natural assassin. She’s the daughter of the first class assassin Shadow Spinner after all.” White Fang looked at them one by one. They were staring at him in bewilderment. He went on. “She was sixteen when her family was murdered. She was seventeen when she murdered a family.56

“What happened?” Heart-of-Darkness inquired.57

“I’m not interested to hear one of your tales White Fang.” Midnight Devil sprang to her feet. “I’m itching to do my mission. I’ll kill Twilight Spinner. I’ll kill her tonight!”58

“Beware of the twilight Midnight Devil.” Fire Demon warned, chuckling.59

“Go to hell!” She left. That was the last time they saw the Midnight Devil alive.60

“What happened, White fang?” Heart-of-Darkness repeated her inquiry.61

White Fang was silent for a moment; his murderous eyes were staring at his hands fixedly.62

What happened? What happened to the kind and loving girl when her loved ones were murdered? What happened? What happened?…63

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Cypress disappeared while darkness crawled in their family home, leaving her dead family unburied. She was too overcome with deadly rage that she became oblivious of the picture her beheaded family presented. She couldn’t even give them a decent funeral. She had called uncle Henry, their closest relative. He would take care of everything. All Cypress had to know was the place where they would be buried. She would visit… someday. By then, maybe she would be able to cry. To really mourn for them. But now she just couldn’t force herself to cry. HATRED. That was all she ever felt right now. And the desire to get back at the people who ruined her family. An eye for an eye? A head for a head?65

Cypress had been delighted when she saw what was in the box her dad had been carrying that morning. That delight was diabolical. The revelation was terrifying, yet exhilarating in a perverse way. Was she really herself? She pulled out the switchblade from the box; a treacherous gleam crept into her eyes. Is it you Cypress? Is it really you? At that moment she knew what to do. She would kill them. She was destined to be alive to bring justice to her dad, mom, and Cedi. Her hands were meant to be stained with blood. She was fated to be a murderer. Cypress shivered as her fate was suddenly unveiled before her eyes.66

The blood of an assassin was running in her. It had been sleeping, and had just been partially awakened.67

It had always been there… inside her.68

The strawberry cake mom had promised her had been laid on the dining table, the sixteen candles waiting to be blown. Eve this sight didn’t move her to tears. It only drove her to an angrier state.69

Furious, cypress thrust the switchblade in her birthday cake. This is what I’m going to do to them. The strawberry cake was the first victim of her switchblade.70

Cypress spent her sixteenth year tracking down her man: White Fang. Ethan Kaiser. Winter had passed by and she hadn’t even recalled being frostbitten. Spring had rolled by but Cypress hadn’t noticed all the beautiful things springing. Summer had locked her in a scorching embrace, yet Cypress had been numb to even feel the summer kiss her goodbye. She was only aware of the coming of autumn, her season. At last she found him. Ethan Kaiser.71

He was living in a serene family home. He wasn’t living alone. And the fact delighted her. His wife was an affectionate woman who was contented being a mother and wife. She was a kindergarten teacher but had given up her teaching career when she had given birth to Nathan. She wanted to look after her son personally and she’d been doing that foe five years.72

This fall, however, Mrs. Kaiser obtained a teaching job at the nearby day care center. But who would watch Nathan now? Ethan couldn’t. He was a lawyer. Huh? If his family only knew what a monster he really was. No doubt, Mrs. Kaiser had no idea what her husband’s name by autumn night. White Fang! And did she ever wonder where her husband might be when he wasn’t in the law firm? What he turned into when he slipped out of his lawyer suit? Did she know anything about the man she married at all?73

Back to the question of who would watch Nathan now that Mrs. Kaiser decided to teach again. That was where Cypress emerged. At the moment Mrs. Kaiser made it clear that she wanted a live-in help, Cypress appeared out of nowhere and grabbed the chance she’d been waiting for. Thus, she became Nathan’s nanny. Quite a feat, huh? The Kaiser’s place was grand; they had so much rooms, she got an entire suite to herself next to Nathan’s.74

How much money Ethan Kaiser obtained from being an assassin? How much he was paid for someone’s head? Cypress sometimes asked these questions in her dark reveries.75

Aw, revenge still sounds so sweet. Yes, revenge is, aw, so sweet…76

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Living with the Kaisers brought her so many memories of her own family. Most of them sweet. The only bitter part Cypress could recollect was her last birthday, when she found her family all dead.78

Nathan was like Cedi in so many ways. He could be naughty and sweet. Funny, but he also had this colorful candy rack filled with different candies that he kept from everyone. Just like Cedi, he wasn’t too generous to share his candies to Cypress. “You can have all the foods you want from the fridge. But don’t you touch my candies.” The cherub had declared in childish haughtiness her own little brother could muster quite prettily. Nathan Kaiser. He palpably reminded Cypress of her beloved Cedi.79

Mars. Kaiser was a perfect mother. Caring, loving, thoughtful. She was kind of nice to Cypress. Too nice, in fact. She treated Cypress like her own daughter. She actually mothered her. Oh, god! How she resembles mom! Mrs. Kaiser always commented about Cypress’ eyes.80

“The color of your eyes is so mesmerizing.” Mrs. Kaiser had observed. “Your eyes… they change from green to blue to brown. They remind me of the Gentian flower.”81

Her birthday came. This time she’d be seventeen. Ethan Kaiser worked only half-day and was home at noon. Mrs. Kaiser didn’t have a class and was busy in the kitchen the whole day. She baked Cypress’ favorite strawberry cake.82

Cypress donned her autumn dress, the dress she had worn last fall when she turned sixteen. Nathan went to her room, carrying his candy rack.83

“Happy birthday, Cy.” He placed the candy rack in her hands and flung his hands around her. It was all a déjà vu.84

Cypress wanted to blow her candles at dusk. And they waited for the twilight before they started to celebrate. It never occurred to them that it was their last twilight. 85

When it was time, Mrs. Kaiser sent Cypress upstairs to get Nathan so they could start the birthday celebration. Nathan was in his room, playing his robots. Cypress obeyed wordlessly. She went after the boy. She knew he would be first.86

“Nathan.” She walked toward the boy who was so engrossed with his toys. His cherubic face only turned to her when he heard a sharp click. Cypress held the switchblade high for him to see it clearly. The boy’s mouth automatically opened to scream-87

“Silence!” Cypress hissed and brought the switchblade an inch from Nathan’s nose. His whole body was shaking, trembling in rigid fear. In an instant, she saw Cedi’s face. Hatred ate her. Revenge.88

“For Cedi…”89

Mrs. Kaiser was setting the cake on the dining table when cypress went back to her.90

“Where’s Nathan?" Her eyes caught the bloodied switchblade cypress was holding.91

“You’ll be with him quite soon.” Cypress said slowly, her eyes doing more talking than her mouth. Mrs. Kaiser squealed. “Silly woman.” Cypress mumbled. When she looked close at her frightened face, Cypress inevitably saw the face of her mother. Hatred overcame her. Revenge.92

“For mom…”93

Ethan Kaiser raced downstairs when he heard his wife’s scream. He rushed to the dining room, panting. He was too late. Mrs. Kaiser was already dead. Cypress was holding her knife with her left hand, other hand lifting Mrs. Kaiser’s head.94

What he saw shocked him, and for a few seconds there was silence. He didn’t move. The only sound he made was heavy breathing.95

“Maybe you want this, White Fang.” She dropped the head, and waved the blade a little. Ethan growled and cursed and kept his eye on the knife then he reached for the stool. He gripped it and got ready to hurl it.96

“ Show me your skill, assassin! Show me the skill that killed my family.”97

Ethan’s eyes widened in mix-up. “You’re mad. I’ll call the cops.”98

Cypress laughed. Cops? An assassin calling cops? Ludicrous.99

Ethan didn’t know it happened. He must have lost his guard because in a wink of an eye, the girl had him. Cypress drove the blade up through his stomach and chest. He let loose with a painful squeal, one of horror and shock. He lost grip of the stool, the only weapon he had. He heard her voice, full of venom. “It’s going to be slow so you can feel every weight of my hatred.” She yanked the knife out slowly, prolonging his agony. Then she thrust it in again in devilish slow motion.100

Ethan dropped to one knee, then two. His mouth agape but nothing came out. He only gazed at Cypress, his face frozen in terror.101

“You think I’m done with you? You’re wrong.” She took the tip of the blade and rested it against his throat. “Feel it. I want you to feel the blade that will behead you!” Ethan was still staring at her at a loss. “Yes. Just stare at me. Mine is the last face you’ll ever see before you die.”102

Ethan Kaiser stared. Stared.” Say goodbye to your last autumn, White Fang. And to your last twilight!” with strokes that were quick and vicious Cypress slashed his head away and finished the job before the twilight faded.103

The phone rang. Cops? What would she say? She heard laughter from the next line. A laughter that could only belong to an assassin.104

“Cypress baby… you got the wrong man.”105

“Who are you?”106

“Your man. White Fang.”107

Tears brimmed from her eyes. Cypress cried for the first time in twelve months.108

-00- -oo- -00-109

White Fang lay underneath the shade of an old oak tree, head resting on her arms, his eyes fixed at the sky. He scoured the sky for a sign of gloaming. A single star winked at him.110

Dead leaves danced in the air, forming a circle in an unchoreographed fashion before falling on him. Autumn. It was the season of death. Falling leaves. Falling heads. Seconds were ticking by. He was waiting for the gloaming. But it seemed like eternity waiting for your doom.111

Nonetheless, he waited for the twilight. The 13th twilight since Fire Demon bit the dust. Fire Demon was Twilight Spinner’s 6th autumn assassin victim. Midnight devil went next after Prince-of-Death. After the redhead devil had been Heart-of-Darkness. And last, Fire demon. There was only one assassin left in the Autumn Assassin Squad. Whit Fang. Twilight Spinner was quite sure his head would come next. She would come for him to execute her final revenge. The final act of monstrosity.112

He dozed off, without wanting to. He dreamed of the dusk and the autumn air. Death beckoned to him and he followed eagerly. Followed… followed… It felt like being reborn, the weight of his sins no longer bothered him. So he followed… and followed…113

It was eternity in there. But his soul moved aimlessly into an endless path of semi-darkness. Eternity. This was eternity. It was far quicker to snap one’s life away. It was easier to cut one’s breath than to trek into interminable uncertainty, shadows hovering behind you.114

Fall. Dusk. Death. When one comes, all three come. Fall. Dusk. And death.115

White Fang jerked awake when he felt something cold against his neck. Warily, he snapped his eyes open and eyed the figure looking down at him, making out the face through the thickening dusk.116

“Twilight spinner, you came.”117

Cypress took the blade away from White Fang’s neck and brought it to his nose. She twisted the knife easily, as one might an ice pick, so that it made a tiny hole on his nose.118

White Fang dared move his hands but a shocking wave of pain gripped at him. He had been stabbed right there. For how many times he had no idea. He then tried to move his legs only to be surprised by another grunt of pain. Where else did she stab him? She had paralyzed him and he didn’t even awaken to her grisly attack. White Fang closed his eyes in restrained pain and snapped them open again to find two green spheres looking at him intensely. The green orbs turned to blue. A second later, the blue turned to brown. Those deep, direct, killer pools were making him feel… frightened?119

“I got you this time whit fang.” Calmly, Twilight Spinner brought the edge of the blade against White Fang’s neck. “For my daddy…”120

Down into the sanctifying twilight121

Shadows dim the faces of the victims122

As the light fades from the sky…123

The head flew and rolled away like fallen leaf. A great jet of blood sprouted from his neck. Her face was splattered with its warmth. And her mouth twisted in mad revulsion.124

Cypress turned to her heel. Without ever glancing back once, she started to walk off. Dead leaves whizzed behind her.125

She had done justice to her family’s murderers. It was high time she does the same justice to the Kaisers’ murderer. She jerked the knife, and the very long, murderous switchblade pooped free- it glistened with blood. A sharp click reverberated in the still twilight air.126

Cypress let the blade rest against her own neck. The twilight Spinner, spinning her own fate. Twilight takes ‘er life. What else could it have been but madness? What madness could it have been but twilight lunacy? What twilight lunacy could it have been but…twilight death. Twilight Spinner… span another autumn, another twilight, another death.127

Her body prolapsed on the ground with a violent thud; her head rolling away like a fallen leaf, in the company of autumn leaves.128

Twilight goes with leaves hurtling behind129

And you realize you are without head…