This was a short little 40 minute contest entry story I wrote this morning, inspired by Alias, which I’ve been watching a lot of. 
“Did you hear about Acacia?”
Those words started the whole thing. Her life was turned upside down, not that it was particularly right-side-up to begin with.
“My name is Acacia Brooks.”
“What is your profession, Acacia?”
“I’m an assassin for FIORA.”
“I work for FIORA.”
“Please explain FIORA to me.”
“FIORA is like a guild of assassins for hire. It’s your local Assassins-R-Us.”
“If this is a group of freelance mercenaries, why have a group at all?”
“FIORA ensures that our clients don’t double-cross us and makes sure that we remain safe throughout our assignments. In exchange, a portion of our commission goes to FIORA after each job.”
“There has been a rumor circulating among your personal circle of friends that you are not business professional as your cover specifies. Have you told anyone about your true profession at FIORA?”
“No.”
Acacia brushed her long white-blonde hair behind her ear as she leaned on her elbow at the steel interrogation table. The gray-haired man across from her had just finished the third round of questions, rounding out what felt like hours of ruthless cross-examination. She couldn’t this situation routine, but it was far from unusual. She knew FIORA took breaches seriously, but she hadn’t breathed a word to anyone.
The old man cleared his throat. He was starting again. Acacia sighed wearily.
Another round of questions. Another long period of silence afterward. Then, she was instructed to follow the man out of the room. Her belongings were returned. She was allowed to leave.
When Acacia emerged from the high rise building, it was dark outside. Pulling out her phone, she saw that it was 11:00PM. She shook her head. She had gone in around 3:00.
Thankful just to be out, she made a beeline for her car in the parking lot and headed home. Letting out a sigh of relief, she tried to stretch her muscles on the way home. Sitting for so long had left her stiff.
Thinking of how sore she would be in the morning, she caught a glimpse of blue and red flashing lights as she turned onto her street. She thought nothing of it at first, but as she got closer, she realized the squad cars were in front of her house. What was going on?
Acacia jumped out of her car and raced to the scene. Her first thought was that her house must have been robbed while she was gone and a neighbor had called the police.
At the bottom of her driveway, she froze in front of the yellow tape, officers telling her to move, but she couldn’t. She could see it all. It wasn’t a robbery.
Why? They had questioned her. They had let her go. It then dawned upon her. They never told her there hadn’t been a breach. They hadn’t told her anything. They only acted.
Sprawled out on the driveway, were the bloody, mangled bodies of her three best friends.
They’d heard a rumor. Now they were dead.
StoryCloset 