The Mad Monk

This story has been written in response to L.C. Schäfer's proposal to spend 2024 writing and writing and writing microfiction stories every day, making 366 stories for every day of this lovely leap year. You can check her original story out here:

Prompt number nine:

The picture is the prompt for this one.

***

"Hey! Look! It's the Mad Monk!"

Yep, that's what they like to call me. The Mad Monk. Always with my hood up. It's just a long coat but it looks like I'm always cloaked. But never mad. Or reverent. Unless it was about my craft.

People love to taunt someone different, don't they? Always got to poke and try and get a reaction. They hate it when someone is controlled or dismissive. It's a good job I am these things because otherwise they'd be dead by now. And I would have no regret at killing that dirty human scum.

That's why I don't do it. Because I know I could and I relish their ignorance.

But I'm not a profligate killer. I only do it for cash. And when I go out to kill, I don't dress like a monk. I sometimes wear the coat, if required. I dress like many things as the job dictates it. I am the chameleon, the blender, the mist that dissipates leaving no trace.

I'm in. Kill. Out. Quickly.

People wonder why anyone would want to be an assassin. Power trip? Enjoy killing? For the money like a mercenary?

Do you know why I do it? Because I'm good at it and because it pays well. It requires precision and exemplary execution, no pun intended. It can be intense but it's good hours. I get to travel and I don't have to work shifts.

I like to think of myself as a good assassin. I like to think that I am killing the worst of the worst, like an exclusive public service but I don't know that much about who I kill so who knows? I do know that no-one is left to leave a review. No-one knows who I am.

Let those scrotes call me the Mad Monk. They just need to hope that this monk doesn't have an epiphany or they'll be praying at the hem of my robe for mercy. And I may grant it.

Or I may not.

***

338 words

Could have added a bit more for this but liked where this took me. I wrote this in one sitting which is rare. No interruptions, just straight writing. It might be obvious to choose an assassin from the robe and the gun but hey, why not? It's only a prompt after all.

I wanted to get the sense of someone who is in perfect control but completely aware and I hope that this comes across in this. He's also not a completely bad guy although this may be hard to glean.

I like characters who are not clear cut.

For the list of prompts that L.C. has provided for January to get you moving, if you want to partake, go here. It also provides links to everybody else who has joined in the challenge:

Thanks for stopping by. If you've read this story, please do leave a comment as I love to interact with my readers.

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