Author: Lucija Giener, II. gimnazija Osijek
He was looking at his papers with a frowned face. „For the love of God, who names their child Archibald Milo Leigh?” he thought to himself. Not that it mattered; names were the least of his worries.
Janus, as they called him, took a last glance at the information before tossing them into the fireplace and turning them to ashes. It won’t take long before he adjusts to his new life. A week at most. After that, Mr. Leigh will die. However, no one will notice because Janus will take his place. His job, house, wife and two kids. Even the dog. Sometimes that was the best part.
He sat down more comfortably in the red velvet chair, which was soon going to become his and thought about it all. The job, the murders and poor Archi. He really wasn’t poor though, he was a lawyer from Oxfordshire who lived in a huge mansion by the Wychwood Forest. His wife was violinist, and both of their children went to private schools. It all gave a picture of an obnoxious and arrogant person, but sadly, Mr. Leigh was a kind soul. Unlike many, he was a lawyer who only defended the innocent. That made many people angry, so he had to be removed. And that was Janus’ job.
First step was completed; sneak into their home and stay as an unknown guest for two weeks. Observe everything the target does; their walk, talk, handwriting, eating habits etc. Discover their passwords and secret files. If it’s necessary, lose or gain weight. Find their secrets, affairs and fears. Make their identity yours. Become them. You no longer exist.
The company will send you a mask along with other essential tools and materials.
After that it’s simple; either poison them or choke them in their office. Bury them in their yard and begin living their life. For a month, you do whatever your client asks. As Archie, for example, you can quit the lawyer business, intentionally lose a case or attack the judge. Truly, options are endless.
Still, Janus knew it wasn’t right. This man did absolutely nothing wrong. While reading his files, he tried to find a smudge, at least a little crime, a little sin. Even jaywalking would be a comfort. But no, apparently he found the Jesus of lawyers. He hated it. Every time a good person was a target, he wanted to quit. Nevertheless, he knew what quitting meant. This company can’t have witnesses.
He tried to remember the day he started working there, but he couldn’t. What was his name? Marvin? No. Brendon? Maybe. How old was he, what did he look like? It was all a blur. Janus never really thought about it. Janus. What does that mean? He googled it. Janus was a Roman god of time and new beginnings. He wandered if someone gave him that ironic name, or he had chosen it himself.
A voice shook him out of his thoughts. Archibald.
A man in a suit, with a loose blue tie around his neck. Too young to have grey hair. Too kind to be a lawyer. Too young to die.
“Who are you?! What are you doing in my house?!” he tried to look angry, but it was obvious that he was scared.
Clearly, Janus had to kill him right now. He had made a huge mistake, and if he doesn’t fix it immediately, his company surely will. They don’t tolerate mistakes in this business.
But he couldn’t.
Janus sat there, looking at a frightened figure at the door, unable to move, to call anyone.
“Listen to me, Archibald. I…I can’t kill you. I am a professional murderer, and I can’t do it. I don’t know what to do.” After who knows how many years, Janus started crying. He was aware tears wouldn’t help, but they were unstoppable.
Mr. Leigh looked confused. He was probably never in this kind of situation, which usually makes people feel that way. However, he tried to calm himself down and understand everything that was going on at the moment.
“Okay, how about you tell me your name first.” Mr. Leigh proposed.
“I don’t remember my name. Before you were assigned to me, I was Kyle Stroud, a plastic surgeon who cheated on his wife, and before that Bentley Scott, a taxi driver who was quite nice except for the fact that he was always late.”
Janus continued to talk about his missions, not because he thought Mr. Leigh was particularly interested in them, but because he wanted to test himself. He wondered how much he remembered. Could he remember himself? His own story, his identity.
Suddenly he felt a sharp pain all through his body. A moment. A fragile memory of who he used to be. Janus sat there with eyes and mouth opened in shock, heart racing rapidly and tears rolling down his cheeks.
In his mind there was a scene. It was raining, and a young man was running down an alley. He looked just like him, except for one thing. He had a wedding ring on his finger. In the scene, it looked like he was running towards Janus. He was getting closer and closer.
He heard a voice.
“Please Matt, you have to help, I can’t do this any more! Do it! You’re the only one I trust with my life! Please!”
A gun shot.
“Sir? Sir are you alright?”
Janus found himself in the mansion again. Mr. Leigh was shaking him gently.
“Mr. Leigh? I have to go.”
“My name is Matthew Waller, code name Janus. I stole my partner’s identity. I don’t know how but I did it. I don’t remember his name, but I remember he had a wife. She’s probably dead. Wait. I didn’t steal it. He gave it to me because he made a mistake. I just repeated it.”
He kept whispering that to himself while running out of the mansion.
“I can escape this. I ca-“
A gun shot.
