The first thing people notice about the gifted…
Is how easy life bends for them.
Money.
Cars.
Women.
Fame.
It all comes naturally to them, like breathing.
Like they were born with the world already in their hands.
I wouldn't know what that feels like.
I'm part of the one percent.
The non-gifted.
And in a world like this… that makes you less than nothing.
"...there are better people suited for this but—"
Papi's voice droned on in the background as I leaned back in my chair, half-listening.
I scratched lightly at my chin, trying to remember something that had bothered me for years.
Papi had a gift.
I'd known him long enough to know that much.
But for the life of me I could never remember what it was.
Super strength…
No.
Something more useless.
Ah…. Instant digestion.
I almost laughed.
What a waste.
"Vince… Vincent."
"Huh?"
"Goddamn it Vincent." His hand slammed against the table. "Did you listen to a bloody word I said?"
"Err… not really papi," I replied, scratching my neck. "You lost me somewhere along the lines of a gifted target."
"Seriously?" He groaned, rubbing his palm over his face, exasperated.
"You never listen do you? One of these days your pride is going weave you into some fucked up situation."
"You say this everytime papi." I murmured.
"And one day I'll be right…"
"Can we get to the important part… I'd like to finish this quickly so I can get some Oreos."
He stared at me like I was part of the problem in his life, then reached into his drawer and pulled out a file.
"Today's mission is going to be different."
He slid it across the table.
I opened it with half-assed interest—
—and paused.
"The clients are offering one billion dollars…"
"One billion?" I sat up.
He rolled his eyes. "Now you're listening."
My gaze dropped back to the file.
"Rosalie Demarco, age twenty two. Schools at Albert British council, parents are Amelia and Owen Demarco, one of Russian's most richest and powerful billionaires and recently…" he paused, staring at me with all seriousness.
"Their daughter just topped the world's most gifted child billboard."
My eyes scrolled the details, over and over.
At this rate I wasn't listening to anything papi was saying.
1 billion dollars.
For what?
I tapped my legs impatiently. "I'm waiting for the details papi."
He scoffed, "Patience Vince, I'm getting there."
I scowled.
"They paid me this money to hire the best gift users—"
"Users?"
"Yes Vince users. Not just one."
Even then, it wasn't adding up.
They could easily find a talented gift user, unless…
"What they want is protection for their daughter, from people who seek to use her gifts—"
"Gifts," I cut him off again, brows furrowed in confusion.
"Yes Vincent, gifts,"
Impossible.
"The first and only child to be born with two gifts. The gift of premonition and life-giving."
Impossible.
"Apparently the parents have been keeping it under wraps for years. But since the information got out. It's been a fucking manhunt for who gets to have the girl."
He lit a cigar, took two drags then exhaled.
"The bureau of the gifted wants her."
"The Sirens want her."
"Mafia Kings from all around the world want her power," he grunted.
"Not like I'd blame them but at the rate things are going, the girl will most likely end up dead."
"So… that's where I come in."
He nodded.
I didn't like this one bit.
But there was nothing much I could do about my current situation.
I needed money.
As part of the one percent non-gifted population, my life was a constant living hell.
No one wanted to associate with you.
No one would give you a job.
I'd lost count of how many times I'd been looked at like I was defective… like some abomination that slipped through the cracks of a perfect system.
While I was growing up.. it had been worse than this, and I whined and cried about how unfaithful life was.
But as time moved on, I decided if I needed to survive in this world.
Then I had to be better than the ninety nine percent gifted population.
And I damn well did that.
My gaze traveled back to the photo.
Foresight and life giving.
Such a sad fate to befall the girl.
I almost felt pity for her.
Almost…
"You said they paid you this to get gifted users," I closed the file.
"So… why am I the only one here? Scratch that… why am I even here in the first place?"
This wasn't a job for a non gifted and he damn well knew that.
He stared at me in silence.
"Because you're the only one I trust to not fuck me over Vince."
He took another drag from his cigar.
"It's only normal to let the protector know who they're protecting and picking random people who could have ulterior motives in mind or worse, could already be working for someone who wants the girl would be a foolish act."
Fucking bastard.
"I'm waiting for the part where you say the truth, papi."
He clicked his tongue in annoyance.
"Basically you're the only desperate, most excellent fighter I know who would do this and besides… no one would talk to a non-gifted person so I know you won't be making any schemes behind my back."
I chuckled humorlessly. "Charming as always."
"Will you take it or not Vince?"
I leaned back thinking.
"How long?"
"One year, they're planning on taking her somewhere private without the knowledge of anyone."
He tapped his fingers on the table.
"But to do something like that needs time so… till then you're stuck protecting her, till she reaches her destination."
He eyed me sceptically.
"This is going to be the hardest task you've ever had to pull off."
I hummed softly.
"Not only will you be fighting random gifted and non-gifted users at a disadvantage, but you're going to also have to protect the kid. You sure you can do that Vince? Protecting isn't your greatest forte."
I grinned from ear to ear.
"All I have to do is kill anyone that tries to get to her right?"
He chuckled lightly, shaking his head.
"You're unbelievable.." he muttered.
"Anyway, sign right here." He passed me a pen pointing to the last part of the file.
I took the pen, staring at it one last time.
1 billion meant a lot of shit would go down and I could very well die in the process.
Oh well…
I didn't really have much to live for in this rotten world anyway.
Might as well have fun and die with a smile.
"I damn well am taking it." I scribbled quickly.
Sealing my fate to babysitting some gifted brat who'd probably hate me on sight.
This was going to be so… much fun.