The Last Confession

Chapter 1: The Terminal Diagnosis

The doctor said "six months" like it was a prison sentence. Lung cancer. Occupational hazard after thirty years of smoking through stakeouts.

I'd just finished my celebratory whiskey when the burner phone rang.

"One last job," the Voice said. "Special rates for dying men."

The envelope contained two photos:

A smiling boy in a Little League uniform (Target: $250K)

A teenage girl with haunted eyes (Bonus Objective: +$500K)

The kicker? They were brother and sister.

The Voice's rule echoed in my head: Never ask why. But the morphine made me reckless.

"Why both?" I coughed.

Static. Then: "Because one of them isn't human."

Chapter 2: The Wrong House

The boy's suburban home smelled of lemon cleaner and baked cookies. I found him building a Lego Death Star in his pajamas.

My Glock trembled. I'd killed abusive husbands, drug lords, even a senator once. Never a kid.

That's when I noticed the basement door.

It was padlocked from the inside.

The boy didn't look up from his toys. "She doesn't like visitors after dark."

A thump came from below. Then another. Rhythmically. Like something learning to climb stairs.

Chapter 3: The Sister's Secret

St. Mary's Orphanage records showed the girl, Elise, was adopted after "The Incident" - a fire that killed fourteen children. The sole survivor.

Her foster parents' coroner photos told a different story:

Mr. Carter: Bite marks through Kevlar vest

Mrs. Carter: Throat removed with surgical precision

The social worker's notes chilled me:

"Elise claims her 'real sister' lives in mirrors. The reflection has been growing teeth."

I checked the boy's school photos. In every shot, his shadow was wrong - too tall, too many limbs.

Chapter 4: The Confessional

The priest listened silently as I laid out my sins and the photos.

"You misunderstand the contract," he said, sliding a pistol through the lattice. "The bonus isn't for killing the girl."

The gun's grip was inscribed:

Kill the thing wearing her brother.

A newspaper clipping fluttered to the floor - the orphanage fire report. Arson. Started in Elise's room.

The priest's cufflink caught the light - same symbol as on the Voice's envelopes.

"Tick-tock, Mr. Vales," he whispered. "The changeling's almost finished growing its new face."

Chapter 5: The Last Shot

I found them at the playground.

The boy's shadow stretched toward his sister, tendrils creeping up her swing chain. She watched me with ancient eyes.

"Dad said you'd come," she said. Not afraid. Relieved.

The Glock felt heavier than cancer.

Two bullets left.

One for the monster.

One for the little girl who'd burned down an orphanage to stop it.

I raised the gun as the streetlights flickered.

Some choices damn you louder than others.

Engagement Hook:

"His final contract: kill one innocent to stop something worse. 🔫 A dying hitman discovers the monstrous truth behind his last job. Would you pull the trigger? #NoirThriller #MoralHorror"