It didn’t take a genius to see the danger. Perhaps someone of super-human intelligence could have prevented the devastating outcome, though. Or maybe it was inevitable, a force of nature. Fate. Either way, it was the last job he would ever do.

Matt Cromby stood on the edge of the cliff, peering across the foaming ocean and staring into the distance at nothing in particular. His petty life swam before his eyes, the ups and downs like the motion of the sea below. A crashing wave brought him back to the present. Was he really going to go through with this?

His thoughts moved to his mission. He knew the routine by heart. In the end, it was straightforward, wasn’t it? It always boils down to one simple mantra: get in, get out. As quickly as possible, without leaving behind any trace of his presence. What could possibly go wrong?

Matt’s phone chirped in his pocket. He retrieved it, opened the line without saying a word.

“It’s time”. Two simple words uttered at the other end of the phone that indicated the beginning of the end. Matt knew the drill. He hung up, replacing the phone in his pocket. He glanced to the horizon one last time, watching the sun settle in for another night.

Matt moved away from the roiling sea, turned his back on the edge of the world. He slowly walked to his car. It was time to get to work despite his frazzled nerves. Even with so much experience, somehow the job had become harder with time. The pressure was getting to him. And the people he worked for .. well, he couldn’t disappoint them. Not this time. This time, it was life or death.

As Matt meandered through the winding streets of the town he knew so well, he almost wished for something to prevent the next series of events. Rain. Snow. A natural disaster. Was that going too far? He needed to get out of this line of work. But he knew what he had to do, what must be done tonight. There was no turning back now.

A few minutes later, as though Mother Nature was deliberately ignoring him, Matt arrived unburdened by even the slightest of breezes. He nudged his car slowly through the unmanned gateway. There was no one there at this hour, as he expected. Everything had been planned to the minute. So why did he feel so anxious?

He parked his car in the deepest shadows of the car park. Matt didn’t want to be noticed by anyone. He grabbed his gear and slipped to the back entrance. He typed a passcode into the security panel, knowing it would work. And just like that, he was inside. He was another step closer.

Get in, get out.

Matt knew the path well. He navigated the maze of silent hallways until he reached his destination. The rest of his team was inside waiting, as per the arrangements.

As Matt entered the room, he averted his eyes from those already present. Each member had been specially selected for this very job, all experts in their chosen fields. But only Matt could crack the code; only he could extract what was needed.

Get in, get out.

His tools were spread before him. He selected each one carefully, poised for the next step of the delicate operation. He edged closer to his goal. He reached in, slowly, gently, almost a caress. That’s how it’s done, he thought to himself, as beads of sweat began to sprout on his forehead.

Get in, get out.

Time was ticking away, he knew he didn’t have much longer before his presence here was noticed. He was so close though, he could feel it. Something was stopping him, something he hadn’t expected. What was that…?

Suddenly a violent noise began pulsing through his eardrums. The incessant beeping grew louder and more urgent, an alarming tone that could only mean one thing.

Matt held his breath, trying desperately to finish the job. He fumbled, one final attempt to extract his goal. Somehow, the blockage was too strong, there was no way past. He hadn’t expected such countermeasures.

Matt winced and hung his head in shame. It was over. There was only one thing left to do.

————————————————————————–

“Mr and Mrs Wright?” the solemn voice called out through the waiting room. Two pairs of eyes looked up in unison, in anticipation. The two people rose, hesitantly, and walked across to where the doctor was standing. “I’m afraid .. I’m sorry to say … ” This part was never easy. It would always be the worst part of the job.

“How did it go?” the woman asked tentatively, her eyes alight with hope. “Is our son going to survive?”

The doctor met her eyes, just briefly, and said his piece at last. “I’m sorry. The procedure was … unsuccessful. Your son is dead. I’m .. truly sorry.” Matt sighed and tried to maintain eye contact with his dead patient’s parents. And now he’d failed at that, too. It didn’t matter, they were no longer looking at him. They were holding each other, the first stabbing pain of grief rearing its foreboding head as they embraced each other, quietly sobbing.

Matt stood motionless for a moment, then turned and walked out of the hospital. He was done with this cursed life.