A girl decides to become a professional assassin. This decision changes everything in her life. Now every step and decision leads her toward her goal. But in the process, her entire life changes. Those around her try to unobtrusively help the proud girl, but this only makes the situation worse. And reflections are watching everything.

“No time to look out the window!” Kira leaps out of bed. “It’s time to become the best! Not quantity, but quality! My name will kill and save at the same time!”
“Is it worth spending your whole life on this? Your personal sacrifice in the name of saving thousands of people?”
“Have you been sitting outside the window and eavesdropping the whole time?” the girl throws a pillow at her boyfriend, who is standing on the concrete slab left from the balcony. It would be better to demolish the entire dilapidated dormitory and build a new one.
“What else could I do? I climbed up to you, wanted to get through the window, and then Mr. Litt was here,” the romantic defends himself.
“Adam! How many times do I have to tell you? This is serious and dangerous! You could fall at any second,” Kira complains. “Is our meeting worth your life?”
“It is!” he declares seriously, hugging the girl who struggles against him. “You’ve decided to kill, putting yourself in the line of fire. I just climbed a pipe and came through the window. Do you feel the subtle difference?”
“You need to go to class! Catch up with Mr. Litt. You have to make it. Your education is more important to you than wasting time on me.”
“Nothing is more important than you! And you should definitely get this nonsense about hunting out of your head. Let's go to class. How long can you pretend to be sick? You could have such a future, and you want to throw it all away to kill?” Adam argues directly.
“Not kill, but save. Go! I don’t want to see you!” she pushes the guy out of the room.
“Are we breaking up?” he holds the door with one hand and takes the girl’s hand with the other.
“What? What are you talking about?” Kira pulls her hand away, trying to close the door.
“And you don't understand?” Adam forcefully maintains eye contact. “With this decision, you are giving up a normal life. You won't be able to be normal among normal people anymore,” he explains a perspective Kira hasn't had time to consider.
“I understand perfectly!” she sprays pepper spray into her ex-boyfriend’s eyes. She abruptly closes the door. She runs to open the windows wide, airing out the gas.
“Are you pleased with yourself?” she looks angrily at her reflection in the mirror. “You’re crying, your eyes are red.”
“It’s the gas! I have nothing better to do than cry over him! If he doesn’t want to accept my decision, then he doesn't have to! If I want to, I’ll put him up for organs too!” she fills with the anger of misunderstanding. “But he’s right. This is where everything ends,” she thoughtfully wipes her tears with a tissue.
“Then think it over carefully one more time. Don't rush to kill your own life. Who are these people to you? Are they worth it?” the reflection instills new doubts.
“I’m tired of everything! It’s high time to close this chapter in my head!” she throws the damp tissue at the mirror. “Everyone is driving me crazy! Mr. Litt with his studying and not just in class! Adam with his love! He should have understood long ago that I’m not interested in that. Relationships are for the weak!”
“Mr. Litt was preparing you for a different life. He's not to blame for your choice. Notice, he supported you. And remember Adam's feelings. Something like that won't happen again in your life.”
“And it doesn’t have to!” she throws things into her backpack. “I’ve decided! I’m going to do it! Anyone who doesn’t like it can stay in a normal life! But I need to go kill. And save!”
“Have you thought about why Mr. Litt doesn’t want to save anyone? Not even you, his favorite.”
“He doesn’t care. He doesn't need anyone. And that’s right! I don’t need anyone either!”
“Or is it because it’s better not to do it?” the reflection hints seriously.
“Nonsense! If you can save a person, you have to save them. The more, the better.”
“But what if you save ten people by killing one. And then each of them kills ten? Did you think about that? You save ten people unworthy of life, and you kill one hundred and one.”
“Did you just make that up?” she throws a T-shirt at the mirror. “That can't happen. And who decides who is worthy to live and who isn't? I'll kill and we'll see!” Kira insists.
“As you wish,” the reflection smirks.
“I’m tired of you! Stay here!” she throws a crystal ashtray at the mirror. A web of cracks spreads across the silver surface.
“Such foolishness won't help. Now there are thousands of us. Thousands of you. In every shard is the reflection of the future killer,” the reflection smirks.
“All of you stay in the room. I’m leaving,” Kira walks out, slamming the door. “And how did I even think of spraying gas? My eyes sting,” she whispers, wiping away tears. She rushes toward the staircase. “You’ll all stay here! I’m sick of you!” she kicks the stairwell window with the toe of her boot. Shards fly down onto the teachers’ cars parked below. “I'm gone! And you're gone!”

“Are you crying?” Mr. Litt peers into Adam’s red eyes as the boy walks past him.
“Got some dust in my eyes,” the boy turns his face away.
“Do you think I don’t know what the aftermath of pepper spray looks like?” the teacher awkwardly suppresses a laugh. “Did you visit Kira?” he asks more seriously.
“It turned out to be a difficult visit. I don't recognize Kira. What did you do to her? She’s seriously set on killing. And not just one, but thousands. She's ready to die herself.”
“Who am I to stop dreams from coming true? Especially those that are humanitarian, even if they are terrible. And how did you find out about this? Did Kira tell you, or were you listening in?” Mr. Litt looks suspiciously at the boy.
“That’s not the point!” Adam evades answering to avoid confessing. “You could have at least cooled Kira’s fervor and zeal. Didn’t you have any suitable arguments?”
“Forgive me, Adam. I only had suggestions for what to strive for. Kira is a talented girl; she can do it. Understand this: when you talk someone out of a dream that has captivated them, you automatically become an enemy for life. If you support them, they’ll expect you to join in. They’ll be offended if the support turns out to be just words,” he tries to explain without going into detail. “I limit myself to hints. Then, even if there’s no gratitude, there’s less anger. And then you watch how the person acts as they achieve their goals. When something doesn't work out, they’ll definitely come back for another hint. But if they grow to hate you, you understand, the chances are slimmer. You choose your future relationship.”
“What can I suggest?” Adam ponders. “She knows everything herself. And it’s too late. Kira already hates me.”
“Well, share your experience. You have enough skills for a beginner,” Mr. Litt hints by his whole appearance at the extensiveness of his knowledge of his students’ lives.
“My experience?” Adam asks, confused. “She doesn’t need school anymore. And she won’t need my experience.”
“I’m not talking about school. Don’t pretend to be an idiot. How old were you when you started? Do you have a hundred to your name?” the teacher asks without looking at the boy.
“Eighty-six,” Adam replies quietly. “Since I was twelve. Not much for four years. Nothing to be proud of. Especially not enough to teach someone.”
“For a beginner, that’s a decent achievement. You can certainly give Kira some pointers.”
“I don’t think she'll let me near her after today,” the boy sincerely doubts.
“The can of spray will run out sooner or later,” Mr. Litt smirks. “Just wait.”
“When this can runs out, she’ll buy a new one. And it’ll all start over. I’m afraid my eyes won't last that long,” Adam says with resignation.
“You despair too soon. Believe me, when she finds out who you are, she’ll come to you herself for advice and a hint. In the common pursuit, there will be nothing left of her hatred. And I don’t think things are that bad,” the teacher encourages him.
“She won’t let me near her,” Adam looks sadly at the school entrance.
“And you don't necessarily have to get close. Did you forget how you work? Do you have to approach the victim to kill them?” the teacher quietly reminds him.
“You shouldn’t confuse a victim with Kira.”
“Then you use your skills to make sure the girl doesn't become a victim. Support her from a distance and discreetly,” Mr. Litt suggests seriously.
“Allow me to ask, how many do you have to your name?”
“I stopped counting a long time ago. I lost track after five,” the teacher smirks.
“Dozens?” Adam clarifies.
“Hundreds,” he answers with a sad smile, opening the school door.
“Are you still at it?” the boy enters first.
“I don’t stop,” Mr. Litt follows him.
“How do you manage to combine such work with school? How do you find the time?”
“You somehow find the time. Your grades are good. And you excel in your profession. Have you had any misses?” he asks in a whisper.
“I’ve made mistakes, trusting untested tools. I had to take risks when I shouldn't have. I’ve regretted it a thousand times. And I vow not to repeat the mistakes,” he recalls the experience.
“It's nothing. It’s harder at first. Fewer mistakes later. Everyone makes mistakes. Even pros,” the teacher reflects.
“And what did you make mistakes in?” he grows more interested, and there’s less and less time until class.
“That’s exactly what I made mistakes in,” Mr. Litt smiles sadly. “I supported, I talked them out of things. In the end, I lost students. Have you noticed how many students have disappeared from our school?”
“It's not your fault. Students choose their own path. I don’t understand why so many choose this profession?” Adam ponders.
“Do you know of any other popular jobs in our city? A farm or a factory that are closing down? And business people always have orders. You certainly do.”
“Not always orders,” Adam admits. “Sometimes I practice just for the pure experience.”
“Do you practice on random people?” the teacher looks at him more closely.
“Mostly criminals. Random people happen too,” Adam says quietly.
“A little cruel, don’t you think?” Mr. Litt hints.
“There are few criminals, but many random people. Experience suggests that there are quite a few criminals among the random ones. All sorts of things happen,” the boy excuses himself, not knowing everything.
“Do you follow up on the victims’ fate after the job?” the teacher asks.
“The coroner’s report and the case closing. I have enough information from the files. The investigation never reaches me. And the person’s life ends in a dead end.”
“We are different,” Mr. Litt smiles sadly, entering the classroom. Adam follows him.

“Alright, you’ve found your calling, dropped out of school, dumped your boyfriend, and given up on a normal life. What's next?” a voice sounds from the phone screen.
“Where did you come from?” Kira squints at the dark screen. “What do you care about my life?” she puts the phone in her pocket.
“What do you mean, ‘your life’?” the reflection protests. “It’s our life. I don’t want to wake up one day on a shattered piece of an optical sight in a pool of blood with a bullet through my pretty face.”
“That won’t happen,” the girl reluctantly imagines herself being killed on the very first job.
“You realize there's a high probability,” the reflection seriously reminds her.
“What do you want?” Kira takes the phone out of her pocket.
“I want to know what our plans are. I have the right to know. And I have a name!”
“And what is your name?” the girl asks, slightly annoyed.
“Call me Miro,” the reflection introduces herself importantly.
“If we have one life for two, why is your name different? Completely different.”
“In a reflection, people see their hidden selves, not the way they are with everyone else. I am different. My name is Miro. I see you, too. You are my reflection in the same phone. And I know you are Kira. Why you don’t know my name is a mystery. An insulting mystery.”
“Are you trying to say you’re the same girl on the other side of the screen? Holding a phone and talking to me in the reflection?” Kira holds the phone away from her.
“The girls and I conferred and decided to tell you. Every year you see a different version of yourself. You change, and we take turns. On your next birthday, Appy will arrive. She’s been preparing and waiting for a long time,” Miro explains seriously.
“Are you trying to say that if every year of my life has a reflection, and you all communicate, you know how many years I’ll live? We’ll live,” she clarifies, considering the news.
“Of course, I know. But I won’t tell you, don’t even ask,” the reflection warns immediately.
“Why?” Kira protests. “You are my reflections! You are obligated to obey me!”
“The girls and I haven't heard sillier words,” Miro’s laughter makes the phone vibrate.
“I won’t spare the phone, I’ll smash it right now if you don’t stop,” she raises her hand.
“You’ll only lose the phone, you silly girl,” Miro smiles calmly. “If you haven’t figured it out yet, a reflection can appear anywhere. I have been appearing all this year. And I’m not obligated to tell you anything. Especially not how many years you’ll live. Knowing that secret, a person ages faster, their reflection changes relative to the plan. Looking at another self, the most impressionable people die earlier than promised. And the last few reflections don't get to show up. I can’t let the girls down like that. You must not know the date of your death. Period.”
“What good are you to me anyway?” she carelessly puts the phone into the pocket with her keys.
“Your reflections aren’t usually that cruel,” Miro remarks with disappointment. “Imagine getting hit in the face with keys.”
“You’re looking at the screen from the other side, not sitting inside it. Did it hurt from a distance?”
“In my world, I look at the screen. But in your world, I become a living reflection. If you break the glass, I won’t die, but unpleasant sensations are guaranteed. So, be kind enough to put me back in the open air,” Miro insists. “It's dark and stuffy in the pocket.”
“Fine,” Kira takes the phone out more carefully. “Why did you even start talking to me after seventeen years of silence?”
“I was talking. You weren’t listening. Don’t you remember how you talked to the mirror, singing in the shower in front of the glossy tiles? You only listened to yourself. Now I’m tired of your selfishness. I decided to speak to you louder when the lives of all reflections are put in danger because of your decision to take up this line of work.”
“Why don’t you like my decision? Nobody likes it, not even my reflections.”
“It’s good that you’ve found yourself. But by doing this, you endanger everyone. Did you see how the mirror in your room shattered? All the reflections will shatter like that when you die.”
“You know how many reflections I have. I won’t die early. I still have time to live,” Kira speaks confidently to Miro.
“How do you not understand? That’s not the exact or final number. It’s the maximum you can live. The actual finishing number depends on how you live. At any moment, all of us could shatter. Maybe right now.”
“I don't want that,” Kira whispers, putting the phone away.
“That's why I want to help with advice if you can’t handle something on your own. Together, we’ll live to see the last reflection. The path you’ve chosen is difficult and ambiguous. It’s hard to walk alone. Bear that in mind,” Miro assures her.
“I will,” Kira’s voice softens. “If you want to help, what should I start with? We are beginners in this business. And Mr. Litt didn’t really say anything specific.”
“I’ll definitely tell you. Now, hide me quickly! Just not in the pocket with the keys.”

I am not urging anyone to do anything.

All events and characters are fictional.

Any resemblance to actual persons or events is purely coincidental.

I sincerely apologize if I have offended anyone.

Highly Recommended Age: 18+

The author bears no responsibility for the reader's perception of the book.