The Assassin - By David Obasi

Written By: David Obasi

Category: Short story, Mystery, Crime

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

In the enthralling short story "The Assassin," David Obasi weaves a tantalizing tale of mystery and crime, submitted to the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. This narrative pulls readers into the shadowy world of an elusive guild of assassins, where danger lurks at every turn. Obasi's gripping storytelling invites us to ponder the fate of those who dare to become entangled in such a perilous web.

About the Work

David Obasi's "The Assassin" paints a vivid picture of a world where shadowy figures operate with calculated precision. The story is rich with suspense and a dark, mysterious atmosphere. Through masterful storytelling, Obasi explores themes of secrecy, betrayal, and the chilling efficiency of the guild. The narrative style immerses the reader in a tense and unpredictable journey, leaving them questioning what lies in the shadows.

The Assassin

Original Submission by David Obasi

The Assassin's guild was a shadow sect. No one knew who they were or how they operated. But they did certainly know of their nefarious deeds, their presence still remained a rumor, but their works were known far and wide across the lands. Many high profiled assassinations were done by them. Kings, ministers, and all fell in their numbers whenever and wherever they struck, no one was safe from them. For no matter how high or tight your security stood, they always found a chink in that armor. The guild were a fierce lot and everyone knew their name, they are everywhere, watching... in the shadows.. even..

"Uurghhh..!!!"

The cut was quick and painless as blood splattered all over the table as the body fell face down on the table. The assassins stood behind his latest target, a famous narrator who stared with his empty eyes as his assailant blended back into the shadows. His corpse was found by the maid who went to fetch him for he had tarried too long in his quarters while his fans awaited to hear his latest story on the guild. No one was safe, not even a narrator, I wonder.. what had he done that had made him a target for them? I guess we'd never know...

"THUD..!!"

The body plops to the floor, writhing as though electrified until it gave out. Something moved, but no one ever saw it, poison they said it was when their latest target, a writer was found the very next day, cold as ice on the library floor. Close to him stood his study table were his bowl of mushroom soup stayed cold, congealed and covered with crawling ants. The autopsy showed the mushrooms were swapped with the poisonous kind, but why a writer? Did he know something about them? Maybe so, but it seemed more likely that these past new victims were killed out of spite for talking and writing about them regardless of whatever knowledge they had about the guild.

But, sadly, in my case, I decided it would be best not to raise the dust on such mysterious matters anymore for I knew, with certainty, what would happen if I did. No, not because of my two predecessors who got killed on the job… nor the slight gleam of the knife that suddenly vanished when I tore up the article that the paper wanted me to continue on the guild.. No… I loved my life and I don't have a death wish.. Yaaaay!!!

There was a brief moment of silence before looking about me to be sure I was truly alone. Sighing with relief as I finally confirmed my assassin was gone, I can continue… with my tale.

Moving on.. a hooded figure watching from the shadows eyed the crowd attentively before scaling the wall and onto the building beside it. He was after someone from the way he snuck past the guards like it was nothing. Stopping to check the scroll, that was tucked away in a in a canister that was carefully placed in a crack beside a bookshelf... It was the King... the king was their new target. The scroll was taken, the contract was accepted and the King would be a dead man before sundown. Blending with the crowd, he moved unseen, camouflaged by the faces that walked along the streets. Soonest stealthily killing but a single guard for his uniform to gain entrance to the castle, then after, a servant to gain access to the royal kitchen and cellar where the wine collection stood glorious. No one was around either, which meant no prying eyes… and brandishing the special poison, which he pours a few drops into the glass that held the sweet smelling wine of the King.

And to make sure it was potent enough, he stirs it with a finger. Moments later there was a scream.. right there laid a servant writhing in agony.. One of the servants on route to bring in food discovered him. On closer inspection, it was clear he was no servant.. but an assassin, but how... one of his fingers was wet and smelled of wine.. It was obvious he must've stirred the and accidentally tasted the brew that smelled like it fruit.

Tsk, tsk, tsk... The guild won't be too pleased about this.. for it wasn’t that one of their own was killed by his own devices, but was the fact it was his first day on the job... which was worse.

The End…?

The screen fades to black as two words appear; “Continue” and “Quit”. Who would want to quit such an experience as the former is selected causing the screen to fade into a blinding light.

The assassin… this time… seemed highly prepared for this mission as he stands overlooking the guarded compound… his target, who was the minister was preparing for his daily stroll around the city as his intel had provided; which according to him was the only time anyone would have a chance to get really close to him. High off on the tower, the wind resistance was pretty low as he set his scope to the designated target; the minister, who was not more than 50 years. And for a professional such as he, he likes his targets up close and personal - calmly readying his wrist blade; poisoned no doubt as he made his way dressed as a regular joe in a regular black track suit, jogging like any other person in the vicinity towards his quarry.

The minister, walking with much gusto, seemingly fearless as a few armed guards walked a few meters before and behind him, smiling and waving to the crowd that greeted him warmly. Unaware of what laid out before him, he walked until someone bumped into him from the side, jogging past him like it was nothing. The guards wanting to apprehend the man were stopped with a slight hand gesture as he laughed it off, continuing the routine onwards. Suddenly, the minister stops, clenching his chest as he collapses on the ground... the guards rallied up confused as they neither saw any markings or knew what was wrong. People started to stare and wonder as their beloved minister began to convulse sporadically as blood gushed out from every orifice on his body. Help was called, even an on-site doctor came forward to administer aid, but all efforts were in vain as the man writhed, choking in his blood as he breathed his last. Panic ensued as people ran away from the scene, which took a while before the authorities showed up to diffuse the situation.

“BLAM!!!” a gunshot was heard in the distance, ensuing panic as people ran to safety, and with such turn of events, the police weren’t too pleased about it. But then, on arrival to the location, what they saw was startling, or perhaps maybe… a miracle… Cause, standing before them was a man, dressed in uniform facing another, who laid dead in a pool of blood, shot through the head… by one of the guards that noticed the man or rather, assassin… when he earlier poisoned the minister.

Here again, our assassin lay dead, bullet through his skull as he bled on the cold pavement.

The End…?

“Hey!!! Hey!!!!” came a stern voice as a hand briskly shook someone seated in front of several monitors. “You slacking off again, Mike and this is definitely coming out off your pay…” the voice continued, stopping briefly as the body of Mike plopped on the desk.

“Mike?” the voice began as he moved closer to see why his subordinate fell face flat on the desk, like a doll. His eyes widens as he sees the blood, the gaping hole in his head as he bled out... Gasping with horror, he steps back slowly as he shakingly pulls out a walkie talkie. But then, like an evil presence, his feels it, stepping slowly out of the shadows as the cold steel quickly ran across his neck… clutching his neck as blood gushed from the cut on his neck… his attacker stood at the door, quietly watching him as his vision slowly blurred. Slowly he drifted to sleep as he heard her call his name… his wife, oh, how he missed her and her wonderful smile… as he stretched his hand slowly as though he was reaching out to her. His attacker, silent as the night, turns, walking away out of the room as the guard’s hand dropped on the floor, with only the whisper of his wife’s name as his final words.

The control room stood dark with the last of the lighting going out, eyes glued to a monitor as each camera caught the frame of the attacker as he slowly made his way towards the elevator. The man, clad in black remained a mystery as his features were covered by the face mask he wore. The man behind the monitor knew he had enemies and was unafraid, as this very assassin had made a very grave mistake riding the elevator, which was bobby trapped for cases like this. The elevator ride was slow as it went up to the 72nd floor, but not before he locked it and dispensed a very powerful nerve gas from a panel beside him.

“What a fool!!!” he exclaimed as he watched the gas fill up the cabin, but not before he gestures his men to put on gas masks as he promptly did as well, guns trained as it slowly got to his floor.

“DING!” came the elevator chime as the doors slid open… the guards watching as it revealed… something?

“Light ‘em up boys!!!” he orders his men as they unloaded several rounds into the elevator, bullet casings crashed onto the floor rapidly as bullets were rained into it…

“Hold your fire!!! came another order causing the shooting to seize as someone steps forward to check the aftermath. “I see a body!!!” he says as he gestures his colleagues towards him. Slowly, for a brief moment he turns away, looking back surprised to see… the eyes of the fallen target open…

“What the hell?” he says, stunned… facing a gun barrel as a bullet traveled straight through his skull. Panic ensued as two more shots were fired, hitting the two approaching armed men square in the forehead. The man, starting to feel terror, watched as his men got decimated one by one, a bullet each, through the head, all 16 of them with only the last that seemed to slug him straight on the face, which sadly ended with him unloading two rounds underneath his jaw spreading his brains all over the floor.

Now truly afraid, he struggles to push the panic button, which doesn’t respond as a bullet goes through the panel. The man in black slowly making his way towards him, gun smoking as bullets slowly dropped from the wounds on his body. This alone gave him a clue to who and what he was, but then it was impossible, when it was earlier reported he was dead. The simulations they were carrying out with his mind as they tried harvesting his memories before an error caused him to ingest his own poison, kill the doctor in charge of the operation before being shot by a guard and brought here…

The assailant, now towering before him, pulls down the mask, revealing his face… cause him his eyes to widen more in fright, like he’s seen a ghost.

“The Lizard?! I should’ve known it was you. You’re the only one that could do something as crazy as this… But, why? Why go through all that trouble just to get to me?” he asked inquisitively as he stared fearfully at him.

The Lizard, still quiet looks on at him… his grip now tighter on his weapon.

“BLAM!” a bullet hits his knee causing him to scream…

“Where is she? What have you done with Rose?” he coldly asked.

“Rose? Why would…? Argh!!!” he replied as another bullet hits his left shoulder. The man, now hysterical and bleeding, gasped as the barrel now rested on his head.

“The next one’s gonna be your last and I’m not going to ask you again.” he gruffly said as slowly pulled the trigger.

“She’s our boss!!! She’s the one that told us about you and how to bring you in. It was she that ordered we keep you locked up for 20 years...!!!” the man babbled on in fright as his assailant looked at him, dazed.

“You Lie!!! Rose would never!!!” he said as he seemed to be in thought.

“I won’t lie to you, check the files..” the man said as he clicks on a file on his computer; “it’s all here if you don’t believe me…”

The lizard silently stares at the monitor as the man began; ”Please, I was just… doing my job.”

The lizard glances at him before shooting him square in the head… his expression slowly change as face, now filling with emotions as he watched a video, pausing to get a glimpse of Rose’s face, her rosy cheeks, her lips… Before slowly running his thumb across her lips on the screen before punching the screen shattering it in anger.

Minutes later, the building stood burning as both firefighters and medics are on scene desperately fight to putting out the flames and recovering bodies. And amidst the ongoing chaos, the Lizard walks past them, disappearing into the night amongst onlookers that piled up in their numbers behind the blockades the police set up. The commotion caused quite a stir for the building on fire was owned by a huge pharmaceutical conglomerate, with every news media covering the scene.

In a undisclosed location under a huge thunderstorm, a hand, decorated with jewels holds a half filled wine glass watching the news. On seeing the burning building, she sighs…”Well, that’s what you get for negligence.” She calmly said, slowly sipping her wine. But it was not until she saw the figure standing behind the news crew that she dropped her glass, shattering it to pieces as it hit the floor. Her mouth drew agape, eyes widened as her throat suddenly felt dry as she recognized the figure that disappeared the instant it showed up. She was definitely sure of whom he was… And this was no accident, it was.. The Lizard… lost to her for two decades until now…

The sky thundered as she stood up, making her way towards the window… outside stood a very wet compound as the heavy downpour wasn’t letting up anytime soon. Her heart rapidly beating as she clutched her chest as in turn, another thunder boomed angrily, forcing her mind to race as she caught a glimpse of his face, watching her as lightning crackled in the night, rainy skies. Swiftly, she leaves, running through the hallway and down the stairs to the door, which… to her dismay, held no one standing out there when she ran out into the pouring rain… Confused, she turns around, weeping on her knees, but not before hearing a sound and a feeling of dread as a hand firmly rested on her right shoulder causing her to gasp.

The End.

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, organized by Hashtag Kalakar, provides a prestigious platform for writers and poets worldwide to showcase their talents. Celebrating creativity and diversity, the competition seeks to uncover unique voices in various literary forms, fostering a global community of writers. Participants contribute to a vibrant tapestry of storytelling, enriching the literary landscape with their imaginative expressions.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to David Obasi for his compelling contribution, "The Assassin," to the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. Your ability to craft such an intense and gripping narrative is truly commendable. We appreciate your unique storytelling and the effort you poured into this work. Thank you for sharing your creativity with us.

About Hashtag Kalakar

Hashtag Kalakar is a creative platform dedicated to providing artists, writers, singers and other creative talents with opportunities to showcase their work and reach wider audiences through competitions, features and creative initiatives.