The Red Ribbon

Special Agent Keira stands inside a safe house and watches the empty lot next door through the blinds with binoculars. She wears a fitted jacket, white and black top, black skirt and opaque stockings with a holster and handgun strapped to her leg. She holds her binoculars to her eyes with one hand, a walkie talkie held in her other hand. She talks into the walkie, giving instructions to Ray who is positioned outside in the empty lot. Keira tells him to remain calm and wait for the target. Ray stands outside nervously with a stuffed envelope in his hands. He paces and looks around ignoring Keira’s orders to remain still. Ray gives up his spot and walks toward the safe house.

Ray enters the safe house while Keira stands there waiting for him with her arms crossed. He paces around the room while Keira remains focused on the operation. Ray tells her he’s nervous about dealing with a real hit man killer like the Red Ribbon Strangler they are trying to apprehend. Keira reassures Ray that he is completely safe in this undercover operation and that he needs to get back to his position. His job is to remain outside until the target arrives, hand over the money and allow them to obtain proof that the target is accepting money to commit a murder. Keira tells Ray that the agency has been tracking the killer for years and that he leaves his signature red ribbon on each of his victims.

While Keira is convincing Ray to go back to his post she receives a call on her burner phone. She motions for Ray to be quiet then orders him to go into the bathroom and wait until she tells him to come out. Ray goes into the bathroom begrudgingly and shuts the door. Keira answers the phone and learns from another agent that a wire has been tripped on one side of the safehouse. The agent on the phone warns Keira that Ray may have been followed and tells her to assume the safe house has been compromised. Keira orders the agent to remain outside and cover the exits while she handles the situation.

Keira shuts the phone and moves to grab her binoculars to have a peak outside. Unbeknownst to her, the door to the basement has opened quietly behind her and a man in a mask and dark suit quickly approaches with a red ribbon held taught between his hands. He walks up to Keira from behind and before she can notice him he has wrapped the ribbon tightly around her neck and pulls it hard from both sides. Keira is forced backwards as she grabs the ribbon with both hands and gasps for air. She struggles to move away but the Red Ribbon Strangler keeps a tight grip and follows her every move. She hits towards her attacker and tries to move away but the strangler holds on.

Keira reaches for the handgun in her thigh holster and pulls it out, aiming it back at her attacker. While keeping his grip on the ribbon, the man grabs on to the pistol and pushes forward, preventing the agent from aiming it at him. They struggle over this movement while Keira keeps one hand on the ribbon around her throat. Then the attacker slams her hand forward and sends the pistol crashing to the ground. Keira moves both hands to the ribbon to try and break free but the pressure is too tight. They struggle in place, Keira’s mouth opening wide as she desperately gasps for any air.

Keira uses her body weight to pull forward and stomps on the killers foot. The attack causes both of them to lose their balance and fall backward through the living room. The killer crashes into the couch and lands in a seated position while still holding the ribbon. Keira is pulled down onto the floor in front of him. He stands and leans over Keira while she collapses face down on the floor. She looks at the gun in front of her and reaches her hands out far while her attacker keeps pulling the ribbon. He moves over and puts a foot on the gun, gently sliding it further out of the way, removing any chance she had of reaching it.

Keira shifts her weight onto her back while on the ground and reaches up towards her attacker trying to hit at him and break free. He looms over Keira and holds on tightly. Keira only makes sharp sounds, breath restricted by the ribbon around her neck. Her tongue sticks out and her eyes roll back as the pressure overwhelms her. Her feet kick against the floor and she is unable to get any leverage. The Red Ribbon Strangler gets onto his knee and finishes off his latest victim. Keira’s movements get weaker and shakier while she fades away. After much struggle her head falls to the side with her eyes locked open in a stare while her body goes completely limp. The strangler lets go of the ribbon and stretches his neck, then leans down and ties up the ribbon in a bow around Keira’s neck.

Inside the bathroom, Ray remains seated on the closed toilet while staring at the wall. Three slow knocks sound against the door and Ray looks up. He exits the bathroom and looks into the living room cautiously. Keira lays on the floor with her eyes frozen open and the ribbon around her neck. Ray walks across the room and looks down at her, reaching forward to feel for a pulse. Then he looks down at her midsection and sees an envelope wrapped with red ribbon under her hand. He leans in close and grabs the envelope of money, then stands up and makes his escape. Leaving Keira’s body on the floor with the red ribbon tied around her neck.