Gourmet : She’s on the 4th floor…. Fired 2 more…
That’s 5.
She’s travelling light, I don’t know her weapon nor it’s magazine capacity but she can’t possibly have unlimited ammunition.
I ran up to the 4th floor only to see Gourmet at the other end.
She’s like a ghost.
Raptor : aRHGHH!!! ERHG!!! EGH!!! Bitch….!!! I’m going to kill you !!! COME ON!!! COME!!!
Raptor’s shout filled the air and stopped as suddenly as it started.
Iron : Where…where is she ??!!
There was no reply from Raptor but everyone made their way towards the direction of the noise.
It’s back on the ground floor.
Jane must know this place by heart, she literally bounced 1 floor to the other.
The terraced corridors allowed her to safely leap off the 4th and grab onto the handrail of the 3rd with plenty of space to spare. It’s one thing to do it in the day, but to do it in the pitch dark of the night, if Jane is a man, he must have balls of steel.
Crashing round of furniture filled compound. The grunts and shouts lasted barely 20 seconds.
Raptor’s grunt was quickly replaced by a hair-raising scream of pain.
Raptor : aegH HHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ARGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!
It’s not just a short cry of pain when you are hit or slashed.
It’s a long skin crawling cry of pain that is sustained for a long time. It never stopped.
By the time Raptor came into sight, he was on the floor on his back clutching onto his right wrist.
Wrist.
Or what’s left of it.
His fucking hand has been hacked off. I could see it on the ground together with the butcher’s cleaver.
Raptor : aRHGHHHHHH !!!! aRGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!
He was literally rolling in his own pool of blood.
I was the 1st to get there and I almost slipped onto the thick pool of blood that is spraying all over the place.
Jeff : fuck…
It’s like stepping into the set of Quentin Tarantino’s work, only this is real.
Iron arrived barely a second later and he bolted off in the direction where he saw Jane ran off to.
I grabbed Raptor’s pants and pulled out his belt.
Hibiki : Don’t move… !! stop moving !!
Raptor : aRGHH!!!! aRGHH!!!!! FUCK!!!!! aRH!!!!!!!
I did a quick tourniquet with his belt around his arm and he bleeding eased up a little but he needs medical help immediately.
Hibiki : Owen are you there !! OWEN !! we need the medical and clean up crew over here NOW!!!
There was no reply from Owen.
He has already disconnected from the channels.
I dragged Raptor away from the open and his own pool of blood.
Raptor : aRGHH!!! aRGHH!!! fCUK!!! aRCHGGG!!!!
Before I could prop Raptor up, I could hear Iron shouting away, cursing with language so coarse and vulgar that it would never have been spoken in a school compound.
I gave Raptor my Sig and tapped him several times on his face.
Hibiki : Hey… hey Raptor… stay with me…hey !…
He nodded and gestured for me to go.
Hibiki : There’s only 2 rounds left….
I could not find his dagger so I grabbed Butcher’s cleaver and brought it to him.
Hibiki : good luck…
I ran off in the direction when I heard Iron grunting his curses with each punch.
Iron : arGH!!! BITCH!!! COME ON!!! ARGHH!!! Oofffeded…
I got to level 3 in time to see Gourmet coming up from the rear.
With me coming up the front, there’s no way she can get out of this.
Iron threw a hard right hook and I saw Jane ducked it easily before delivering a rib cracking kick into his side.
Gourmet and I barely got a few steps in towards Iron when we saw Jane leaping off the side of the railing. Her hands gripped onto the metal railing for less than 1 second before she let go, dropping at least 2.5m before grabbing onto the railing on the 3rd floor with 1 hand.
I pulled out the spare pistol and took aim but she had dropped all the way to the ground floor and disappeared under the cantilevered slabs we were standing on.
Iron got up on his feet and I saw he was bleeding.
He touched his own stomach in disbelief.
Iron : fucking bitch stabbed me….arghh… with my own ..arghhh…
It was not a deep wound but upon closer inspection, he had more than one of them.
One on his stomach, one on his thigh, one under his left arm.
Iron tried to walk but he staggered and collapsed onto a table.
Iron : fuck….fucking bitch….
Raptor’s shout reached our ears as we dashed out into the corridor.
Raptor : aRGHHHHH!!!
I could see Raptor slashing through the air like a mad man.
Jane was well beyond his reach.
She’s holding my gun. With Raptor’s condition, it would be a piece of cake taking it from him if she approached him from his blindspot.
Raptor slashed wildly into the central courtyard.
Gourmet : fuck this shit !!
Gourmet ran towards the staircase and I could hear him jumping down entire thread of steps at a time with his heavy landing.
Jane held her weapon up and levelled it at Raptor.
Raptor laughed.
Raptor : come on!!!.. what are you waiting for !!!
He charged at Jane and she shot him in his knee, causing him to buckle immediately.
Raptor : aRGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! FUCK!!!!
Jane relieved Raptor’s of Butcher’s cleaver as he writhed in pain.
Gourmet charged towards Jane haphazardly and she backed away from the courtyard, choosing to disappear once more into the dark.
Iron : argghh… fuck this….i’m losing too much blood…
I could see the pool slowly building up beneath his feet.
Hibiki : Get out of here…. I’ll take care of her…
Iron : hahahah… no way…. I’m not letting you have this score…hahahaha fuck ..a rnghh
I shook my head as I went out of the classroom.
I looked at the classroom across from where I stood. Jane staggered backwards and lost her balance, disappearing for a brief second, probably from sustaining a kick from Gourmet.
Gourmet swung his knife, his posture almost graceful as it sliced dangerously close to Jane’s head. His fork stabbed 45 degree downwards in a forceful thrust and with a well switch of his posture, he hammered both weapons down towards the ground.
Jane managed to duck his hit and I could see her body rolling backwards before she backflipped up onto her feet with the gracefulness of a gymnast.
Gourmet did not let up on his attack and I watch Jane duck stabs and hits rapidly, choosing which one she wants to parry away with the cleaver she was holding onto.
I left Iron alone and I started running along the perimeter of the compound. The large rectangle block is connected only at one end, forming a large U shape.
Gourmet is not one to waste his strength. Once he sees that his attack is not effective, he switched tactics.
He stopped his swings, conserving his energy as he waited for Jane to make her move.
I closed the distance between us and I could see Jane keeping a close eye at me.
She looked like she was about to bolt but I slowed down before stopping eventually.
Gourmet did a quick check and he held up his fork, signalling me to hold my position.
He knows.
He’s also aware that if I get too close, Jane will choose to bolt. She will only engage one of us at a time. I was tempted to shoot but Jane had positioned herself well. She kept her body low, her eyes trailing my every move.
If I shift to get a better angle, she will bolt, and it’s a chase all over again.
I stopped moving and kept my weapon down. Gourmet deserves a chance at this.
Jane, aware that I’m not closing in further, turns her attention away from me.
Seeing that Gourmet is not making his move, Jane shook her wrist a couple of times, not hiding the fact that she’s warming up to make hers.
The sound of hardened steel crashing against each other immediately echoed along the corridor. Jane held the cleaver in one hand while the other held one of Iron’s knuckle duster.
The way she wielded the weapons is amazing. The speed and the ease at which she swings, parries and stab is as if the whole fight is choreographed. There are no fancy moves for the camera.
Each attempt by Gourmet and Jane did nothing to mask the intention to strike a fatal blow.
Gourmet : arGHH!!!erghhhh!!!
Gourmet almost got Jane with his fork but she went in close, sending a hardened elbow up his chin, causing his entire body to stagger backwards. Before Gourmet could recover, Jane dove in with her right knee, going for Gourmet’s right kneecap.
Gourmet : arGHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
He swung his knife down and Jane caught it with Iron’s knuckle duster before slashing it away with the cleaver in a heartbeat.
Gourmet grunted as he shook the pain off his leg.
Pointing his fork and knife back at Jane, he readied himself for another attempt.
I kept my eyes peeled on every move.
The moment things are not going well, I’m going to step in.
We’re not trained for extended contact with our target like this.
Yes we can hit and kill, but we depend on the element of surprise most of the time. We hit fast with awe and speed. Not go head to head like this.
Iron : aRGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! BITCH!!!!!!!!!
Iron came up from behind Jane. His shout gave him away and Jane turned around in time.
He’s injury affected his body more than he care to admit. He got slow, he made mistakes he should not have made, leaving himself open like this.
Jane blocked off his clumsy attempt to stab her in her back and held onto Iron’s right arm. Her body flew off the floor, her legs gripping onto Iron’s torso as she executed her move, throwing Iron off balance and dislocating his arm from it’s socket before she hit the ground.
Iron : aRHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! aRGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!
Iron tried to swing his good hand with the knuckle duster at Jane but she twisted it easily and sent it back down onto his right cheek.
Iron : aRGHHHH!!!! ARGHH!!!!!
Using the knuckleduster she commandeered from Iron, she hooked the stabbing blade into one of the finger hole of the duster Iron is holding on, Jane swung it outwards, causing Iron to separate the skin holding his top and bottom cheek together.
Iron : arGHH!..argghernghghgegeeg!!!
It all happened so fast. There were no time to think at all.
Gourmet ran up, charging into Jane and she disappeared down the staircase in the blink of an eye.
Gourmet ignored Iron and went straight after Jane.
Gourmet : COME BACK HERE !!!!!
I left Iron where he is and went around the other side.
When I got to the ground floor, I saw Gourmet and Jane going at it again.
Raptor is no longer moving.
I checked him for a pulse, there is none.
He bled out.
Gourmet managed to get a hold of Jane and he managed to get behind her. He was trying to put her in a choke hold but regretted immediately as his flesh met the spikes around Jane’s neck.
He lost his grip and took a kick squarely in his torso, sending him sprawling onto the ground.
Gourmet tried to get up but Jane’s waiting knee connected with his head and he was done.
I could hear Gourmet groaning on the floor.
The hit was hard enough to give him a concussion and he vomited shortly after.
He tried to stand but the moment he did, he staggered and fell back onto his back.
Iron : AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! BITCHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!
Iron came again, looking like a fiend fresh out of hell with blood all over his face.
Jane ran towards him, blocked his stab before depositing his own weapon into the side of his neck.
Iron collapsed immediately onto the ground like a puppet that had it’s strings severed.
I was about to step up when Gourmet rushed out into the courtyard we were in .
Gourmet : I’m not done with her !!!!
Before I could yell for him to stop. Gourmet threw his fork at Jane. She did not manage to block it in time and it sliced through her arm. It was a minor scratch but I could see the tear in her clothes.
Gourmet charged towards Jane with his knife but he was not fast enough, or rather his reach was not far enough.
Jane went for the same fork that cut her and turned it back towards it’s owner.
The moment I saw it pierce though gourmet’s stomach, I lifted my gun and fired.
I don’t miss at such distance and I hit Jane squarely on her tummy with my first shot but she’s still standing, she’s wearing a body armour as well.
I could see her staggering a little as she used Gourmet’s body as a shield.
Gourmet tried to do what he could with his knife but Jane caught hold of it and sent it back into his own neck.
I saw Gourmet’s eyes. He knew it was over.
I trained my gun at his body and fired away.
He’s a dead man, it’s just a matter of time.
I squeezed off 5 shots, running towards Jane as I did so, the impact of each hit transferred from Gourmet’s body and onto hers, pushing her back.
Jane fired as well, using my own gun against me.
I felt it on my right chest and it immediately knocked the air out of my lungs.
Gourmet’s body dropped and I could see Jane staggering back, I fired again, this time grazing her left shoulder.
I tried to aim but I can’t
My muscles are not listening to me.
I grunted and squeezed another round, this time hitting Jane at the same spot as where she hit me.
She fell, collapsing onto the ground.
I gasped desperately for oxygen. No matter how hard I sucked, I just felt as if my lungs were empty.
I could see Jane going though the same thing as me.
We were both trying to get back up.
I wanted to shout but nothing came out. My throat felt dry.
I turned and I saw Jane crawling away.
She’s heading towards the classroom.
I gasped for air and I got one knee onto the soft grass.
I can do this.
My right hand went behind and I pulled out my knife.
I turned and I could still see Jane.
She was almost on her feet and she was trying to get away from me into the safety of the classroom.
I was shaking as I climbed back up onto my feet, but I barely took 1 step and I collapsed onto my knees again, my hands supporting my body that seemed to have gotten heavier.
I sucked in gasps of air with my mouth and got up.
I could see Jane is up as well, she walked into the darkened classroom.
I took several deep breathes and I walked over to Gourmet’s body.
I pulled out his fork with my left hand and I marched straight into the dark classroom.
I could see Jane up on her feet and looking at me.
Her breathing seemed faster.
She looked damm pissed. Like a bitch about to get a fit.
Her hands were empty.
She’s unarmed.
She’s a dead woman walking.
I put 1 step forward and she gestured to my hands without a word, pointing to both my knife and Gourmet’s fork.
It’s as if she’s trying to ask me to give her one to make this a fair fight.
Are you fucking high on drugs ?
That’s what I would ask her if I wanted to but no.
No way.
We’re talking about life and death here. There is no such thing as being a gentlemen, offering the lady a knife.
Fuck her.
I’m here to kill her.
I ignored Jane’s gesture and I adopted my attacking stance.
Gourmet’s fork is up in front of me, forming a horizontal line in front of Jane parallel to the ground while I tightened the grip on my own knife.
I saw Jane shook her head as she backed off from me slowly. It’s as if she was expressing her disappointment for me not being a gentleman.
I watch her reach for something she kept behind the desk.
Her left hand produced something familiar.
Something I had seen only on pictures.
It’s the black shiny spear tip of the soul spear. It’s wooden staff replaced with a customised grip that allowed Jane to wield it as a short sabre.
From behind her waist, she pulled out her weapon of choice to even the odds.
I cursed silently under my breath as I watch Jane level her Hu Die Dao ( Butterfly knife ) the same manner as I did with Gourmet’s fork.
Fuck.
There’s no telling how this will turn out.
One thing’s for sure.
Only one of us will be walking out of that classroom.
………………………………………………………………….
I swung the fork at Jane and timed the slash of my knife. She blocked both with only her spear.
It was not meant to be a fast attack, I wanted to see how she reacts to my attempt.
Her butterfly knife hardly moved.
Her wrist is relaxed, slightly rotating her grip as our positions started to shift.
She’s watching me in the same manner as I was watching her.
Her foot came forward and the sound of metal hitting against each other rang out in the silent classroom.
There are no extended contact.
It was all a quick enter and hit, block and disengage.
I tried to feign an attack but Jane caught it and block the slice of my knife perfectly with her spear again.
Her modified spear has a longer reach than my fork by at least 2 inches by my estimate.
I switch tact and went in with my knife.
Immediately I saw her hudiedao come up in an attempt to disarm me with the weapon itself with it’s extended hook.
I retracted my knife in time and a quick swing of Gourmet’s weapon put the distance between us back to status quo once more.
She was not in a hurry.
Jane paced about the classroom, keeping well away from my kill zone.
She knows and can read how far I can strike.
I’m of a bigger built than her, if push comes to shove, my bigger physique will give me an advantage. As soon as I started deliberately on this train of thought, it disappeared altogether as soon as I thought about Butcher.
He’s so much beefier than me, yet Jane still took care of him.
A short series of quick slash and stabbing attempts played out between us, ending almost immediately after it begin. We were quick to enter and get back to our defensive position.
It felt like 2 wolves prodding each other for weakness rather than a all out brawl.
Jane pounced in, delivering a series of fast strikes with her spear and hudiedao together, I backed off, my body went into overdrive as I blocked off each strike while trying to get a quick hit of mine during the melee.
The ringing of hardened steel sounded 5 times in the dark before the room went quiet again.
Jane made another attempt to strike but I made mine at the same time.
The spear came awfully close to my nose even after I blocked it and I could feel my heart pumping away as my brain digested how close I came to getting my nose ripped off my face.
The sound of Jane’s hudiedao hitting my knife right by my ears was so loud my eardrum hurt. As soon as the sound of metal rang out in the dark, it was quickly replaced by the torturous grinding of steel as it came down to a matter of strength and dexterity.
Our arms were locked in place by the hold of our weapons for a precious 3 second and Jane tried to kick me in my kidney with her knees.
I ducked, angling myself away in an awkward angle and trying to get a kick in as well.
Jane tried to pull herself back from me but I held onto her. Using the momentum of the jerk, I tried to knee her in her stomach. Jane managed to disengag her hands and blocked my knee in time before it connected.
I tried to go in again but I saw the waiting spear and stopped myself in time.
I did not wait for Jane to catch her breath, I sent a table her way and using that as a distraction, I sliced precariously close to her face, hitting the metallic horn on the top of her mask.
Jane ducked her body low choosing to come within my kill zone. Her hudiedao came in too fast for me to block it with my knife so I jumped backwards, arching my body at the same time to avoid the blade.
I plunged Gourmet’s fork downwards, hoping to stab Jane before she could move away but it was as if she had eyes at the back of her head, a clean sweep of her spear tip knocked the fork clean away from my hand.
I blocked Jane’s hudiedao’s 2nd strike with my knife and before I could attempt a kick, she had pulled herself out of range.
I swung Gourmet’s fork in front of me, slashing the air slowly to keep Jane back at her spot.
I flexed my wrist and tried to work on my breathing.
I could feel a spike in my adrenaline.
My heart started racing and I could feel my palms starting to sweat.
It’s not about me being afraid.
It’s just our body’s response.
Fight or flight. Every animal including human will experience this. Our body sends us the signal and waits for a response.
Jane charged towards me and we started to block, stab and slash our way out of this situation. Every blow has the potential to be deadly should it land on it’s intended spot.
I landed an elbow to the side of Janes’ cheeks, it was not a hard hit but a hit nonetheless.
In return, I felt a hard knee to the left of my ribcage.
Within seconds I could feel the soreness of the knee but it faded as fast as it appeared.
I know from past experience that a hit like that will leave a bruise.
Jane came in again and I read her attack before she could attempt a hit and I deflected the swing of her spear and disarming her of it. I would have wanted to land another elbow at her body but that bitch head butted me on my face, narrowly missing my nose.
I grunted as I pushed her back.
She switched her hudiedao to her right hand and put her left foot slightly forward.
My knife and her hudiedao met several times in mid air before a series of wrist grabs and releases accompanied by grunting hard elbows and knees connected with each of our body.
Every blow I mange to land on Jane was met with an equally strong response.
I thought a punch to her chest would sent her back but she grabbed onto my wrist and bounced back with a knee to my kidney.
Her rising knee to my nose was knocked back by my right elbow only for my left cheek to feel the hammer like fist of her hand connect.
Fuck she can hit hard.
I’ve never felt pain like this in a long time.
Her jabs are fast, precise and directed to specific spots of my body.
I could punch harder but she could do it faster.
My mind could not help tallying up the hits I’ve landed and taken. I could almost picture a balance sheet appearing in front of me, crediting each hit I landed, before my credit could even add up, it was debited with a harder response by Jane.
My head started to make the trade off calculations.
It’s telling me that yes sure, you can hit her, but just expect to get hit harder back in return.
If my body could talk, it would probably be screaming at me, asking if it’s worth it to get hit like this when I hit like a pussy.
Jane knocked my knife off my hands first but thankfully I managed to twist her hudiedao off her hands 2 seconds later at the expense of a slash on my left forearm.
I don’t know how deep it is but I could work with the pain. I know my body’s ability to feel pain decreases with the spike in adrenaline. My awareness heightened, my blood vessels contract to re-direct blood to major muscle groups.
My body is doing everything it is programmed to do to help me stay alive.
The burning sensation in my arm and the warm blood flowing down my fingers a painful reminder of what would happen to the rest of my body if I’m not careful with her.
My body is drenched with perspiration and I could see Jane panting for air.
She kicked the scattered chairs and tables further apart, giving us more room to work with.
I know she’s not clearing the space for us to move, she’s clearing it so she has space to execute her kicks.
Judging from what she could do to me in such close distance, it would be safe to assume her legs can do some real damage with a good swing.
When I saw her leg coming towards me, I was suddenly reminded to what Raptor said earlier.
“fuck …. she’s fast”
And Raptor was not lying.
I could duck the 1st kick but the 2nd one came so fast I had to block it.
It came right at my face and even shielding it with my master arm, I could feel the force of that kick slamming into my right shoulder and forearm.
I returned the favour in the same manner, Jane chose to duck both kicks before attempting to land more at me.
When I saw her legs raise up, I charged in like a bull.
I could take her down and put her in submission and it would all be over.
I grabbed her alright but Jane is not a one trick pony.
Before I could wrestle her to the ground , she managed to break herself loose and I was sent to the wall with a hard jab to the side of my neck.
I gasped for air as Jane tried to wrestle me to the ground next. Thankfully my bigger physique and mass tipped the scale in my favour as I broke free before she can trip me.
I swung my fist at her only to have it blocked and answered with an elbow to the left of my cheek.
I grunted in pain and I could taste blood in my mouth.
That hit must have cut my mouth somehow.
I raised my fist and our bodies connected again.
Jane made a mistake and I managed to land 2 hard punches to the side of her head, she blocked them but it’s still a hard hit. I could see her shaking her head, trying to sober up.
Suddenly I could hear Owen’s voice over the intercom.
Owen : This is Owen… !… we’re coming in for extraction….. we’re coming in hot….! Everyone to the carpark now !!! I repeat… this is a hot extract !
Seconds later I could hear the sound of gunfire opening up again a short distance away.
The popping and hollow echo of shells being emptied at each other got closer as Jane and I continued our attempt to kill each other.
She jumped up and grabbed my body with her legs, I could tell she was going to swing herself down and take me down with her but I grunted and I could feel the muscles in ym entire body firing up as I fought the momentum and swung Jane into a tangled mess of tables.
Her legs gripped on and I gritted my teeth and swung her again against the wall, knocking her off my body.
She tried to get up but I landed a knee to the side of her ribcage, sending her flying at least half a metre to the side.
I could feel myself gaining the advantage and I rolled over to where my knife had landed.
Owen was literally screaming through the earpiece.
Owen : We are reaching in 30 seconds !!!! you guys better fucking be at the carpark !!!! FUCK!!!
The sound of gunfire came closer.
The intensity of the fight grew, no one would ever believe something like this is happening on the island.
I felt the familiar grip of the knife and fighting back all the pain in my body, I lunged for Jane who was trying to get up.
She was fast, she literally rolled over my back and went for her hudiedao but she mis-timed her grab of her weapon and missed it by mere centimetres.
I slashed at the spot her fingers were at just seconds ago, depriving her of the chance to arm herself.
She’s unarmed and I have the upper hand.
3 slashes of mine were blocked by Jane’s arm against my wrist and forearm but she’s not going to get lucky all the time. Another headbutt came by way but I ducked it.
I tried to headbutt her but she fucking orientated her spike horns at me.
I literally felt my entire world shake as I registered that fucking bruise that I just put on my own head.
Owen : WHERE IS FUCK!!!IS EVERYONE !!!! someone answer me !!!
I could hear the angry screech of 2 vehicles coming to a stop at the carpark and sporadic gun shots continue to ring out.
I could not risk losing my focus to answer Owen as Jane and I exchanged a series of kicks and blows. I felt her boot land a kick on my finger and I dropped my knife.
Owen : WHERE Is EVERYONE !!!
Owen’s shout was loud enough for me to hear his voice coming from outside the classroom.
Jane charged at me and managed to knock my off my feet this time round.
Our hands and feet immediately tangled up as we attempted to choke each other into submission. I pulled my hand loose, she extracted her leg from my hold. Jane’s arm went around my neck and I quickly inserted my free arm in between.
Both of us grunted as our bodies dragged along the hard concrete floor, kicking and smashing everything out of our way.
At moments like this I was thankful for the amount of time I spent working out at the gym.
I turned the tables around and got behind Jane’s back.
I tried to do the same to her and she fought off my attempt to choke her the same manner as I did. I could feel the spikes around her neck digging a little into my flesh but I shrugged off the pain. The way she moved is amazing. Her core muscles is so strong, she literally lifted her body up and off the ground without her feet.
Jane got loose but we were still tangled up on the floor. I could hear Owen shouting orders to his men. They must be barely 30m away.
I don’t know what happened but Jane and I were thrown against a tangled mess of toppled tables and chairs. She started punching me, and I did the same.
I caught a glimpse of Owen’s men appear at the window. He’s fully equipped in tact gear with a sub machine gun in his hand.
Before he could take another step, I saw his entire body being thrown against the window before he slid out of view.
Another came up and the suffered the same fate, his head slamming against the window frame before disappearing from sight.
Owen : Sniper !! sniper !!! sniper !!! COVER !!! cOVER Now!!!
Within seconds, the sporadic sound of gunfire was replaced by the rapid automatic discharge of weapons.
I could smell the familiar scent of smoke grenades being deployed as a fog of white smoke started to fill the school compound.
Owen : HIBIKI !!! WHERE the FUCK ARE YOU!!!
I could hear Owen trying to direct his men to load up the bodies of my fallen colleagues amidst the chaos. There’s no way he will miss them with their bodies sprawled all over the courtyard.
I broke free from Jane and I grunted a reply.
Jeff :arghh !
Before I could say anything further, I was tangled up with Jane again.
Owen : HIBIKI !! SAY again !!! ….
The boom of a high powered rifle shook the walls of the school and I could feel the scattered furniture on the floor vibrate for half a second before it rang out again.
Owen : Move in move in !!!move !!
Owen’s men must have taken care of the sniper.
I could hear it all happen.
Well, at least if I die, I know Owen came back for me if that’s any consolation.
Jane and I were tangled up and the fight soon grew ugly with a mix of random punches at whatever spots we could hit. Even if it’s a light tap to the side of her face given the small amount of space I could work with, I took it.
The gunshots paused for almost 30 seconds before it started all over again. This time round, it was more intense then before. The popping sound got closer. I could hear the muted shouts of the men outside the classrooms.
I hooked my legs around Jane and I gained a moment of advantage when one of her hold on my left wrist slipped.
I manged to straddle Jane and I pinned her wrist down on the floor in the same position that I would do to my partner when I’m about to fuck her, however that position lasted less than 2 seconds as Jane’s knees hammered onto my back hard enough for me to fall off balance.
We got up and I swung a hard back kick at her torso, even before I could finish executing my kick, I braced my body for the fist to my sternum.
Jane had ducked that swing and came up from the bottom.
I could feel it connect, knocking the air out of my lungs momentarily.
I staggered backwards and I fell, my hands touching the grip of Jane’s modified spear.
I picked it up and was amazed at how balanced it feel in my hand.
Jane rolled over to my right and picked up my knife.
The sides of the spear hit my knife and it was an intense match of blocks and stabs all over again between Jane and me.
The longer I held the spear, the more in love I am with it.
I might just get to keep this if I kill Jane.
I could hear the screech of tyres before a series of crashes happened. More vehicles are arriving.
Jane and I adopted a half crouch position and got ready to have another go at each other’s neck once more.
From the corner of my eye I could see 3 men in tactical position moving and firing steadily towards the direction of the carpark. They are pushing back steadily.
It was not long before I heard men shouting for the others to drop their weapons.
The gunfire stopped and another series of crashes sounded out in the carpark before the screech of tyres fleeing the scene rang out. Everything was over in a couple of minutes.
Jane and I started kicking and blocking each other’s fist and elbows while trying to cut and slash each other. The earlier elegance in our moves if any were all gone.
My ears could pick up snippets of what is happening outside.
Some of Owen’s men were caught. I could hear Jane’s colleagues counting them off.
This is not a good situation for me. I put the thought of having to deal with Jane’s heavily armed colleagues away. I have to deal with Jane first.
Suddenly I felt as if someone had swung a club into my back. I felt the hit before my ears registered the sound of the weapon firing.
I staggered and slashed clumsily through the air towards Jane and she easily stepped aside.
I fell forward onto a toppled table like a toddler just learning to walk.
Some fucker just shot me in the back.
I fell to the ground, and I could hardly summon up enough strength to even groan in pain.
I could barely cursed out as felt paralysed for the longest time. I forced my body to respond, grinding down my molars as I grunted with each muscle I flexed to turn around.
I gasped for air as I turned onto my back, trying to use the pressure of my weight against the new wound to sooth the pain.
I think my vest caught it but it hurts so bad that I doubt I would get back up anytime soon.
So many thoughts flashed through my head. My brain immediately came to the conclusion that this is over.
I wanted to laugh.
At myself that is.
Jane is not alone and I was naïve enough to think that I could have a one on one fight with her without anyone interfering.
My eyes drifted to the entrance of the classroom.
I could see a gathering of men outside the classroom.
About 4 heavily armed men with masks are looking in.
Jane threw my knife like a angry child venting her frustration at a TV remote at one of them and he quickly ducked and ran behind his teammates.
It’s as if she was unhappy that our fight was interrupted.
Jane kicked the spear out of my hand and made sure there were nothing within reach that I could use.
This is it.
End of the line for me. Jane paced about in front of me. She was panting hard.
Well, at least I did not go out without a fight and I’m sure I gave her a much harder time than the rest of my dead colleagues.
I almost wanted to curse at Jane, saying that this is not fair but I stopped and I ended up laughing inside my head.
When is a fight every fair ?
It’s never fair.
Jane had to content with 4 of my colleagues before she met me.
So what if I was shot in the back ?
If it had been Owen’s men who are standing at the windows right now, they wold have shot Jane in her back too.
Ego has no room during a fight for survival .
I grabbed onto the leg of a toppled table and pulled myself up from the ground. I sat up and leaned against the legs of the table for support.
Every muscle in my body was burning, I could feel pain all over no matter what I do. I don’t remember feeling like this before, probably the first time I trained with my instructors back in the jungle many years ago.
I saw one of the armed men handing Jane a phone and she took it.
She did not say anything and hung up after a while.
Jane picked up her hudiedao and kept it behind her back. She picked up her spear and pulled up a chair. She sat down opposite me and she crossed her legs.
Seeing her posture, I thought I felt a slight erection in my cock. Yes I’m aroused. It’s biological. Humans are just animals at the end of the day. We seek something primal in our mates besides looks.
It’s the ability to care for our young. If there truly is a womb worthy of my sperms, it would be the one belonging to the woman sitting in front of me.
I coughed and the laugh I almost let loose was camouflaged within it.
The irony.
My eyes searched the floor of the classroom. I could see my knife and fork a short distance away. I might still have a chance.
I saw 2 of the armed men entering the classroom. The muzzle of their weapons pointing at me while keeping a distance of at least 3m away.
I grunted and tried to get up but I fell back onto my buttocks.
I cursed under my breath and I attempted to stand up again but I can’t. The pain in my back felt worse now. I could feel the burn in my spine as the impact of the hit slowly sets in.
Jane leaned back on her chair, visibly relaxed as she shook her legs.
She’s looking at me, probably amused at my antics of trying to stand up.
I could feel my lungs filling up properly again.
I can still do this.
I know I can but my body is not moving as fast as I want it to. I’m not giving up without a fight. I dropped to the floor, gasping for air as I supported my body with my forearm.
It must have been a pathetic sight as I half crawled and dragged myself towards my knife.
Maybe one of the men would shoot me in my head before I get it and it would all be over.
Surprisingly, no one tried to stop me.
I could hear more commotion from outside the classrooms. I looked up and I could see 3 of Owen’s men with their wrists zip tied behind their backs being half dragged and pulled into the classroom.
They were made to knee down on the floor. I continued crawling towards my knife.
I gripped it but Jane’s boot came down on my hand, pinning it hard against the floor.
It fucking hurts but I refused to acknowledge it.
I’m not granting her the satisfaction of seeing me cry out in pain.
Before I even realised it, my head was slammed against the floor twice.
Fucking bitch. I could feel blood pooling inside my mouth. I think my own teeth scratched a new wound on my tongue.
I choked on my own blood for a bit as I coughed, the mask I was wearing made it hard to spit out the blood. Jane grabbed my hair but I broke free and attempted another jab into the side of her body.
That jab took all I had left within me. I regretted it almost immediately.
Jane moved back in time and I fell onto the floor.
This is embarrassing.
Jane removed both the knife and fork from the floor and passed it to one of the masked men.
I looked up at Jane, her glowing slit at her eyes looking down at me in a menacing way. She went back to her seat and sat back down.
No one did anything.
It’s as if they were waiting for something to happen.
Or rather, someone to arrive.
About 5 minutes later, I heard a tapping on the floor.
A tap, followed by the shuffle of footsteps.
The tap is pretty constant, and a walking stick soon came into view.
The stick preceded the steps of the man holding it.
I could see him limping a little, putting more weight on his left foot.
He wore a hat, and there is no doubt he is the man in charge.
Jane stood up from her chair and offered the seat to this mysterious man.
The classroom is dark, and I could only make out the figures and rough outline of everyone in the room.
The man looked at me and the rest of Owen’s men on the floor.
He spoke with a rather hoarse voice. It doesn’t sound natural, it sounded like someone with a very bad sore throat trying to speak.
Man : What…. Are all of you fighting for ??
No one said a word. The man went on talking as if he expected our silence.
Man : The man you serve…..is lying to you….
Again, this was met with a wall of silence.
He leaned forward on his walking stick for a brief moment before standing up.
Walking slowly to the 3 men on the floor, he went on.
Man : When i…… handed over …… the agency….. to him….
I felt a wave of goosebumps travel down my back as I dealt with the realisation that this is Owen’s predecessor.
The man who founded the agency itself.
Man : I told him…. To never forget….. why we do…. What we do….
He yanked off the mask of the 1st man on the ground and threw the mask in front of him.
Man : We serve…… we protect…. And then we disappear quietly …… into the night…..
The second mask came off and joined the first on the ground.
Man : We need no medals,…… no recognition……. We do what is necessary…..
He paused and the room went quiet for a moment.
Man : I have …. Always warned Owen….. that his love… for the country….. will one day be his downfall….
He went on to say that he has no doubt of Owen’s will to protect the country, but the method he employs is unacceptable.
Man : I told him to imagine the country and most of it’s population…… as a child….. they will never understand how much it takes to keep everyone safe…. They think it’s their god given right………..that the streets they walk on at night is safe…. that…. No one will walk up behind them….. and put a bullet in their head…. Just for that $50 they have in their pocket….
He pulled off the mask of the 3rd man and held it in his hand.
Man : We have enjoyed a few generations of peace…. And prosperity………and it is in times like this…. That people get complacent….
He opened his questions to the floor but no one answered.
Why the need for more money to spend in defence when the streets are safe ?
Why do we need so much resources keeping our borders safe ?
Man : Owen is planning a lesson…..for the country…. One that the country will never forget if we allow it to happen….. he has been seduced….. by an idea… by …. An organisation…. By a man…..and that very idea has taken root in his head….. a idea that promised him power beyond his imagination…..He is no longer the Owen you know….
He threw the 3rd mask on the floor and turned his attention to me.
He carried on talking as he put his walking stick in front of each step he takes.
I could see his approach and Jane noticed the change in my posture. Before I could even plan my next move, I felt the sharp tip of the spear she was holding jabbing into the side of my neck.
If I could take this man hostage, I might stand a chance but I could feel the pointed tip of the spear already drawing blood. There’s no way I will be faster than Jane in that situation.
Man : I am offering….. all of you here…. A chance…..
He stopped right in front of me before turning to face the other 3 men who he unmasked.
Man : A chance to know the truth…..or you would rather die defending a lie….
“ fuck you !! …. I will not listen to your lies !!!, Don’t believe him Hibiki !! “
The man in the middle of the 3 cursed and spat at Owen’s predecessor.
There was a muted bang and the next thing I realised was the smell of a freshly discharge weapon reaching my nostril.
There was no hesitation at all in the man’s part.
He just fucking shot the man in his head.
Man : then I won’t waste my breath on you …..
There was a series of loud clicks outside and I saw the lights in the school coming on.
The courtyard got brighter, the floodlight on the walls illuminating the landscaped field.
A masked man entered and I could hear him say the power’s back up.
Someone hit the switch to the classroom we were in and I blinked several times, my eyes adjusting to the sudden brightness of the classroom.
I was looking down when I felt the mask I was wearing being pulled off my head.
Looking up, I came fast to face with the mysterious man.
Man : You…..
That word came slowly, as if there was a deliberate drag on the ‘u’. A drag of recognition.
That face.
I know that face.
A tsunami of memories came flooding into my head as I looked at that smiling face of a man that is but a shadow of his former self.
I know him.
And from the crooked smile on his face, he recognised me.
Jeff : you……
It’s him.
A face I have not seen in a long time.
Ron.
Santa Claus in green….
I heard the drop of that metallic spear beside me and when I looked up at Jane, she started to back away from me.
I could see the tremble in her hands.
I looked at the slit on her mask that is no longer glowing underneath the white light of the classroom.
Jane’s hand went under her mask and I could hear the release of a click.
She pulled the mask off her head and I felt as if someone had just sucker punch me in the stomach.
Xuehua : you……
……………………………………………………………………
Thank you for your kind words and comments
I think most would have guessed it was Xuehua right from the start.
James
Quote:
Originally Posted by
xAhKingx
Dear ts will you be updating today ?
Sorry, not today.
Have to get work matters sorted out.
I’m trying to bring forward the updates for the final episodes instead of starting only on the 12th because i’m worried i might not be in the right state of mind to edit the drafts when the final season of game of thrones start
Big trouble in little india is coming to an end.
I’m estimating about 6-7 updates left depending on the final edits.
I hope it’s been an enjoyable read so far for all.
The title itself would have given away where the main party is going to happen.
Looking forward to bring everyone into the fight that is going to light up little india.
Cheers
James
A blanket of awkward silence in the room was punctuated by Ron’s throaty laugh. He went back to his chair and I could see him looking at Xuehua and I.
Ron : you… know each other… haha… hahaha….
I did not say a word and I looked away.
Xuehua too remained quiet and she avoided Ron’s gaze.
I hated that look Ron gave me.
His look pierces through your thoughts. You could just tell from the eyes that this is someone who sees everything. Whatever those eyes lay it’s sight upon, it sees beneath the surface.
He knows something is off about Xuehua and me.
There was no hiding the look of astonishment on our faces.
He took a look at his watch and another masked man came in to whisper something in his ears.
Ron : We need to clear this place now….we can’t be seen here….
I was bundled up with my hands tied behind me and dragged into the carpark.
I was thrown into a separate vehicle from Xuehua and there were 2 guns pointing at my chest at all time. A black bag was put over my head so I could not see where we were going.
My heart is beating so hard as I tried to make sense of what is going on.
This is a nightmare. A nightmare that I will soon be waking up from.
It’s the only explanation for this.
It was a quick 20 min drive before I felt the car stop. I was dragged out of the car and led on a short walk.
There’s a distinctive smell to the place I was brought to.
It took a couple of minutes before I recognised that smell.
Rice.
Fragrant raw rice.
The bag was pulled off my head and I looked around the place. It’s a warehouse. Probably belonging to a rice distributor.
Sacks of rice were stacked up high on both sides.
A chair was brought over for Ron and he took it, enjoying the relief it offered from leaning on his good foot.
Somehow we were all back in the same position as we were in the classroom. Just that this time round, I was sitting with my hands behind my back so were the 2 remaining men from Owen’s detail.
Ron chuckled as he leaned back on his chair. He gestured with his head towards my direction, carrying on the conversation from where we left off as if no time has passed in between.
I stole a look at Xuehua, she looked as horrified as I am.
Neither of us could believe what is in front of our eyes. We just tried to kill each other.
I cannot imagine what would it be like if one of us succeeded.
Ron : This…..boy…. sorry…. My apologies…. Hahaha… you are no longer a boy…
Ron looked around at his men and spoke while shaking a finger at me.
Ron : This man here….haha…. he did something…. When he was young…. Something that I suspect no one in this room would have the balls of pulling it off… hahaha…. Of course… at that age… the lines between stupidity and bravery is blurred… but still…. He did something…. Something that earned my respect…. And I assure you…. My respect…. Don’t come cheap… hahaha..
Ron took a deep breath as he look at me.
Ron : This is going to be a tough nut to crack… hahah… he don’t break easy… hahaha…
One of Ron’s man standing behind the guy he shot came forward and he whispered something into his ears.
Ron : oh… really ? …. Let me see it…
That man left the warehouse and Ron directed his attention back to me.
I chose to remain silent. There is nothing I can say that will value add to my situation nor can I think of anything to say that will save my skin. Keeping quiet sometimes might be the best option.
I watch Ron close his eyes for almost a minute as he cycled through his thoughts and when he opened, he smiled.
He smiled and said my name.
Ron : Jeff…. I remember you Jeff… hahaha….
Ron seemed please with himself and he asked me what Owen’s orders were.
Ron : What did he want you to do…
I took a deep breath and answered him.
Jeff : Aiko Hattori….
Ron : ok…. What about Aiko Hattori…..
I thought about how to answer that question and Ron asked me to speak my mind.
Ron : It’s ok… just say it… there’s no right and wrong here… I already said…. You all are being lied to…. What you know…. What you think you know…. Might be very different from the truth…
Jeff : That Aiko is a terrorist…. She needs to be taken care off….
Ron nodded his head and I could see the twitch in his lips.
Ron : ok… ok… fair enough…. But…. Tell me….. does…Aiko…. Strike you as a terrorist… ?
I kept quiet, not willing to reveal more than I know.
I still need to figure out a lot of things here, first of which is to get out of this place alive for one.
Ron : Honestly…. You’ve seen her picture right…. Don’t you think she strikes you more as a AV star hahahah… than a terrorist….hahaha… I’m sorry…. Aiko isn’t here is she ? … she’s hot for a mother…hiak hiak….
No one replied Ron, it’s as if they knew he did not need one for the joke that only he found funny.
Jeff : We do not stereotype people… we follow orders…
Ron : jolly good… but you don’t follow them blindly…
I kept quiet and waited for Ron to go on.
Ron : good… good…..well… I’ll be straightforward about this….Owen Is lying…. And I believe somewhere inside that thick skull of yours you knew…
The remaining 2 of Owen’s men on the floor spoke out.
Man left : Do you have proof….. that Owen is lying…
Man Right : Hard evidence…. And not just base on your words…
Ron : Yes I do…. I wouldn’t have dragged my ass back up here to the surface if I didn’t would I ? ….haha … It’s so hot up here…
The men looked at Ron, puzzled with his words. He is not making any sense.
Ron : Hiro Hattori….. spouse of Aiko…. He is an employee of the company…. And Owen had him killed…..
Ron stood up and told us that Owen is secretly building an army.
An army of foreigners, with no links back to the company.
Ron : these men are mercenaries…. Thugs for hire… they have no loyalty to anyone…. Except to their paymaster….
What Ron had said so far collaborated with what I discovered on my own.
It meant I was on the right track.
Ron : The threat these men posed would have been easily handled…. After all…. A couple of dozen men…well… in a big perspective…. Would not be able to do much damage….without the right tools…..
Ron coughed a couple of times. He stopped and patted his chest. Then he started coughing again, this time round going into a coughing fit.
Someone offered him water and he took a while to settle down.
Ron : things changed….. when Owen took control of the largest drug smuggling operation in the country….. a few months ago…
Yiling immediately popped into my mind.
YIling.
The drug operation. The one I did it with her.
If everything is still running the way it was, it meant Yiling is still the person running the operation now.
Does this mean she is involved in this with Owen ?
Or like the rest of us, she is being manipulated and lied to. ?
Ron : With control of that operation, it gave him the financial muscle….to do more than he ever imagined….. but let me tell you… the biggest take away of taking control of that operation is not money…. Is contacts…. Smuggling routes….the right sources to get things beyond your wildest dream…. Get them… and get them into this country itself…. Without…. Too many people knowing of course…haha
The more Ron revealed, the worse the situation is starting to sound. The pieces start to fall into place.
Ron told us that Owen has been amassing explosives over the past few months.
It is very hard to get things like these onto the mainland no matter how well connected you are but Owen has been successful in getting small quantities of it every week.
He’s saving them for something.
Ron : He’s saving them for a wake up call he thinks the country need…. And…. Hiro….being the head of logistics…. Naturally …. Is aware of what is going on….
Jeff : How can you possibly know all these ??
Ron raised an eyebrow as if I asked something stupid.
Ron : hahah… you really expect me to leave the company I started without keeping a few spare cards up my sleeve ? hahaha….
The man that had left earlier came back into the classroom , I could see him holding a tablet in his hand.
Ron took it and I could see him swiping the tablet.
Ron : I see….
He handed the tablet back to the man and said nothing.
Ron : Hiro thought he was just helping to get men in for some wet works…. Untraceable jobs that we sometimes don’t want to get out hands dirty…. But he stumbled onto something sinister…. Something dark….he got scared…
Jeff : what did he stumble on ?
Ron : Oh… nothing much…. Your boss just wants to blow up a few schools…
Jeff : What…
Ron : schools are the ideal choice…. It’s easy to infiltrate… there’s hardly any security elements in place and it is guaranteed….. guaranteed….. to get the response Owen wanted…. It would put the whole country on edge….
Ron stressed the word guaranteed as if it was a sure thing.
The man on the left vomited. It came without warning.
I could smell the remnants of his dinner.
When he recovered enough to speak, he spoke with a trembling voice.
Man left : I….i… I have been assigned to…. To monitor the activities of…. Of a few teachers…. At a childcare facility in the north of the island….
There was a look of horror on his face. It’s as if it suddenly dawned on him that a catastrophe is about to happen and he is actively contributing to it.
Man left : this is impossible…. No way…. Owen will not do such a thing…
Ron : Everything I just said…so far…… how much of these do you know….
Man left : i…. I don’t know anything… I’m just Owen’s security detail…. i…I was assigned to that childcare facility for the past 2 weeks….
Ron : what about you….
Man right : I…. I know about the men coming into the country…. But…. But….
Ron grinned.
Ron : But there were no mention of ….. of the plans for the schools….? Haha..
Man right : yes… yes.. I … I know the men are here for some…. Covert work… but…but… no way… this is not possible…. Owen would never do anything like this…..what proof do you have ?
Ron sniffed and coughed again. He looked sick, or as if he was battling some infection. I can’t tell. He has surely lost quite a bit of his weight since I last saw him.
He sat upright and told everyone that Hiro had recorded evidence, both video and audio conversations Owen had. Hiro had the detailed plans, he knew the locations of the schools Owen is keeping an eye on right down to where the hired men are staying.
Ron : Hiro ….. was one of my many eyes and ears in the company…. And he was about to blow the whole thing wide open , but he did not get to do it in time…. Aiko was entrusted with some of the information that Hiro manage to sneak out…. She contacted me after her husband went missing…. Using channels that he had established with her if anything…. Unfortunate… were to happen..
Ron explained that while those evidence are not enough to remove Owen once and for all, but it is enough for him.
Ron : I know what I saw…. It’s not enough to convict Owen in a court, but it’s enough to make me come back and try and fix this…especially after he killed Hiro and is now going after his wife and kids…
Jeff : If this is true, why can’t you just stop Owen…. Go straight to the Prime minister… strip him of his right to run the company…. Tell him what is going on…
Ron laughed.
Ron : Oh things are complicated…. These things usually are…. I served during the reign of the previous administration…. Not the current…
Owen is one of the most well-connected man in the island right now.
His network of spies and men working for him goes beyond the magnitude Ron had when he handed the agency over to him.
Ron : I have snippets of information but not enough to end him….no one will believe anything we say unless we have proof…..and I mean something solid…….and besides…. I’m not even suppose to be here right now…. I am no longer in charge of the agency… the important thing now… is to get the plans Hiro stashed away…. Only then we will know the true extent of Owen’s scheme….then we have a chance of stopping him before it happened….
One of the masked men behind Ron came forward and reminded him of the time.
Ron : I got to go soon….i wish I could stay but Jane you have to take care of this…
He turned to Jane and asked if she could get the rest of the evidence.
Ron : they are in Hiro’s office…we need them… it’s encrypted… Aiko has the password…and Hiro has hidden them within his computer…. Among a shitload of files all in japanese…
At this point, I saw a woman being led out with a little girl beside her. I recognised her immediately. She looked like she lost weight base on the photo I saw.
Xuehua nodded.
I could not resist asking Ron why he needed to go.
Jeff : Is there someplace you have to be ??
Ron : yes there is… so do the dozen men I have with me…. I am wasting time up here on the surface…. Hundreds will die if Owen gets his way….but the responsibilities resting on my shoulders is a far greater burden….
Ron coughed a few times before adding without pausing to catch his breath.
Jeff : what the fuck ? …then you are what… just going to go ? … and leave Xuehua…. Sorry I ..err… I meant Jane… to deal with this… ?
Ron looked at me as if I said something silly.
Ron : hahah… why yes of course….you see… the thing about…. Being in management… you have to delegate task out…. You can’t do everything yourself…
Jeff : what the fuck… you want Xuehua… fuck… I mean Jane… to take care of what ?? Owen ? and his mercenaries ? alone ??
Ron : err….. what’s wrong with that ? you don’t think she can do it ?i know she’s retired for a while… but… desperate times call for desperate measures no ? do you doubt her abilities ??
Jeff : what ?
I cast Xuehua a look and I could see she immediately took offence even before I had a chance to explain.
She kicked me on my leg in the same manner she kicked her persistent friend in the carpark.
Jeff : Owww… what the fuck…
Xuehua : Answer him !!… you don’t think I can do it ??
Jeff : there’s no need to kick me like this …
Xuehua : it’s just a kick……you fucking tried to kill me.. !
I could see she was holding this in for a while, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity to blow off some steam.
Jeff : You fucking tried to do the same to me too !…
Xuehua : that’s because you started waving knives in front of me in the first place…
Jeff : You shot me…. even before I started waving knives at you…
Xuehua : that’s because you started shooting at me first….
Jeff : You decapitated a colleague of mine….
Xuehua : he tried to do that to me !!… I asked him to stop….he did not…. I was only defending myself…!!!
Jeff : You had to announce to the whole world you are Jane !… every asshole with their ego bigger than their head will want a piece of you….
Xuehua : tell you who I am is not showing off…. It’s a warning…. Just like the warning sign by the side of a river asking you not to swim because there are crocodiles …. And who are you going to blame if you fucking jump inside the river ??
Jeff : You are not a crocodile…
Xuehua : I would have eaten you for lunch…
Jeff : Oh yeah… cut me loose and let’s try it again… your friends shot me in the back !..
Xuehua : why are you losing your temper at me for ?? and what’s with all the vulgarities ??
Jeff : I did not lose my temper…. I am perfectly in control of my temper… ! I’m just stating the facts here…
Xuehua : then state it properly…. No need for the attitude…
Jeff : What attitude….?? There’s nothing I can do if you have a problem with the way I speak and express myself…
There was no hiding the tension in the room and I could see Ron massaging his forehead as he waved his hands at Xuehua asking us to stop squabbling.
Ron : alright… shut up… both of you….
Ron massaged the bottom of his chin and I could see him trying to put the picture together in his head as well.
Everyone just stared at Xuehua and I. I felt embarrassed out of the blue, this is fucking childish and I can only imagine how bad it looks.
We’re behaving like kids.
Ron : Okay…. Well…. It’s been a while since I got an update from you Jane but something tells me Jeff is not your regular Chicken rice stall customer is he… ?
Jane looked like she wanted to fire back a comment and she kept quiet.
It was at this time the man on the right had to blurt out something that made the atmosphere even worse.
Man right : They…. They’re dating right ?? I saw them at the supermarket…
Man left : yes they’re dating…
I saw one of Ron’s men burst out a uncontrolled chuckle for a brief moment before quickly regaining his composure when Ron stared at him.
Somehow his chuckle felt a bit off, it’s not that he finds this situation funny, I think he felt more pity for me to be dating Jane.
It’s as if his chuckle actually meant ‘good luck you poor fuck’
Of all the women you can fuck in the world you had to choose one that can kill you in your sleep. Perhaps even while you are awake.
This is fucking awkward.
Ron : Ohhhhkayyy….. this is…..awkward….
Ron scratched his head a little before turning back to Xuehua.
Ron : errrr….ermmm… tell you what… you … take him…….… and ermm… I don’t know… interrogate him…. Find out what he knows… ?? something like that ?? then bring Aiko back to the office… and get the evidence…
Jeff : What ? interrogate me ? … what the fuck do you think this is…. ?? I’m not getting interrogated by her …!
Xuehua : why are you so defensive ?? do you have something to hide ??!
Jeff : I don’t fucking have anything to hide….
Xuehua : then why are you so afraid of answering some questions ??
Ron stood up abruptly and the chair was knocked over.
The sound of the falling chair silenced the whole warehouse.
Ron : enough…. Don’t make me say it again. …..you guys are giving me a fucking headache….stop…
I could see the glare in Xuehua’s eyes. She’s angry, fucking pissed and she turned away, refusing to even look at me.
This sucks.
I don’t know why but I think I can safely say she won’t be sleeping with me anything soon.
That has to be one of the weirdest thing to cross my mind ever since the start of that intense evening.
Ron : I’ll only ask this once Jeff….. I want to clear things up a bit….why are you talking to the Japanese… ? are you planning something of your own ??
I hesitated for a while and I remembered the man who showed Ron something a while ago.
Someone must have seen me talking to Danzo.
Jeff : I went to Danzo and Nakamura because they knew men are arriving in Singapore and they want to know where they are…
Ron : what made you draw the connection ?
I told Ron about the meeting I had together with Owen a few months ago.
Jeff : men are missing in Japan…. They want to know why…and they know their men are in Singapore…
He nodded as he hobbled a few steps away and turned his back towards me.
Ron : Here’s what going to happen…
Ron spoke to the 2 men and me at the same time.
Ron : As far as the rest of the world is concerned…. All 3 of you are dead….. if not… I assure you….. If Owen knows you are aware of his plans…. You will be in a matter of time…. And I want to know about the Japanese in the country… this might be the start of a diplomatic crisis
Jeff : wait….. you don’t know that for sure..maybe……we should talk to Owen…we should trash things out…
Ron rebutted me without a change in his expression.
Ron : You want to talk….. …. to the man who killed your father ?? and ask if he is serious…. About his plans to teach everyone in the country a lesson ??
I felt as if my whole world just crashed and burned in front of me.
It’s like someone hitting me in the gut.
Xuehua turned back and looked at Ron.
Xuehua : what did you say ??
Ron : do you believe in coincidence Jeff ? …. That the timing just coincides…. The passing of your father…and Owen’s appearance….when he recruited you… ?
He gestured for the same man who showed him the tablet earlier.
Ron : I’m not going to sugar coat this…. I have no time… your father was sick…. Very bad lung issue I think…. Doctor gave him a year max….Owen could have waited…but he didn’t …
He asked his man to find the recruitment archives before throwing the tablet onto my lap.
Jeff : what….. what are you saying…. ?
My mind could not function. I don’t believe what I’m hearing.
Owen killed my father ?
All this so I can work for him ??
Ron : and to think you have been risking your life for him all these years….. well to be fair… your father was in pain… plenty of medication…. But I doubt you knew…. He kept it to himself….
Xuehua came over and cut my ties with her hudiedao but even with my wrist free, I could not move. My whole body went limp and I just stared blankly at the report that hasn’t be auto rotated on the tablet.
Xuehua : enough… stop… don’t go on anymore…
Ron : I plan to… he can read it on his own…
Xuehua took the tablet and put it aside. She shook me and I looked at her but my body was not responding.
Xuehua : let’s get out of here…
Ron : I really got to go but I want to know about the Japanese… Jane…you got this… I’m heading back…. Let me know the specific…. Get your boyfriend to help you bring Aiko to the office… get the evidence and end this…
Xuehua ignored everything Ron said. She just sighed and tried to wipe off some dried blood from the side of my lips. Blood that she put there in the first place.
Ron was about to step out from the room when the man on the right spoke again.
Man right : but…wait a minute….
Everyone turned and look at the man.
He looked confused, lost and there was this incredulous look of disorientation on his face.
Man right : why… why are you all talking about the missing Japanese…. ??
Ron turned his body towards him and asked what did he meant.
Ron : What do you mean ?
When he spoke, it blanketed the room in a thicker shroud of silence.
Everyone froze and stared at the man.
Man right : The men Owen is bringing in…. they’re Indians….
The man on the left turned and looked at his friend.
Man left : no… they’re japs… I overheard Owen talking about it once…
Man right : noooo…. I picked up a group once….. they’re all Indians…
The entire group went quiet.
Xuehua half dragged and pulled me off the floor.
3 seconds later I heard a chuckle from Ron.
He laughed as if he could not believe what he just heard.
Ron : hahaha…… hahahah…..This …. Just got ….. a whole lot more interesting….. hahahhaa.
My legs could not even bear my own weight and I collapsed back onto the floor
Xuehua : dear stand up… let’s get out of here ..!
Ron: hold on…. Hahaha…. Hold on…
He gestured for a phone and he dialled a number.
Putting his finger to his lips, he gestured for all of us to be quiet.
Ron put the phone on speaker mode.
I recognised Owen’s voice immediately when he answered.
Owen : yes ?
Ron : It’s me….
The short greeting was followed by a long silence.
Owen : why…
Ron : Because what you are doing is wrong….
There was a long pause, and Ron waited for Owen to reply him.
Owen : You know …
Ron : I do….. the japs…. The Indians…. I know…
Owen : Then why haven you tried to stop me ? you could have ended it…
Ron had a frown on his face and he kept quiet.
Owen : where are my men…
Ron : They’re dead… you know my style of working….
Owen : There is only 1 other body at the scene…. Where’s the other 3…?
Ron : I got them to talk…. Then I killed them….
Owen : where are their bodies ?
Ron : I don’t leave bodies…
I could hear Owen exhaling on the other end of the phone. He was trying to control his temper.
Owen : thank you then… for getting rid of them for me…. saves me the trouble of cleaning up…
Ron : it’s not too late to stop…
Owen laughed.
Owen : hahahah…. You have no idea what I’m doing do you… ?
Owen took this chance to take a swipe at his predecessor.
Owen : Aiko… is still in the country… there must be a reason why…. I killed a man trying to gain access to the audit department few days ago….he’s your man….again… there must be a reason why….you’re calling me…. to tell me you know of my plans….again… there must be a reason why….hahah
Ron smiled.
Owen : You called because you are trying to suss me out…. Your man wanted something inside the office…. It can only mean Hiro has something hidden in the office…. You have all the time in the world to bring Aiko out… but she remained in the country…. You went as far out as to lay a trap for us tonight…. This brings me to only 1 conclusion….
Owen chuckled, sounding please with himself for besting his predecessor.
Owen : You want something in my office….and you probably need Aiko to get it… hahahha…
Ron exhaled but said nothing.
Owen : You and neither the men nor resources to do this Ron…. Go back to that hole of yours… and leave the surface to me….
Ron : you’ve changed Owen…
Owen : Of course I have changed…. Doing this shit I do for a living changed me…no thanks to you…
Ron : I did not force you to take this up… you had a choice…
Owen : fuck off… I don’t have the time nor the patience to banter over the phone…. You’re right about Indians…. You’re right about the Japanese… and there is nothing… you can do about it….. you want something in my office ??? ….. come and get it…
Ron : last chance Owen…
Owen : I’m not falling for your mind games Ron…. I’m sorry your phone call yielded nothing… save your mind games for the kids… they don’t work on me anymore…
Ron : it yielded more than I could ever hoped for….
Owen : hahaha… goodbye Ron…
Owen hung up and I could see the look of disappointment on the faces of Owen’s men.
Ron looked at me and gave me a casual shrug of his shoulders, as if he was trying to say ‘ I told you so ‘
He closed his eyes and spent some of his time lost in his own thoughts.
Man left : you cannot go to the office….there are operators…. Hiding among the administrative staff of the audit department itself…. That place… that building… it’s a fortress…. You have to be mad to even try….
Ron smiled and got up, leaning heavily on his walking stick.
Ron : I’m not worried about getting in…. I’m just thinking about getting back out..… hahah
He exhaled and asked Jane to make sure I receive medical attention. He will be taking the 2 men with him.
I could hear everything going on around me.
My mind is processing everything but I just couldn’t move.
I can’t
I still cannot believe all these is happening.
Ron : get some rest……… we meet again in the morning……no matter how I see this…. There’s going to be some pretty big trouble in little india soon….
……………………………………………………..