I laughed and shook my head.
Jeff ; No I’m not…
Mandy licked her lips and put her hands into her pocket.
Mandy : ermm.. let’s go grab that coffee ?
I nodded my head.
She walked away , presumably to get her wallet or her purse from the room down the hall.
I was about to stand up when I felt a hand on me.
Gwen.
She held onto my wrist.
She pointed to a drawing pad on her desk.
I went over and picked it up.
Jeff ; This ?
Handing it over to Gwen, she opened the drawing pad.
My eyes lit up and a wave of emotions hit me like a tsunami sweeping up along the beach.
There is the feeling of heat radiating from my belly, spreading like a plague into my limbs as I scrunched my toes in my shoe.
I bit down on my teeth hard as I looked at Gwen.
That drawing made me sick.
It showed 3 stick figures, 1 of them carrying Gillian horizontally.
The dark background, the yellow crescent moon.
Gwen’s stick figure had tears on her face and a frowning mouth.
Gillian’s figure too had tears illustrated with her hands stretched out waving at her sister.
It’s as if her sister is waving goodbye to Gwen.
Someone came in the middle of the night for her.
Clement came in the middle of the night and took Gillian and Gwen saw it.
She saw it all.
Gwen looked at me with her eyes filling up with tears.
She did not say anything. She did not break her silence but her eyes spoke more to me than words ever could.
Mandy appeared at that moment and she entered the room.
She saw the picture and sighed.
Mandy : She’s been showing us that picture ever since the day the accident happened…. People taking her sister away….. I guess it’s her way of dealing with it…
Gwen shook her head weakly, keeping her eyes fixed on me.
My heart felt like it was stab by a heated knife.
That aching is unbearable. It took everything I had to keep myself form shivering.
How painful it must be for Gwen to be dismissed by all the adults around her.
No one believed her.
Who would ?
Who would believe a 12 year old who just went through a traumatic experience ?
Mandy : Put that away Gwen…. Have a nap….Come on Jeff… let’s go…
Turning to Mandy I asked her to give me a moment.
Mandy : I’ll wait for you outside… get some rest Gwen dear…. I’ll buy hot milo for you….
I waited for Mandy to exit the room. Both of Gwen’s eyes are red and heavy with tears. I could see the desperation in them. Desperate to be heard, to be taken seriously.
I held her hand reassuringly and I looked at Gwen in her eyes.
Jeff : I believe you…
Gwen’s lips pressed hard against each other as her eyes shut, setting off a torrential flow of tears. Her face scrunched up as she cried silently, it’s as if she was afraid of other people knowing.
There is so much fear in her. I felt her hands squeeze mine so tightly that her fingers turned red. The amount of angst and pain cannot be described in words.
As she washed her face with her tears, Gwen flipped the page of her notepad, revealing another page.
It was the same drawing with a bit of modification.
The same 3 menacing stick figure but this time, they were not carrying Gillian.
It should them against the same dark and imposing backdrop, illuminated by a lone crescent moon in the sky.
This time they were coming for Gwen.
Not a single word left her mouth. All I could hear was sniffings and all I could see was the relentless flow of tears from her eyes.
Nothing stood between the 3 stick figures and Gwen who was illustrated with a frowning face under a hut with a cross on top.
I choked back emotions and tried to think of what to say.
I could have said anything, anything a little girl would have wanted to hear.
I could have told her who I am.
What I can do.
That I am there to protect her but it will not be enough.
The world of adults has destroyed her live before it had a chance to begin.
I reached for a crayon on Gwen’s table and gestured towards the drawing, asking permission to draw on the drawing pad.
She nodded.
I started to draw a figure in between Gwen and the 3 stick men.
The 3 stickmen that came for her at night.
No. I did not draw myself.
I drew someone she can relate better to.
I drew the Monkey king. Taller and towering above each of the other stick figures.
I drew him facing the 3 men, chin up, fist clenched.
Gwen smiled for the first time as she finished the drawing for me by adding on the magical staff, weapon of choice by the immortal monkey.
I handed the notepad back to her.
She closed it, and brought it close to her chest, her eyes never left mine.
Jeff : I haven introduced myself…. I am…. Sun Wu Kong….. ( Monkey king ) ….
Gwen’s smile did not stop the flow of tears from her eyes.
She laid back down on her bed , clutching her drawing pad close to her chest.
I helped her pull up her blanket.
She held my wrist again, as if asking me to stay till she falls asleep.
I nodded my head and told her I will be right there.
Less than 3 minutes later, I could hear a soft snore coming from Gwen.
I stood up slowly and checked behind me. I could see Mandy on her phone far out into the courtyard.
I brushed back a strand of hair matted on Gwen’s cheeks that are wet with tears.
She’s asleep, she won’t hear me but I still said what I wanted to say.
Jeff : I’ll protect you…….
The next part is not an appropriate thing to say on religious grounds, but I don’t expect to go to heaven.
I’m not a saint.
Jeff : I’ll find them………….and then I’ll kill them………….. I’ll kill them all….
……………………………………………………..
I suggested to Mandy that we have our coffee in the church compound instead of the coffee shop after her phone call. I don’t feel comfortable leaving Gwen alone for now.
Jeff : The environment is so much more pleasant here don’t you think ?
Mandy : of course haha…. More peaceful…. Quiet… no one to disturb us… tell you what…. Wait.. here… I’ll go grab the coffee…. See you in the garden ??
Jeff :ehhh… I’ll be right here…
The moment Mandy stepped out of the church compound, I called Billy. The 1st drone is down and is currently charging. 2nd one is already up in the air.
Billy : the drones are not charging fast enough for continuous monitoring… we’re probably going to loss the aerial feed in another 2 hours give and take…
Jeff : Bring it down… I doubt anything is going to happen today… save the battery…
Billy : Jeff there’s another problem…
Jeff : What is it ?
Billy: I’m seeing another drone….. not ours…
Jeff : What ?
Billy : It’s a older company model…..lower battery life and camera resolution…. It’s been holding it’s position about 30m below us for the past 15 minutes…
Jeff : Can you crash it ? use your drone to knock it to shit…
Billy : Errr……. No…. mine is more expensive… and I signed out for it…
Jeff : Clement is watching the church as well….
Billy : He probably is….. I’ve operated that older model before…. At this height, he can make out figures…. Not in detail… and the rotors are a lot noiser…. He can’t afford to go too low…
Jeff : we’ll have to block his sight…. Not let him see what is going on in the compound…
Billy : you block him… you block me as well….
Jeff : not true… I’m going to get you in tomorrow…. Get the cameras and surveillance up for the church…
I walked right up to the main gate and looked outside and across to the coffeeshop.
I can see Mandy queuing at the drinks stall. There is no sign of Clement.
I was quite thankful for that. I don’t know if I have what it takes to remain calm if I see him.
Perhaps I would just charge right at him, make a mess at the coffee shop and let Owen clean it up for putting me through this.
There’s still a traffic police bike at the junction. An officer was talking to someone, probably asking about the accident earlier.
Further down the road there’s another police car with it’s hazard light on.
I asked Billy to get me a change of clothes.
Jeff : I keep a bag in my office… bring the whole thing…
Billy : You sure… it’s going to be at least a 2 hour journey to and fro with current traffic.
Jeff : Yes…. Go… and stock up on water and food…. I don’t know how long you are going to hole up in that Van…
Billy : I have a fully stocked fridge in here…. Only thing I worry about is a fresh shower….
Jeff : You are welcome to use the bathroom here… I have a overzealous roommate who wants to share her toiletries….
Billy : oh…. I think I’ll take the fountain then… haha…
He hung up and I made the next call to a contractor I worked with regularly. I sent him come pictures of the gate and the space it use to occupy before giving him a call.
Jeff : Hello…. Ah Keong ah….. Jeff ah…..ho seh bo ( how are you ) …. Still helping your dad with his construction business ?? ….ok la…. good enough…. One day you will take over Matthew….i’m good I’m good….
I looked at the mess on the floor and told Ah Keong I sent over some pictures.
James : I need a gate… can send your guys down….i need it yesterday…..
Ah Keong is a contractor that does magic tricks. I kid you not, he is a magician. He can perform miracles. He’s creative and resourceful. He’s actually a rich kid with plenty of money to spare and no where to spend it.
I’m not sure how old he is but he couldn’t be too far away from me in terms of age. His dad owns a pretty big construction company and has their own factory cum warehouse.
We hit it off right away when we collaborated on one of our early projects.
Owen made the introduction, says these are men that don’t talk.
Owen : These people don’t just look at money…. Brotherhood and loyalty actually means something to them…. Old school…
It’s already coming to 5pm, everyone is calling it a day. With the evening peak traffic, Ah Keong estimates that his men will reach the church about 7.30pm
Jeff : Come…just come… I’ll be waiting…
I told him what I needed and he told me he will take care of it.
Next, I called a tentage contractor. Those that erect temporary shelters for night markets and bazaars.
Jeff : Ah Beng…. Jeff here… I need a cover…big one… you come down and measure…. Yes… today… can… can… no problem…. Ok… ok thank you….
I’m going to fucking cover the entire courtyard wherever possible with tentage.
If Clement wants to see what is going on, he can jolly well walk in the front gate and find out for himself.
No one would suspect a thing.
You see these going up all the time during events or openings.
This is a double edge sword. Sure, it stops Clement from seeing what is going on in the compound, but it also alerts him to the fact that there is someone in the compound who knows what he’s doing.
I have no choice. I’m playing defence.
The difficult thing now is to convince Mandy why I’m doing the things I do. I would have to smoke my way out of this. Perhaps cook up a stupid reason or something.
Mandy crossed the road with the coffee in hand, raising them to show me as she stepped into the compound. Her hair caught the breeze and as it lifted up, revealed another side of her.
Her looks will grow on you. I can almost picture her as the goofy girlfriend you would enjoy taking to an overseas trip. It’s going to be funny, humorous and if she is as horny as she makes herself out to be, the sex will be great too.
We went to one of the stone benches and sat down.
Jeff : Thank you for the coffee… I’ll buy the next round…
Mandy : Oh… haha.. sure…. Anytime…. Anytime man…
She asked about my past posting and where I worked, I told her the story as per the cover Owen arranged. He would have made sure everything checks out.
I told Mandy that someone will be here to put up some temporary structures for the gate.
Jeff : I hope you don’t mind…. But seeing you girls…. Alone in the compound… without a proper door and all…. I won’t be able to forgive myself if something happened…
Mandy just looked at me and hung onto my every word.
Mandy : wow….. where have you been all this while….
Jeff : I’m serious… the church is not fully opened…. The orphanage has kids and aunties… and there’s you…. A single pretty girl… alone…. Thank god you don’t stay overnight here…
Mandy rest her arm on the backrest of the bench while supporting her cheeks with the back of fingers and just looked at me talk.
Mandy : Exactly… I’ve heard from a friend that a woman gets raped everyday in Singapore…. It just goes unreported…..
If not for the lustful look in her eyes, I would have asked her what is the statistics for men getting rape.
Mandy : …. The administrators come over once in a while… but until the church is officially opened, it’s quiet around here…… especially at night…
I swallowed a gulp of saliva and I looked away.
Mandy : but now that we have a man around… I would feel safer to stay over…
Jeff : ermmm…well… you stay so near… isn’t the bed more comfortable at home ?
Mandy : hahha…. Hmmm… my bed at home is indeed more comfortable…. How would you know that ?
Oh god. I actually looked towards the church as if pleading for help.
How can she sexualise everything I say ?
Mandy : It’s got a pretty good bounce… and the spring…. The salesgirl told me is individual pocketed….. it makes a difference…
I massage my forehead and told Mandy that it might not be nice if we stay overnight in the same room.
Jeff : I’m afraid it won’t be fair to you… you’re a girl…. I don’t care what people say about me…. But it’s not going to be… you know… nice… if people see us spending a night in the same room….
She cut me off even before I could finish.
Mandy : I’m single Jeff… I broke up with my boyfriend 5 years ago… I don’t care what people say…
I took a sip of the horrible coffee and tried to change the topic of our conversation.
Jeff : Where do you park your car ? …. There’s carpark lots in the church but it’s empty…
Mandy : You know why he broke up with me ??
Jeff : ermmm Mandy… I think….we should…
Mandy : He said I have a high sex drive…. Too high for him to handle.
I dropped my coffee, spilling everything onto the grass as Mandy laughed.
Jeff : What !?
Mandy : Come on chill man…. I’m just kidding… hahah..haha
I have a feeling she isn’t.
Jeff : ERmm.. anyway… I have made some calls… so some contractors will be in to….ermm.. do some work… how to I inform the administrators …. Or the pastor or… who’s the boss here…
Mandy smiled and she crossed her legs on the bench, raising an eyebrow at me.
Jeff : err… yes ?
Mandy : The cross is the boss around here but when it comes to the grounds and facilities…I would day…..ahemmmm… yours truly…is in charge…
Jeff : Oh… really ? great !
Mandy : What are you going to do ??
I told Mandy I’m going to do something to the gate, get a contractor in to fix the cameras and I will be erecting a tentage shelter in the courtyard.
Mandy : Why is there a need for the tentage ?
I had no reason for that. I can’t possible let her know there’s a drone spying on us. So I thought I’ll crack a joke instead.
Jeff : So…. No one from the surrounding HDB will see what we are up to… ?? hahah… just kidding…
I never fucking expect her eyes to lit up.
Mandy : I love that idea…. Go ahead….Erect…… that tent…
I could not help but register how much emphasis she put on the word erect.
Mandy : but… nothing touches the lawn…. Solid ground only….. leading to the patio…. That should do just fine… and don’t assume I don’t know what you are thinking with the tent…
Jeff : Huh ? what ??
Mandy smiled and told me she knew my plan.
My heart skipped a beat as I looked at her.
Mandy : The only power point is at the patio…. You want shelter for the workers that will be working here right ?? hahhaha….. I knew it….. those foreign workers also need a place to rest, to eat…. My god Jeff… you have such a pure heart….a Big…..big…. heart…
Jeff : of course I do…
Mandy : People with big heart…. Usually has a big…..hmmm…
Jeff : Please don’t go there….
Mandy : relax….hahah… big smile…. I meant a big smile…
I nodded with a forced smile and a sigh of relief.
6pm
Mandy left work on time, saying that she’s going to head back and grab some stuff, that I should do the same as well. She gave me a set of keys and the password to enter some of the rooms in the compound.
I went over to check on Gwen and she is still fast asleep. I could smell the food Auntie May is cooking. I guess dinner will be served soon.
Ah Keong and his men arrived at 7pm.
I shook his heavily tattooed arms and they got to work immediately.
2 guys started taking measurements of the new gate I would need while others set up the temporary barrier. The same type of red and white plastic barrier you see on the roads.
Ah Keong’s men helped me blocked the entrance before filling it up with water. It’s not going to stop a charging vehicle but at least it’s something.
Ah Keong : No way to finish it so fast brother… the gate is big… earliest going to be next Tuesday…
Jeff : As soon as you can…. Appreciate the help..
He left and when the tentage contractor got in at 7.15pm, Mandy had brought dinner for me. I told the contractor what I needed and he gave me a thumbs up. He will be back the next day with the materials.
I was famished and we ate in the garden. What I did not expect was to see Gwen walking towards us with a plate in hand.
Mandy : are you ok Gwen ?
I did not say anything, cleared the seat beside me of the plastic bags and gesture to the stone seat.
Jeff : Come.. join us…
Gwen ate silently as Mandy did most of the talking.
9.30pm
Mandy was speechless when she saw Gwen tugging my shirt and handing me the same book I had read to her earlier.
It took only half a chapter this time round to put Gwen to bed.
Mandy : I wonder when will I get to see all your hidden talents… hahaha..
Jeff : ermm… I hope you don’t have to…
Mandy left the church reluctantly at 10.30pm, only after I promised I will stay Friday night for beer and a chill out session with her.
Billy was waiting for me to be available before handing me the bag I asked for.
I shifted the barrier and let Billy backed his van all the way into the Church carpark lot.
Jeff : Check out the cameras… they’re all offline…
Billy : Got it…
Within an hour, Billy got it all up and running with the parts he kept in his Van. Like a doraemon pocket, it’s shelves are stocked with everything.
Billy : It’s actually all set up… someone removed all the hard drives and stopped the recording….definitely some funny shit going on around here..
I sat down with Billy in the courtyard at almost 1am in the morning.
21st June 2013
Friday
1am
Jeff : long day huh…
He handed me a cold beer before opening one himself.
Billy : you met her yet ?
I nodded.
Billy handed me an ipad with it’s screen subdivided into 9. All the cameras are live.
Billy : They don’t cover all angles… but these are the important ones… how is she taking to these ?
Jeff : She’s scared…. Freaked out….hasn’t spoke since…
We drank our beer quietly in the courtyard. Just when we ere about to discuss who to take the first watch when we heard a shout from the vicinity. The shout shattered the peacefulness of the neighbourhood.
Then the pop pop pop of a series of small explosion came. In the quiet of the night, it’s hard not to notice the popping sound.
We immediately identified the cause of the noise. We didn’t have to look far.
The coffee shop across the road.
It’s on fire.
Billy : Bloody hell…..
Jeff : relax… he’s not coming tonight…
Billy : What the fuck he burnt the coffee shop for ?
Jeff : drinks stall is 24 hours…. There might be people hanging around…..burn it… and there’s no reason for people to be at the shop….. no one sitting across with a view of the church…
Billy : What the fuck….
Jeff : He probably started the fire from the back…. Where the seafood stall is…. Furtherst away from the drinks stall…. By the time it spreads…. It’s too late…. That’s what I would do if I were him….
The fire got bigger and we just sat there, we could already hear the sirens blaring from a distance away. People were just standing around watching the spectacle.
Coffee shop patrons that were sitting at the area moments ago retreated to a safe distance.
Blinking lights illuminated the church compound, our seat offering us a front row view to what is happening.
The whole place will be flooded with officers and firefighters in a matter of minutes.
Jeff : Get some sleep… nothing will happen tonight…
Billy : When will it happen ?
I shrugged my shoulders.
Jeff : Not tonight…
6am
I woke up and took a fresh shower, using Mandy’s toiletries.
My knife is strapped around my calves, concealed by my pants.
I went to Gwen’s room. She’s still sound asleep.
I went to the storeroom with the gardening tools and took stock of what I have at my disposal. I separated a pair of garden shears, keeping one side hidden in a bush and the other tucked near a bin.
An old mallet went to the fountain.
There’s even a pickaxe. I put it under a large canvas covering the compost heap near the staff quarters.
I made sure everywhere I look, there is something I would want to kill Clement with.
I can smash his head in with a rock, I can drown him in the fountain.
Looking at the old rusty spade, I wondered if I could bury him alive.
Before sunrise, I was done with the tools.
Looking across the road, I could still see officers milling around after the fire. There’s a lot of work to be done. Investigation, interviews and the usual. By the time they find something, Clement would be long gone.
Friday went by peacefully.
I had to do some administrative work together with Mandy for 1 of the toddlers, some phone calls, other than that it was just stopping her from putting her hands on my buttocks accidentally.
Mandy dressed different that day, turning up for work in a dress.
She wore glasses with rose gold tinted rims. She carries off the look pretty well, bringing out a different side of her. More demure, still as horny.
Her blouse had it’s first button undone and I would be blind if I did not see the imprint of her lacy bra screaming at me through the thin fabric of the blouse.
She wore heels and a short skirt.
I swear if I was not preoccupied with the project on hand, I would have grabbed her into the room and gave her a good humping.
The word subtle is probably not in her dictionary.
The tentage was set up by 5pm on Friday. Gwen literally followed me everywhere.
She did not stick by my side but she made sure she could see me.
When I’m in courtyard, she would be peeping at me from the patio.
If I’m talking to Mandy, she would be loitering near the back.
She just looked on with curiosity as the contractors erected the tentages.
I kept trying to talk to Gwen but no, still no reply.
It’s ok. Eventually she will talk.
It’s just a matter of time.
I could see reporters across the road trying to ask passer-by if they knew what caused the fire or had any stories to share.
I introduced Billy to Mandy, telling her that he’s a IT geek that would help us set up the cameras and all.
I could tell Mandy is excited about that Friday evening.
I checked her fridge, she had stocked new beers and snacks.
There’s even a pack of condoms I swore was not in the fridge the 1st time I saw it open. Who the fuck puts condoms in the fridge.
7.30pm
Mandy Ordered pizza in, she invited Billy to join but he declined.
I went to have a word with him before he left.
Billy : looks good… I don’t think it will be easy… you think he will hit over the weekend ? you’re pretty well set up here….
I looked at the surroundings and shook my head.
Weekend. Residential estate.
People come back late on Friday night.
Not tonight.
I don’t think so.
Jeff : Unlikely…. He just burnt the coffee shop…. Has to wait for the dust to settle…
Billy : what a fucker…. Crashed the gate….burnt the coffee shop…. What’s next…
I looked around the church. There is no way he is not aware of all the structures coming up.
He would know there is someone working against him.
He would need to move fast. The more time he gives me to shore up the defences, the harder it would be for him.
Billy : when would you do it…. If it’s you…
I looked at him, surprised that he would asked me that question.
Jeff : Monday morning…. After 2 am… before 6am… it’s a work day…. People sleep….perfect time…..
Billy : but you’re not him…
Jeff : No I’m not…
Billy packed up and I opened the temporary gate for him. He would be driving across the road to the multi storey carpark to get some shut eye.
Billy : Call me if anything happens…
Jeff: I hope not…
I shut the compound and went to the garden where the stone table is.
Mandy had a 6 pack out, half submerged in a bucket of ice. The Pizza has arrived.
Gwen was standing about 5m away looking at us.
I gestured for her to come over and join us.
Mandy : alright…. It’s a party !!
Aside from the occasional mosquito, the garden is a pleasant place to chill. Mandy asked Mariel and May to join us but they declined.
Mariel told us she is packing her stuff for her off day and May just wants to catch up on her sleep while the toddlers are resting.
I asked Mariel if she needed help with the suitcase but she declined.
I sipped my beer at the table and let Mandy lead the conversation. She is a story teller, an explorer and an entertainer all rolled into one.
Gwen and I listened to Mandy’s tales of her travel adventure. From how she got lost in Prague to having a homeless man pee on her in Bratislava.
Nothing beats her falling off a horse and straight into their droppings when she was in Budapest.
Gwen chewed on a piece of pizza and her eyes alternated between Mandy and I depending on who is talking.
I could tell she is a smart girl. Very observant, eager to learn. That spark in her eyes got brighter when she hears of Mandy travelling alone.
At her age, I bet a pact was made with her sister to travel together.
To see the world when they are old enough.
There is still so much things she has yet to do.
She doesn’t even have a passport, has never been overseas. Chances are I will be smuggling her over to Malaysia before arranging for her to head somewhere else. I don’t know.
I haven planned that far ahead yet. I got to take care of Clement first.
As Mandy’s stories went on, I too allowed myself to drift a little in my thoughts.
I too was a little lost in my own world.
I tried to put myself in Clement’s shoe.
What would he do ?
Time is ticking. The longer he waits, the harder it will get.
Mandy : and….. and Berlin….. I hated Berlin…. Hahha….that’s pretty much my adventure through Europe…. so… I was saying… I’ve got some movies I downloaded…. We can you know….Jeff… pick a show…
I was about to think of a reason to reject Mandy’s advances when I heard a loud crash.
This cannot be a coincidence.
Mandy : Aiyoh… what is happening…..? so many accident along this road this couple of days….
I remained in my seat. My eyes looking at the perimeter wall.
Then my attention went to the road in front of the church. The entrance of the Church is about 15metres away from the Junction.
I can hear commotions, horns but I see no cars.
I started to count.
10 seconds. 20 seconds. 30 seconds.
A typical traffic light at the junction leading to a small road like this don’t take more than 30 seconds. Let’s not forget the left turn with zebra crossing, what are the chances of an accident blocking all the access ?
I kept up my counting, my right hand put down the piece of pizza and went to the side of my pants.
At the 50 second mark, I am sure the entire road is blocked by the accident.
It’s impossible to have no cars passing by the road on a Friday evening before 9pm.
He has some balls. Fucking Clement.
Gwen’s eyes never left me. She too put down her pizza.
She could see I was nervous.
I pulled out my phone and called Billy.
The dial tone went on for a while but he did not answer.
I have a bad feeling about this.
I stood up.
Jeff : Stay here…. I’ll check things out…
I barely took 2 steps when the lights to the entire church went out. Both the compound and the main building.
Mandy : aHHHHHHHHH!! What the hell !
I froze and I lowered my body, back tracking to where Gwen was sitting.
Turning to her, I asked her to go to her room.
Jeff : Go… lock yourself in the room…. Don’t open it for anyone unless it’s me…. You understand ??
Gwen nodded. She turned and started to run towards her room.
Mandy : What is going on ?
Jeff : go stay with Gwen…. I’ll go check on the blackout.
Mandy nodded and the moment her back is turned, I reached for my knife and brought it out of its sheath.
The cold grip and the perfectly balanced knife feels comforting in my hand.
I tried Billy’s phone again. No answer.
Something must have happened to him as well.
I head the rattle of wheels behind me and I quickly hid the knife behind my back.
It was Mariel with her trolley suitcase.
Jeff : Blackout…. Be careful Mariel…
Mariel : I will…. The DB box is over there…
I looked towards the direction where Mariel is pointing and immediately regretted my decision.
She brought up her trolley and swung it towards my head with speed and intensity I never expected.
Mariel : argHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!
My head took the brunt of the hit and I staggered to my right, feeling the effects of the disorientation immediately.
She attempted a 2nd hit but I manged to duck in time.
The fury inside my belly started to grow, like a demon that feeds on anger, it grew.
It grew bigger as I connected the dots when I looked at the shrieking Mariel trying to hit me the 3rd time with the suitcase.
Mariel helped Clement get access to the girls.
Someone on the inside.
My fist found it’s target squarely on the nose. Mariel’s pudgy body struggled to balance after my hit. I did not stop.
I continued walking towards her. She swung her right hand wildly at me, I grabbed it easily, driving my knife into the fatty meat of her forearm.
Mariel : arghhhh!!!!!!!
Her screams were cut short when I drove my palm upwards into her nose, breaking whatever is left of the cartilages and soft bones.
Does it bother me she is a woman ? No.
Does it bother me she is probably 60 years old ? No.
Blood cascaded down her chin and her chest, staining her t-shirt. Her mouth was bubbling as she spit out globs of blood and mucus.
Staggering backwards, she fell, tripping against the concrete sidewalk that separated the driveway from the turfing.
Jeff : You….. you gave them Gillian….
I grabbed Mariel’s hair and forced her to look at me in the eye.
Mariel : ….it…..it….. it was…….was…… an act of….. mercy…..they have no one…..to… love…
I punched her so hard that her head literally bounced off the concrete sidewalk.
By the time she turned back, she was blabbering and blood was bubbling around her torn lips.
I pulled out my knife from her forearm, slicing off bits of her flesh and skin as her screams were silenced by her own blood that could not stop filling her mouth.
I turned her around such that she is facing the sidewalk. Grabbing her hair with my right hand, my left squeezed open her jaws and I pushed her against the concrete slab.
Just imagine you opening your mouth wide at the step of your concrete staircase. I pushed her head against the step as her body convulsed and muffled screams reached my ears.
Jeff : Where….. is Clement… ?
Mariel : erhhhh..arhghhh… arhgh!!!
Jeff : WHERE !!
I pushed her head harder against the hard concrete and I heard the sickening grind of her teeth before a couple of snapping sound broke out.
Mariel : arghhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Then a loud piercing scream reached my ears.
Gwen : AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It’s Gwen.
I looked up towards the direction of the scream and I saw Gwen being dragged out towards the courtyard where I was.
Gwen screamed and kicked as the man tried to carry her up horizontally, in the same manner as what she had drawn in the picture.
The men saw me.
They saw what I was doing to Mariel.
There were 3 of them.
Clement is not among them.
They paused about 15 metres away from me, staring in disbelief what I was doing to a 60 year old woman.
Gwen never stopped screaming and struggling but her 12 year old physique is no match for that of a full grown man. The man kept trying to cover her mouth to stop her from screaming.
Gwen : aHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mariel : erghhh!!! aRGHHH!! aRGHH!!! ARGHH!!!
I looked at the 3 men and they looked at me.
I pushed harder and harder, driving Mariel’s skull into the concrete as the scrapping sound of her molars complimented her muffled screams of pain. Not only am I pushing, her struggles ensured that I was dragging her along the edge as well, grinding down what’s left of her teeth against the pavement.
Gwen tried to wriggle herself free but was promptly slapped by the man holding her. The hit stunt her for a brief second, the shock of that slap fed the demon inside me, allowing it to grow further.
The man shouted at me to let Mariel go, gesturing that he would hurt Gwen if I did not follow his instructions. I could tell from his accent he is not local.
I let go of Mariel and I stood up.
The man holding Gwen backed 2 steps while his friends each drew a knife.
Gwen bit down on the hand of the man holding her and he let her go. She scrambled over to me, crying and screaming while wiping her tears, barely escaping the clutches of the 2 man with the knife who tried to grab her.
Gwen sobbed and she ran behind me holding onto my pants as she washed her face with tears.
The 3 men started to advance towards us. I held onto Gwen’s shoulder and we backed off , mirroring their steps. I don’t want her to get hurt.
I was hit with a strange feeling. A weird and morbid thought. Our positions is exactly as what we had drawn the night earlier.
Me in front of her facing the 3 stick figures.
We kept backing off, 1 step at a time.
And Gwen, She finally spoke.
She finally called out to me and it seems she was not asleep at all the night before.
Gwen : do…. Do you mean what you said last night ?
I looked at her, surprised that she was not asleep.
She pointed her finger at them.
Gwen : It’s them…. They took my sister !!! they KILLED MY SISTER!!!
The 3 men stopped advancing. Realising for the 1st time there is a witness to what they did previously.
The lights are out.
We’re under the tents.
The 3 stick figures Gwen drew are standing right in front of me.
I could see the desperation and anger in Gwen’s eyes .
Jeff : Promise me 1 thing….
Gwen nodded as tears flowed freely from her eyes.
Jeff: don’t look.
…………………………………………………………………………………..
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Devilcries
Is jeff a man of focus, commitment, and sheer will as well
No but Jane is.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Ntspannar
I’m curious, did u have tears while writing it?
yes. I’m not cold blooded
I flipped Gwen over to face the road a little too roughly than I wanted but time is of the essence.
Jeff : cover your ears !
There is no time for touching monologue and a sad sound track in the background.
I covered the grounds we retreated in 2 steps, my right foot went forward propelling myself forward and up back towards where Mariel was lying on the ground. She had barely pushed herself off the side but I timed the landing and position of my left foot perfectly, smashing my foot into the back of her skull as I pulverised her face against the concrete.
A sickening crunch reached my ears as my right foot found the balance my body needed to land.
Mariel was no longer moving, but I could see the twitching in her fingers and her left leg is wobbling as if her muscles were beyond her control.
Pulling up the knife from the ground I charged towards the 3 men who has yet to get over their shock of what just happened.
No shouting, no big movements. Just a silent charging bull knowing exactly where to head for.
Not the 1st, not the 2nd, but the 3rd guy.
I feigned a kick to the first and quickly rolled passed him as he adopted a defensive stance. The 2nd chap was too far away from the 1st to matter, giving me a clear opening to the 3rd guy who is unarmed.
There was no time for him to react, he just grunted and backed away but not fast enough. I pushed myself off the roll, grabbing onto his waist with my legs, spinning to the side using his stretched arms as leverage, bringing his entire body to the ground with me.
The night was immediately punctuated by a cry of pure agony as we land on the floor.
The knife I was holding now buried into his lower back, punctuating his kidneys and intestines.
It’s not that easy stabbing a knife into a body. The skin is tougher that it looks, it can take a while to get used to the feeling when you first do it, which is why I always prefer to let gravity do the work.
Put it at the right place and fall my target on it.
There was no time to lose, he’s still alive but he’s never getting up again from an injury like this.
Rolling myself up into a crouch, I yanked the knife out, pulling the only plug that prevented a massive outflow of blood onto the ground.
I wanted to go for the others but they finally managed to regain their composure and the 2nd guy shouted as he came at me, slashing wildly in the air.
He was holding his knife with the cutting edge downwards.
Swinging and cutting an ‘x’ motion in front of himself as he ran towards me.
I backed away with my knife up in front of me. He was clearly enraged and agitated, his movement is quick, random and angry.
There is no rationale to his movements. It’s just random mad slash. Any hit from him could be fatal. I could parry his strikes but this is not a choreographed performance for the camera, there’s no telling where he would move next.
The 1st chap had his knife up also, he wanted to come at me too but thankfully for me, his enraged friend is doing me a favour.
His big movements slashing about like a mad men is actually making his friend keep his distance.
No one in their right mind would go near a man swinging his knife in that manner friend or not.
I ducked strokes after stokes. Jumping and shifting as I bidded my time and waited.
There is no way he can keep up with that level of movement. He will get tired. He will get breathless.
I found my chance when the 2nd guy did a particular long slashed to his left, before he can swing his arms back up, up jumped in, literally plastering my body against his , blocking his right arm with mine, I tripped him halfway with my right leg.
He fell and grunted his knife waving dangerously close to my face but I knew he’s done.
I dropped the knife from my right hand to my left, driving the sharpened edge into the soft flesh beneath his armpits.
Before I had time to twist the knife back out, the 1st man charged at me.
He’s close, I can’t fight him off in the posture I was in.
I concentrated on the position of his stabbing hand.
I deflected it away, missing the spot I wanted to hit but good enough. I relaxed my body, allowing myself to fall backwards and when I did so, I pulled him down together with me. My right hand grabbed the back of his head, pulling it to my right while my left continued the motion of pushing his chin to the left, swinging his head painfully in the clockwise direction.
I twisted hard, but not enough to break the neck at this angle.
His body reacted naturally to the twist in the head, compensating for the pain by turning his body in the same direction so as to right the position. I held onto his body, his heavier built acted as a counterweight, pulling me upright onto of him as he turned.
It was over in 3 seconds.
Straddling a distressed and beaten man in pain, my left hand reached for the stone seat right beside us on the turfing.
My fingers dug into the heavy stone seat and pulled it down against the man’s face.
1st man : erghhhh!!!arGH!!!!!!!!!!!!
The rough stone left a laceration deep enough to see the tissues and bones beneath his face.
I got up and toppled the stone table onto his face as a crunch that sounded like you stepping on a snail stopped the rest of his body movements.
Walking over to the wailing man with a knife in his armpits, I twisted it, as he convulsed in pain.
Jeff : Where is Clement ?? …
2nd man : arghhhh!!!! aRGHH!!!!
I pulled the knife out and his body went into spasm as I watched him bite his own tongue in pain.
I jabbed the knife tip to his left shoulder.
Jeff : Where is Clement ?
2nd man : aghhhh1!! arGH!H!!!!!
Jeff : Wrong answer…
I hammered the knife into his shoulder like I was getting ketchup out from a new bottle.
I could see Gwen pressing her hands tightly against her ears as she cried. She had gone form a standing position to a squatting one.
Jeff : last chance… where is Clement ?
I was wasting my breath. The man is not in any condition to talk.
I pulled the knife out and look at him.
There was no need for me to do anything else.
He will bleed out soon.
I stood up and looked around, immediately regretting the mess I made.
It’s going to be a bitch to clean up.
I dragged the bodies 1 at a time onto the turfing and towards the side. Piling them on top of one another, I pulled the canvas from the compost heap and covered them.
I was perspiring through my shirt.
I went over to Gwen after making sure my knife is safely back in the sheath by my leg.
She screamed a little and backed away from me when she saw the state I was in.
Gwen : ahh!!
I was covered in blood. Wiping my hands down my pants, I told Gwen it’s ok.
Jeff : It’s ok… it’s ok… they’ll never hurt you again….
She hesitated for 2 seconds before coming into my arms.
I carried her up with my right hand and immediately tried Billy’s phone again.
He’s still not answering.
Jeff : Where is Mandy ??
Gwen shook her head.
Gwen : She said she wanted to go check on the babies….
I went to the staff quarters, she’s nowhere to be seen.
Heading to the nursery, I could smell the noxious smell of petrol and kerosene.
The entire place is drenched in them.
Jeff : Mandy !!…. Mandy !!
I nearly tripped over what I thought was a stool but turned out to be May.
She’s not moving.
Gwen cried and she called out to Auntie May.
I checked her for a pulse, there is none.
I looked at her body and discovered 2 stab wounds.
Swinging around, I looked for the toddlers.
I saw the cribs.
I felt as if someone had just swung a bat in my face as I looked at the 3 toddlers unmoving in their crib. A bright patch of red visible on each of their top with respective prints of cartoon characters.
Gwen was crying.
My head felt like it was about to explode.
I felt like shouting.
I felt sick.
My hand went to my mouth as I checked their pulse with a trembling finger.
Jeff : aRGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
I shouted in frustration as I kicked over a table of toys in frustration.
Looking around the place, the darkened room, the chemical smell of petrol and kerosene, Clement was going to burn the place down along with everyone in it.
Gwen’s sobbing was the only sound in the room as I tried Billy on the phone again.
Still no answer.
I heard a door open at the back of the nursery and a figure stepped out.
Gwen instantly went behind my back.
That figure was not alone.
He was dragging someone along.
As the faint spill of light from the exterior cast itself upon the faces in the room, I saw Clement.
I felt a surreal feeling of excitement hit me before it was quickly replaced by the soothing calm of an oasis.
My muscles twitched and I could almost feel an erection building.
That excitement before a kill.
I’ve never wanted to kill someone so badly before.
Clement half dragged the figure out into the open and literally threw her in front of me.
Mandy.
She was bleeding from her nose and mouth.
Gwen : Mandy !… Mandy !!
She’s not responding. I did a visual check of her body, she looked fine. No visible injury. She might have been drugged or knocked out.
I lowered my body and checked Mandy out.
Jeff : Mandy…. Mandy can you hear me ??
She’s not responsive.
My hands reached for my knife and I pulled it out from the sheath as I stood up and stepped in front of Gwen and Mandy.
Clement : I see…. Owen….. has send you to clean up his dirty work….
I refused to acknowledge him.
There is only 1 thing on my mind, that is to kill him.
Clement : your friend…… in the van…
I paused. He’s talking about Billy.
Clement : he ran…..hahaha… some kind of support you have there…
Again, I kept quiet, he looked like he has a lot to say. If he is offering information voluntarily, I’m not going to stop him.
Billy ran, that meant he’s ok. He’s still alive.
Clement : he ran away with his tail tucked in between his legs…. Hahha…I’ve never seen someone run so fast before hahahah…. Some kind of partner you got there…
I started to advance towards him and I saw him pull out 2 knives from his back.
He mirrored my steps and kept to the perimeter of my reach. I don’t have the luxury of space in the small nursery. There is still the crib with the bodies of the toddlers in front of me.
Clement : sucks isn’t it… to know that your partner ran…. Right when you need him the most …
Words. Words meant to antagonise.
People like this come into our lives everyday. You see them in the streets, on the trains, in the office.
People who just wants to put people down in order to feel better. Like the lady who is trying to be difficult to the service staff, the passenger trying to put down the cab driver, the manager trying to make things difficult for the team for absolutely no reasons at all other than to feel superior.
To let their target know they are better. That you are beneath them.
Clement : I was so close….. so close… to knowing who you are… hahahhaha….. your friend looked like he was ready to spill….hahaha….
My eyes never left Clement. I wonder how it would feel.
That feeling of watching his life drain away from his body as I put my hands around his neck.
Clement : You’re not much of a talker are you….. let me guess….. Writer ? … Gourmet ??…. hmmm.. definitely not the butcher… you don’t look like one…. Hitler ? hahah…. Priest ? ….ahhhhh….. butler ?…. yes… I think you look like a butler…hahahah…..
I tightened the grip on my knife.
Oh I am so going to enjoy this that I felt a bit bad. I’ve always seen this as a job, something I do for a living. It’s not right to take pleasure in this but not this time.
Not this time.
Clement : so…did Owen tell you who I am ?? ….. what I did ?? well…. He’s always someone who I fell…. Tells half truths…. Don’t you think ?? … he tells what people wants to hear… ?? hahah…
He may be talkative, but he’s cautious.
He maintained a safe distance from me, and when that is not possible, he made sure there is an obstacle, so I could not spring an attack on him. We paced along the length of the nursery, our eyes looking at each other like 2 predators sizing each other up before a fight.
Clement : my clinics…. Account for 30%…. of the company’s operating budget…. Did you know that ?? ….it’s a dirty job…. Nobody wants to do it… not even Owen himself….hahhaa….
He went on to say that he found it hard to swallow as well when he first started out but eventually he dealt with it.
Clement : Who are we to question what is right and what is wrong ? right ?? hahah…. The things we do…. Wrong…. The things we are made to do….tell me… how did you join the company??? …. Did you have a choice ?? … did it just fall into your lap ?? do they have something on you that you cannot wriggle out of ? hhah
I remained quiet.
I am not interested in having a chat.
Clement : come on…. I hardly get to talk with a colleague…..let’s have a chat… hahah…. Who knows… maybe we can lunch together…. Hahaha
He gave me a cocky look from the side of his eyes together with a raised eyebrow but received no response from me.
He shook his head and sighed, waving one of his knives at me.
Clement : So rude….. you are so rude… hahahha…
He went on to tell me that he has killed a lot of people in his career and the type he enjoys killing most are those that are rude.
Clement : rude people… damm…. Don’t you think rude people deserves to die… ? …. I can’t stand rude people….hahahah
I stopped moving. That’s the limit for my patience.
Clement : Since you are not much of a talker… let’s wrap this up shall we ? …. Hahah …I have one last question for you….
I got ready to receive his attack or initiate mine depending on the situation.
Clement : how do you know who to trust ?? … doing the things that we do ? hahah…
Gwen : aHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!watch out !!!
Gwen’s warning came a little too late as before I could turn my head, I was struck so hard with something that I literally flew to my left before collapsing onto the floor. I was bleeding. I could feel the warm flow of blood down the side of my head.
I can’t hear anything for a few seconds and the room was spinning.
I dropped my knife.
I turned around in time to see Clement coming towards me to finish the job when a shouting and charging figure came into the room.
Billy : aRGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!1 fuck you !!!! aRHGHH
He barrelled head first into Clement from the side, sending him staggering away from me. The precious couple of seconds was enough for me to regain my composure and I grabbed my knife and went immediately for Clement.
Gwen was screaming and shouting.
Clement rolled away and my stab was blocked with a side table he managed to grab hold of in the last minute.
He kicked my foot out from under me and I tried to knee him with the other.
Gwen : AHHHHHHHHHHHH !!! help !!!!
Clement managed to get a kick in but I blocked it with my forearm, still the force was enough to send me a few steps back. The clash of cold steel rang out twice in the dark room as I made 2 attempts to get Clement.
Clement feigned and attempt to stab Billy on the ground and I jumped over to block him, he swung and delivered a kick into the side of my body and I got a hard elbow to the side of his head.
Both of us were on the floor, picking our body up when I cast a glance towards the exit of the nursery.
That was when I realised what is going on.
Mandy is not longer on the ground. She’s already out in the courtyard with Gwen in her arms.
The dots connected itself again as I wasted half a second trying to decide going for Clement or Mandy.
Clement got up and instead of coming for me again, he laughed and ran for the back door.
I cursed, angry at my own indecisiveness.
Billy looked like shit. He was barely conscious. I ran out into the courtyard after Mandy and Gwen.
It was not easy for Mandy to handle a struggling Gwen but she was almost at the entrance of the church.
There is a waiting car.
I ran as fast as I could towards the girls.
The muscles in my claves burned like it’s on fire as I tore up the steps in the church compound, flying through the evening air silently towards Gwen.
Mandy half drag and threw Gwen towards the waiting car where another pair of hands dragged her in and the door shut.
I could still make it.
I was almost there.
Mandy came at me, throwing her body against mine, hugging and pulling me to the ground as the screech of the car tires pulled away.
Jeff : argHH!!!!
I freed myself, grabbed Mandy by her hair and smashed her head onto the ground.
I felt her entire body go limp but she is still conscious.
I stood up and panted for air.
Jeff : why…. WHY!!!
Mandy breathed heavily as she struggled to look at me with blood streaking down the side of her face.
Mandy : money…. Is too good….. to pass up….
I pointed a finger at Mandy, too mad to even speak.
Jeff : I’ll deal with you later…..and you’ll wish you were dead…
I dragged Mandy deeper into the courtyard and away from the entrance of the church.
I grabbed a shawl from Mariel’s spilled luggage and tied Mandy up.
Running back into the nursery, I went straight for Billy.
Jeff : Billy … Billy you ok ?? .. are you ok ??
He looked like he was beaten up pretty badly.
His mouth and face were swollen.
He’s bleeding in his left leg as well and I could see him using his belt as a makeshift tourniquet.
Jeff : Billy…. Billy !!!
His eyes tried to focus on me as he struggled to speak. I could see he had a missing teeth as well when he opened his mouth.
Billy : I…… I didn’t tell them …… I didn’t tell them who you are…. They wanted to know….ha.. hahha…. I didn’t tell them…. What…. What a bunch of fuckers….hahah..
I checked his body for fatal wounds, he is fucked up real good. Three fingers on his left hand were dislocated.
Jeff : I’m calling the clean up crew in….. you’ll be ok….you hear me… you’ll be ok…
The truth is I’m not sure if he will be ok. There is probably internal bleeding, I don’t know if he damaged any of the vital organs.
Billy shook his head as he coughed out blood and tried to speak.
Jeff : Don’t talk… don’t talk…. I’m calling the clean up crew….
I made the call, and cursed at the operator when she told me Owen is not available.
Operator : Clean up crew is inbound. ETA 30 minutes… hang in there…
Billy grabbed onto my shirt, yanking me forcefully towards his face as if asking me to listen.
Billy : G….. GPS……GPS on clement…
I looked at Billy as he nodded his head. Right when he charged at Clement. He planted one on his body.
Billy : less….. less than an … hour battery…. Too…. Too small….go…
He pushed a iPhone with a cracked screen onto my hand together with the keys to his Van.
Billy : go… .. my Van…. is on… level 3…opposite….
Billy opened the application for me and I could see the red beep moving on the expressway.
Looking at Billy , he nodded his head and asked me to tell them who I am .
Billy : He wanted to know…. Hahha… he wanted to know who Owen sent… hahha.. tell him yourself…..you hear me….
I nodded and gave Billy a brotherly slap across his face before I started running,
The roads has been cleared and a car honked angrily at me for dashing across the road. Flying up the staircase 3 steps at a time, I ran towards Billy’s Van.
I stared the engine and mounted the phone onto the stand and sped out of the carpark.
The GPS placed Clement heading towards Changi area.
I had just merged onto the expressway towards Changi when my phone rang.
It was Owen.
Owen : Its me…. We’re here…. Billy’s ok …
I was so angry with him but at the same time relieved. Relieved that he could tell me so much within a short sentence, basically everything I want to know.
Jeff : Mandy….
Owen : is there a reason she is still alive ?
Jeff : yes…. I’ll take care of it after I’m done over here…
Owen : alright then….. she will be at the debriefing depot ….
I overtook a bus and floored the accelerator cutting into the lane of a truck which flashed it’s high beam at me.
The GPS is still moving, Clement is heading towards the direction of changi village.
I could feel the engine of the Van groaning as I slammed my pedal down, coaxing every extra bit of energy from the vehicle.
Owen : You left quite a mess…. Not really your style…
I overtook another vehicle before trying to squeeze my way back into the left lane as the exit got nearer.
Another vehicle honked at me, no doubt throwing curses in his vehicle as he had to slow down in order not to hit me.
I did not answer Owen as I swung the vehicle out of the expressway, getting ready to turn left and catch up with Clement.
Owen : The VIP….. has been admitted back into the operating theatre….they’re waiting…
Jeff : Then you fucking get off your ass and do something !!! something !!!
I hit the steering wheel several times as I cursed at Owen through the phone.
Jeff : FUCK… FUCK you !!.. fuck !!! fuck this !!!argHHH!!!! fuck ! ahhhhhhhhhhh!!!
I panted while I cursed, frustrated at what a shit storm this had become.
Owen did not respond to my outburst at all.
It’s as if he knew that was the way I would react and chose not to acknowledge it.
Owen : I’ll be waiting for your call when you make a claim on the policy…..
Jeff : Fuck the policy…
Owen : Hibiki…… claims….. all his policy….everyone….of them….
I hung up on Owen and I raced up the quiet road leading to the eastern enclave of the island. The GPS beacon had stopped. I looked at the map through the cracked glass.
It’s the location of the old Changi Hospital. It’s been cordonred off and accessed barred to public for the longest time.
I made my turn up the hill and I would see a couple of vehicles parked right at the entrance of the abandoned hospital.
Jumping out of the van I ran towards the old building.
It’s a big place but I knew where to go. I just needed to follow the power cables. There are thick cables being laid on the ground, they are fresh, all leading towards one direction.
My shoes echoed in the quiet compound as I ran.
I saw the figure on my right and my arm came up deflecting the blow to my head as I staggered a few steps before regaining my footing.
I was at the start of a short corridor less than 25metres long. The cables fed directly into a brightly lit room at the end.
A man speaking heavily accented English at the end of the corridor spoke.
Man : stop him
It’s not Clement.
3 other men appeared out of the shadows, placing themselves between me and the door I want to get to.
Man : it’s too late…. You will never make it…
I started walking towards the men, blatantly ignoring his warning with my knife drawn.
Man : stay back !!!… we are here on diplomatic visas !!!
Jeff : arghhhh!!
The 1st man tried to grab my knife only to get knee in his stomach before I wrestled him to the ground and stab him once in his side, once under his armpit and one more directly into his neck.
The men spoke in what sounded like Malay with a slight variation. The 2nd men had a baton out and I blocked off an attempt to smash my head in. Twisting his weapon in his own hands, I relieved him of the baton, swiping the side of his skull with it and barely 1 second later was kicked in my chest by the 3rd man.
I flicked the baton out and went forward again, I threw my knife, aiming for the fleshy thigh of the 3rd man. It hit but not deep enough. The sharp tip punctured his flesh as he groaned in pain but the damage is not deep enough for the whole knife to remain lodge in.
The extended baton cracked the skull of the 2nd man before I slapped it onto the exposed wound caused by my knife on the 3rd mans thigh, splitting the flesh open further.
I stomped on his face and another swing of the baton ripped a chuck of his cheeks off before he stopped moving. The man that was speaking to me retreated behind the door.
I kept moving forward.
Picking up my knife from the floor I kicked the double swing door opened.
The room I entered is brightly lit.
It’s like a clean room or sort. The insides plastered with sterile plastic sheets.
There’s a large wash basin for cleaning up before surgery.
I could see another door in front of me.
I headed for the door but before I could stepped through it the door swung opened.
Clement : you…. Are as persistent….. as a fly….!!!
He pulled out his knives and held it in front of himself, adopting a fighting stance.
I held the baton in front of me as I relaxed the grip on my knife.
Clement : Let’s dance…
…………………………………………………………………………