Chapter 6: Road Block

~Seth

I was too preoccupied with my own thoughts and to our new instructor. Then, there's this mummy girl who turns out to be the heiress to two of the Philippines' most powerful corporations. I've known Mr. and Mrs. Willsmith for a while, but I've never met her. Why did they keep this from the public?

Violet, the tattooed girl, and her ridiculous challenge comes in second. The memories of where I first saw them together with that masked girl.

I assume it was Willsmith, I was going to confront her earlier, but our new instructor interrupted me. He introduced himself as Jacob Stan, and I'm not sure if he was related to the Stan Mafia.

I'll definitely ask Raynel about it later.

Another question that comes to mind is, what exactly are they doing here at Hill University?

It's the middle of the semester, for fuck's sake. I’m not really getting the idea of transferred student in the middle of school semester and as far there's no hiring of faculty at the middle of semester.

Even though Mrs. Suasola had retired and someone needed to take her place, they are not going to hire a new one. This happens only at the beginning of the semester. If an instructor leaves unexpectedly, every college department always has a substitute instructor.

My phone begins to ring, disrupting my deep thoughts.

*Caller: Unknown Number*

I was about to reject it, but the thought that it might be something important convinces me otherwise. Or perhaps it was one of my underlings, so I answered.

"Hello. Is this Seth?” A woman's voice on the other end of the line said. Actually, it's a soft-spoken voice. A voice that you can imagine singing lullabies every night.

"Who is this?"

I swear if this one is going to ask where the hell Raynel is. I'm going to tie her up at the very top of the flagpole, and it doesn't matter if she's a she or not.

"Hmm. This is Mrs. Willsmith, and I was wondering if you knew my daughter Patricia. She attends the same university as you."

Wait what?

It took several seconds for my mind to process what she said. Patricia? That mummy girl?

The owner of these angelic voice is the mummy girl's mom? I was about to say something, but she cut me off.

I scowled.

People nowadays keep cutting me off.

What the hell is wrong with this day? Why all of a sudden, people whom I least expected to encounter, appeared out of the blue? And why, of all people, Mrs. Willsmith?

"I'm also wondering if you could do me a favor?" She continued.

So, what now?

"What is it?" I ask curiously, I was still can’t believe that she’d called.

This the first time that she called, and where did she get my number from?

A small voice at the back of my brain tells me that Mom did something about this.

"Can you give my daughter a ride to our house? Her driver’s with me and he was going to be with me while my husband is not around."

What?! She wants me to be her daughter’s personal driver? The hell to the fucking no! Can't she just hire another one? Why me?

I take a deep breath in and exhale, gathering all the patience I have left in my body.

If there are any.

I don't want to upset her. She’s very influential person, and I don’t what to cross their bad side. Not if it jeopardizes our business.

"Not for being rude Mrs. Willsmith but I really can't. Yes, I know your daughter, but I have an important matter to attend to, and I'm afraid I won't be able to bring her to your house." I said calmly even inside I'm going to burst out and curse her to hell.

"Please..." She took a brief pause.

"If you don't take her home, I'm going to withdraw the majority of my shares in your company and inform your father that you turned down this small favor of mine. Your father will undoubtedly be dissatisfied. Let me also remind you that my husband's and my company are your largest clients. I'm sure you wouldn't allow that to happen, would you?"

Is she really threatening me? This is what I mean. I'm not going to let that happen. I might hate my old man but I am not heartless enough to see his company crumbles to pieces. And Mom will be disappointed.

"Is that a threat, Mrs. Willsmith?" I asked, knowing the obvious. Shit! Being with Raynel really took a toll on me. His idiocy is starting to infect me.

"I'm afraid to say this young man, but yes I am." She replied. I can't believe she just threatened me.

That I’m being threatened by a woman.

Now I know where that mummy girl gets her feistiness.

"I don't have a choice then." I admit defeat.

This is so not me.

"You have a choice, but you go with the better option. Thank you. I'll be rooting for your words. Bye." She said as she hung up the phone.

§

Now that we're in my car, I'm scolding myself. Why didn't I just let her go with that new instructor?

But then I realized that if Mrs. Willsmith found out that I didn't stick to my words, there would be a lot of questioning.

Damn!

I was driving quietly when I caught a glimpse of her out of the corner of my eye. She was leaning against the window, tapping her finger on her lap and humming a strange tune.

She’s just as weird as her looks.

I think about what happened this morning. Maybe this is the right time to ask her what I was supposed to ask her.

"I thought Mr. and Mrs. Willsmith didn't have a child." I said, breaking the silence between us.

I can see her body jerk in surprise as I open up a conversation. She quickly recovers though, and stops what she's doing, then sits up properly.

She cleared her throat before speaking.

“What happened when you told me to shut up? ” Her chin jutted up defiantly.

Tsk! I really want to drop her off my car right now. I ignored her stubbornness.

If she don't want to answer, then, don't. I’m not going to force her.

I put my focus more on the road.

I heard her sigh.

"I'm adopted."

That is obviously something I am already aware of. Despite the fact that curiosity has crept up to my neck, I keep my face straight.

She took a deep breath again and looked away before speaking again. I can see her yes filled with sadness as the words flowed out from her.

I didn't say anything and just let her talk.

"They found me in a deserted road, walking alone." She blankly stated.

“Something had happened. I lost someone I love dearly that night and I couldn’t do anything about it. I was scared.” A single tear escape from her eyes. Despite the fact that she is wearing oversized glasses and a mask.

The light glinted off her tear as it fell to her cheek. Her nose sniffs, and she quickly wipes it away before adjusting her glasses.

She's crying, and I'm not sure if I should feel bad about bringing up the subject. But I'm surprised that she tells me about her life.

She said something about being alone on a dark road and losing someone. Does this mean she was the masked girl I saw that night? Had the tattooed girl died? But who exactly is Violet? So they aren't related?

I need more information. What if everything was just a coincidence? What if there were two parties involved? And same thing happened that night.

Kidnapped at the same time, but in different circumstances and locations. But that doesn’t sit right.

"You said you lost someone. Was that your sister? Did she died?" I probed a little more. In case she decides to give me more details.

She looked at me as if her blood had escaped her body, her exposed skin blanches, and beads of sweat dripped from her brow.

"H-ow did you know that I have a sister?" Her voice is shaking. Is she afraid of something? Why she's acting like she's in police interrogation room?

“A-re you one of them?” Her hand slowly shift near the door knob of my car. Is she planning of jumping off my car?

One of them? Who exactly? What the hell? Did she mean about those guys who kidnapped them?

Do I look like a kidnapper?

What the fuck?

“Look Willsmith. I don’t know what you’re talking about but I’m not going to hurt you. I promise. ” I assured her. Her tense figure relaxed a bit and didn’t say a word but her hand still brushing the knob.

She’s deafeningly quite for a while. Thick silence hung in air as we drove through the road. We were traveling now in a dense road, couple of kilometers away from their subdivision.

“Why did you ask if I had a sister? Do you know something about her?” She ask in a soft weak voice. If not for my keen auditory skill I would have missed it.

I fixed my gaze on the road. I would have answered her question about how I found out about her twin, but two black vans appeared from the intersection and blocked our way.

I quickly step on the brakes, making the tires screech. We spun a few times before coming to a complete stop, sideways.

"Fuck!" I hissed as I tightened my grip on the steering wheel.

"What was that?" she exclaimed, clutching her seatbelt tightly.

Who the fuck are these people?!

"No matter what happens, don't go outside." I sternly ordered as I got out of the car, she nodded.

As soon as I shut the door, I yelled at the top of my lungs, "What the fucking hell is your problem?!"

The van's door slides open. More than ten men climbed down with baseball bats and guns in their hands.

Oh, fuck it! .... Not again... Not now, not when Willsmith’s around.

I am not a gangster, for fucking idiot's sake. I'm an assassin! Why do I always end up in gang wars?

"Well. Well. Well. What a pleasant surprise. Who do we have here? The great King of the Underground City. What a great timing." The bearded man with a big belly, chortled. Another ten people emerged from the other van. That makes them twenty.

"What do you want?" I ask blankly, my hands in my pockets.

"You owe me big time asshole! You killed my brother!" A guy that around my age with a loose t-shirt the denim pants holding a gun shouted.

He looks familiar.

I sigh, aren't they tired yet? And to think that with the number of people I killed, how can I still remember who those people are?

"Who's your brother again?" I said nonchalantly as I moved angling myself to my car. Where I am blocking the view so Willsmith can't see what's going on outside. Then I cross my arms.

“Crane.” He sneered, the tip of his ears turning red.

"Oh, Crane." I said haughtily, I touch my chin, wondering who the hell is Crane.

"I'm sorry, but with all the people I've killed, I can't recall who he was. Don't worry, I've already sent him to hell. So, what are you going to do about it?"

 I'm not usually good at talking, but these hooligans certainly makes me talkative.

"You monster! You will rot in hell! You killed him mercilessly! He begged for his life, but you killed him anyway, he simply didn't give you the exact information, and you killed him! You didn't give him another chance!"

He said- I mean he hollered pointing his gun to me. Hmm now I remember Crane.

Crane. Crane. Wrong information?

Oh, that guy.

The guy that gave me wrong information about where my next target was. Now I remember.

As a result of his clumsy actions, I almost lost my mission, so I killed him because he's useless.

Useless people are best to kill because they begged to live, and it gives me pleasure to see them in pain. Cruel, right? Yeah, I know.

"Do you remember now?" He cocked his gun and pointed it directly to my head, tsk. Does he really believe that a single bullet can kill me?

"Tsk. Do you think that thing could bring me down? Are you even aware of who-"

"Seth? What exactly is going on?"

I wasn't able to finish my sentence when someone interrupt.

Didn't I tell her to stay in the fucking car?

I turned around to give this stupid girl a warning glare to get the hell back in the car. She's standing there with my car door wide open.

Idiot!

"What exactly are you doing? I told you to stay in the car, didn't I?" I snarl at her.

"You were taking so long. That's why I checked on you."

Stupid. Stupid. Stupid! Bird brain!

Crade burst out laughing. Yes. I do recall his name now. He is Crane's twin brother.

"Sitan brought a girl with him. I had no idea you had such low standards for women. Is that the way you prefer them? Boring and unattractive?"

Was that meant to be an insult? I just ignore him, but this vexing woman I'm with didn't take it lightly.

"Hey, I'm not boring!" She slammed the door shut and stomped over to me, hands on her hips.

My head shook in disbelief, and I groaned as I brushed my hands across my face.

She isn't just stupid. She's absolutely nuts.

Couldn't she sense danger? Didn’t she know where to put that sassy mouth of her in place?

"Back to my car now!" I barked at her, and in response to her foolishness, she simply shook her head.

"No, I want to know what's going on." She crosses her arms across her chest and turns to face the thugs in front of us. It took her a moment to realize they were holding a gun.

"Y-you guys. W-why are you holding that?" She asked, nervously, pointing to their weapons.

“Seth what’s going on? Why are they pointing their gun on you?”

“Idiot. Didn't I tell you to stay in my car, but you pigheaded girl won't listen?" I took her arm gently and dragged her behind me.

The jerks smirked at me.

Please remind me to cut their mouths off their faces later.

"Go get her!" Crade growled to his companions.

Then they all rushed at us.

This is why I told her to stay in my fucking car.

The bearded man threw a punch at me. Before he can hit me, I gently push Willsmith away from me and deflect the incoming assault.

I twisted his arms and elbowed him in the neck. I grabbed his head and kneed him in the face before dragging his body and knocking him into his companions.

When I sensed an attack coming from behind me, I docked, and he hit the one charging in front of me. I sweep my feet, tripping them both.

There are four down and more sixteen to go.

I can easily take them out if Willsmith stays out of my way.

~Tricia

I was still stunned, my feet were nailed to where he gently pushed me, away from him. I stood there, unable to move, staring at Seth as he fought back.

His moves and attacks were solid. Each assault were perfectly calculated.

He turned his gaze to me while dodging incoming attacks and yelled.

“Idiot! Don’t just stand there! Get the fuck out of here! Get in to my car! Now! " I gathered my wits and dashed to his car, but before I could touch the door handle, someone from the back grabbed my neck.

I was about to yell, but he shoved his hand into my mouth, muffling my voice, and I was glad I was wearing a mask, or I might have tasted his hand.

"Hmmmm—" I protest, beating his arm around my neck, when I feel a cold metal pressed into the side of my head. I immediately know it is a gun. I freeze and put my hands up in surrender.

He force me to walk, where Seth is currently fighting. He twisted the man's neck so hard that I could hear a crack, and it bent awkwardly before his body slumped on the ground.

He was the only one left standing.

Except for me and this guy with holding a gun on my head. All of his opponents are already sprawled on the ground.

"Sitan." The man who is holding me sang his name. When Seth saw me locked up with a gun pointing at my head, his eyes widened. His jaw clenched and his hands curled into a tight fist.

"Crade, let her go, she has nothing to do with this!" He furiously shouted.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. How does it feel now that I'm holding the woman you love?"

What is he talking about? Is he thinking I'm his girlfriend? There's no way in hell!

Seth's brows rose at first, then he laughed for the first time. I would have laugh too, only if I’m not in this situation.

"Do you think she's my girlfriend?" He muses.

Tsk. He had time to laugh now? Can't he just take me away from this jerk's metal-like grip instead of arguing with him?

He laughs heartily as he throws his head back. I had to admit that I like the sight of him laugh but him, joking around while I’m in life and death situation, made the corner of my mouth droop.

"You said she's boring, I know that too. Also, she's not my type, like…" He added and looked at me from my feet to my head before continuing what he was saying.

"Disgusting."

Ouch! Does he really mean that? Does he really need to say that? In front of m Should I be offended?

“Well, I guess it doesn't matter if I kill her.”

The man behind me growled, his grip on my neck tightening. Choking me. My mouth gapes open as the air struggles to enter my lungs.

I looked Seth in the eyes, pleading. His face hardened, and he slowly tilted his head to the right, as if to say, I'll do the same.

I mimic him.

When he saw that I was imitating his moves, he smirked and his eyes glinted proudly as if they were saying, Very good.

He reached into his back pocket for something.

"Yeah you can do that, but first, take this." He said then throw a familiar star-shaped metal, it soar straight to my captor's forehead. The metal sink to his head in an instant.

“Aaack!”

I felt the grip on my neck loosened until it was completely gone. I inhale deeply, overwhelming my lungs with air. I rush towards Seth after I've freed myself, but my body plummets to the ground halfway and darkens.

The world around me goes completely turns black.