Duke And Black Organization’s Assassin II
MHIAMB Fanshot #18
[December 2018]
DUKE LIONHART'S NARRATION
Una akong nakalabas ng hall na nagsisilbing base ng dapat ay target ngayong gabi. Inikot ko ang tingin sa paligid bago binunot ang baril sa loob ng coat na suot ko habang naglalakad. After loading it, I hurried to the motorbike I parked earlier near a garden.
Pero hindi pa ako nakakasakay ay may biglang nagpaputok mula sa likuran. I silently cursed though this was already expected the moment that the first assassin, Vanessa Salvador, messed up with our plan to assassinate tonight's target.
What surprised me though were the person who fired. It was Vanessa, holding the second assassin, Bretaley Anaopajarito, by her neck. A hostage? C'mon! I'm a freaking mafia lord and I'm in a situation where a hero would be. Those thoughts aside, one thing is for sure now. Vanessa was a spy and sent to kill me-through this lame act. That's why she messed up.
"You are surrounded, Duke Lionhart. You might want to lower your gun." Nakangising sabi ni Vanessa habang nakatutok sa akin ang baril nang hawak si Bretaley sa kabilang kamay.
"Yeah?" Bored and dull, I answered.
Saka naman dahan-dahang lumabas sa rooftop ng kaharap kong hall ang dalawang sniper sa magkabilang dulo. Oh, fuck. I had no choice. Hinawakan ko ng maayos ang baril na hawak ko saka sinimulan itong kalasin habang mariin ang titig kay Vanessa na nagsisimula namang lumaki ang ngisi.
Sa paglaglag ng huling parte ng baril sa damuhan ay mabilis kong kinuha ang dalawang flash bang sa magkabila kong bulsa. I threw the first to Vanessa and the other one upward. The smoke filled the open area, blinding them for seconds and buying me time to run to my motorbike. I must thank the older Lerwick for that.
Nang mapaandar ko na ang motor ay siya namang tuluyang pagkawala ng usok mula sa flashbang. The snipers have finally spotted me. But I fired earlier than they did. Yun nga lang, hindi sila ang pinaputukan ko kundi si Vanessa. On her knee and the gun, making her yell out of pain. Saka ko pinaharurot ang motor papunta sa direksyon nilang dalawa.
Isang ikot sa puwesto nila at nang matapat ako kay Bretaley ay inilahad ko ang kamay ko. That split seconds were enough for the snipers. Dalawang beses na paputok at tinamaan ang braso ko. That made me wince. Bretaley then quickly took my hand and jump onto the motorbike behind me.
"Hold me tight." Sabi ko bago muling pinaharurot ang motor palayo sa paliku-likong paraan, umiiwas sa mga balang humahabol pa rin.
"Thank you, Sir." I heard Bretaley whisper. She should've known we got no time for that.
"You have your gun, don't you?" She yelled yes. "Aim for the assholes, they're on the rooftop."
Naramdaman ko naman agad ang pagkuha niya sa baril at pagpapaputok niyon sa mga sniper. I could hear her shots but the shots on my motorbike seemed to be freaking louder! Halos tumagilid na kami sa kakaiwas ko sa mga bala.
"The heck are you doing?!" Inis kong tanong habang tutok pa din sa madilim at one-way road. Goodness, my motorbike's gaining a lot of damage!
"Sorry, Sir! Magalaw kasi, Sir!" Pasigaw din niyang sagot dahil hindi kami halos magkarinigan sa lakas ng ugong ng motor.
I simply tssed. It took her about six shots before the bullets stopped attacking my precious motorbike. Just a few minutes after though, when there was an intersection near the exit of this isolated area, isang sports car naman ang biglang lumiko at sumalubong saka iniharang ang side nito sa daan.
Bretaley rest her gun on my shoulder and aimed for the car's driver. I was about to turn on its left side when another bullet came from behind. Unaware of it, I wasn't able to dodge. Dahil parehas na gulong ang tinamaan, sabay kami ni Bretaley na napatalon paalis sa motorbike.
Napalingon kami sa pinanggalingan ng bala at nakita sa malayo si Vanessa sakay ng isang mataas na motorbike habang hawak ang isang baril. I frowned. She'd make a good sniper for us but she seemed to be fated to be my prey.
Papasok palang sana kami sa sasakyang binarilan ni Bretaley ng driver nang bigla namang dalawang motor na naman ang dumating mula naman sa harapan kung saan rin nanggaling ang sasakyan. Maangas na huminto ang tatlong motor sa harap namin ng kasama kong recruit. There were three of them and two of us.
"Makakapagyabang ka pa rin ba, Lionhart?"
Nakangisi pa ring tanong ni Vanessa pagkababa ng sasakyan habang itinatap sa balikat ang hawak na baril. Her knee's still wounded, making her walk illed. Only adrenaline rush keeps her from pain. Badly want to kill me, yeah?
Hindi ko siya sinagot bagkus ay binulungan si Bretaley nang nananatili sa kanila ang tingin. "Don't waste your bullet, Anaopajarito."
Tumango siya. That's when I moved for a surprise attack. Their distance was reachable enough. Moreover, they have underestimated us with the situation ending up lowering their guards. I performed a strong high-kick just as Bretaley shot her last bullets to Vanessa's first minion. Naiwasan nito ang una pero natamaan sa pangalawa.
Tumilapon naman ang baril na hawak ng lalaking inatake ko ng sipa. Sinundan ko ng isang roundhouse kick ang unang atake. His senses came back and jump backwards. That didn't stop me from kicking. Dahil sa tama sa braso ko ay puro sipa ang ginagawa ko. Sa huli ay sinangga niya ito ng isa ring sipa na sinabayan ng jab papunta sa tagiliran ko. Just as when Vanessa fired on my direction. I had no choice but to avoid the bullet and take the jab. Because of that, I jumped backwards and turned to defense.
Nakita ko naman sa peripheral vision ko ang laban sa pagitan ng dalawang babaeng assassin. Mukhang nakalalamang sa bilis si Vanessa at nasa offense pero magaling naman ang depensa ni Bretaley.
Nang ibalik ko ang atensyon sa kaharap ay sinubukan nitong tumakbo at kunin ang pinakamalapit na baril. Wrong move, doofus. That was when I ran to his direction and threw my feet on his head. Umiwas siya pakaliwa pero dahil sa isa ko pang sipang nagmula sa ibaba, malakas siyang tumilapon palayo nang tumama sa mukha ang sipa ko.
Before he could recover and stand up, I was able to pick the gun and shoot him both on his forehead and his chest. Astonishment drawn on his face, his corpse slowly rest on the cold cement.
Disregarding the dead men, I shifted my gaze onto the ladies still on fight. Bretaley was now attacking with only her bare hands. On the other hand, Vanessa had two blades that reaches her arm to defend. Because of those, Bretaley continued receiving cuts on her arms from Vanessa's defense weapons. Nang punit-punit na at marami nang sugat ay patalong umatras si Bretaley palayo. Ganon din si Vanessa.
I remained quiet, watching them with my arms crossed. Bretaley is a rookie. She might as well learn on this. Sooner or later, she'll have to deal with the same situation.
Sa pagkakataong iyon, si Vanessa na ang umatake. Mabilis na pinag ekis nito sa dibdib ang hawak niyang patalim saka sumisigaw na tumakbo papunta kay Bretaley. The latter had no choice but to lower her head, move to the side and jump to dodge her attacks. But a few minutes after, Vanessa was able to corner her. Sabay silang bumagsak sa semento at si Vanessa ang nasa ibabaw, sinusubukang isaksak ang patalim kay Bretaley na pinipigilan naman ito.
That's when I acted. Naglalakad na lumapit ako sa kanila at pinaputukan si Vanessa sa bewang. She was sent away from Bretaley then. Dalawang magkasunod na putok ulit ang ginawa ko na iniwasan niya sa pamamagitan ng paggulong palayo. Two shots for her blades and another two for her already wounded knees. She screamed sufferring.
Nang matapat sa nanghihinang si Bretaley ay inilahad ko ang isang kamay ko habang nakatutok pa rin ang baril kay Vanessa. Ruthless and cold, muli kong pinaputukan ang hindi na makagalaw na si Vanessa sa magkabilang balikat kasabay ng paghila patayo kay Bretaley katabi ko. Vanessa was almost crying with still blazing eyes fixated on me.
I lowered my gun and flat and cold, I told her, "Live, Salvador. I will come back for my motorbike and by that time, we'll end your now useless life. In a more ruthless way."
Hinila ko na si Bretaley patalikod at pasakay sa sasakyang humarang sa amin kanina. Bretaley removed the dead driver in the seat and made a way for me. Nang sumakay ako ay dumiretso naman na siya sa passenger seat. I wasted no time and started the engine. One last glance on Vanessa through the rear mirror before leaving.
Bretaley during the ride has been glancing on me though to the extent that I already asked her why. The lady almost jump of surprise but answered immediately.
"Ah, Sir.. I was able to assassinate the target.." She was almost lowering her head and added, "Nung simulan akong atakihin ni, uh, Vanessa."
I took a glimpse of the shy assassin. How ironic for someone who just killed. But then again I found myself amused, curving a short yet genuine smile on my lips.
"Good for you, Black Organization's newly recruited assassin."
Dahan-dahan siyang tumingala at halos kuminang ang matang nginitian ako. Well, she has been accepted in a very elite underground society mafia group. I could appreciate her genuine gratefulness but when she was about to hug me for it, mabilis kong iniliko ang sasakyan dahilan para masalampak ulit siya sa upuan.
"Ouch... So, you don't like hugs as they say, Sir.." Ilang na naman niyang sabi habang hawak ang ulong tumama.
"A simple thank you will do." Cold and monotone I answered.
Despite of it, the lady showed me a grin. "Pero nung yinakap ka naman ni Miss Amber nung lasing sya kagabi, di ka naman umangal, Sir."
I gulped and supressed my humiliation. And eventhough I could feel my ears burning, I managed to reply with the usual cold and flat tone. "Hindi ako magdadalawang isip na ibaba ka dito ngayon din, Anaopajarito."
"Halaaa! Sorry po! Hindi mauulit, Sir!"
Psh.
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