Casket of Lights

Chapter 8 : Agony of the Cursed

Rossé Lilybeth's POV

I glanced at the huge screen at the center of the hall. “He’s cool! Did you see that?” The corner of my lips instantly formed a smile when I saw a man, looking petite with his gummy smile, perhaps in his twenties singing softly as he hit the right note.

There was silence and his voice seemed to bewildered me like time had stopped again. I had to admit that it felt like I was being pulled forth into it, even the lyrics and the meanings were becoming more clearer and clearer.

“Hey, Redwood!” I glanced at Redwood and surprised when I caught him smiling but his eyes spoke different, bitterness. It was all bitter. “Are you okay?"

“Never better.” Redhair’s voice softened as it lingered around my ears. “I used to love that,” he said.

My eyebrows creased. “Singing?” His eyes caught mine. “Why the sudden change of decision?” I asked.

His jaw twitched and I tensed up and he did nothing. “It went so blur. I woke up one day, I have already got tired waiting for something I couldn’t have.” Redwood turned his back, leaving me dumbfounded.

I took a deep breath before I uttered, “You shouldn’t never give up on something you really want. It’s difficult to wait but it’s more difficult to regret.”

I could not understand why I have a lot of guts to say this when I, myself, was also once gave up an incredibly special dream. I was still vivid inside my memory and yet I could still clearly recall my voice sounded like when I promised myself those reassuring words. I must be an interior designer.

Redhair stood still, leaving no response. But I was surprised when he walked at the nearest small cluster behind the target. A fine young brunette lady, wearing a stiletto, brushed her hand against him.

I blew a sigh as I studied her while Redhair seemed to be fascinated by her actions.

“Eight people, five shooters,” Stan said. “Main target’s at the small clusters, directly at ya’ 9 o’clock.” I heard him cough as the brunette lady kissed Redhair’s cheeks down to his neck.

My heart increased its pound as my brows snapped together. I averted my gaze at Stan who was now enjoying the show of Redhair. “Shooters were scattered at every direction, be careful.”

I met his gaze, Stan’s eyes burned with curiosity, as his lip were grinning. I instantly drew a deadpanned look and proceed at looking at the handbook placed on the table.

“It wasn’t five, it was ten,” an unfamiliar voice said. “Another five at the right wing.”

“Target’s moving,” Stan spoke, followed by high pitched background noise.

I held my breath and dropped the handbook back at the table. “Redhair right in the move,” I said as I followed Redhair switching to another position, bidding goodbye at his fling.

At such thought, an urgent pang of pain or anxiety shoot through my spine, almost sending my limbs moving on their own. I controlled on what this impulse like stopping to bleed at shark’s front. It would be a foolish act now.

“Roger, ya’ clear? Move,” Stan directed Redhair. I glanced at the surroundings once again, meeting the gaze of Stan. “Observer? Go to the place now.”

Before I stood up, I quickly twisted my ring and disassembled the microchip attached to it. “Hawk blue patched in,” I replied as I walked towards the target.

“Don’t get too close, Ocean.”

“Halt, hold ya’ ground.” Stan’s company were positioned to watch the entrances and exits, armed with binoculars, cameras, as well as their weapon. My eyes landed at Stan who glanced around for a moment, like taking in his surrounding for the first time.

I walked at the nearest boundary, dropping the microchip, fixing my boots. “Alpha, I am in. T-2 minutes.” I flashed a sly smile when a bulky guard locked his gaze at me as if trying to unravel something.

“Delta ready for upload,” a voice said. I blew a sigh before walking at the seat among their cluster.

Mr. Kim remained silent, but his eyebrows spoke otherwise. “Let’s get to the point, shall we?”

“Mr. Kim, I said that off.” Morgan Hunter pop tips his head formally, but without much enthusiasm. I could not tell if it was a fatigue or impatience. He has something to say no doubt.

A man in a white coat placed a gray metal suitcase at the side of Mr. Kim. “We got a deal,” Kizumi said, as he fixed his clothes. “Thirty percent of that share was mine.”

“Show him the money, man.” Morgan said, but as soon as they have taken their place across him, he spoke low and steadily.

Minutes have passed when the brunette girl, who flirted with Redhair a while ago, took out her ipod and started counting the chips. “Why is it half?” Her soprano voice rang into my ears. I hate her.

Kizumi jerked his head in the direction of his bulk bodyguard and glanced at Morgan once again. “Are you infringing this contract?” he said, snapping his finger.

My chest rose and fell with rapid breaths as I heard a clicking of opened guns as if someone were refilling the gun with the magazine. “I got a bad feeling ‘bout this,” I mumbled.  

“Ocean, if I tell you to run, run.” I heard Redhair said.

It was as if I got instantly glued at my spot. “Who are you tell me that?” I took a deep breath, recomposing myself.

“Are we clear?” Redhair asked. “Ocean.”

“No – ” I pursed my lips together as I walked slowly away from the target.  – “Not doing that.”

I was about to move away from my place when I heard his response, voice lower and stern than normal. “Are we clear?” I looked away and continued. “Yes,” I mumbled as I fastened my pace, going towards at his direction.

“Change of plan,” Redhair blurted out. “Rosse – ”  He paused before he continued.  – “You are not coming.”

A line formed at my eyebrows. “Wait, what?” I balled my fists.

Redhair shook his head and uttered as he walked towards the nearest area of the cocktails. “Someone please escorts her away from this area, transfer to quadrant one.” He let out a harsh breath before he added, “We are the north western corner of the casino, over.”

“Why the sudden change?” I asked, biting my lower lip.

He gave a dismissive hand gesture to me and whispered, “Move. You will have approximately three minutes.” His eyes once again flashed the same kind of emptiness when I first meet him.

“You can at least give me a hand at this part,” I mumbled as I reached the tissue. But Redhair just pivoted his feet, fixing the ponytail. After minutes of being still, he looked at my face and patted my head.

The most peculiar part of this is I could not fathom the idea of falling in love with him. It was a bliss or was it really a bliss? I remained silent for a while, reading his mind. As if on cue, my mind went blank, no thoughts in torrential downpour.

“No one can escort, Rosse,” Stan replied at the other line. “Redhair, I’ll cover for you, take Rosse outside.”

I chuckled. “Listen, hear that?” I inclined my head at his direction, smirking.

His breath quickened as he touched my hand. “Hurry up!” He insisted.

“Ah, yeah, you’re right.” I chuckled, walking slowly. I gazed at his back; it was so masculine, but I began to wonder why he chose to be a detective and not a singer.

“There’s a guy over there at the nearest door, handling a gun,” Redhair said. He stopped when he felt that I was not walking. He glanced at me, studying, as his ears were burning red. “Hurry up, Ocean!”

“Move faster folks, the turtle will eat y’all.” Stan said in between his laughs.

He grabbed my wrist with his gentle hand, and mumbled, “We should go.”

“Where’s your necklace.” My eyes widened, trying to recollect. “Was it important? I took it off yesterday, its inside my bag,” I uttered as I scratched my head.

He tensed his shoulder. “Never mind. Here, take this,” he said, as he took a coin from his pocket. He wrapped his right hand around my waist to pass the coin. 

My eyebrows creased as my mouth dropped. “What is this… a coin?” I looked at him, dumbfounded.

“No, an old tracking device,” he said before he exhaled.

We were about to take another step when a loud bang filled our ears. The crowds did let up their loud screams and resorted to a passive movement going to the exit.

“He put a hole in my Prada!” Stan yelled at the other line, like a kid who lost his lollipop.

Uneasy silence descended on the building like a there was a hurricane inside, filling up first with despairs, and then fear as they were drowning at the sight, as bullets showered in every direction of the room.

“Ocean!” Redhair yelled as he instantly covered my head before pinning me at the ground.

I mentally face palmed. “My heels! That hurts you know.” I squinted my eyes at him.  

Instead of responding, he took a pause before he asked, “Are you alright?” He instantly pulled his gun out of his pockets, changing his ammo with just a hand. “What are you thinking?” He added while aiming for the assailant.

“Guess I am not thinking.” I blurted out, crawling away from him. I stopped when my eyes saw Stan’s team quickly assembling in their position, fighting at the front, as used bullets dropped from their guns. “My entire life flashed before my eyes back then,” I added.

I glanced at my back, as Redhair constantly firing his gun. When everything seemed to be fine, he followed me, still locking his gaze around the area. “Are you alright?” he uttered.

“I’m totally fine.” I snorted, massaging my knees from that fall.

He chuckled before he uttered. “The next time we make a heist together, I’ll make plan for you.” He was about to scratch his nose with his free hand when he yelled in pain.

“What happened to your arm?” I blinked.

He folded his hand on his lap. “I don’t know it was kinda blur.” He turned away, assessing the site.

It took me a while to recall how we landed. "I'm sorry it was my fault." He remained silent. I followed his gaze; all the slot machines and the glass were scattered at the floor as coins and chips dropped from the seats. “I’ll lend you a hand.” I offered. I touched his arm with my index finger,  

His nose crinkled as his face frowned. “Oh, cows! Just let me rest here for a while.”

“Lucky bastard,” I chuckled as I patted his back.

He leaned at the metal plate that served as our temporary shelter and said, “Agree to disagree.”

Sadness clouded his features. “You really need saving,” I whispered. I watched him closed his eyes momentarily as beads of sweat fall from his temple.

“You don’t have to. I told you to run, didn’t I?” A vein popped out from his neck. He searched for another gun in his pocket and handed it over to me. “Take it.”

“Though we’re a team?” Instead of answering, he gave me a blank look. “I don’t know how to use this.” I looked away as I placed it around my hip and search a long cloth. My eyes landed at the white handkerchief at the ragged table, few steps away from us. “Just wait here, cover me.”

I walked over as my heart was pounding hard. I could not remain in a confined space like here. My body felt hollow and empty, but I need to do this.

“At your back!” Redhair yelled, bobbing his head at my direction, face reddened.

I raked my fingers through my hair, face flushed red. “These goons!” I kept guarding my face as a hulk man kept on throwing punches. I blew the strands of hair at my face as I kept my arms close, jabbing quickly, not extending much my arm.

I was about to throw a last punch when he caught my right hand and bolted from his position, giving me a more open guard. I tried to swing my palm all the way through his nose, but he instantly pulled out his hand, giving me hard punch at my stomach.

I instantly coughed as I tasted a red coppery liquid at my mouth. He was about to throw a punch when his body landed immediately at the marble tiled floor. I took a glance at his back. It was Stan who literally saved my day.

I blew a sigh, hugging my stomach, filling the excruciating pain. I stood up and slowly walked towards the nearest bench, away from them.  “Mother hen!” I screamed at the top of my lungs when someone pulled my hair, walking against the opposite direction of Redhair.

I grabbed his arm, pulled as I turned myself towards him. I scrunched my face when I glanced at his head. It looks so sad…so bald. Another scream filled the air as he pulled my hair so hard as if it was going to uproot from its roots. I instantly, pushed his hips and pull his legs, still in pain from the stomach punch. With all my might, I stood up, and found myself throwing punches at him. “That’s for my hair!”

“Redhair!” I was about to pivot my feet when I saw a man wearing white coat pointed an M16 riffle gun pointed at Redhair’s head.

The man in a white coat was about to pull the trigger but with my reflexes, I immediately, threw my heels at him, changing the displacement of the bullet. 

I shut my eyes closed as I have felt a sudden sharp pain. “Got you covered.” I chuckled, patting his back.

“Thank you, Baby.” Redhair winked at me, running towards the main target.

My face instantly scrunched when I heard the last word. “You really need saving, aren’t you?” I yelled. I ran at the direction of my pair of boots and wore it once again.

I was about to pivot my feet when someone grabbed my hair, landing around his arms as I felt a cold metal pointing at my neck. Please, not again! I shut my eyes closed. “What do you want?” I mumbled, trying to calm my senses.

“Rosse!” Stan yelled.

My eyes caught him positioning himself in front, quickly loading his magazine.

“Shoot me, she dies,” his baritone voice said. “Drop it.”

I drew a blew and yelled. “A little help here!” Inside my pocket, I instantly turned on the tracking device, Redhair sent me.  

He cussed, before he yelled. “I said, drop your gun now! Don’t follow us!”

“Ya! Don’t you dare cuss at my back.” I rolled my eyes, trying to stay calm while searching for Redhair at the chaotic crowd. My eyes landed at the left wing where Redhair was busy fighting the girl who basically flirted with him.

“Move!” he screamed, gripping at my throat tightly. “I said, move away of else I’ll kill this girl!”

I rolled my eyes in annoyance. “Okay,” I mumbled, gasping for air. “Just chill.” Before I took a step backwards, I heard a swift engine stopped at his back. I could feel the adrenaline rushing inside me, perhaps, because of the injury that I have got.

Before he stepped into the car’s door, he whispered, “I won’t hurt you. Just follow me.”

I nodded. I took a last glance at Stan whose face ran out of colors, eyes popping out. The corner of my lips turned up, walking slowly so Stan could follow. I know you could decipher this, Stancio Alexander. I winked at him, slowly tuning my gaze down.

“Faster!” the baritone voice said. “Michael, drive!”

Before he could pull my hair once again, I instantly crossed my left middle finger and index finger and raised both my thumb and pinky, forming a small letter w. Decipher, Stan.

As the loud sound of engine rang into my ears, I looked back, and the building seemed to disappear into a world of light. All I could heard was a moment of silence as if there was a lot of angels inside the car. The whole drive was fast, I have not noticed until we stopped at an isolated area full of junk cars and metals.

“Where are we?” I asked as I opened the car door.

His bald hair shinned as the light reflected at his scalp. “Stay back.”

I prevented the urge to laugh but when he drew another step, it was shinier than before, I burst out laughing. “Boy, that was awesome! A-Again!” I was about to clap both my hands when his bodyguard pushed me forward, almost got me tripping. “O-Ouch!”

“Wait! You look familiar.” I blinked. Why did I have not noticed this a while ago? Should I buy memory booster? “Kizumi?”

“I am his son.” He stared resolute into my eyes, I tried to remain composed and relaxed, but my neck stiffened. His voice increased softer, quieter but the fragment of pain was still intact dissipating into his face.

The signs of the buildings were streaming by. I am no longer sure which direction we have travelled.  It was a mystery but something inside my head were saying that it was somehow familiar. I averted my gaze and watched the children playing behind the trees. It reminded me of those days.

“My siblings, my parents including my cousins went to the same university of law. I was the only one stupid in my family.” Pain resonated in his voice. “But that was not my fault,” Kizumi added.

“Why are you doing this?” I blurted out as we stopped walking. My eyes widened as I saw an ongoing construction of long bridge at the end of the road.

“I was just born a little dumb that’s why I had to prove to him that I can handle this,” he said. “He hit me several times and looked down on me because I didn’t understand this trade properly.”

I nibbled my bottom lip and yelled, “Pathetic! Why are you still going that?” I was about to shift my gaze towards the nearest bench when my eyes caught a bunch of kids, playing at the river. “Who are these people?” My mouth went slightly agape.

Kizumi looked at me as his eyes were smiling too. “The orphanage, I have been helping behind his back.”

It was as if there was a small lump that formed inside my throat. “I-I…” I remained silent as I stare into the depth of nothingness. The idea blurred into my sight.

He cut me off. “He looked down on me for causing trouble.” He lifted his chin, arms remained at his side. “All my siblings were perfect to him. I mean, I am also his child.”

The bone in my jaw twitched as I rolled my eyes at him, left hand hugging and supporting my stomach.  “The point is it was illegal and dangerous,” I blurted.

“But he treated me like I was invisible, so I had to do this.” He gave a half smile before he continued. “I just wanted his attention, you see. I just wanted him to look at me but perhaps in this state.”

When something came falling out of the sky, I was shocked at first. But then I realized that it was a snow. A single white flake microscopically dancing, tumbling, and freewheeling, making rotations because of the wind. At the same way, it disappeared and landed without a sound. Yet there were no clouds.

His eyes flooded with tears and whispered, “I just ended up being a failure again.”

“No, you weren’t, Kizumi,” I said as I patted his back. “What are we doing here anyway?”

“Meeting a friend,” Kizumi blurted, as he reached for his pocket.

“Alpha team, I am in.” A sudden feedback from the earpiece made me scrunched my face. My poor ears!  

A line appeared at my brows momentarily as my mouth formed an o. I totally forgot my tracker and the earpiece. I took a sharp exhale before I raised my hands at the air, and yelled, “Redhair, wait don’t!”

Kizumi’s eyes almost dropped from its socket and yelled, “Hold it right there, let’s t-talk!” He raised both his hands in the air like what I did. But before he could take a step backward, a loud bang echoed at the air.

Kizumi’s body dropped at the cold concrete floor, blood flowing from his brain.

I looked behind, heartbeat increase its pound, it was his father grinning from ear to ear.

The snow started pouring out. It was cold. I tried to not cough but an itch lodged at the bottom of my throat and will not get out. I tried to swallow and forced it down.

As if on cue, he aimed the gun swiftly changed its direction. It was now pointed at me. I closed my eyes, waiting for the bullet, trying to instantly pull a gun in my pocket when I heard another bang.

As I opened eyes, horrors flashed. A figure of a man with a blue dyed hair shielded his body to catch the bullet. “Fort.,” I mumbled.

I glanced at Redhair whose hands were shaking. Fort pivoted his feet, facing my direction, gesturing a thumbs up in his left hand while the other hand was covering his chest bathing in his own blood, flashing a warm smile.

Within a few hours, the sun  began to rise and palpitated like a heartbeat through the blinds. As if saying that there was no time left. A loud thug rang into my ears as his body fell into a rough concrete floor.