Destined to Die, Determined to Survive

Chapter 1: Phantom Death's Downfall

Savina's POV

“Have you hacked it?” I asked a college student from the other line of the phone. Five seconds passed before she answered.

“Finally! It's done. I have hacked their security system, so you can get inside,” I cleared my throat in response to what she said. I am currently at a private property in Antipolo, which only VIPs can enter. “Using the GPS attached to your earring, I can track the direction you will take, including the enemies, so you won't have any problems dealing with the enemies that come your way.” She is a fourth-year college student majoring in Information Technology. That's why she possesses extensive knowledge in the field of technology.

“Okay, I get it.” I responded to her nonchalantly, so I could clearly hear her sigh, which I just ignored. I took the pistol and put it onto my back, as well as the stiletto dagger I planned to use on the target.

Before getting out of the car, I took a deep breath and let it out. Once I stepped out, I proceeded cautiously, ensuring not to draw the guards' attention.

“There is a guard heading to your place.” What she said stopped me.

“How many are they?”

“Only one.” I nodded even though she couldn't see me.

After a few seconds, I sensed his approaching footsteps, so I instinctively prepared myself. As soon as he laid eyes on me, he swiftly aimed the gun in my direction. However, my reflexes were quicker than his, and in a split second, I delivered a powerful blow to his stomach with my fist, causing him to buckle over in pain. Seizing the opportunity, I swiftly twisted his head, rendering him incapacitated as he collapsed onto the ground. Without hesitation, I discreetly dragged his lifeless body and concealed it within the shadowy recesses of a nearby pillar.

“Is there anyone else coming?”

“As of now, nothing yet,” I nodded again and continued walking, “oh, sh*t! I didn't notice right away!”

“What? What's going on, Melliza?” I asked with a frown, but I heard her responses one after another.

“D*mn it! You are surrounded, Savina!” I was abruptly startled by her words. When I glanced up, I noticed twenty armed men standing there, prepared to shoot me. Consequently, I swiftly rolled my body and hid myself in a car that was parked a few meters away from my previous location.

I was out of breath as I raised my gun and engaged in a gunfight with them. My eyes narrowed as I aimed and shot a man who was hiding in the plant, striking him in the back of his head. When bullets rained down on me, I took cover and clenched my lower lip, maintaining a steady pace of firing. On one shot, I hit a target in the heart who was dangerously close to my position. I quickly hid on the side of the car again and pointed my gun.

I exchanged gunfire with them once again while they were taking cover, ensuring that they wouldn't be hit by my bullet. Seizing the opportunity, I quickly moved to the position of the lifeless enemy and promptly took his shotgun. When I got hold of the gun, I fired it without stopping, causing the ten armed men to be hit at the same time and immediately fell to where they were standing.

I rolled towards the pillar when five guards rushed and shot me. When I saw they were getting near, I raised my gun and fired them, killing them instantly. I grinned, knowing that there were only three of them left, before came out from my hiding spot.

I went towards them, and as I ran, they continued to fire bullets at me, but I easily dodged the bullets with a wide grin on my face.

“Oh, come on! Is there anything that will speed up your movements?”

“At that level, you will be no match for a high-level assassin like me,” I whispered with a smirk while still dodging their bullets. I frowned when I noticed that the bullet was heading in my direction, so I immediately jumped and breathed a sigh of relief when I had successfully dodged the bullet that would have hit my forehead if I hadn't noticed it.

When I got close, I pulled my gun from my side and shot the one on the right while I held the other by the neck. The other one stepped back—not expecting my quick movements.

I slowly turned around as the words escaped from his mouth simultaneously. “Y-you're P-phantom D-death?” his eyes widened, and when my gaze shifted to him, there was also a hint of shock in his eyes, which made my smile even bigger.

“Yes, I am.” After saying that, I tightened my grip on him, causing him to gasp when I released him.

The man's face became even more fearful when our eyes met. He tried to run, still holding his gun. I found it rather amusing that he opted to flee instead of using his gun on me; perhaps he realized he was inevitably facing death.

I aimed my gun and shot him in the left leg, then in the right, and finally in the head. Shaking my head, I walked towards and entered the mansion.

“Melliza? Are you still there?” I asked on the other line. I also checked if the call had ended.

“Yes, sister Savina? I'm still here, I'm just playing.” I rolled my eyes because of the last thing she said. I thought something bad happened to her but she was just playing.

“Anyway, can you track the target?”

“Sure. The target is currently on—wait what?” I frowned because there was a trace of surprise in her voice.

“Is there a problem, Melliza?”

“How strange. The target has not moved from his location since I first tracked him.” She looked so confused that even I was surprised.

I finally entered the mansion. “Where is the target anyway?” I tucked my gun behind me, then retrieved the stiletto dagger, gripping it tightly as I walked up the stairs.

“He's still in the office, Sister Savina. Once you go up the stairs, there is a room on the side. Enter it, and the crowded hallway will unfold before you. Proceed straight ahead, and when you spot the two rooms across from each other, enter the one on the right and that's the office.” I nodded and followed her instruction.

When I arrived at the office, I raised an eyebrow upon hearing a murmur inside. As I entered, the dark place enveloped me, prompting me to search for the light switch beside the door. When I flicked it on, I was taken aback by what lay before me.

The target was lying on the floor, covered in blood, with a cut on his neck. That's why the target's position was not changed since he was in this condition.

I see, but who did it?

I approached and slowly sat him down. “Who did this to you? Answer me.” I spoke earnestly, and despite the struggling for him, he responded.

“H-help m-me...” I sighed because instead of hearing an answer to my question, he told me something else.

Was he expecting me to come here just to help him? He's not crazy enough to think that I'll save him after I kill all of his guards, is he?

Annoyed, I pulled the collar of his polo shirt. “I said, who the heck did this to you?!” I exclaimed. “How dare that insolent intruder interfere with my mission!”

Whoever it is, I will find them and ensure that the vile intruder vanishes from this world without a trace!

“P-please h-have m-mercy o-on m-me, d-don't k-kill m-me. S-spare m-my l-life e-even j-just n-now, please!” I released his polo shirt, twirled the stiletto dagger in my fingers, and then turned to face him.

“Spare your life, you say? Sorry,” I hung up on what I was saying and put my lips close to his ear, “but not sorry, because the word mercy is not in Phantom Death's vocabulary.” After saying that, I plunged my stiletto dagger into his chest until he breathed his last breath.

Although my hands were stained with blood, I retrieved a button from my pocket and declared, “The target has been successfully eliminated,“ with those words spoken, I departed from the scene.

•••

I properly parked the car here in the parking lot. “Did you get home safe, Melliza?” after getting out of the car, I inquired about her well-being. I called to check if she was okay. After completing my mission earlier, we bid farewell to each other.

Melliza was nearly a victim of my previous target, which is why she expressed immense gratitude after I eliminated my old target. While I saved Melliza's life, for me, it was merely incidental. Therefore, I did not deliberately rescue Melliza's life. However, whenever I required Melliza's assistance, she readily offered it—thus, that is the extent of our relationship.

“Yes. I just came to my house, sister Savina–” Before she finished speaking, I hung up. I placed my cellphone in the pocket of the denim pants I was wearing and sighed.

I strive to limit my interactions with Melliza and others as much as possible because I do not want my parents to exploit them as my weakness. I prefer not to have them involve with my situation.

“Oh! The birthday girl is here!” I was stunned by Ynnes's sudden shout, my fellow assassin.

I ignored her and walked straight inside. She managed to follow me until I reached the locker room. I am currently staying in quarters here in Quezon City.

“What the heck? You didn't even clean your hands before you came here.” Ynnes complained when she saw my bloody hands. I ignored her, walked to the sink, and washed my blood-stained hands.

After cleaning up, I exited the locker room, only to be surprised by a sudden shower of confetti. Surrounding me were my fellow assassins, each holding balloons. In the center stood Senior Jayro, presenting a cake. “HAPPY 28TH BIRTHDAY, PHANTOM DEATH!” Instead of feeling happy, I was irritated.

What do they think of me? A child? And one more thing, what do they think of themselves? Ordinary people? How ridiculous!

“What is this nonsense? Perhaps you forget that we are not ordinary people; we are Assassins. We kill people! Therefore, we have no privilege to pretend that our hands are clean—we have no justification to revel...” I halted my speech as I observed their expressions. They seemed as though they had just woken up from a chilling nightmare. “Stop this nonsense.” My tone was icy as I uttered those words. Subsequently, I pivoted and started to depart, but after only two strides, my phone rang unexpectedly.

“Sis!” I hardly moved the phone away from my ear due to Savy's loud scream.

“Savy,” I said seriously, so she stopped shouting. I walked outside because it was quite noisy inside.

“I'm sorry, sister. By the way, my sister, happy birthday!” I gently shook my head as she giggled. She's my sister, the sole reason I continue to exist. She is the beacon of light in my shadowed life–my everything.

“Haven't you greeted me ten times, aren't you tired? Honestly, what do you need?”

“Hihih Sister, can I read your favorite book?” I slapped my forehead because of what she said.

“Savy, how many times have I said that you can't do it yet, haven't I?”

“But I'm eight years old now, big sis.” I'm sure she's snotty again.

“But still—” my eyes widened at her sudden shout.

“Mommy! Daddy! Ahh!”

“Hello? Savy?! Savianna, what happened?!” I suddenly felt very nervous, so I promptly got into my car and started the engine. “Savy! Answer! What's going on there? Savy!”

“Sis, Mommy and Daddy is!” She screamed while crying. That was all, and the call died, so I drove the car faster.

F*ck! D*mn! Please don't let anything bad happen to my sister!

It took me thirty minutes to reach the subdivision where we lived, and my worry intensified as my car approached our house.

I pulled out my gun and held it tightly before stepping out of the car. My chest was pounding rapidly as I passed the gate and entered the first floor of our two-story house here in the White Plains Subdivision in Quezon City. The dark interior of the house greeted me, but I paid no attention and walked up the stairs effortlessly. However, in the midst of my walk, I blinked in surprise at what I saw.

Mom and Dad are lying on the cold floor, bathed in their own blood, and what's worse is that they were killed in a horrible way. Their bodies were torn to shreds, their eyes still open from their severed heads. Iif only I were weak, I would probably be throwing up right now. I slowly approached their corpses, sat down, and silently cried. Despite the violence I experienced from them, it still deeply hurts me that they passed away so easily. With all the hardships I went through at their hands, death was not enough for them.

When I opened my eyes after closing them, I stood up. I searched every room on the second floor to find Savy and even entered her room, but she was nowhere to be found. Consequently, I go to the third floor and upon reaching my room, I furrowed my brows at the sight of its disarray. A wave of worry washed over me as I spotted my beloved book, stained with blood, lying on the floor.

That's not Savy's blood, is it?

I walked to the other room because I was so nervous about that thought, but I didn't see Savy there. Instead, the glass door to the terrace caught my attention. It was open, and the thin white curtain was blowing excessively. As I moved slowly in its direction, the fast beating of my heart made me feel as though it might burst.

Until the curtain drew near and parted, I kept wishing that my sister was safe, that she had escaped. However, when the curtain was fully pulled aside, and I stepped onto the terrace, the cold breeze touched my face as it was two o'clock in the morning.

“S-Savy...” I found myself frozen in place as I gazed down at the patio floor. Blinking, I appeared to be in a trance, where I could distinctly see my little sister lying on the ground, covered in her own blood. My lips parted, unsure of what to do. Suddenly, I felt a fear of blood, despite the numerous lives that had ended by my hands and the many times blood had been shed by me.

“A-ate hic hic...” I just snapped out of my trance when I heard her calling me. My eyes widened, and I quickly ran to where she was. I was stunned, finding it difficult for words to escape my lips.

“N-no...this can't be—” I examined her entire body and noticed numerous stab wounds on her chest, which made my lips quiver with emotion. The tears that were held back earlier started to flow, and I suddenly felt a tightness in my chest.

I shook my head. “No! No! No! Savy, no! This cannot happen!” I tried to cover the blood flowing from the stab wounds she received while continuing to shake my head

“B-big sis...I-i'm s-sorry I read your favorite book...” She was struggling, so I was stunned.

“N-no, Savy, don't leave me, please! I'll let you read that book as long as you fight, please! Don't do this! Don't hurt me like this, please!” It was heartbreaking when a single tear fell from her eyes. Despite her struggle, she leaned close to my ear and whispered something indiscernible amidst my continuous shouting.

“This is just a dream! This is just a nightmare! Please make this just a nightmare! I know I have a lot of sins but please save my sister... she's the only one—save her! I am ready to give my life to you, as long as you let her live! She's still young and she doesn't deserve to die this early, so please don't take her!” I shouted while looking up hoping that God would listen to me.

But my world seemed to collapse when she suddenly fell into my arms after whispering in my ear and she stopped breathing. “Savy...” I gaped even more and hugged her tightly. “SAVY! NO!” tears flowed like waterfalls from my eyes while hugging my little sister.

Why do you have to torture me like this? You shouldn't have let me exist in this world if I am going to suffer like this.

My tears stopped, and I released Savy when I suddenly dodged and stood up because I felt a presence behind me that intended to stab me. When I faced it, I saw its figure emerging from the dark, slowly walking closer to where I stood. In the moonlight, I could see its face. “Y-you? Saviah?!” my eyes were wide awake and I couldn't believe it.

“Sister, my dear sister.” From her serious expression, a foolish smile crept out of her lips.

“Why? Why you of all people? How come you did this? Why did you kill my parents, who gave you a name and a new life?”

“Oh my, oh my,” she seemed to sing those words, “isn't that what you want? You've been wishing for your parents to die for a long time, haven't you?” My eyes widened and I looked away. I won't deny that I did ask for it but...

“That's why I made your dream come true. I killed them on your birthday! Isn't that fantastic?” my jaw tightened and my palms clenched.

“But I didn't ask you to kill my sister too! You know...you know Savy is my everything, yet you killed her!”

“Oh!” I frowned because shock appeared on her face and she seemed to be holding back her laughter. “Because she's so loud, her voice irritated me and I also thought, it would be a pity if she could be left behind hihi–”

“YOU! YOU ARE A PSYCHOPATH! I WILL KILL YOU!” I didn't finish what she was saying and I immediately approached her and choked her. “You're going to die! You're going to die! You crazy!” despite my strong stranglehold on her, she laughed, so I stopped and frowned.

She's totally a psychopath!

“How can you do it when you know you're about to die?” she said when my stranglehold on her loosened and my lips parted when I felt the knife buried in my chest.

I stepped back while she took steps so that when I stepped back I felt the railings of the terrace. “My sister—”

“D-don't ever call me sister! I'm not your sister! I don't have a psychopath sister!” I was able to shout that even though it hurt because of the knife in my chest.

Her face became gentle and acted like she was hurt. “Whatever you say, we're sisters. And we shall always be together.” She pushed me down the terrace at the same moment she said it, but what shocked me was that she also threw herself.

While falling I was looking at the dark sky, which is extremely beautiful right now. Many stars are shining. I closed my eyes.

Maybe I deserved to die this way. Maybe I deserve to lose a loved one as a result of my misdeeds, as a result of countless people who died at my hands.

But do I really deserve this? I just want to live a normal life like everyone else...if only I hadn't been born as the daughter of assassins—I might have been happy...

“You brat! You even threw up your food!”

Huh? What's this?

I threw up and slowly opened my eyes only for them to widen as the strange place exposed me.

What place is this?

“I said eat this!” As the woman said, she grabbed my jaw and forcefully fed me rotten food, causing my hands to move quickly and choke her immediately.

I can perceive the expression of shock in her eyes due to my actions. I increased the pressure on her until her body lifted up in the air. “Y-your h-highness t-the p-princess...”

Huh? Your Highness the Princess what?

“Just now...you called me—what did you call me? Princess?” I asked with a frown and let her go when I looked in the mirror next to me.

What the...

I quickly approached the mirror and was surprised by what I saw. “T-This face...whose face is this?”

~ To be continued...