LEGEND OF DEATH'S ASSASSINS

CHAPTER 9

He never thought he would see this place again. The leading stirs and the stench of Indian hemp brought back a memory of what he used to be. He was the best among them. The most diligent and the one without flaws. They had sent him to the president’s villa once, not to kill but to invoke fear. Fear was the chain that cages any leader. It was a weapon they use, a dangerous one. He had infiltrated the president’s house without the slightest detection. Even though he had killed about two or three, and left some injured, the Jangos had been so pleased with his work. They were always please. That’s why they didn’t complain when he decided to quit. They had parted on a good term too, and since he was the best in their ranks, they had annulled every debt he owned. Howbeit, the debt should have remained cleared, until today when Fred has brought back the topic again. He had even kidn*pped his sister because of it.

Nadi’s knuckles turned white as he hurried towards the narrow hallway. Everyone cringes backward when they saw him. They were all smiles and some were even laughing, but deep down, Nadi could sense the tension in the air. They held him with awe and trepidation. It was one advantage Nadi had. Let them fear him. Let the fear kill them even before he lifts his weapon.

“Where do you think you are going?”

A boy almost the same height as Nadi asked. His skin was almost pale and the patch under his left eye connotes the fact that he was still an amateur. He was still a fresher in the game, probably a new recruit. Those patches under his eyes must have been from his first mission to rob someone, of their money. It was a game the Jangos played. They usually send new recruits without arms, to rob people, and every time, the recruits always return with broken lips or an eye patch.

Instead of answering his questions, Nadi drove his fist in-between the bridge of the boy’s nose, smashing them. The boy screamed and jutted backward. He didn’t advance again or tried to stop Nadi, not with his fellow crew members laughing at him. It was almost as if they had warned him to keep off, but he wouldn’t listen.

The only person that was strong enough to challenge Nadi was Fred, on one-on-one combat though. They had been trained together and had worked to earn their respect among the Jangos. Why Fred had ascended the commanding ranks at a very early age, Nadi still held the respect of many others. He had been the working hand of the Jangos, while Fred was the mastermind.

“Look what we have here,” A man with a white beard said when Nadi opened the last door and walked in.

The room was almost like a hall. At the extreme was a table and on it sat Fred and some others. The man with the white beard was the one standing at the entrance as if guarding it against eavesdroppers.

“Natalia, where is my sister,” Nadi asked and hurried towards the man.

The fear in Natalia’s eyes was obvious but he didn’t run away, instead, he threw a few weak punches, which Nadi dodged easily. Nadi grabbed him by the hair and slammed his face with the best punch he could muster at the moment. Natalia let out a loud yell and stepped back into the room, towards the direction where Fred and the other member of the crew were.

“Where is my sister?” Nadi shouted and grabbed Natalia by the shirt.

“Wow, easy, Nadi. And let him go if you ever want to see your sister again” Fred chuckled.

If Fred was surprised by Nadi’s presence, he didn’t show, not with the slight anger that was forming at the side of his cheeks. With the briefcase and the leather bags that lined the table, it was as if Nadi had interrupted an ongoing business deal, and the man was not happy about it.

“Not until I see my sister.”

“She’s okay. Now, let him go.” Fred said, nodding to the man at the other end of the door.

Nadi did not let Natalia go, not until the door at the far end of the room opened and Bella walked out, escorted by some two men.

“Nadi,” Bella shouted and ran in his direction.

“Bel, are you okay?”

Nadi dropped Natalia and held the little girl. Holding her made his muscles drop, he could feel his strength turning to water. Guilt also followed and he was sorry for letting her go through this mess. If there was a way to take back the hands of time, he surely would walk that path. He would bring back the girl’s innocence again. And maybe see her smile without any mental picture of these men.

“I am fine,” Bella sobbed, “Just scared, Nadi, I am so scared. I want to go home. Please take me home. The smell of this place is making me puke.”

“We will be home shortly,” Nadi said. The sweet sensation in his stomach almost made him want to scream. He couldn’t imagine life without his sister, Bella. She was everything to him.

“Long time no see. I must confess. That was a dramatic entrance and I must admit that I love to see shows like this, once in a while. Especially, when you’re the perpetrator of such brutality. Ah, Nadi. I missed seeing you fight.” Fred said and returned to the only seat in the room.

“I will just take my sister and go away,” Nadi said.

“Go away?” Fred laughed. “Nah, I don’t think that’s going to happen.”

Nadi had expected that, he knew Fred would not let them go, not without a fight. But he was ready. He was ready for the Jangos. Even if it means dying a second time, he was going to put in his best. He was going to keep his sister safe. This was his battle. This was his life or death. Either way, he was going to do it right this time. He was going to leave with his sister or die trying.

“Where is my money?”

Nadi did not wait for the man to repeat himself. He sauntered towards the table and dropped the wrapped bundle.

“Can I go now?” He narrowed his eyes in triumph.

Fred tried to conceal the surprise with a smile, but he failed abruptly as his finger began to twitch. That was a sign of uneasiness, Nadi could tell, having stayed with the man for years. Fred hadn’t expected Nadi to raise the money on short notice. It was as if he was waiting for Nadi to come begging for the life of his sister. He hadn’t expected the sudden turn of events.

“Well,” Fred cleared his throat and shared a confused look with the man standing beside him, “Congratulation. You have cleared your debt.”

“Thank you,” Nadi said and turned to the exit, with Bella close in his arms.

“Hey amigo. I didn’t say you should go. We are not done here are we?”

Nadi closed his eyes and breathed out. He hated this. He hated everything about the Jangos. And Fred especially. The face of the man was already causing his bones to vibrate.

“We are done, Fred,” Nadi said but did not turn or stopped. He squeezed Bella’s hand gently, urging her to increase her pace.

“Not until I say so,” Fred shouted.

“You are not in the place to negotiate.” Nadi paused in his wake and turned his attention to the yellow-beard man, “I have this building surrounded with explosives. You either let us go or we all die here.”

Fred swallowed when he saw the detonator in Nadi’s hands. His eyes flickered again, but they narrowed when he met the smile in Nadi’s gaze.

“You are a bluffer.” Fred laughed or seem to laugh. With the way his voice wavered, it was obvious the laughter did not reach his eyes.

“Obstruct our path and find out.” Nadi turned back to the exit.

He meant every word he said. He was ready to die; he was ready to let this stupid word behind him. There was nothing to lose. The word wanted him gone. Even his own parents could barely stand the stench in his breath. They wanted him gone, and he was ready to pay the price of his wayward life.

But what about your sister? A voice said in Nadi’s head. He bit his under lips as the guilt swerved around him again. For the millionth time, he had done things the way it would favor him. He was not thinking of how much he had promised Bella. He had vowed to be alive, for her. He had made a promise to her. And he was going to keep that promise, at least he would try.

“You are bluffing, Nadi,” Fred shouted

Nadi’s heart skipped when he heard the first gunshot from the pistol in Fred’s hand. Everything slowed. Nadi could not say for sure how he had done it, but as he turned, he saw the bullet, arming right at Bella’s back. He tried to act, but his leg was too stiff. However hard he tried, he couldn’t muster the strength to move a muscle. He was helpless. The only thing he could do was watch the bullet as they continue to soar towards Bella’s direction.

“NO!” Nadi shouted.

Something snapped inside of him. He couldn’t say for sure. But he could feel a sudden fire, burning in his bones. They seemed to invigorate every part of his body. The sensation was also sweet to behold, and as Nadi reached out to save his sister from the impending doom, he felt the fire in his bones, shooting out like a wave. It was hard to say what it was, not with the darkness that was beginning to claim his being.

What’s Is this feeling. Did I push the detonator unknowingly and killed everyone? Nadi tried to think but the darkness had so engulfed him that he could not see his own body.