Kill for Love

Chapter 49 -He's Gone

Astilbe opened the compartment and took the gloves. He wore it first before opening the car's door. He slowly went to the entrance of the abandoned warehouse. It is in the middle of the woods. The old couple who owned it before had to sell it because they relocated to a different state. He bought the place before thinking that it was a good place to build a cabin if in case he wanted to be alone. A good place to unwind. He was not able to pursue his plan because he met Cytherea. 

The metal door is a bit rusty, signs that the warehouse is so old and no one's taking care of it. It doesn't even have any lock and the door handles are already broken. He pushed the door which created a loud screeching sound. 

Just like any other warehouse, it was full of junks. Dirty plastic barrels, boxes that are full of farming tools, fishing rods, unused plywood, some plastics, broken tires, and other metal stuff that he’s not aware of. No one would ever suspect that in those piles of junks lie an underground basement.

He moved the plywood and it revealed a rusty wood door on the floor. It’s almost unnoticeable because it’s almost the same color as the ground and it’s also like junk that is placed there. He bent a little bit and as soon as he opened the door, he saw the stairs going down. He went down and made sure that the door was closed. It was so dark. He switched the light on which was situated by the door. The moment he turned it on, the whole room was filled with light. The underground basement also had a lot of junk in it but at the back part, it has a big empty space and two big pipes at the corner where Carlos’ hands were tied in each pipe. He was kneeling on the floor unconscious.

He walked towards Carlos which created a creaking sound every time he steps. Carlos woke up because of the sound. His head was hurting so bad like he was beaten by a bat. His eyes were blinded by the bright light that he couldn’t help but squint his eyes. 

He saw a silhouette of a man in front of him but because of the light, he was unavailable to see him clearly. He closed and opened his eyes a couple of times to adjust his eyes to the light. When he opened his eyes again, his eyes widened as he recognized the man standing in front of him.

“Mr.---”

“Don’t say my name,” Astilbe commanded firmly.  He said it like he was going to do something bad to Carlos if he’s going to disobey his command.

Suddenly, fear overpowers the well being of Carlos. He tried to stand up but he was having a hard time to do so. He felt his arms getting numb. When he tried to massage it, he realized that he couldn’t because his hands were tied.

“What do you want from me?” Carlos asked. He was starting to tremble  in fear. He didn’t expect that a dignified person like him could resort to this.

And he doesn’t even know what he did wrong!

Astilbe chuckled dangerously. 

“You are a bad person, Carlos. I know what you did to your past girlfriends. So, before you can mess up another life, I will stop you first,” he stated, clasping his hand behind his back. He started walking back and forth.

Carlos had a confused look on his face and asked, “What do you mean? I’ve been single for months now and if whoever that woman you are referring to. You can have her. I don’t have any interest in that woman. So, please let me go and I will forget this has happened. Or maybe you have just mistaken me for someone else!” He constantly struggled and pulled his hands in hopes that the ties would snap.

“Oh, really? After you made a scene in the lobby? I don’t think so, Carlos.”

Carlos' eyebrows furrowed as he remembered the scene in the lobby. He smiled wryly.

“So, you were referring to Cytherea?” he asked in a sarcastic voice.

Astilbe didn’t respond.

“Oh my! Just because of that b***h?! I get to experience this?! Ha!” He glared at Astilbe and his heart hammered in his chest when he saw the fire in his eyes. 

He knew that he just hit a nerve. Astilbe is giving him a murderous look one wrong word and he will be dead.  Carlos disregarded his instinct and went ahead and spoke ill about Cytherea. 

“I can’t believe that you fell for that woman. Don’t you know that just like any other woman, she is very low-key? She is not the type of girl, you think she is! I can’t believe you would reach this extent because of her when she’s not even worth it. You’re pathetic!” Carlos continuously mocks him. He was thinking that he can knock some senses to his perpetrator by saying bad things about Cytherea. 

“Stop!” Astilbe yelled. 

“No, you have to wake up, man. She’s a b***h! She’s been a lot of guys. Do you think a famous person like her didn’t kiss any guy’s ass? She is a w***e and I was just playing like how she should be treated--”

“Stop!” Astilbe cut him off but Carlos didn’t listen. He continued to speak ill things about Cytherea. He ignored the murderous look that Astilbe is giving him.

Astilbe couldn’t take it anymore. He turned his back on him and Carlos smiled, thinking that he had won. However, Astilbe went to the pile of junk and grabbed the very first metal pipe that he could see.

He walked towards Carlos who was still blabbering about how bad Cytherea was. His ears were ringing and everything turned black. He could no longer think straight because of the anger that is overpowering his whole being. 

All he wanted to do is make Carlos stop. He wants him to stop talking. What he said about Cytherea is wrong. Cytherea is a good person. He doesn’t know about her! He is a bad person. He doesn’t deserve to be alive!

And without thinking clearly, he raised the pipe and swung it as hard as he could. 

“Stop! Stop! Stop!” he screamed while hitting Carlos continuously. The things that Carlos said keep on repeating in his head like a broken record. 

Everything blackouts for him.

After a few minutes, he could no longer hear Carlos. A triumphant smile was slowly forming on his lips. He was huffing and catching his breath. Sweats are starting to fall from his forehead. 

“I made him stop!” he chuckled.

He wiped his sweats using the sleeve of his jacket. He looked at Carlos. His face was covered in blood. His face was deformed because of the constant beating on the face. The injuries were so severe that he couldn’t even recognize that it was Carlos. 

For the first time, he didn’t feel any remorse. He stared blankly at Carlos’ unconscious body.

“Sir! What have you done?” Nim asked who was already beside him. His jaw dropped as he saw Carlos’ state. It doesn’t take a genius to know that he is already dead. His body unmoved and no signs of him breathing. 

“Oh, you’re here?” Astilbe asked normally like it was just a normal thing to ask.

Nim’s eyes widened and his mouth constantly opened and then closed like he was about to say something but was unsure if he’s going to say it or not.

“S-Sir,” he stammered, unsure of what to say. He was still in a state of shock.

“He doesn’t deserve to live, Nim. He spoke ill about Cytherea and I will never forgive him for saying those things,” he sighed not of frustration but because of relief. His heart was full of an overwhelming feeling of joy. “I didn’t know it would feel so nice, Nim. I didn’t expect that this would bring satisfaction to me. I was able to protect Cytherea, Nim. I was able to protect her from an awful person. It feels so good, Nim… It feels so good,” he said, smiling.

 Nim didn't respond. His master's action is very concerning to him, but at the same time he had to do what he needs to do.

Protect his master no matter what.

No one will ever know what had happened.

No one...