A Murder, Inc.

19: Goodbye

Chapter 19

Goodbye

11:33 am

Vir-A 1.0, Seattle Airport

“I must admit,” Vira takes a sit on one of the single couches and folds her legs, “it is very convenient that you so chose to escape from St. Magoc before I even got there. Make this whole operation a lot easier to complete. A little bit disappointed, but more contented compared to that.”

She planned to put her newly installed bazooka to a real-life test, but it appears to be that she will have to delay that plan for another day. Erik is out from that egoistical-maniac school and that is all that matters.

Erik sits opposite from her. His face is pulled into an expression one knows as deep hatred. “Why would you care? It wasn't like you care when you broke both of my arms,” he spits venomously. His delicate yet agile hands, which were used to play the piano in Cynfael Mansion. His older sister broke his spirit when she broke them.

Vira remembers that day like it were yesterday. It was one of the few things that she regrets to do, but had to be done.

They were standing at the opposite side of the arena. Their parents are watching far behind in the darkness.

It was their final test. Winner gets all. Loser written out.

The fight started out pretty balance, until they added something to the twist. Nearing the end of the duel, Vira made out her mind.

“So I ask again, sister, why do you care if I am doomed or not?” Erik’s harsh tone carries out an intent to murder. He hates her enough to do it, she knows. Yet she does not even flinch.

It has to be done.

She knows that it is futile to win this argument, so she simply smiles at him and turns to his friends. “Well, hello there. No need to be afraid. I don’t intent to kill anyone else today. Make yourself at home. We’ll stick around for a while longer until you guys figure out your next plan. Aramis, Ileong, you guys wouldn’t mind, would you?”

Her cousin, who is sitting on the co-pilot seat, sounds his agreement. Meanwhile, the door to the separate room is half-open, allowing her to see him. Ileong simply waves a hand. The guys lying down on her bed, eyes covered with pink sleeping mask.

“Now that it’s all cleared, why don’t you introduce yourselves to me. I’m Vira Cynfael, by the way. Erik’s older sister,” she says in an all-too-friendly tone, causing her brother to fumes across from her.

It has to be done. Tell him.

“W-we’re not afraid,” one of the boys who sits on the long cough closest to her says, though his tone says otherwise.

“So you’re the b***h who broke his hands,” another boy, buffer than the first one, sneers at her.

“Michael!” The girl yells his name. “I’m sorry. It’s just that…. We know that your relationship is complicated. I don’t like to make any assumptions, but…. I’m sorry,” she says again, sighing loudly.

“That’s enough, Lucy,” Erik says to her. “You don’t have to apologize to her. She’s not worth getting worked up for.” He stands up and heads to the exit.

It has to be done. Tell him. Tell him, you coward!

“Erik,” it is Aramis’ voice that calls out to him. He walks up to her and puts his hands on my shoulders. The gesture irks her for some reasons. It reminds her of what her parents often do. It does not help that they are the cause of these siblings’ conflict. “I think Vira has something to say.” He knows that she has been itching to tell her brother. Perhaps it is the way she digs her nails into her palms, or the way cold sweat drench from her skull and down to her body. Bottom line is, she is not usually that easy to read.

“I don’t think so,” Erik’s cold words sound to distant and final. He turns to the exit and climbs out. Turn back, please. This scene reminds her of when she visits him in the hospital after the duel.

Just as it was then, Vira fells dread clenching her body, tightening and crushing from the inside out.