The b***h Mafia:Another Chapter

Chapter 3: The Application

3

The Application

"I'll get more wine and champagne," 

My brother said. It's already ten in the evening and we were really cold. That's why Margaret decided for us to occupy an empty closed-cottage. It's like a room but kinda more open yet we won't feel cold. 

"I'll help you brother," My brother eyed me for a second. He didn't say anything and just let me follow him. 

"Where can we get wine or champagne?" My brother asked one of the staff. I crossed my arms waiting for us to be left alone. The staff led us the way up to their wine cellar. Margaret already gave orders to their staff that if we happen to need more wine or champagne, they should lead us to their cellar. 

My brother thanked the staff and the staff left us. I immediately closed the door behind us. My brother browsed the wine and champagne. He is probably looking for a Chateau Margaux bottle. 

"We're alone in here," I leaned on the door waiting for him to pick the bottle of wine he likes. The close space makes me more anxious and nervous at the same time. It's just, I'm too afraid to know what my brother will say. 

"Gotcha!" He sounds happy as he picked a Chateau Margaux. I didn't flinch an inch and waited for him to talk to me. I thought he would shove me out of the door but instead, he started looking for something behind the counter island.

I rolled my eyes when he picked up a wine opener. 

"What are you doing?" 

This time, annoyance is very evident in my tone. 

"Can't you wait?" I scoffed as he sounded annoyed too. He opened the Chateau Margaux and suddenly started chugging the whole bottle. He stopped and stared at the bottle. "Want some?" 

I just can't believe what's happening. I tried myself from saying something and just turned around, ready to leave him chugging the bottle of Chateau Margaux. 

"I'm just not sure why you wanted to know what I know when you already knew it," I stopped myself from twisting the doorknob and turned around. 

"What are you saying?" To be honest, I'm still clueless. 

"Before you texted me the day you were attacked, you've already sent yourself a reaper to make an investigation. Am I right or right?" He didn't bother to give me a slight glance as he said that. He sat on the countertop and just started chugging the wine again. 

"But why didn't you tell me before you left months ago?" 

"Like a good brother, I didn't want to make my little sister suffer more because obviously, she still is." 

I looked away feeling emotional. His words are enough for me to feel sad and mad about myself. I just can't help but to think how badly anxious I am when in fact, I'm not the only person who suffered with great loss. Just like me, my brother lost his cousin. 

"I'm sorry. I was selfish," He put the bottle down above the counter island, empty. 

"No, you're not selfish. You just love the people around you," He stepped down on the counter island. "Here," He showed me an envelope. 

My hand was shaking as I tried to reach for it. My breathing started to get heavy. I suddenly felt a heavy thing on my chest, as if someone is sitting on top of my chest. 

I swallowed hard when I saw a symbol. 

"Someone has been threatening me from the Labyrinth Island," I raised my head to level my eye contact with my brother. 

"And so does the people who attacked me that day," 

Yes, the group of snipers came from the Labyrinth Island. One of the most dangerous yet safest islands that has been established for people like us. 

"But why?" My mind started wondering why someone from the island would threaten us by sending letters and snipers. Kinda poetic.

"We will know soon," The stern look from my brother didn't go away. Which makes me feel more anxious.

"Soon?"

"Let's go back. They're probably looking for the wine and champagne," he said ignoring my question. He picked up a bottle of Chateau Margaux and Don Perignon. 

He effortlessly opened the door behind me. 

"Aren't you going back?" He asked as he walked past me.

I just followed him going back to our cottage. 

"What took you two so long?" Margaret asked. She was laughing when we got inside the cottage. 

"I can't choose which wine we'll have. I hope you like Chateau Margaux," Margaret snatched the bottle out of his hand and opened the bottle. I sat beside Xian and waited for the bottle of champagne to be opened.

The whole, they were just telling stories and jokes. They were laughing and I just couldn't enjoy myself. 

"Hey, are you okay?" Xian asked while pouring champagne on my empty glass. 

"Yes, I'm just tired and tipsy." I did not lie. It's true that I'm tired and tipsy. I just didn't tell him the other reason why I'm probably not okay. 

"We can call it a day if you want?" He rested his left hand on my knees while his other hand was holding a glass of wine. 

"No, let's finish the last bottle of champagne before we head up." He just nodded and joined the conversation again. Sometimes I would laugh whenever it was Michael or Matthew that was telling stories. 

Just like what Xian and I planned, we went back to our room first. Michael and Matthew walked with us as they were going to get another bottle of wine and champagne. 

When we got inside our room, I told Xian that I'll just wash up. He also washed up after me. I was drying my hair when Xian went out of the bathroom wearing his pajamas and a white tee. While I'm just wearing a blue silk nightgown.

Xian dried his hair with a towel. I watched him doing that as I dropped my body on the bed. He put the towel on the chair before he went to the bed, laying his body beside me. 

I immediately scooted beside him, almost burying myself on him. He just fixed his arms so I could use it as a pillow while he wrapped his other arm on me.

"Goodnight my love." 

That was the last thing I remember as I fell asleep in his arms. 

The two of us woke up early. I think it was around midnight when I fell asleep. We didn't know what time they finished drinking last night. But since it's already nine in the morning and they aren't still up, they probably slept really late. 

Xian and I decided to have breakfast. 

"You're awfully quiet. Is there something wrong?" 

I stopped cutting the egg and put down the utensils. It's just really hard for me to open this to him. I don't want him to worry anymore. 

"Are you calm?" I asked. I wanted to laugh at myself. I probably didn't ask Xian to calm down but myself. 

"I'm always calm," I rolled my eyes with his statement. 

"The group of snipers was from Labyrinth Island," He stopped cutting his food and stared at me. "Are you still calm?" I continued eating my food while Xian kept staring at me. 

He faked a cough before he continued eating. The way I know him, he must probably be thinking what really is happening. 

"What are your plans?" He sounded calm but I know it's just his front.

"I don't know. It's just you, me, and my brother who knows this." 

Well except for the reaper I asked to investigate for me. 

Xian and I continued eating our food and didn't talk about what I just said. He just knew I'm not ready to talk about and just let me find my own pace. 

"Let's swim," Kanina pa ako inaaya nila Margaret na maligo sa dagat. They woke up around eleven in the morning and we all ate our lunch together. 

We relaxed a bit and now they are asking me to swim and play with them. 

I just can't help myself to keep thinking about our situation. Suddenly. I couldn't enjoy my time with them.

"Angel," Margaret tried to pull me.

"Fine. I'll just remove my dress," I don't want them to feel that there's something wrong. That's why I decided to try to have fun with them. That's the reason why we are here anyway.

I went back to our cottage and removed the maxi dress I'm wearing, leaving my black two piece on. I opened my bag and hid the dress inside it.

I ran to them and saw Xian looked like he was spacing out. 

"Hey," He must probably be thinking of what I said to him.

"When are you going to tell them?" He wrapped his arm on my shoulder while I wrapped my arm on his waist. 

"Later," 

He didn't respond. 

"O my god!" I shouted when my brother playfully splashed the water to me. He started laughing and laughing that I also did what he did to me. 

"Serves you right bully," natatawang sabi ni Jasmine. She's wet and my brother probably did that to her. 

My brother started splashing us water again, that even Michael and Matthew joined him. 

I was just laughing the whole time they were playing. They even pulled, carried, and threw Xian in the water. 

"Tita Anghel," I saw Aga poking my leg. 

"Hey," I sat down to level my head with him. "Do you wanna play with them?" I asked using my child's voice. But he just ignored my question and asked me instead

"Tita why do you have a gun inside your bag?" My jaw dropped when he asked that. But I smiled right away.

"It's my toy." I lied. Well not really. 

"Can I borrow it?" his eyes were shining as he asked me that. I just laughed and ruffled his hair. 

"When you grow up, I'll let you borrow all my toys." His eyes shined more when I said that. "But can you keep that a secret?" I showed him my pinky finger. 

"But why?" He pouted his small lips as he said that.

"Because your mommy wouldn't let you borrow them. So don't tell anyone," 

He started thinking but eventually pinky swore with me.

"Very good! Come let's play with them,"

I held his tiny hands and we walked towards their direction. Michael carried him on his shoulder and they continued playing in the water.

The whole afternoon, they just played and drank. It was around six when we went back to our room to clean up as our dinner will be prepared. 

Margaret said we'll be having dinner in a private cottage. I just wore a white dress and a pair of sandals. But I hid a gun beneath my dress. 

It was almost eight when Margaret asked us to go down. We met at the reception and we all went to the cottage she was talking about. 

It's a cottage near the seashore. There's a huge limestone behind the cottage. The cottage itself is made from bamboo. It's kinda open that we can see the ocean wide open. I can clearly see the ocean. 

Just like last night, Margaret and Michael didn't bring Aga. He must probably be sleeping in their room. 

We enjoyed the food that was served to us. It was a pretty fun dinner. Michael is such a real good dinner host. 

"Who's up for wine?" Michael asked while holding a bottle of Chardonnay. 

"I think we should skip that for tonight," Jasmine interrupted him. 

"I think the Queen has something to tell us," Nicole continued. Everyone looks like they don't really understand what is going on. 

It's been years since the last time I heard someone calling me by the name of Queen.

Their eyes are all on me. Waiting for me to say something. They must be bewildered with the thought of a reaper calling the attention of the queen.

"I believe I have something to announced," 

Michael put down the Chardonnay. But he didn't move an inch after that. I glanced at my brother before I started speaking.

"The group of snipers were from the Labyrinth Island," There, I said it. 

I couldn't look at them. I kept looking away as I felt ashamed being in this situation. Xian held my hand which caught my attention. He nodded to me and I decided to continue.

"I've sent a reaper to do an investigation for me. It turns out the group of snipers were sent by an anonymous person inside the island." 

Michael sat beside Margaret and started caressing her arm. 

"What do you mean?" Tanong ni Marga

"I made some investigations and this time, our enemy came from Labyrinth. I thought it's gonna be easy but upon investigation, I learned that the person behind this is a leader from one of the groups inside the island."

"What are your plans?" Seryosong tanong ni Michael.

At this very moment, I felt ashamed. I've been so preoccupied thinking of how scared I am that I could almost forget my responsibilities. 

The hardest part of being the queen, you have a block of stones on your shoulders for the rest of your life. You can't even shrug them a bit to lessen the responsibilities as it won't leave your shoulder. It's just there until your last breath. If possible in after life, you'll feel incompetent for not being able to do your responsibilities. 

"I'm sorry Michael, I still don't have any plans." I looked down to avoid his eyes. I just can't bear to look at his eyes telling I have no prepared plans to fix this messed up situation. "All I can say right now, we need to be careful. Especially you and Margaret," I stared at them with every sincerity I have inside my heart. 

"It's okay Angel. It's not really easy to come up immediately with a plan," Michael told me while staring at my eyes. I suddenly wanted to tear up.

"We'll get through this," Margaret said to me before she shifted her glance to Michael. He just smiled and nodded at her. 

"Is there something we can do?" Shyna asked. John's arm is on her shoulder. Her eyes are sincere as if she wanted to speak something. "Should Margaret and Michael take Aga somewhere else safe?" She continued. Right, Aga is her nephew. She must be really concerned about Aga's safety. We all do, we all do. 

"Right now, Aga is safe with us, with you." Even though it's a fake one, I tried to give them a smile. Assurance to be specific.

This situation makes me feel hopeless and useless. Someone from Labyrinth island is our enemy and we don't have any single information about them.

We were silent the whole time. There's an eerie feeling around us. We're all feeling tense and all. It's just the situation is overwhelming.

I took the glass of water and took a sip. I suddenly felt thirsty and different. My eyes narrowed when I saw a shadow near us.

"Margaret, is this place open for other customers?" I asked without removing my eyes on the shadow I saw.

"Huh? No. This is private. Exclusive for our family's personal use. Why'd you asked?" She sounded confused. I didn't bother to look at her and put the glass down. 

"I think someone has been watching us," I said and slowly reached for the gun in my thigh. 

The shadow moved and I saw a shadow of a big gun. I swallowed hard when the shadow of the gun moved.

"DOCK!" Suddenly, they started shooting us. Yes, they. There's just too many gunshots. 

When the gunshots slowly disappeared I immediately prepared my gun and stood up aiming the gun towards the direction where I saw the shadow. I didn't bother to think twice and just pulled the trigger. 

"What was that?" Alyana asked the moment I hid myself again down the table.

"We need to get out of here fast," I said while breathing heavily. "I think they are too many out there," I continued and prepared my gun again. 

"I'm hearing footsteps," My brother said. He took out his gun from his behind and prepared the gun too. 

The others also did the same. 

"How are we going to leave here?" Xian asked me while he was holding the gun. I looked around the cottage and saw the big boulder of limestone. 

"There, we can hide behind the limestone." I said. 

"What?" Jasmine asked. She probably did not hear what I said as those men kept shooting us. 

"Behind the limestone," I shouted back. The gunshots slowly disappeared again.

"Now!" I stood up and start shooting the gun. 

"I'll help you stop them," Xian said. I just nodded and continued shooting the men. It's hard to shoot them as they are hiding in the dark. I'm only relying on their shadow's location.

My brother helped the rest to leap to get out of the cottage. Nicole is also helping us to shoot the men.

Xian and I stepped backward. 

"You go first," Xian shouted while he's hiding behind the pillar of the cottage. 

I didn't bother to say anything and immediately leap down the cottage. 

"I'll hold them off," My brother told Xian. My brother kept shooting towards the men's direction while Xian leaped out of the cottage.

When Xian was able to get out of the cottage, the three of us, my brother, Xian and I immediately ran to get ourselves hidden behind the huge limestone.

"We should finish them before we get back to the hotel," Red said. 

"It's hard to see them. It's dark," Nicole said. 

"Use their shadow's location. You'll know where to shoot." My brother said. 

We ran towards the smaller limestone. 

"We need to spread out," I said. We started moving and looking around. Shooting every man holding a gun we see. 

We ran towards the direction where there are lights. They didn't move towards our direction but they started retreating. 

That's the only moment we were able to breath again properly. 

"We should leave this place," I said. It's more like a command. 

We all agreed to leave the place as it is not safe anymore. I was about to follow Xian but my brother stopped me.

"Kuya," I almost jumped when he suddenly hugged me. My eyes are still wide. I tried to tap his back not really sure what to do.

"You have your laptop with you right?" He asked as he pulled away. I awkwardly nodded. Still not getting his actions. "Once you get inside your room, activate all the gps you installed in our body. We will be needing it." 

I wasn't able to say anything as he suddenly hugged me again and when he pulled away, he kissed my forehead before leaving me dumbfounded. 

The whole time I'm walking back to our room, I was just thinking about my brother's action. 

Soon.

That is my brother's word last night. I immediately went inside our room. 

"What took you so long?" Xian asked, looking worried.

"Xian where's the laptop?" I didn't bother to answer his question and just throw another question. He pointed to the bag where my laptop is. 

Without wasting time, I went to the bag and got my laptop. 

I turned on the laptop and immediately opened the application I made years ago. It's an application exclusively for me. 

I enter my secret code. The application opens and the GPS are still turned off. I browsed the application and went to the switch feature of the app. 

I activated all of our GPS by entering the serial code of the GPS I installed in our body. I activated mine to test the navigation. 

RMOQASH0001

I went to the map feature of the map and saw my exact location. It's working. 

I started activating my brother's GPS by entering his serial code. 

RMOKISH0001

Seven years ago, this is what I did months after the war ended. I was so afraid back then. I might lose some of them again if I don't know where they are. 

In the process of creating this, I almost lost myself and Xian.

FLASHBACK

4 years ago

"Angel," my brother called my attention but I remained silent while typing some of the serial codes in my laptop.

For two years, I've been working on an application. This will come in handy in the future. This is for us. 

"Angel you should eat. You're so thin," Margaret tried to talk to me but I remained silent waiting for the serial code to be accepted. 

And done. I stood up to get something.

"Don't turn your back at me when I'm talking to you," My brother's voice was stern. I sighed and turned around. 

"I'm just going to get something," I told him. I didn't wait for him to respond and went to my room. 

I went to my cabinet and picked up the microchips. I went back and my brother looked mad. 

"Please be seated. I have explanations to make," I said. 

Binaba ko muna ang laptop at kinuha ang remote control ng television. Binuksan ko 'yon at agad na kinonekta ang laptop sa t.v.

"This is what I've been working on for two years," I started. "I'm sorry for all the inconvenience I caused." I told them. In the t.v the application appeared.

"What's that?" Michael asked. 

"This is an application exclusively for me. I have here the microchips," 

Inabot ko 'yon kay Margaret dahil siya ang pinakamalapit sakin. Inabot niya sa iba ang ibang microchips at tinignan naman nila 'yon. Tanging si Xian lang ang hindi kumuha ng microchip. Hindi ko na lang 'yon pinansin at nagpatuloy. 

I turned on the application by entering my secret code. Then turned on my GPS by entering a serial code designated for me. 

RMOQASH0001

"Here is my location," I said when I opened the map of the application. "I have my own serial code, RMOQASH0001, which stands for Red Mafia Organization Queen Angel Scarlet Hamilton and the number is based on the rank. Here down the map, you can see the country and the exact location where I am," I said and pointed to the dot. 

"I've been working for the security of this application. It's just really hard for me to achieve them," I said. "Now, the microchips will be installed in the body of the recipients," I raised my hand. "See here, this is where I installed the microchip." I said while showing the light scar. 

The microchip is inside a clear capsule. It's safe as it will be installed in the bone. 

They all went silent and couldn't look at me. I know. I know Xian wanted to break up with me. I heard them talking last night. 

He said, he felt like I'm no longer in love with him. But he just can't leave me as he loves me so much.

END OF FLASHBACK

And done, 100%

I entered Xian's serial code. 

RAOTHXHH0002 (Red Assassin Organization Triple H Xian Harvey Hartford 0002) 

I also entered Red and the rest of ours.

RAORRS0001 

"Babe I'll just take a bath. Please don't use the laptop." 

I told Xian as he got out of the washroom. He just nodded and let me get inside the washroom to wash up.