Heart Stealer

Chapter six: I found you.

CASSANDRA

Unexpected events will surely leave you dumbfounded, not only for a moment but for the rest of your life. Just like what happened to my mom back then, when she was shot a couple of times by those f*cking people, I also didn’t expect that the people where I found peace and treated like my own family would also come into this kind of dangerous and horrible situation. I didn’t know why, but I’m kind of starting to think that maybe I was really meant to live in this kind of fate and there’s no possible way for me to get out.

How I wish I hadn't been born to be a soft-hearted kind of person, because I am definitely sure that if I’m like that merciless person, then I wouldn’t have to be shaken by anyone. I would be completely fearless.

But on the other hand, I’m also glad that I didn’t turn out to be like them. I would rather be shaken by many things or by worrying over some other person’s life than being the cause of someone’s pain and anger. Those kids were my source of strength.

It’s funny how your weakness can also be your strength, isn’t it?

“Lucas Wilder.” I uttered as I read his information. 

I can’t deny the fact that the one I had to face and kill wasn’t just an ordinary one. I may have faced a lot of dangerous people before, like those corrupt politicians, gang leaders and those syndicates, but I have never tried messing with a mafia boss before. Even though I’m confident that I can do and fulfill my mission the way that man asked for, I still can't stop myself from being afraid of what kind of terrifying things might come up once I’m on it. 

I am slightly aware of some things when it comes to the mafia, because my father’s great friend was a mafia boss as well. They also do a lot of illegal things which are far from the police's control. Why do I say things? Because I have seen it with my own eyes. How they mercily kill a person and could still keep a smile on their faces after that, how they easily have access to illegal weapons that even the police allow them to, and how they are willing to let their children marry someone they don’t actually love. That was also the day I began to lose my trust in justice. I started to believe that no one in this world could ever guarantee your safety other than yourself.

“So, is that the guy?” A girl asked from behind, approaching me with a cup of coffee. “Here, have a drink.”

I took the coffee she was offering though I was told not to take caffeine due to my heart problem. “Thanks.” I smiled at her.

“Dear, do you think you can do this mission you were asked too? As far as I know, that man is a really dangerous person.” She told me.

I started creasing my brows and then I asked her, “You know him?”

She nodded her head and then she took a sip of her coffee. “Actually, he also became my assignment before, but it wasn’t about killing him. I just need to gather some information about him. That was a really long time ago though.” 

“Then, you probably got some pictures of him?” I asked her, widening both of my eyes and waiting for her positive response.

LUCAS

“Is that girl the person you are looking for?” A short-haired woman sitting beside me asked. We were both in the back seat of my car with tinted windows that is currently parked here at the broad flea market. This is where I first saw her. “Though I’m a hundred percent sure that I did my job well, I still couldn’t let this pass without confirming it to you.”

My eyes were locked on the woman walking straight somewhere, wearing a blank face. I can see that she’s not paying attention to her surroundings, which is pretty unusual for a snatcher like her. How she will manage to take someone's things away bothers me for a second, but then I quickly stop the nonsense I was having in my mind once I realize that this moment is the perfect time to do what I’m planning to do.

“I must be right. I can tell because of the way you look at her.” She uttered. I saw her nodding her head in my peripheral vision. “Anyway, what are you planning to do with her?”

“Well, not sure. I guess I’m going to show her the side of me that she will never wish to see.” I responded.

Her unexpected chuckle made me look at her, “Don’t make me laugh, Lucas. As if you have a side anyone wants to see. You’re a bad person, remember that.”

Search never fails to remind me how horrible I am as a person, that was ever since I met her. But despite all the bad compliments she keeps on throwing towards me every single time we talk, I know deeply how grateful she is that I came out with this kind of attitude. Because if it wasn’t for me, then she would never have had the chance to escape from the hell she was living in.

.

“Please try to be more specific. So, are you going to kill her?” She asked me once again.

“Am I a killer?” I asked her sarcastically. 

She let out a deep sigh and rolled her eyes, “Are you perhaps planning to convert from being a boss to a clown?” She wondered. I stared at her with a blank expression, not even planning to talk back to that lame question. “Whatever.” She was wearing that annoyed expression as she threw her back on the car seat’s backrest.

I looked back at that woman, who was about to turn right into a narrow street, “Let’s say, I’m going to make her life miserable until she no longer wishes to live.” 

CASSANDRA

People often say that we are living in such a small world, something that is pretty hard to believe. Just because some people accidentally met someone they knew in a very unexpected way a couple of times doesn’t mean that it can happen to everyone. My mind was as stubborn as I am, trying to prove that my father’s favorite sayings were all lies, because I never wanted to believe every single word that he said. I really hate him that much.

The moment Bridgette showed me the picture of the man named Lucas Wilder, I began to search around the place where I first saw him. I know and I can clearly remember the day I was running away from this man, the same day those merciless people ransacked our village. Even up to this moment, I’m still having a really hard time believing that the man I just robbed was actually a mafia boss. Isn’t it unlucky? My mission was to look for him and lure him, but how am I supposed to be friends with someone I did something wrong with?

I bet he’s looking for me now. I’m pretty sure of it. Or maybe not? The thing I took from him doesn't look that expensive. I mean it was nothing compared to all the jewelry he had. Not unless that necklace was too important for him to let go just like that.

I was walking around the market, trying not to show my face that much, so that if he was actually looking for me then he would find it hard to notice me. After a few hours of walking around, I felt a sudden numbness in both of my legs and my heart seemed to be creating a huge scene there. 

“I shouldn’t have drunk that coffee.” I uttered to myself. Actually, I wasn’t planning to stop walking at all just because I don’t feel well, but then the luggage I was holding was too heavy for me to carry. That's why I turned right into a narrow street and searched for the store where Grey and I usually ran into every time we needed to hide. 

“Hey, it’s been a long time!” A man greeted me with a smile. He suddenly searched for something behind me and then he looked back at me asking, “Where’s Grey and why do you seem so calm today? Aren’t you running away from someone?”

I shook my head and responded, “I’m not on a run, sir. But I kind of-” I stopped and slightly groaned due to the sharp pain I suddenly felt. I almost lost my balance at that moment, but I’m thankful that he was there to catch me.

“Are you alright? You need some water?” He asked me.

I don’t actually personally know this man, only Grey does. At first, I thought he was either his cousin or older brother or his father, because he seemed to be a lot older than us, but then they, surprisingly, are not related to each other. He has been covering us for, like the first time we started robbing without asking anything in return. I was thankful though, that even if Grey was not there, his friends were still there to help me. 

“Why are you alone?” He asked me as soon as I sat down on one of his bar stools. “Where’s Grey?”

I shrugged my shoulders after drinking the glass of water he just gave me. “I don’t know where he is, sir. Our village was attacked by unknown people and Grey was nowhere to be found as well.”

“That’s horrible.” He uttered while creasing his forehead in worried lines.

“Sorry, because as much as I would like to tell you everything, I’m afraid I don’t have much time for it.” I breathed. “By the way, sir, can you do me a favor?” I asked him. 

“Well..” He cleared his throat and continued, “What is it that I can do to help you?” 

“Will you hide these things for me?” I said as I slowly dropped the bag on the table. “Don’t worry, it won’t take long for me to take these back.”

He nodded and took the bag away from the table. He was about to leave when I suddenly saw people heading towards us. He was actually preparing to greet them, thinking that they were his customers, but then I called him.

“Sir.” I urged. 

“Why? What’s the problem?” He wondered.

“I’m going to hide. Please don’t tell them that I’m here.” I uttered before I rushed myself towards somewhere where I could hide. 

I heard the sound of the wind chimes, a sign that they were already inside this bar.

“Good day, how can I help you?” I heard Sir ask them. 

“Have you seen this woman?” Someone asked him. I’m not really sure who that person was. I tried taking a peek and then I saw a man in a black suit taking my photo.

Sir shook his head and calmly responded, “No. I didn’t”

I thought they were going to search around the place because they started to scatter around and it seemed it seemed like they were all giving way to someone, but then I don’t have to worry about that. I started searching around where I could possibly go through to escape from this place but then I suddenly heard a loud gunshot.

I admit, even in this life that I chose, I still couldn’t get used to hearing that kind of sound. Because it simply reminds me of my late mother. At that time, I started to worry about the old man and hope that he was still alive. I walked towards the edge of the wall and took a peek once again and that man was still standing with a gun pointed straight into his head. My gaze slowly went to the guy who was holding a gun and then there he was, Lucas Wilder.

“One more lie and I will put a hole in your head.” I heard him speak to Sir.

Knowing sir, he wouldn’t sell his comrade to someone even if it took his life, and even though I didn’t know that man, Lucas, that much, I still have that strong instinct that he wouldn’t mind killing him easily.

“Where is she?” He asked him.

Even before Sir utters another lie and dies at the hands of this merciless mafia boss. I began to step out from my hiding zone, “I’m here.”

Everyone looked at me. I saw the man who tried to save me from them giving me that kind of curious look which seemed to be asking me why I revealed myself. All I did was nod my head once and slightly smile at him. After that, I threw my gaze into Lucas’ direction. He was smirking at that moment and he said, “I found you.”