The Devils Mayhem (Devils #3)

Chapter 3

__Drozell's POV__

THE dawn is just about to rise from the ground and I wish the same with my brothers' luck. Because wherever he is, I hope he's still in one piece or else all those idiots would better stay missing.

"I'm so tired..."

Bakit ba lagi nalang nasasangkot sa mga gulo ang mga iyon. Kinailangan ko pa talagang lumipad sa eroplano upang puntahan ang mga ito. At hindi ko rin malaman kung bakit sila pumunta sa dito.

But on the bright side, I get to see England once again. It had undergone some major changes since the last time I've been here. And the last operation I've had during my visit here was when we get to save Princess Quiceleth.

Pero kung ako ang tatanogin, ang una kong iisipin kung bakit pumunta sila Icell pabalik sa lugar na ito, marahil ay may koneksyon kay Clacesier. The problem is even he too might have been gotten into trouble along with Clacesiers affairs.

At iyon ang kinaaasaran ko, may pamilya siya, may mga naghihintay sa kanya ngunit pinili niya pa rin tumulong sa ibang tao. Compared to mine who have an empty house, he should have thrown the responsibility for my shoulders.

Napailing ako sa aking naisip.

Right now, I have no time for self-pity, it's just making me look lamer than I already am.

Besides I have someone to meet today. I am not confident that she would show up, but I'd still wait. Right now, without the help of the others, I need all the help that I could use.

As I get to the meeting place, I let out a sigh of relief to find the familiar silhouette of a woman sitting at one of the tables.

Hindi ko alam kung paano ko siya namukhaan. Kung ang pananamit niya ang tatanogin, hindi naman siya nananatili lamang sa iisang style ng damit. She goes whatever she sees fit. And honestly, whatever she wears always fits her.

It's just too bad that I couldn't tell her exactly what I thought, if it weren't for the awkward atmosphere, we might have still gotten along.

"Have you waited long enough?"

Agad na bungad ko pagkaupo sa upuan sa kanyang harapan. Ang kanyang mga mapupulang mata ay agad na lumipad sa aking gawi saka niya ako binigyan ng mapanglait na ngiti.

"Now that I think about it the time I enjoyed alone was shorter when you came."

I smiled. "Sorry, you felt that way."

"You should be."

Nang sa wakas ay makaupo na ako ay mayroong isang waiter na kumuha ng aming orders. Red wasn't interested in looking through the menu, but I knew better than to order dishes without any strawberries in them it or she might stab everyone in this restaurant just to demand a strawberry.

Malakas ang kanyang banging paghikab nang sa wakas ay nakaalis na ang waiter. Nang itinapat niya ang kanyang kamay sa kanyang bibig ay agad kuong sinipat ang kanyang daliri. Agad din akong nadismaya nang hindi mahanap iyon sa kanyang daliri.

"So, what are we here for again?"

Tumikhim ako at sinubukang hindi magpa-apekto sa kirot na naramdaman sa aking dibdib.

"I need your help." Walang paligoy-ligoy na aking pahayag.

Tinaasan niya ako ng isang kilay. "Is this about your brother?" Nang tumango ako ay ngumisi siya ng pagak. "Your brother who wanted to kill me? No thanks."

Huminga ako ng malalim. "Hindi niya sana iyon iisipin kung hindi mo pinagtangkaan si Belleyel."

Pakiramdam ko ay lalong tumaas ang kanyang kilay nang sabihin ko iyon.

"You wouldn't take his side if she weren't your sister."

Huminga ako ng malalalim. "Red."

My tone seems to irk her more. "Ano ngayon ang sasabihin mo? Na dapat akong magpasalamat sa ginawa mo?" She rolled her eyes heavenwards. "I didn't f*ck*ng need your help."

Muli akong napahinga ng malalim. At the very least she could try to forget about the past for a while. The situation isn't getting any better if the past keeps coming up. It already has become a fixation submerged into the deepest part of both of our subconscious. And I am not seeing an end out of it as well.

"But I need your help," I admitted.

Automatikong nagbago and ekspresyon ng kanyang mukha. Her face emitted a sense of negligence. The frown over her face started to dig deeper into her forehead as she grabs a bread knife.

"Bakit?" Malayo ang tingin na tanong niya.

"I..." Iniiwas ko ang paningin. "I don't think I can handle this alone."

Mabilis niyang ibinalik ang tingin sa akin na parang hindi makapaniwala sa aking sinabi. I can't blame her. Kapag si Icell ang nasa harap ko ngayon marahil ay parehas lang ang knilang magiging reaksyon.

Ang ekspresyon ng kanyang mukha ay may bahid na sarkasmo nang kanyang sabihin. "You...? You need my help? Since when did you need my help?"

I was ready to say something when she held up her hand to cut me off. I waited as she finishes her satirical laugh which is a bit inappropriate in the current place. Lahat ng mga tao ay lumilingon-lingon sa gaming gawi, marahil ay upang ipahiwatig na nakakaistorbo na and aking kasama. Ngunit nagkibit-balikat na lamang ako batid ko na kahit anong saway ko sa kanya ay hindi niya ako pakikinggan. She does whatever she likes.

"Did you ever need anyone else help?" She said in between giggles, her eyes gleaming sharply, like a roaring razor under the rising sunlight, seeping through the glass walls. Although her laughter is intentional to mock me, hindi ko maiwasan na mahumaling sa kanyang pagtawa. Ilang taon na ba simula nang makita ko siyang tumawa.

Ngunit hindi ko ito ipinahalata sa aking mukha at tumikhim. Matagal-tagal pa ang paguusapan naming dalawa sa lagay na ito. 

The majority of the time we spent that morning went between ridiculing how my balls had shrunk to the tiniest piece and how she wanted me dead.

In the end, however, she agreed to lend me a hand.

"Icell has been missing for a month now." Kasalukuyan kaming naglalakad palabas ng cafe. "Ang alam ko lang ay tinulungan niya si Clacesier upang makuha ang anak nila ni Quice."

"Even Clacesier wasn't found?" Tanong ni Red.

"Yeah, and Quice were still at the hospital, and thankfully we have enough people to appoint her location. She's safe for now." I clicked my tongue. "I don't really remember what Clacesier said, but she said something about Queen Elicka. And as far as I remember Queen Elicka is Quiceleth's stepmother, and the only one remaining in her family."

Bigla ay napatigil sa paglalakad si Red at napalingon sa akin. "Hindi ka ba updated ngayon?"

I wanted to cower in embarrassment, hindi naman sa hindi ako updated, well I am indeed outdated because I was living my current life holed inside my house, full of pizza and booze.

Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay, wari'y nakikita na sa ekspresyon ng aking mukha ang sagot. She shakes her head and laughed a little.

"The Queen of Hasshingneon had passed away last week, it was such a breeze and the people of England just couldn't take it. Like duh, are they even related to the queen?" Red clicked her tongue in disgust, her eyes once again gleamed in great apathy. "I mean who cares, there's another queen about to get appointed anyway."

That got my attention. "There's already a candidate?!"

Red smiled devilishly and swished her fingers through the air. "Queen Elicka."

Natameme ako, hindi ko alam kung paano ko pagtutugmain ang nalaman ko ngayon. But didn't Clacesier and Icell went missing for a month? But Queen Ravisha died just a week ago. Pero kung batid na Clacesier na si Queen Elicka ang may pakana sa pagkawala ng kanyang anak, dapat ipinaalam niya ito kaagad kay Queen Ravisha.

"Ahh..., there's the chance." Pahiwatig ni Red habang kumukuha ng isang lolipop sa kanyang bulsa at subuin ito pagkatapos buksan. "They could be alive."

Tumango ako. "And is Queen Ravisha's body...what about her funeral were there a body?"

Umiling-iling si Red. "It's kinda suspicious, they said it was a hit and run and they couldn't retrieve the body." Nagkibit-balikat siya. "Cliche. And also some people are just naive."

Natahimik ako. If it really is true, and the public did buy it, weren't there any holes in the story? And what about the people around the queen? Does it mean that there weren't any allies inside the kingdom? Or that they were compromised and it isn't a matter of loyalty anymore.

"Survival." I muttered.

People switch sides, out of cowardice, to whoever would benefit them.

Red had to intervene. "But Queen Ravisha had nothing. Ano naman ang kakatakutan nila sa isang babaeng walang kayamanan at walang kapangyarihan?"

Tumigil ako sa paglalakad, sanhi para ligonin ako ni Red, and mga mata nito ay nagtatanong kung anong problema. Kinagat ko ang aking labi saka ibinuka ang aking bibig ngunit walang lumabas na kahit na ano sa aking bibig.

"What?" Red asked a hint of irritation is in her voice.

"We're dealing with something big." Sabi ko, ang titig ay nanatili sa kanyang pulang mata. "Red, are you sure you're in?"

Hindi ko inaasahan ang naging reaksyon niya dahil imbes na tawanan lang niya ako ay lumapit siya sa akin. Matutulala na sana ako sa kanya kung hindi niya lang nga pinukpok ang ulo ko. Isang halakhak ang aking narinig kasabay nito.

"Ilang beses ko ba dapat sabihin? I am in. Besides you can't do this alone." Red said with a smirk, and as she removed her and out of my temple, her other hand made its way over her lollipop and made me open my mouth to swallow it.

"Cheer up." She patted my shoulders. "We're gonna find them."

Binigyan niya pa ako ng isa pang ngiti bago siya tumalikod at muling kumuha ng lollipop mula sa kanyang bulsa. Ako naman ay nanahimik na lamang at sumipsip sa binigay niya sa aking candy. Too sour with a little sweetness. Two flavours I hate blending into one.

But somehow these offending flavours cheered me up.

__Victorique's POV__

It was just a small police station not too far away from its designated district. Alam kong isang dalawang lingo pa lang and nakalipas bago inanunsiyo na ako'y isang kriminal, ngunit masyado naman atang mabilis and pagkalat ng impormasyon tungkol sa akin. Nakapaskil na din and mukha ko sa dingding, mula sa maliit hanggang malaki.

"They could have just chosen a pretty picture." I muttered as I ran my fingers through my photo of one of the wanted criminals. The award is also of considerable price.

Napangiti ako ng pagak. Akmang tatalikod na sana ako nang mamataan ko ang isang litrato ng isang lalaki na nasa tabi lang ng litrato ko.

It was Chauslte Lachlan.

And I know my day is ruined.

Marahas na kinuha ko ito mula sa mga nakapaskil at nilamukos ito.

"Now stay in the trash where you belong." I said as I tossed the paper at the nearest trash bin with a biodegradable sign in it.

Huminga ako ng malalim saka tumingin sa nagtataasang gusali, hindi malayo sa stasyon. Ten storey's high. At a place like this, it would be an obvious hideout. Then I set my eyes on the smallest building possible which is just a two storey's high building.

Around it was a strange back alley with wet and dirty pavements, open steel gratings of ladders and stairs are what consists of the fire escape which could lead me into one of the apartment windows. I hesitated no time to climb up and look for an open room.

Tatlong bintana ang napansin kong nakabukas at ang pinakadulong bintana ang napansin kong tahimik kaya't doon kong napiling pumasok.

Minammanan ko ang paligid ko kung may mga gamit ba sa loob o may kaunting alingasngas paligid.

It looked it was preoccupied but the owner wasn't home which is a bit careless considering that the window was still open.

Maliban sa tahimik nga ang paligid at walang tao, may mumunting tunog akong naririnig na nagmumula sa kusina. The stove was open, and it seems to be a burnt morning breakfast that's cooking at the frying pan. Naawa naman ako sa nagluluto at pinatay ang apoy para hindi na lalong masunog ang hotdog.

That's when I heard a voice from the earpiece on my right ear. I pressed the button and quickly sauntered towards the window. I slid it open and grabbed the binoculars from my backpack.

"Victorique?" It's Elle. "N-nasa loob na ako, a-anong gagawin ko?"

"Nasa'n?"

"Sa loob."

I clicked my tongue and searched through the window.

"Come to the window where I could see you."

Tinignan ko ang ilang bintana upang matanaw ko ang pigura niya. Ilang segundo lang ang lumipas bago ko siya namataan.

"Nasa'n ka na ba Victorique?"

Hindi ko siya sinagot tumingin sa phone na nilapag ko sa lamesa na katabi ko, I swiped it up and saw Gean's message.

"Victorique?"

Huminga ako ng malalim saka binasa ang nasa phone.

"Officer Garcia."

"Huh?"

Hinigpitan ko ang hawak sa binocular na hawak ko at nilingon si Elle, nag-aabang ito sa may bintana pasilip-silip sa paligid, marahil ay upang hanapin ang kinaroroonan ko.

"Hanapin mo ang pulis na may pangalan na Garcia, siya ang kailangan ko."

"O-okay." Agad na sabi nito. "Pero anong sasabihin ko?"

Kumunot ang noo ko at nilibot ang paningin sa paligid.

"Tell him you've found me."

Isang singhal ang sumagot sa akin mula sa kabilang linya.

"Ano?!"

"If you see him tell him you saw me in your school, just talk to him about me and do your best to take the phone off him."

"P-Pero..."

Mayroong isa na namang mensahe na pumasok sa aking phone kaya't tinignan ko ito at binasa ang mensahe mula kay Gean. When I read the sentences I smirk slowly made it's way towards my lips.

"Just do it." Sabi ko na lamang saka pinatay ang tawag at pinindot naman ang earpiece na nasa kabila kong tainga. "Gean, keep them busy."

"And where are you going young lady?" His voice was full of suspicion.

 "Just do as I say if you don't want me to get in trouble."

Hindi ko na masyado masagot ang tawag dahil bumababa na ako ng apartment upang puntahan ang presinto.

"Victorique," Gean said, his voice sounded soft at the other line. "Just be careful okay?"

Umikot ang mata ko nang muli itong marinig. Ilang beses ko na ba ito narining mula sa kanya? I can handle myself.

Pero wala na din naman akong oras paara umangal pa. I just simply said an "okay" before hanging up. Sinubukan kong maging maingat na hindi mahalata ang aking presensiya. Ngunit hindi ako naka-wig ngayon kaya't hindi naman ako paghihinalaan basta't iwasan ko lang ang kanilang gawi.

There was a route leading at the back of the station, it has a high wall which I could manage to climb.

Naging madali ang pagpasok ko. Well, it's a good thing that a uniformed policeman that's unlucky to be there. Just knocked him off with a taser and so here I am anyways, dresses as a policeman.

Ang mukha ko ay nakayuko upang hindi makita ang aking mukha. I passed by some of the offices of the lower rank officers. Well, I am confident enough that the Garcia officer guy is not of lower rank.

Why do you ask?

Napatigil ako nang makita ang isang chief room na may pangalan na nasa pintuan nito.

"Garcia."

Napangisi ako. Simple, it's because shady officers like him can climb into a higher rank, if a group of syndicates or illegal businessman needs someone to protect them, they would need someone whose rank higher.

Lumingon-lingon ako sa paligid bago binuksan ang pintuan.

I removed my police cap out of the way and searched through the desk.

"Time to get nasty."