亚洲综合中美

“Celina.”

“Yes?” the posture straightened.

“Anything else you want to do or have?”

“A good night’s sleep,” said she prisoned by a tormenting past.

“Good night sleep,” he stood, “-then let’s go,” holding a hand, “-I’ll help in the dream of becoming the next Aceline. Though, currently, tis Emi Muko who stands at the top.”

“I don’t like her,” said she, “-she starts off melodic and then becomes a madwoman screaming and banging her head. Everyone loves it but I don’t, too violent for me.”

.....

“I see.”

Time displayed 17:45. Halls of screams churned on against the ear. A room held multiple beds on each having differing guests. Some groaned in pain, others had nurses paying attention and one on the verge of surrender. To and fro never stopped nor did the distant screams. It felt more of a fantasy mental asylum than a hospital. Not injured herself, Alicia waited in the corridor before the rooms. Wounds of prior were scraps and a few bruises.

“Where’s Igna?” thought she replaying the events. Ambulances arrived in full force. Few volunteers went on inside to bring the injured. Dead-bodies were also carried off, the exposed flesh; gun-wounds and one holding a contoured face. Law-enforcement tagged along with the ambulances. The first reaction, talk to a shorter man over yonder. No case for concern towards the injured, first-aid medics did their due and returned. Those with minor injuries were placed in buses and sent on their way.

“Could you tell us what happened?” asked an officer dressed in casual clothes.

“Don’t know really,” said the dazed man, “-I heard gunshots and then panic ensued.”

“What about you, ma’am,” they moved to another.

“It was Mr. Go,” said she violently, “-that bastard called his guards to intimidate a boy. The latter refused to give. Go got mad and ordered for them to fire. Next of what I know; representative of Alice and a friend of mine was hurt.”

“Thank you for the information,” he moved to Alicia.

“Ma’am, can I ask if you remember anything about what happened?”

“Sure,” she said in an uninterested voice, “-they fired at my client and nearly killed me in the process. I still haven’t found him. I hope one of those body bags isn’t his.”

“Ay, come over here,” hailed the short man, “-let me give you a detail of the incident.” To which the officer accepted.

“Know anything?”

“Listen,” he motioned for the officer to sit, “-Odgawoan ain’t the place to be doing justice,” the whisper felt eerie onto the neck.

“Ok?” he accepted and sat; “-can you elaborate?”

“You a recruit, right?”

“Yes, why ask?”

“Because I haven’t seen yer face before. Listen, don’t get involved. This case is what you’d call, egh, out of the reach. Be a good recruit and obey the higher-ups,” a business card handed over, “-the name’s Anse Ota, people call me Jimmy. Pay us a visit if you ever feel broke or without a purpose.”

“Thanks, sir.”

Thus, the investigation on what happened ended there and then. Alicia side-glanced and eavesdropped, ‘-the police are hopeless. The Unda familia is involved, he had to go pick a fight with them. The short man carried me outside,’ head against the trembling window, ‘-where the hell are you, Igna?’ And so, between having herself treated and asked questions by other officers, the day when on into the afternoon. No phone calls nor messages arrived. Worried about the boy, she took the bus home.

Stopped shy of the intersection, the silent and empty cold-streets were awful. Cold breeze pierced the skin on till the bones, cupping her hand before the mouth, ‘-houph, houph, so cold.’ Crystals and pearls of light glittered at the coming dawn. An inky-black shadow obscured the land to only enhance the cityscape. Casual cars drove past accompanied by the normal honks and gawks. So many years of being called pretty and showered in compliments had rendered any show of affection meaningless. Jumping relations to relations didn’t help the mental-state either.

‘Home,’ the apartment building rose on high, ‘-the park sure is noisy today,’ thought she shuffling to catch a glimpse. ‘Isn’t that?’ her eyes narrowed to a black and red bike. Quickening the pace to set the bushes aside, ‘-that’s Igna,’ her eyes widened.

From pavement to then the gravel-pathway, a lonesome figure sat with heads turn to the sky. A girl over yonder played with a stray-dog.

‘Hold on,’ she moved closer to see the blood-stained shoes and pants. It was more of a reddish-brown.

“Igna, are you ok?”

“Huh?” the nap broke, “-oh, it’s you. How’s it going?” he yawned, “-must have dozed off.”

“Where have you been?” the pitch rose, “-I was worried. Could have called or at least messaged me!”

“I mean,” he shrugged, “-doesn’t matter really,” he stood and scanned the vicinity, “-HEY, CELINA, OVER HERE!”

“MY EARS,” she gritted.

“Sorry not sorry,” the little girl scurried over.

“The clothes are dirtied,” voiced he, “-plenty o’ paw stains.”

“Can’t help it,” she smiled, “-the dog was too energetic.”

“What dog?”

“Over there,” pointed over, there none to be found which left her a little baffled. The fountain-like structure in the middle held naught but the breezy whisper. ‘I’m sure I...’

“Igna...”

“Let’s go inside,” said he, “-I’ll recount what happened.”

19:00 dinged on the pendulum, the distant noise of showers gave an unusual air of nervousness. “-What happened?”

“I got in a fight,” said he moving about the kitchen. “-Remember the Unda familia?”

“Yes, Mr. Go...”

“They’re dead,” said he.

“HOW?” she slammed the counter.

“Don’t break it.”

“Not to issue here,” opposed to relieved her face flushed to then redden.

“Are you serious?” paused to look over the chopping board, “-why the anger?”

“Go’s dead, which means the Unda familia are going to attack whoever is responsible.”

“Shut up,” he motioned for éclair to send video, “-there, you see. They’re all dead. Also,” the Livestream of the lady played, “-Mrs. Go sure is skilled.”

“Skilled?” she stared away,”-no way, no possible, who in the right mind would take a local gang?”

“Me,” smiled he, “-not obvious now is it?” the damning files deleted. “The girl there is the lady of the house Go. Her past is similar to yours. Figured I’d kill her... then, it dawned on me, she could make a great distraction.”

“Igna... who the hell are you, really?”

“At the moment,” he waited beside the oven, “-a cook trying to reach the stars in the land o’ dreams.”

“I’ll have a shower now, set the table.”

“Ok,” mumbled she. *slam*

‘Igna’s a murderer. He killed around 30 people and doesn’t look phased. The coldness as he watched Mrs. Go, who the fuck is my employer,’ stuck between whether it’s right or wrong, ‘-why did he do this, was it for me?’ the question loomed, though, it couldn’t be asked outright. ‘Something must have happened between him and Mr. Go, the damned pedophile. What’s done is done, better set the table. Alice might just employ us after all.’

A little girl joined the otherwise emptied apartment. Wednesday 17th arrived with breaking news. From newspapers to television, everyone had one word in their mouth, ‘Karma’. Shinon’s daily broke the news about a massacre in Odgawoan.

“Yesterday, to the shock of the publication unit, a strange blood-letter arrived prior to a mail. The latter, which held damning evidence was referred over to the police. They did naught but dismiss the situation. If not for the letter, we’d have kept silent. Mr. Go hid behind the fa?ade of the successful real estate agent. The men committed crimes of sexual assaults on minors. The blood-stain letter contained links to illicit pictures and evidence of a massacre. One thing can be said for certain, good riddance.”

The television also had the news on loop, “-today’s news, the mysterious murder of Mr. Go. So far, police have managed to locate the Odgawoan hidden office. Liza’s on the scene,” to which it changed to the office. Yellow tapes barred the entrance, crowds gathered about as police officers stood guard. “It’s been four hours. There has been no sign of bodies contrary to what the picture indicated.”

“They sure are getting overly active,” said Alicia setting the table for breakfast.

“I suppose,” added Igna.

“Aren’t you scared?” asked she.

“No,” he laughed, “-there’s no way they’ll make the connection to me. Besides, even if they find a clue; who knows, there might be other incidents. I know one thing for sure, they’ll close the case and cover the incident.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Odgawoan is part of the underworld. Probing too much might bring about other organizations, and trust me, they wouldn’t like the publicity.”

“Alright, I’m off for today,” said he jumping into the bodysuit.

“Wait, what about the photoshoot?”

“It’s not confirmed. Go visit the representative and make sure to drive the narrative that we saved her life. Should be easy to accomplish.”

“What about Celina?”

“She’s a grown girl. I’ve left a note on the fridge, anyway, see you.”

The door shut followed by the bike roaring down the street.

‘Members of Phantom are coming to town. I wonder if aunt Elvira will be here too?’

Pristine white and blue; an angel, a spotless reference to the clouds and sky – Phantom’s jet approached the runway strongly. The wheels screeched into smoke. Multiple cars were at the ready – said part of the airport was reserved for the rich. Commercial planes stood far, far away. Only drivers and no guards.

‘Here they come,’ thought he leaning against the bike, ‘-the members of Phantom.’ It taxied over to face the cars, the hatch opened slow and meticulously. The passengers took their time in getting ready before setting out. By the figures inside, ‘-there’s a few.’ First came four men in suits, then, Lady Elvira, Elliot, Courtney, Yves, and another lady.

‘Why are the elites of Phantom here?’

“Igna,” said Lady Courtney.

.....

“Lady mother,” they embraced tightly, “-good to see you in good health.”

“Yes, it’s good to see you too, my son,” the face held genuine pleasure and relief.

“Aunt Elvira, good to see you here in good spirit.”

“Hey,” she shuffled his hair, “-where’s my hug?”

“Here,” another tight embrace.

“I see that our lady’s son sure does resemble him,” added Elliot who gave a firm handshake.

“Thank you for rescuing me,” said Igna, “-if not for the help, I’d have surely died that day.”

“Don’t fret it,” winked Yves turning to Elvira, “-We’ll be off.”

“I’m coming with,” said Courtney, “-sorry, Igna,” leaned to give a peck on the cheek, “-there are more important matters.”

“Alright, take care mother.”

Left alone, the hidden sun sneakily threw a few rays onto the cold ground.

“Aunt, might I ask why you came?”

“Do you have a helmet?” wondered she.

“Yeah.”

“Right, get on the bike, I’ll be riding with you.”

“As you wish.”

“You, get in the car and follow behind,” ordered she to the driver. The words landed the same as a punch.

On the road to seemingly no destination, “-Igna, are you sure about joining Phantom?”

“Yes,” said he, “-I don’t mind starting at the lowest of the low.”

“What about becoming a chef?” wondered she.

“I can’t do it,” said he, “-the thought of cooking professionally makes me sick. I’ve grown to disgust the thought, makes me want to puke.”

“Interesting. Alright, Igna,” voiced she, “-Lady Courtney said it’s fine, and Lady Haru’s accepted too. It has been a long time coming, we might be going to war in the next few years. Today’s the first strategic meeting. We’ll be selecting members to oversee the covert invasion of Alphia.”