SEVEN: Cursed Souls

CHAPTER 25: BETRAYAL

On their way.

"James, why does it seem like you know too much about the One-Eyed?" Ryder worries.

James took his phone and showed a picture to Ryder. "Do you see this guy with me in this picture," James zoomed the picture, "he is Jaxon Patacsil, a friend of mine who is now a foe. He now goes by the name 'Uno' after losing one of his eyes, he is the leader of One-Eyed and that is the reason why it is named as such."

Ryder only nodded.

Minutes later, at the clinic where Darwin is held captive.

Two men can be seen in front of the clinic so the distracting group from Fangs went to the other side to get their attention.

"Hey! Do you know where I live?!" one member yelled at the guards, pretending to be drunk.

"I think I'm lost!" he yelled again before pretending to fall to the ground, finally getting the guards' attention.

Ryder's group together with Maya's group who'll attack waited for the men to leave their posts, Hope and Rico leads the group to standby outside.

They all started running inside the clinic when the guards are no longer in sight. James and Maya leads the way towards Darwin and before they could turn right, they heard footsteps in the middle of the hallway. Another member peaked out to see how many of them are there, relieved to see only three.

Maya sneaked at one, punching him at the face then the other two started running towards them. Other members with Maya waited for the two men to reach the corner before finally hitting them with slab of woods, more members in Maya's group started to advance to the hallway to the right then more men from One-Eyed runs towards them.

Maya, after taking care of the first three men, helped James and Ryder's team get through another way but just as they were leaving, a man snuck behind Ryder.

Ryder froze to his position, shutting both of his eyes when he heard Steve and James telling him to dock. Ryder thought that he had met his ending but he felt a swift of wind past through his face instead, then when he opened his eyes, he saw Maya and the man at the floor-- Maya now holding tight of the man's hand. The man is holding a knife but Maya is unfazed and elbowed the man's face instead, another member helped her and hit the man to sleep.

"Kid, watch your neck next time!" Maya told Ryder, tapping his shoulders when she stood up.

It didn't take too much time for the Fangs to subdue the men inside the clinic since there are only few of them. Ryder and Maya's Teams finally reached the room to where Darwin is locked up.

James kicked the door to the room then found the now convulsing Darwin, the person who was guarding Darwin was shocked but Steve and James did not let him react and immediately caught him then tied him while Maya also did not let any more seconds pass and held Darwin to heal him, if they are any later then Darwin could have died like in Ryder's prediction.

Darwin regained his strength back as green light emanates from Maya's hand. She untied him immediately.

James' radio suddenly buzzed. "Team alpha and beta, get out of the building now!" it is Hope's voice.

The group let no second to waste and helped Darwin out of the clinic because although Maya was able to heal him, he still is weak due to dehydration and starvation. As they find their way out of the clinic, they noticed that there are two more men locked up at the room beside Darwin's room so they did not hesitate to help them also, but their hands are tied and they were blindfolded as a precaution.

All of them got out but just as they are starting to drive away from the clinic, they heard an explosion. A blazing fire now devours the clinic when they looked back, though everyone from Fangs and Skull escaped safely, this still enrages James and Ryder since it was out of the plan and the members of One-Eyed were left inside that building.

At the Skull's lair.

Some members prepared food for Darwin and the two other person they were able to save, the two person were placed in a separate room since they are not yet identified while the remaining members gathered at the hall.

James could not hide his rage as he looks at everyone.

"Who did that? WHO LEFT EXPLOSIVEs INSIDE THAT BUILDING?!" James yelled.

A member of Fang stepped forward. "I did. We'd be in trouble if you let any of those bastards live."

Ryder was also angered by what he heard and could not hold his punch but the member only looked at Ryder as if mocking him.

"How dare you!? WHAT IF THAT EXPLODED WHILE WE WERE ALL THERE! Tie him up!" Ryder commanded.

James nodded and other members went towards the man, he tried to run away but he is surrounded and suddenly did something unexpected, he pulled out a gun and shot himself to the head. He died instantaneously but everyone was left wondering because when they looked at the gun, there were no other bullets and as if he initially planned to die with the single bullet in his gun.