[Northside, Quezon City]
[11:45 PM – August 5, 2016]
In a standoff, there are many ways for things to turn ugly the second a trigger is pulled. One, everyone dies. Two, a victor will come out on top. Three... hell, there's no third option. Everyone in play knows it's impossible to retreat; knows how tempting it is to let go when there's blood to be spilled.
For the Russian Mafia, they've got intruders to kill, itching for their anger to rise. One of their own comrades was sliced in half like it was nothing. How can they consider running away after seeing that? No matter the built-up fear within their nerves, their rage is more attuned to direct.
For Specialist Wushi, her katana and knives are ready on both hands; ready for a fight. Her sights are still on the target next to her, a chance to correct her failure after the loss at Diliman. Only thing keeping her blade from driving through his heart is with the obstacle in front of them.
Denegrade.
The center stage of the standoff. Her eyes dart at the metal door behind them, standing in her way with intentions unknown. The soak of blood on her shortsword is prepared to finish things up.
As for Deathwatch? He's in for a lot of questions in his head.
To him, Denegrade's just a complete stranger. Only his adversary seems to know her more than him... yet her stance tells him something off. There's a menacing aura around her, but also a strange familiarity that he can't shake into getting.
Underneath the mask, her thrill is written all over her.
"Knowing this to be an easy fight, I'll spill my intentions straight." she says, holstering her revolver, raising the shortsword on her shoulder. "I'm here to torch whatever's behind that door."
She turns around to face the gang behind her and continues, "Stand in my f*cking way, face your end with dignity."
Deathwatch responds with a tilt to his head, confused.
"I would suggest waiting in line." he demands calmly, lowering his knife.
He steps back and continues, with confidence, "I'll help burn the lab if that's what you want, but I have to retrieve something important. If you just let-"
But Denegrade laughs, lifting her finger up to stop Deathwatch from speaking and wag to say "no."
"Tsk, Tsk, Tsk. You just don't get it, do you? If I wanted to just fulfill my mission, I would have done so! What I really want here is some fun."
The hitman just sighs and looks at her, disappointed.
"(huff) Suit yourself."
Quickly taking aim, he fires past Denegrade and hits a Russian gangster on the shoulder, kickstarting the fight and putting them on alert. Denegrade smirks at his decision and raises her sword up to swing down, aiming at him. Deathwatch, having his grappling gauntlet pointed to the left, fires a line and pulls him away by a millisecond, letting the sword hit the ground. The merc can only gruff and glare at his direction before he disappears into the dark, shifting her attention back to Wushi.
"Your new boy is edgy. I like it." Denegrade tells Wushi with glee, ignoring how many bullets are missing her by an inch. "Now where were we?"
Wushi doesn't waste a second. She dashes to the left and swings her katana at Denegrade's neck. However, she blocks it with her own sword and kicks the Specialist in the stomach, sending her flying. That'll hold her, for now. All her attention – right now – goes back to Deathwatch, trying to find him in the dark.
YOU ARE READING
The Katipunan: The Monsters Inside Us
Aksi"Ravaged by a civil war that plagues our country apart, many wanted this war to end. Many wanted peace to prevail. But when someone powerful prevents it, we are at a stalement of war. We'll try anything to become capable as soldier... or we die tryi...
