Snow White is a Gangster (Published under Cloak Pop Fiction)

Chapter 32: An Unexpected Alliance

Chapter 32: An Unexpected Alliance

Soundtrack: Flunk - Play

"You just missed your ride."

Napatigil ako sa aking paglalakad pabalik sa pintuan ng gusali nang marinig kong magsalita ang tinig na iyon. Kunot-noo ko siyang nilingon. Nakangiti at nakatingin lang siya sa akin habang nakatayo sa lugar na pinaglapagan ng helicopter.

"I thought you flew with them," maingat kong sagot. Hindi ko nga siya napansing lumulan sa sasakyang panghimpapawid. Mukhang nakalimutan kong pagtuunan ng atensyon ang aking paligid.

"I didn't come here just to leave like that," sagot niya.

"Then why did you stay?" Tanong ko. Nagsimula siyang humakbang palapit sa akin at inihanda ko ang aking sarili sa anumang hakbang na kanyang gagawin. Kung anuman ang binabalak niya, kailangan kong mag-ingat.

"Well, I just want to. And who knows, maybe I can help you," kibit-balikat niyang sabi.

"I don't need your help," diretso kong sagot. I doubt anyone could help me with this. 

"Are you sure about that?" Lumingon-lingon sya sa paligid at sinabing, "No one's here with you. You are alone in Eremitia and who knows, maybe you are now surrounded by your enemies."

Halos wala siyang nagawang pagkilos nang mabilis akong lumapit sa kanya at agad na nakuha ang baril sa kanyang bewang. Bakas ang gulat sa kanyang mukha nang kilatisin ko iyon sa harap niya.

"It was a fine pistol," wika ko. It was careless of me to forget my gun in the hotel room. My few days of stay in Eremitia made me feel that I didn't need it at all. Thus, I felt I was caught off-guard today.

"Alam mo bang labag sa batas ang agawan ng baril ang isang law officer? Give it back to me," wika ni Detective Penber habang nakalahad ang isang kamay.

"Do you think you can arrest me, Detective Penber?" Tanong ko. He was right. I was already alone. But that didn't make me feel any weaker.

"I've never arrested a reaper." This time, Detective Penber seemed to be being careful with his words. He was probably seeing the danger that was radiating off me. I had no one to protect now. I opted to do the offense.

"And that would never be me." Ikinasa ko ang baril niya at itinutok sa kanya. "I was warned about you. Do you plan on using me in one of your selfish games? I am not Summer Leondale. I would never be as ignorant as her to trust you." Isa siya sa mga taong pinag-iinitan ang Freniere Mafia. He even used the girl to get to us. I gave him the Stones to silence him. I guess it would never be enough for an ambitious, clever man like Detective Patrick Penber.

"Whoa! I can clearly sense prejudice in here. The things I've done are for the greater good. I could arrest Tres when I was with him but I decided that he has reasons and he still needs to be free."