Nevermore

Chapter 2: Arrows, Snares and Lures

"This is insane."

"Wag mong sabihing naduduwag ka na ngayon, Achila." Hamon ni Eros habang tila ba naaliw lang si Dom na panoorin ang aming pag tatalo dahil hindi man lang ito nakisali

"But we're on enemy territory!" I snapped as I gestured towards the fenced property. Ang lugar na iyon ay pag mamay ari ng angkan ng mga Cross- ang mahigpit na karibal ng aking ama sa negosyo.

"Kaya nga tayo nandito, don't you want a little pay back? And besides this would be the best way to take your mind off your cheating ex," Giit nito habang naka ngiti na animo si Joker sa pelikulang dark knight

"Come on, Achila, we can kill two birds with one stone right here, right now!" I heard him say. Pero hindi ko iyon pinag tuunan ng pansin dahil biglang pumasok sa isip ko ang iritasyon ng aking ama nung isang linggo dahil naagaw ng partido ng mga Cross ang isa sa aming mga kliyente. Arms dealer ang aking ama at kasosyo nya ang mga magulang nila Dom at Eros, bukod doon ay nagpapatakbo din sila ng security agency na tinatawag na triad

"Nakikinig ka pa ba?"

"Sorry, I zoned out when you mentioned pay back." I grinned while testing the string of my bow. He grinned back at me.

"Ano pang hinihintay natin?" I eyed the two of them

"That's the Achila that we know." They both smiled at me and in few minutes, we are all geared up for a hunt.

"If you backed out earlier I will call you chicken for the rest of your life." Natatawang sabi ni Dom pag katapos iset-up ang mga bear traps sa paligid habang si Eros naman ay nag aasemble ng mga snare

"So is this the plan, ang mag kalat ng mga bitag sa gubat at mangaso? This is your version of revenge? Would this even goad them?" I rolled my eyes already getting bored out my mind dahil sa panghihinayang na hindi ko magamit ang aking pana. I would trade anything to be back home where I can prop some card board targets.

"Who said this traps are for game? Wala kaming balak manghuli ng usa o ng mga kuneho kaya kalma lang snow white." Makahulugang sabi ni Eros habang pinupunasan ang pawis sa noo gamit ang kanyang braso.

"What do you mean?" I queried, feeling all my nerve endings thrumming to life

"Narinig namin na nag pa-paexpad ulit ang Cross Corp. and this is one of the prospective locations kaya nandito silang lahat." Ulat ni Dom with fire behind his light brown eyes na kagayang-kagaya ng kay Eros but their similarities didn't stop there. They both have the same built, fair skin and model worthy jaws and faces. But Eros got curly brown locks while his cousin got bone straight hair of the same color. I would have found them both attractive if they're not annoying.

"So now, what?"

"We split up." Tugon ni Eros bago kami hagisan ng mga maskara at spray paint cans

"Voilet?" I cocked a teasing eyebrow at him.

"Sisihin mo si Dana, sya ang bumili ng mga yan." He looked at Dom pointedly

"Atleast may pintura." Pagtatanggol ni Dom sa nakababatang kapatid na babae. Trust Dom to use the kid as an accomplice.

"I'll head south." Sabi ko at iniwan ko na sila doon bago isuot ang maskara at tunguhin ang direksyon na sinabi ko

"Jackpot." I murmured to myself nang matanawan ko ang isang puting van na naka parada malapit sa isang lumang gusali.
Walang pag aatubili kong ginamit ang spray paint para lagyan ng malaking ekis ang nakatatak na logo at pangalan ng cross corp. Ganoon rin ang ginawa ko sa wind sheild habang ang kabilang side ay sinulatan ko ng mga katagang 'double cross.'

Mag papatuloy pa sana ako at ivavandalize narin ang katabing orange na tractor ng van nang may marinig akong putok ng baril sa di kalayuan

"Shìt." I cursed and sprinted towards the dense trees for cover, luminga linga ako sa paligid at ng mapag tantong wala ng panganib ay dahan-dahan akong umatras ng may natapakan ako na matigas at animo metal. I glanced down and saw the bear trap under my feet.

"Pag minamalas ka nga naman." I grumbled as I tried to remember how to disarm the trap pero bago pa man ako maka pag isip ay may narinig akong kaluskos sa bandang kaliwa. At dahil wala na akong kawala I resorted to my last chance. I poised my weapon at the intruder and saw him mirroring my stance, but instead of a bow he was training a gun right at me

"Don't move, or else..." Simula nito sa isang matigas na ingles

"Or else what? You'll pull the trigger?" Hamon ko sa kanya

"No," he whispered lowering his gun

"Or else you'd get really hurt." Nalito ako sa kanyang sinabi. He wouldn't seriously hurt a girl right? But what do I know? I'm begining to panic hanggang sa napansin kong naka tingin sya sa paa ko.

"One wrong move and you will lose your feet." I lowered my bow. Confused.

"Let me help you." He said tucking his gun behind his shirt and stalking closer until he is in front of me.

"Stay still." He warned before leaning down and disarming the trap. I just stood there, dumbfounded at his behavior.

"S-Salamat." I mumbled when I heard a metal clink signalling that the trap has been disengaged

Unti-unti naman itong tumayo para pantayan ako but that's almost impossible because he is a head taller but he looked like he was around my age at nang magtama ang aming paningin. I saw two startingly gray eyes that held a promise of danger and so much more.

Bigla nya akong hinawakan sa balikat at dala ng gulat ay wala akong ginawa ng bigla nyang tanggalin ang halloween mask na suot ko.

"Guards! May isa pa rito!" Bigla nitong tawag and before I could fully register the weight of what's happening ay biglang may nag datingan na mga lalaking naka itim at pawang may mga baril na nakatutok sakin

"Be careful, the place is full of traps." Warning nito sa mga dumating ng hindi inaalis sa akin ang tingin