IF

Death as Sharp as Knives

Dark clouds loom over the silent earth, stirring heavily as it indicates that a storm will hit the place any moment now. Few cars pass forward and counter but the sound of the mourning of the wind is much evident than their honking horns. Taft Avenue is like a different place; it is as if it has never been too crowded; it is as if it wants what is actually happening that moment.

The sky draws a sharp light of swift light across the be-darkened vast sky as the first thrust of knife penetrates Leo's nape. It causes him a sudden jolt, sending piercing pain that has him lose most of his balance. The knife isn't pulled as fast as it is buried in his skin, but when the mugger does, it seems as if everything resumes in slow motion.

And it does.

He tastes blood as he coughs for a couple of times and as he keeps his clutch and battles still against the culprit that's trying to get his bag away from him, he feels the knife inflicts a second wound on his nape yet again, just below the first one. His knees instantly become weaker and he feels like passing out but he doesn't.

He may want to change himself but his never giving up demeanour is the one he doesn't want to hide away. After all, those are just two random scumbags who have pulled him down that alley; those are just two wounds behind his neck. But albeit inside that bag is less worthy than the wallet inside his pockets, though it only contains pieces of notebooks full of scribble, that bag is from her mother.

He's in the brink of death and maybe that explains why thinks of the things he value the most. Series of images flash before his eyes, in a wisp, as swift as the drawing light in the sky, or maybe a little bit faster.

He tightens his grip and groans but he feels more pain shooting inside him as he tries to move just a little bit harsh. "Just give it up, you son of a wench!" the culprit says, not wanting to give in in the tug of war that's been going.

"You think you're strong, huh?" the criminal says through gritting teeth before he launches three consecutive strikes that tears through a spot in Leo's back. "You tryna fight back, huh? Well damn you!" The words come out with drool spitting out but as Leo falls on his knees and almost passes out, he still can't keep from smirking in disgust.

The men tower over him in that position but he still wins in keeping the bag on his level. And that's when laughter is heard, followed by the menacing sound of thunder. The scene has almost felt surreal一the victim's all smug while the bad guys are the ones clueless and terrified.

The two men look at each other in inquisition. As Leo continues to laugh despite his hopeless state, they both are turning hesitant whether to just finish him off or not. They think he has already lost his sanity.

"Demon!" The one that's been trying to get the back from him steps back, hands trembling and eyes widened in horror. The other guy almost agreed if it isn't because of the fear-me-guy-facade he's hardly putting on.

But what they don't know is that Leo's laughing just so he can hide his tears away. That every time he forces himself to crack out a laugh in hopes of making those guys believe he's lost it, he's gradually draining out of life.

Because it hurts.

Five stabs hurt and the blood flowing down his skin just adds more horror to what he is already feeling inside.

"Just get the bag and let's go!" The criminal orders, fretted by the flickering light coming from what he assumed is a parked car.

Leo, seeing that the two goons seem to be out of focus, then takes that opportunity to scream for aid. "Help! Help me! Help!"

It gets them totally bewildered that they resort in keeping Leo quiet by stabbing him multiple times to wherever spot they can hit. They are both in panic, terrified of being caught. But Leo doesn't stop. Even if he can feel his own blood splattering everywhere on his skin and on the murky pavement; even if he can hear the sound of his breaking flesh and the ragged breathing of the criminal that seems to be engrossed in what he's doing一it's as if Leo is just some random livestock in the butchery.