Her Final Bullet

Chapter 10

An End To The Trouble

"What took you so long?" Alice asked as I got into the car. "We need to hurry up. Our fellow mafias are expecting us. They are waiting," she added.

I was chilling here in my house when they came without notice, interrupting my movie marathon while I'm eating! And now she has the guts to demand speediness to me!

Ilang araw na akong nandito sa Pilipinas pero ngayon lang ako pinapunta sa headquarter? Para saan? I'm pretty sure it's all about the mission. Binilin sa akin ni Uncle na huwag akong pupunta sa headquarter nang hindi iniimbita ng higher in position mafias. I wonder, why would I need their invitation? Anak ako ng late founder ng organisasyon, so I should be able to go in and out of there freely, right?

I didn't say anything and just remain quiet on my seat. Megan and Jinx can be heard talking at the back. Hindi naman malakas ang usapan kaya hindi na ako naabala.

"We're here!" Jinx announced.

Tanaw ko na kung gaano kataas ang siguridad ng lugar. Mataas ang gate at pader na nagsisilbing boundary. May mga armadong tao na nakabantay sa magkabilang gilid ng gate habang papalapit kami. Binuksan agad nila ang gate.

I guess, they already know Alice.

Nang makapasok, tumambad sa amin ang malaking building pero mas agaw atensyon ang fountain na nakasentro sa driveway. Sa gitna kasinng fountain, may nakatayong gold statue ng isang kakaibang hayop.

The gold statue shines from the reflection of the sun rays. It its a bird that looks like an eagle. The beak is nicely curved and the wings are spread open. It has four feet. Its front feet is like a bird feet but the pair at the back is a lion-like. It's upper body is covered with feathers but the lower body looks like a lion by looking at his tail.

As we went down from the car, some men in black ran towards us. I didn't take my eyes off on that gold statue.

"That's Gryphon."

I tilt my chin to see who said that. I found a man walking towards me, wearing a black suit and a black aviator. He stops in a few meters and turn to look up the gold statue.

"Gryphon symbolizes strength, power and majesty," he said in a low, deep voice. He then turn to me and bow.

Gumaya sa kaniya ang mga kasamahan.

"Good afternoon, Ms. Steppingstone," they greeted in chorus.

I simply nodded. Tumuwid sila ng pagkakatayo at giniya na kami papasok sa loob ng building. We are escorted by five men. Magkakasabay kaming apat na lumakad papasok habang may isang lalaki na nasa unahan, tig-isa naman ang nasa magkabilang gilid at dalawa ang nasa likuran. There are also two men in black guarding the entrance of the building. Sila na ang kusang nagbukas ng pinto para makapasok kami.

Unti-unting sumikip ang lalamunan ko nang makita ko ang hitsura ng loob. The ceiling was so high and there's also the half eagle and half lion gild statue at the center of this hall: Gryphon. This is smaller than the one in the fountain outside.

This place gives me a kind of museum vibes. There are so many huge paintings on the wall. I swallowed hard as I remember how our mansion looks so much alike. It is full of paintings too!