The Mysteries of Agent Scythe

Kabanata 29: Kill Me, Corporal

[Zin's POV]

"Zin, you need to rest!" Suway sa akin ng mga kasamahan ko nung nagpupumilit akong pumunta ng tower.

"I need to talk to her."

"Yes, after you rest!"

"I've had enough rest. Now, step away." Utos ko sa kanila at pilit na humakbang pero lahat sila ay hinihila ako para pigilan.

"This is an order from your Corporal, let me pass through!" Mariing utos ko sa kanila. Nagkatitigan pa sila saglit pero bumuntong-hininga at hinayaan ako.

Akmang lalabas na ako ng gate pero ramdam ko pa rin ang pagsunod nila sa akin. Nung hinarap ko sila ay agad silang nagsitalikod. Nakita ko pang tinaas ni Rud ang magkabilang braso niya bilang tanda ng pagsuko.

Pagpasok ko ng tower ay wala ni isang pumigil sa akin. Bahagya pang nakayuko ang kanilang mga ulo habang hinahayaan akong makadaan.

"You should be in bed!" Agad na tumigil si Agent sa pakikipag-usap kay Katana nung mamataan ako. Nag-aalalang lumapit siya sa akin. Ang kaninang nakakunot kong noo ay unti-unting lumambot nung makita nang malinaw ang buo niyang mukha.

Napalunok ako bago sumulyap kay Katana na nasa kanyang likod. Ngumisi ito bago umalis.

"You want me to stay in bed? Then you shouldn't have left me."

"Things came up, now go back inside." Mariing utos niya pero hindi ako natinag.

"How was Simon dead? Vyre said you found him dead. Where? And how?" Tanong ko at natigilan kami sa biglaang pagkulog. Lumapit siya sa malaking bintana ng tore bago nagsalita.

"It will rain soon, go back to the Headquarters while you still have time."

"No, this can't wait. I want to know what happened. Simon was in north, he... he couldn't be dead." Hindi ko na napigilan at bumakas ang desperasyon sa aking boses.

"He was beheaded and there were tears in his eyes which explains that he was crying before he died."

"Where did you found him?"

"In the woods."

"What were you doing there?"

"Searching for you." Hindi agad ako makapagsalita sa kanyang sagot.

"Do you have any idea who killed him?"

"Me."  Napataas ang kilay ko dahil sa bilis niyang pagsagot.

"Why?"

"If I answer your question, you will return to the Headquarters." It wasn't a question. She's not asking, she clearly demands me to leave the moment I would hear her answer.

"I've been alive for thousands of years. If I see anything suspicious, I'd kill it for precaution... and out of boredom." Walang kabuhay-buhay niyang sagot na nagpakulo ng dugo ko.

"You're fucking insane," bulong ko habang galit na nakatitig sa kanya. I could feel the anger lingering across my system. Just thinking of Simon, there's no way he would stand a chance against her.

She's heartless, she manage to kill someone who is far weaker than her. I could imagine Simon, begging for his life and knowing him, I bet he escaped from the north to move around. He's Simon, he's rebellious. I know him my entire life and he's dead... because of her.

I clenched my jaw and raise my hand to draw out my sickle. Agad siyang bumaling sa akin at tinaasan ako ng kilay nung makita ang hawak ako.

"You gonna kill me?" May halong pangungutya sa kanyang boses.

"You're supposed to leave," aniya nung magsimula akong maglakad papunta sa kanyang gawi na hindi inaalis ang matalim kong titig.

I am bursting in anger that I don't have any tears left to shed for my bestfriend's death.

"You're heartless," I said while menacingly staring at her. Mabilis akong sumugod at pinaulanan siya ng atake. Gaya ng aking inaasahan, walang kahirap-hirap niyang naiiwasan.

Patalon siyang umatras bago pa siya matamaan. Humugot ako nang malalim na hininga tsaka hinagis ang aking armas.

I squinted my eyes when I notice that the flow of my sickles are slowing down until it stopped in front of her.

Damn, don't tell me that Seven's sickles are hers too.

Napalunok ako at bahagyang napaatras nung kusang nagpahawak ang mga sickles ko sa kanya.

"I thought you're Seven, but Seven would never raise his sickles against me," she said using her soft voice. "Seven would... never doubt my actions 'cause Seven knows that I know better than anyone else. I guess, you're just Zin afterall." Puno ng hinanakit niyang ani.

"You may have his face and AL-X, but you don't have his soul and heart."

"Really?" I scoffed and she glared at me. "I have his memories, Agent." May babalang usal ko.

"But still, you're way far behind him. You can never change things the way Seven did... you don't have what it takes."

"Really? What about you, huh? You, who can kill someone mercilessly!"

Umiling siya at bakas ang pagkabigo sa kanyang mukha bago hinagis ang mga sickles ko pabalik sa akin.

"Seven would never judge me, he knows me better than anyone. Here I thought you're smart... you didn't even questioned why Simon was here when he should've been in the north."

"Simon is rebellious, he could've escaped from the north. I've known him my entire life. Seeing him in unexpected places is a normal thing, I wouldn't be surprised." Umangat ang sulok ng kanyang labi na parang nangungutya.

"Leave now. I've answered your question."

Really? Ako? Aalis? Akala niya ganoon lang kadali?

"You killed my bestfriend, Agent." I said. I'm pretty sure she can see it right through me, that I am enraging. I could see the ember on my sight.

"He's gone, Corporal Areston."

"You need to pay." I clenched my jaw and gritted my teeth. I wouldn't let her get away from her sins.

"So you want to kill me? To take revenge?"

I positioned myself in a fighting stance when she started walking towards me. Nakahawak ang kamay nito sa kanyang gilid habang dahan-dahang hinila ang maliit niyang punyal.

The expression on her face is completely blank. What she have in mind... is hard to tell but one thing's for sure, I made her mad.

"Kill me then, Corporal Areston."