Red Strings of Fate (Haunted Series 2)

Strings 25: Turning Point

Tumalsik ang baril at nag slide... papunta sakin.

Nakatinginan kami ng goon at sabay na tinalon ito. Nang maramdaman ko ang bakal sa kamay ko, naramdaman ko ang pawisan niyang kamay sa aking braso, nang sinipa siya ni Hera palayo sa akin, kinuha ang baril sa kamay ko at mabilisan binaril sa ulo ang lalake. Execution style.

I immediately looked away and took a step back. I couldn't erase that image from my head but I probably shouldn't have enjoyed helping as much as I saw them kick ass.

Hinawakan ako ni Hera sa braso at tinulak papalapit kay TJ, who pushed me towards Mark's side, holding Tinang on his left. "Protect her."

Putangina, I never felt as useless as I do now.

Nakita ko ang natitirang lalaki na nakatingin kay Kuya Jupiter na may takot. Pagkatapos ay, tumayo siya at tumakbo patungo sa pintuan na pinasukan nila.

"I'm offended, am I not scary enough?" Bumulong si James at kinuha ang kutsilyo na nakasaksak sa ulo ng isang lalaki at inihagis ito sa tumatakbo.

Ang kutsilyo ay kuminang ng napakaganda sa liwanag bago nito ibinaon ang sarili sa binti ng lalake. Ang kanyang nakakarinding sigaw ay isa lamang sa maraming hiyawan na nakapalibot sa yate.

Napaluhod ang lalaki at hinawakan ang kanyang binti.

"Nice." Kuya Jupiter acknowledged, sliding on his brother's side with a knife. They walked casually toward the goon, who pushed his feet and tried to hobble toward the exit because he couldn't put any pressure on his injured leg.

Dapat ay hinugot niya ang kutsilyo. Matutulungan siya nitong makakilos ng mas mabilis o kaya ay mabilis siyang mauubusan ng dugo. Parehong mas magandang kahinatnan kaysa sa naghihintay sa kanya sa kamay nina James at Kuya Jupiter, base sa kanilang itsura.

They ruined the night that was supposed to be a celebration of life and charity.

Sumandal ang lalake sa hamba ng pintuan nang sipain siya ni James sa paa kaya napahiga siya. "W-wag—"

He screamed.

"Who are you with? Itasaki?" He stepped on the knife, and I couldn't look away from James' form. Who is this guy?

I'd always known his playful, flirty attitude was a mask to cover up the ugly truth, but again knowing and having that knowledge confirmed in such a brutal way were two very different pairs of shoes.

He retrieves the knife, plunges it into a different body part, and continues asking questions.

Nasusuka ako.

Sinarado ko ang aking mata, unable to remove the image from my head. I need to keep in mind that this James is also my TJ. He's capable of this because he's protective of his people.

"Can I have alcohol?"

Hindi ko alam ilang minuto 'yon pero bumukas ang mata ko nang marinig ang boses niya. Nanghihingi siya ng alcohol kay Hera habang pinupunasan ang kamay na maraming dugo gamit ang table napkin na nakuha niya sa gilid.

My stomach flipped. TJ's manners and quiet calm while torturing a man made my hands shake.

Who, after killing a man with such brutality, asked for rubbing alcohol casually and politely the next breath?

Nobody in their right mind, that was for sure.

"You think I have rubbing alcohol on me?" Hera questioned him with a straight face.

I couldn't help but watch the strange serenity of seasoned agents used to violence, completely ignoring all the terrified normal people like me.

A static sound echoes around us that steals their attention.