"Boss, are you sure? Will it be okay? You know right..."
"Whaaa, whaaa. I want mommy. Mommy, where…"
"Shut up." The so-called boss shouted, startling not just the girl but also his own lackey.
'What are you shouting about? Don't you know I too want to go home.' The man paid no attention to the other, before turning to the phone in front of him.
He knew it was a risky job, but he had to do it. He had needed the money. The one tipped him off told him that he has to kidnap the girl ask for the ransom, before handing over to others. He had no need to wait till the ransom come. The other party, who will receive the child, will pay for the work.
'It not much hassle.' so he had thought. The plan was devised by the other party, he snatched the girl away with few of his lackey, called the house and… That was where his problems began. He had no way to contact the party who is going to receive the girl. All the contract numbers are invalid.
"Boss a car is coming." The words from the walkie-talkie broke his thought.
The boss breathed a sigh of relief, "Quick, give the sign."
"BOSS, something is wrong, the car isn't SLOWI… crash, *Boom*" the walkie-talkie in his hand started to scream in pain.
In a single breath, his back was drenched in sweat. He wasn't new in this type of work and know very well when to back up. Alas, it was too late.
He grabbed the gun, but before he could turn around something came crashing towards him. Jumping to his left, he shot at the black shadow that was rushing towards him.
*Bang* *bang*
It was followed by a scream from the little girl before she broke into tears.
The boss didn't have the time to look at the girl. He was sure that at least one of the bullets had hit the shadow, but he couldn't confirm it before his world turned upside down.
An excruciating pain pn his chin overwhelmed his consciousness. He tried his best to find stability but a chop at his neck didn't let him.
"Sloth, isn't it too eas…" the boss couldn't hear the rest of it before he lost consciousness.
"Awwwwww" the cry of the little girl got so loud that Aree, in the black dress, couldn't hear the words from the other side.
He moved towards the girl who just increased the voice by another notch. He opened the black bandana to show her, "Don't worry sweety, I am not the bad guy."
It didn't stop the record. He opened the rope from her hand and legs. "Don't worry dear. Your father had sent me to rescue you."
"Bu-but I have no father."
For a moment, Aree didn't know how to respond. The people he had rescued before didn't need a briefing, but it is a different matter now. He had no idea about how to make this child believe that he is here to help.
"Did I say your dad, it was your mom. Sorry, my mistake."
"Brother, you are a liar." Aree choked on his breath.
"But, I am here to protect you."
The girl didn't believe his words at all, but after thinking for a moment she nodded, "But, you are dying."
One of the shot had actually touched his shoulder, gazed past it, creating a small wound.
"When you come to my home, I will give you my lucky band-aid."
There are not many who can think about others in such a situation. 'She is a child, after all.' Though Aree knew it still he had felt warm in his heart. With a slight smile he patted her only to be furiously refuted by her, "My mother had said, I shouldn't let others touch me. I am a maiden after all."
Looking at the bountiful pride in the small vessel he couldn't help but smile.
"Brother, you are handsome when you smile." The girl giggled as she complimented, but Aree's face darkened. Before she could cry in protest Aree grabbed her and ran.
*Boom*
The door was already in bad shape from the first crash but Aree knew the second crash was done by anyone but Chap. The third boom came soon after.
The little girl didn't try to argue any more. Aree could feel the girl was shivering with each crash. She hid her face in his face, " Brother, they are here."
"Don't worry sweety nobody will be able to touch you as long as I am with you." Though Aree had said it, he knew his situation was as the child had said. More than 20 people were running after him. If he was alone it wouldn't have been a problem but…
He was already in an unknown alleyway, the command continued to come in his ear and he moved as sloth had commanded him. Soon enough he was standing in front of the deformed indigo coloured civic. As soon as he had jumped in, it went on full speed.
The girl raised her head a little to confirm that the bad guys were running behind the car and were unable to catch up with them. A smile appeared on her face.
"Thank you, brother." She whispered with a gentle voice. With a smile on his face, Aree patted her, only to stop with his hand an inch away from her hair.
"Brother is a good boy"
"You are a good girl too." Aree didn't have much recollection of mingling with children, neither they were as cute as her. 'It won't be bad to have a baby like her.' The moment of happiness didn't last long.
"Wrath, we have a problem. Roadblock within 600 meters." As soon as the words transmitted Chap squeezed the brake hard.
"Rolly is not in position."
"How long?"
"4 minutes 6 seconds."
"How many?"
"27 in front, 12 in 1 minute."
"Does it have protection?" The last question was aimed at Chap who confirmed in a blink.
"After I get out, activate it. Don't open it until ordered" Aree wasn't sure about Chap's background but he was sure that he had gone through strict training. On the other hand…
"Brother, don't go." By now the crowd around the car had grown large enough to scare the little girl. She was unwilling to let go of Aree's cloth.
"Don't you know how strong this brother is?"
"But they are bad guys." The worry in her eyes couldn't be purer. Aree put her on the seat and put on the seat belt.
"Aren't you a good girl?"
Her eyes were becoming moist, still, she nodded. "Then you should listen to brother, stay here, we will take you to mother soon."
"But…"
"A good girl always listen to her brother. I know you are a good girl, so you promise me." Aree extended his pinky.
Something slammed on the car, shaking it violently. She wanted to jump towards Aree, only to be stopped by the seat belt.
"Come on, promise." Still hesitant, she wrapped her small finger around Aree's.
"Chap" Aree put on his bandana over face revealing only the eyes. All the glass of the car turned darker with a fling of a switch. The door opened, Aree jumped out and the door closed behind him. He could still hear the innocent cry behind him.
The biggest problem in a fight is the variable called 'gun'. Though most of their arms were knives or long iron rods, there were bound to be some who would have gun with them. Aree had no intention of giving them the chance. He jumped right into them.
Trained in Filipino martial art as a part of the military, Aree had no problem to fight with the large crowd with the knife. Neck, heart, thighs are his main aim and very few of his hit missed the target. But with so many people around...
The first hit landed on his back. It was painful but not something he wasn't accustomed to. More the fight progress more he felt his breaths started to get erratic.
Though he had trained daily, it was just to keep the body fit but lack of mock battle was becoming more prominent.
The experience was not enough to fight in such chaos. A groan escaped as an inch of a blade tip entered his side. He grabbed the hand, twisted and forced the blade in the belly of the holder, all he could do was cry. The Last group of twelve had already joined. Aree jumped back to reassess the situation.
"50 seconds more." Aree had no way to confirm so Sloth continued, "There is a chance that Chap can break through the blockade. What will…"
"1" Aree spoke and the car started again. It caught the goons off guard, but before they could understand what was happening, Aree jumped in. This time his action was more vicious.
It started with a kick in the groin, then plunge the knife in the eye of another and the kick at the knee of the closest one bend it in a weird angle. The car was going further, men were dropping like flies, the man at the back didn't hesitate any more and pull out his Glock. But he had failed to notice the sparkle in the eye of the predator.
Even before he could aim the gun at Aree, a small dagger plunged into his throat. The last thing he had seen was, Aree who was pouncing towards him with a grin on his face.
Soon the Glock changed hand and the magazine was ended in a mere three seconds, resulting in 14 deaths with each shot, even the empty gun broke the nose of an unsuspecting one.
"Do you still want to fight?" The hesitation in their eyes was clear. There was no way they were confident enough to fight against the one who reduced their number to 4 from 40, within five minutes.
They were looking for a way to run, but with the snap of a finger, another body fell on the ground with a headshot.
"All you can do is surrender, otherwise you will be shot like a wild goose." Aree gave simple smile but to the surviving three it was nothing but the grin of the devil.
"Wrath we have a problem?" Before he could ask, he could see the indigo civic coming back. The car stopped, the door opened and the little body pounced towards him. Aree took the chance and entered the car along with the child.
'There is no need for her to see the mess.' Closing the door behind him he was about to give the order, only to find the reason for coming back. The hair of Chap was a total mess.
"Brother, are you ok?" The child was staring at the bloody wound on his side with big eyes, "Brother, you are not going to die right?" The eyes had moistened already.
"What are you afraid of sweety? With your magic band-aid, it will heal in a blink of an eye."
'Sweety? More like a little monster.' Chad was cursing while he stepped on the gas. 'I need to get her out, as soon as possible.'