Yago paused for a while and then rubbed his tired eyes. He turned to look at the wall clock hanging on the wall; it's already eleven in the evening. He didn't realize he's been studying the files Arianna left him for so many hours now.
The man sighed. He stretched his arms and legs before standing up and walking towards the window of the study room. It was now very dark outside. Arianna used to be afraid of this darkness; would she be alright? All the information the woman left him are very important. The plan she completed to make use of those informations are perfect. All that's left to be done is for him to mobilize his men, utilize his resources and execute the plan. This priceless gift that she left him, he doesn't want to believe that all of this is to bid him goodbye. Wherever she is, she has to be alive or else all of these wouldn't matter anymore. Yago's heart which would remain unfazed during the biggest storms began shaking at the thought of the thought of losing her. It pained him that at such a moment, he can't go out there to search for her himself. He's such a lousy male lead, isn't he? Yago could only laugh at himself bitterly.
Yago left the room after a while. He headed downstairs like a wandering ghost. Vier noticed his brother's dazed expression as he descended the stairwell. He emerged from the kitchen holding a glass of milk for Ellaine, but he changed his mind and put down the glass when he saw his brother's defeated look. He watched as Yago strolled down to the basement. What was he up to? He wasn't thinking of ending his life in that dark place, was he?
Vier stood still contemplating whether he should follow his brother or not. He didn't want to meddle about his twin brother's affairs but he couldn't walk away either. In the end, he decided to go after Yago to check on him.
Darkness greeted Vier as he went down the stairs. He cursed a few times as he tripped more than twice amidst the dark hallways. He scolded his brother in his mind for visiting the basement at such a late hour, and scolded the owner of the house for depriving the place a source of light. Who was the psycho who designed it anyway? Why would he want a horror-movie themed basement? A normal person would put lights on the corridors!
Wearing a displeased expression, Vier looked around in search of his brother. A moment later, he saw some light seeping through the slightly open door in the end of the corridor. It's the only lighted room so he walked towards it to check. He was drawing near when Vier suddenly heard a lout thud coming from the room, as if something heavy fell to the ground.
Vier's heart skipped a beat and he began dashing through the room. Could it be that his brother collapsed in there? He was very worried. The moment he reached the room, he involuntarily closed his eyes and cover them with the back of his hand as light flooded his vision. It took him a while before he was able to focus his eyes on the man lying on the ground and staring at him speechlessly: a tall guy with fair skin and well-toned muscles. Who is he?
"What are you doing here?"
Vier turned to his left when he heard that voice. Sure enough, it was his brother, standing there wearing boxing gloves.
Vier turned to the man who was getting up at the moment. His left cheek was red. "I'm here to check upon you." He said before retreating to a couch nearby. "Look at you. You're still injured but you insist on boxing with your men. Knowing you're wounded, do you think they'll fight you seriously? You'll only torture them this way." Vier scolded him. Actually, seeing his brother venting his frustrations, he was somewhat relieved. It's better for him to release his pent up anger this way, than succumb to the pressure weighing his shoulders!
"You can leave now." Yago told the subordinate, dismissing him. He then turned around, uninterested in starting a conversation with Vier. He really wasn't in the mood for any argument at the moment.
Vier watched as his brother approach a sandbag hanging not too far away. At first, he was releasing light punches, but after a while, Yago started beating the poor thing with so much rage, pouring all his fury with loud roars echoing inside the gym.
Vier stood up, worried. Those heavy jab punches are helping him release his anger, but he was still injured. What if his stitches tore open? This brother was sure a pain in his a**.
"Brother, i think that's enough." he said.
Yago kicked and hit the punching bag nonstop until he was almost out of breath. He was sweating all over and was catching his breath as he slumped to the floor, exhausted. Vier took a bottled water from the small fridge inside the room and handed it to his brother. "How does it feel?" he then asked.
Yago took the bottle, opened the cap and gulped down a mouthful of water. He then stared at Vier who was still standing in front of him.
"I feel a bit better. I think I'm now ready for the battle ahead."he replied.
Vier furrowed his brows. "How confident are you?"
Yago stood up slowly. "I'm going to win for sure. I can't lose." he answered. "I can't waste Arianna's hard work. This is the right time to eradicate Rojo. According to the information. Rojo was currently in it's weakest state with their leader ill and the successor's seat still empty at the moment. This is the most vulnerable Rojo has been for the past four decades."
"What about Arianna? How will you-"
Yago raised his hand and gestured for Vier to stop. "I can't mess things up. Things ended up like this because I didn't trust her enough. I have to make up to her by following her instructions. My team will still be out there looking for her. But Arianna wanted me to focus in this tasked at hand first..." Yago paused and clenched his fist. He wanted so much to join the team searching for her, but falling in the enemy's trap won't help Ariana either. "She promised she'll be alright.... She better be..." Yago whispered.
As anger started building up inside Yago's chest once more, a series of knocks were heard from the door. After a while, a young maid entered the room with the phone in her hand.
"Sir, you have a phonecall from a man. He won't tell his name but he said he knows of Miss Reid's whereabouts."
Yago quickly grabbed the wireless phone. A familiar voice greeted him from the other end of the line. Familiar. Too familiar but he couldn't remember where he heard it.
"Oh, did I call you at the wrong time? It's daytime here. I forgot I'm now in a continent opposite yours."
"Who are you?", Yago asked. That nonchalant voice, just where did he hear it?
"If I tell you who I am, will you be willing to meet up with me?",he said in a joking manner.
"No."he replied.
"Even though I have your woman with me?",the man added.
"Impossible."
The man chuckled. Was he playing with him?
"I was just kidding. I can't meet you even if you ask me too. I called because I wanted to tell you something. And I want you to do a few things for me."
"Who are you?" Yago repeated. The man's voice was friendly, but he could feel something sinister about him. He's definitely not a good person.
The man laughed again.
"Alright... This is Roy. Roy Vander!"
Yago tightened his grip on the phone. So it's him. The only heir to Rojo!
"What do you want?",he asked.
"I already told you. I want you to do a few things for me."
"And why would I do that?"
"Because I have your Arianna and I can decide for her fate!" he answered. Yago trembled. With Yago unable to answer, Roy became more amused and started laughing manically. After a while, his evil laugh ceased and he began to whisper. "It's true. I have her. Are you willing to listen to me now?", Roy asked with a sinister grin.