"The kids", Maddog asked.
"I don't know. It's very dark inside." the man replied. "What do you want to do with her?"
"We still need her. Keep her alive, we're going to transfer her to another warehouse." he ordered.
The man was about to pick her up when gunshots resounded from a distance. Both men turned to where the sounds came from. "It seemed to me like the enforcement you summoned are being ambushed." the man remarked.
"Go check what's happening."
The man nodded and left instantly. Maddog was left alone in that darkness. He loaded his handgun and readied himself in case he needs to fight.
"You're a dead man."
Before Maddog realized what happened, his gun was already flying away from his hand and a punch landed on his face. It was quickly followed by a kick to his groin. He fell down unconscious out of so much pain the very minute!
Arianna looked down at the man lying on the ground. This man... she can not allow him to live.
In the middle of the ensuing exchange of gunfire, an explosion suddenly occurred. Arianna shot up as she remembered about the little kids. Anxiousness was written all over her face as she looked around.
"Albee!!! Aaliyah!!!", she called but no one answered. She felt a sudden tremor in her heart as she watch the fire blazing from a distance, devouring the bushes and lighting up the trees. She stared at her hands covered with blood and a series of memories flashed in her mind.
Blood... Fire... Kill...
Arianna picked up Maddog's gun and aimed at the man's head. She didn't even blink when she pulled the trigger. A couple of men came and pointed their gun at her but Arianna was faster. They were fell dead in an instant.
***
"Rian!", Yago shouted when she spotted Arianna standing in front of a building. Ahead of him, a man was slowly approaching her.
"It's alright now! Everything is settled." the man told her. He was the same man who escorted Arianna out of the building earlier. He was walking towards Arianna with a smile.
But Arianna was indifferent. She raised the gun in her hand and aimed it towards his head. "Woah there! Don't scare me like that, Miss! I might get a heart attack!" he jested. But Arianna wasn't kidding and he only realized that when she pulled the trigger.
Yago ran towards Arianna in full speed. Something was wrong. Something definitely was different about Arianna.
"Rian! Stop!" Yago yelled. He hugged her tightly from behind and restrained her hand. She was out of control. The man who fell on his feet felt his shoulder and sure enough, a bullet entered his scapula. He could only stare at the woman glaring at him with disbelief.
Arianna's determination to kill didn't die down as she struggle to raise her arm. Her eyes were empty but she was very strong willed.
"Viper! Get out of here!" Yago shouted at the dumbfounded man in front of them. The man snapped out of his days and hurriedly ran away. He didn't know what's happening but it couldn't be good. It makes him wonder if he wronged her earlier.
"Arianna, wake up. It's alright now." he placated her. Once Viper was out of her sight, Arianna stopped struggling. Yago took the opportunity to retrieve the gun from her hand and threw it away. He then released her, but her legs give way and she slumped to the ground.
Yago kneeled down in front of her and studied her face. Her eyes were unfocus as if her head was up in the clouds.
"We're going home now, alright?" He said while caressing her hair. "After Albee called me, Roy received a similar call from Viper. Roy's men were able to contend Eagle's people but we were still late, aren't we?" Yago lamented before pulling Arianna to his arms. He hugged her tightly as he apologised. "I'm sorry Rian... I'm sorry I was late."
Yago blamed himself. Arianna went through this ordeal once again. When they were little, the same thing has happened. A bullet grazed Yago's shoulder and little Rian came crying beside him. She was too shaken up that she froze and picked up a gun, shooting and killing everyone around them mercilessly. She fired at them with precision and only the two of them were left breathing. What she did that day, only the two of them were witnesses. They never told a soul. It was kept hidden until today... when the past has to be relived before them. Only Yago recognize those empty eyes reflecting flames as she walk out of a burning building with her face and clothes covered in blood.
"I'm very sorry, Rian.." he repeated.
Arianna raised her hand but not to hug Yago. She pulled a knife from a corpse' boots and thrust it onto Yago's stomach...
***
Arianna opened her eyes slowly. How long has she been sleeping? It felt as if it's been a long time. She looked around and realized she's in her bedroom.
"Mum! You're awake!" Albee exclaimed as he saw her gain consciousness. "I'm so glad you're alright!"
Arianna turned to her son and smiled. Was he watching her sleep? "I had a very bad dream. I thought I won't be able to wake up again."
Arianna's body was aching. She couldn't move her body. What happened to her? Did she fell ill?
"What did you dream about mum? Waa it about us being kidnapped?", the little boy asked. His smile suddenly disappeared.
Arianna's eyes widened. So, it wasn't a dream? Did she really... "Where's Yago?", she quickly asked.
Albee just stared at her but didn't answer her question. "You were asleep for three days. You must be hungry. I'll ask mommy Belle to prepare something for you." Albee said before leaving the room.
Arianna raised her arm to stop him but she realized her arm was attached to something. An IV drip. She tried to get up but her body felt so heavy. What happened to Yago? Why did Albee reacted that way? What did she do?
***
Arianna watched the colorful birds flying outside her bedroom window. She's been resting in bed for four days now but she haven't seen Yago yet; not even once. Everyone around her was also acting strange. What were they hiding from her?
Whenever she asks about Yago, everyone would distract her and change the topic. Everytime she asks Yago's whereabouts, they would say they don't know. But how could that be?
Arianna stood up from the bed. She feels better now and her body isn't painful anymore. She washed her face and changed her clothes before leaving her room.
"Mommy... Will mamma Yan be alright?",Aaliyah asked. Belle was in the kitchen with the kids, baking some cookies.
"I think she's recovered. She can walk around now." she answered. "Just don't mention anything about uncle Yago in front of him." Arabella told her.
"Why? Mamma Yan has been asking about him a lot. Why can't we tell her that uncle Yago is gone?" Aaliyah asked innocently.
"You won't understand. We just can't tell her..." Belle insisted.
Arianna stepped backwards. What are they saying? Yago... is gone?
Dazed, Arianna returned to her room and sat silently on her bed. She remained like that for a long time. She didn't even know what to think anymore. Who could tell her what happened?
"Sister in law!!!", suddenly, a woman barged into her room and hugged her at once. "Are you alright? You must be feeling sad..." she mumbled.
"Erica... what are you doing here?" she asked.
Erica tightened her embrace... She then started crying. "I should've come earlier..." she mumbled. "I'm here in my brother's stead. I'm sorry. I should've come the very day I was told brother Yago has departed..."
"No!" Arianna blurted out cutting off Erica's words. "Don't say it!" Tears started running down her face.... She didn't want to hear it. She didn't want to confirm her hunch that Yago already left her....