"Trash!"
This voice belonged to Ares who was staring at them with a condescending look. Her voice was soft but there was a clear killing intent laced in her words. This killing intent was so thick and suffocating that it made the gangsters freeze in fear. For a second there, they found it hard to breathe.
Ares stared at the group of men in front of her with deep hatred and revulsion.
She lived through and experienced their [life]. The horrendous acts they committed were drilled into her. All those lives that they've ruined. It was unforgivable!
Standing before her, they shuddered in fear, feeling chills run down their spine. They didn't understand why but they felt the urge to kneel before her.
As if she was a god.
Absolutely domineering!
"Elias," Ares's voice rang out, filling the eerie silence but she didn't turn to look at him. "Take Maya over to the ice cream parlor. I will join you in a bit."
However, Maya quickly disagreed, "No! Ares, we won't leave without you. These men are dangerous… they might hurt you."
Maya was so worried and scared for Ares that she didn't notice that Ares spoke more words to her compared to before.
Hearing Ares's words, Elias disagreed as well but he couldn't voice it when Ares said resolutely, "They won't do anything to me as long as there are cameras around. I will be fine."
This time she turned to face them, and her eyes met Elias's, "Elias."
She prompted him to take Maya away.
Elias looked at her with concern. His mind plunged into deep thoughts.
What should he do? Should he just fight them and stall for enough time for his mother and Ares to run away to get his father? Then again, he can't take on these gangsters by himself, especially when all eight of them have burly figures.
He thought it through with great vigilance before glancing at Ares. He didn't understand why but he trusts everything Ares said. He believed in her, but it left a bitter taste.
For the first time, he hated how weak he was. If he were strong, he could protect his mom and Ares. He silently vowed that this would be the last time he would allow himself to be protected. From now on, he will be the one doing the protecting.
Maya thought her son would take her side, but she was sorely wrong. Elias took her into the ice cream parlor not too far from them and she left reluctantly.
Ares looked on at their retreating backs. Her gaze softened but that only lasted for a second before it reverted to being empty and intimidating when facing the burly men in front of her.
A murderous glint flashed in her eyes, causing the gangsters to tremble. They don't understand how a bloodthirsty aura can exude from this girl, but it was unmistakable. This girl wanted to kill them, and they believed that it was possible if it was her.
The leader knew better that this girl in front of him was dangerous. Despite his young age, he met with the notorious crime family boss in the tri-state area. Comparing that boss with this girl, it wouldn't be an overstatement to say that this girl was stronger in both senses of presence and strength.
Ugh! He never thought that there will come a day where he'll just shoot himself in the foot because of his sexual desires.
He wanted to apologize and quickly run away from this monster called Ares. He didn't get the chance to say a word when a delicate androgynous rang out, scaring him witless.
"Carl Nelson. Born April 18, 19XX. The firstborn child of Kimberly Banks and Jim Nelson. Ruby Downs, December 30, 19XX. Audrey Henry, April 2, 20XX. Abigail Whitney, May 23, 20XX. Casey Greene, January 11, 20XX. Dorris Hodge, September 29, 20XX. Do you need me to go on?"
"You-" The leader of the gangsters stared at her like she was a monster. The name 'Carl Nelson' she spoke about was him. He was Carl Nelson, but nobody should know this name because he took extreme measures to make this name disappear. So, how did she know when even his men didn't know?
However, the shock didn't stop there. The names she listed were all the women he destroyed, and the dates were the days he had killed them. Every single piece of information she said was terrifyingly accurate.
Does she need to go on? No! If she did, he would probably die from shock.
He was utterly defeated by just a few words from her, but his men didn't know. They had only thought that she was talking gibberish.
"Haha! Boss, how can you scare a little girl? Don't worry little girl I will protect you," the man beside Carl, the leader, leered at Ares.
Carl looked at him indignantly. Scare? Someone was most definitely scared but it wasn't the girl. It was him!
And who did he say he was going to protect? The one who needed protection was him. He needs protection from this girl.
But he didn't say anything and obediently stayed quiet, praying for him and his men's survival.
Ares didn't care about the lecherous looks directed at her, "Joseph Grimes…"
She repeated every personal information of each gangster from memory that only they would know, and, like their leader, they were terrified. Scared out of their mind.
How did she know these things? Sensitive things that they never told anyone. Looking at her again, it was like they were in the presence of a god. A god that can see everything, know everything, and was ready to give out punishment to sinners.
Their minds raced, contemplating the best course of action. Although this girl knew everything about them, so what! They can just kill her, and their secrets will die with her.
They knew exactly what the other was thinking, and so they silently agreed on it. This girl needs to die!
It was only the leader who looked at them like they were idiots. His men might not know but he knew that they wouldn't be able to kill her. However, he can't tell them because they won't believe him. Sigh! These f*cking idiots.
Ares didn't pay attention to the leader, but she could see that the fear in his men's eyes was replaced by a vicious look. It seemed like her little threat didn't work. She had wanted to take care of this the easy way, but it looks like the only way to subdue them was by using the hard way.
"The eight of you can't win against me. Even if you brought a whole army, you still won't be able to defeat me!" Ares flatly stated as killing intent oozed from her figure.
She wasn't being arrogant but was simply stating facts. With her abilities combined, nothing can kill her. She has enough power to overthrow a country. That's how strong she was.
"Unless you want to die, come at me!" A strong force of Ares's aura pressed down on them, and their expressions couldn't help but shift greatly.
They had all thought that their initial reaction was an illusion. Only now they realized that it wasn't. This girl was not simple at all. Dangerous! She was dangerous. Their instincts were screaming for them to run. But they can't seem to move a single step away from where they're standing.
Cold sweat dampened the back of their shirts as their expressions gradually turned ugly. Their knees were trembling, threatening to give out at any time.
"Kneel!" With just that one word, their hearts shook, and as if on command they dropped down on their knees with a thud.
The sight of muscular men kneeling before a beautiful girl caught the attention of the people passing by. Some watched on, gossiping. While others were filming it with their phones.
"Whoa! What's going on?"
"I don't know. I thought she was a goner when they started surrounding her but then they suddenly knelt."
"Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. It doesn't seem to be a simple matter."
"How shameless! Aren't they embarrassed?"
"As men, how can they kneel so easily like that in front of a girl?!"
When the gangsters heard these comments, their fists clenched tightly but they couldn't rebuke them. Because they were afraid that one wrong move could result in their death. So, what if they were shameless! They would do worse as long as it can appease this monster before them.
Elias and Maya stared at the scene with shock. They were closely watching the whole time; in case they made any suspicious moves on Ares. One minute they were standing then the next second they were on their knees, begging.
Begging?
That didn't sound right. What are they begging for? Unfortunately, they couldn't hear anything.
"Confess all your sins to the police. Don't think I wouldn't know if you don't confess. I know everything about you- your bank accounts, your address, where you hide your money, or where you will try to hide, I know them all." Ares ordered them with a threatening tone, but they couldn't say anything.
"Now tell me, what will you do?"
"Confess our sins to the police!" They quickly answered back with a slight quaking in their voice.
"If you don't… I dare you to run! I guarantee you won't last long," she intimidated them, looking like a predator eyeing its prey.
The gangsters shuddered in fear. They didn't believe that she wouldn't do exactly what she said she would.
"Leave," Ares ordered them before leaving.
They sighed in relief when they noticed her walking away, and quickly scrambled to their feet in search of the nearest police station. Although they will be imprisoned for who knows how long, at least they'll still be alive. As they ran away, they silently prayed to never meet this monster again.
The sound of their desperate escape transmitted to Ares' ears. Her hearing was extremely sensitive to the point where she could hear the rapid beating of their hearts.
She was no longer concerned about them, so she tossed the memory of their very existence at the back of her mind. Instead, her mind was focused on the cold sweet treats called ice cream that she had seen in most people's [life].
Entering the ice cream parlor, her eyes sparkled at the sight of varieties of flavors.
If the gangsters were to see this, they wouldn't believe, even for a second, that this was the same girl they thought of as a monster. Even if they did, they won't admit it was her.
"Ares!" Maya called out in relief, taking her into her arms.
"Are you hurt?" Maya saw everything so she knew Ares wasn't physically hurt but she only asked out of concern. The concern in her voice was obvious. Her hold around Ares didn't relax as she stroked the back of her head affectionately.
"No," she answered.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Maya finally asked after pondering over it. She thought she was starting to understand Ares but after today there was still more, she didn't know.
Her desire to understand Ares was growing. She knew that she was being greedy, but she just couldn't help it. She unknowingly accepted Ares in her heart. And it wasn't just her. Her husband did and so did her son. Now it wasn't only about wanting to understand her, she also wanted Ares to rely on her more. But she wasn't impatient. They have all the time in the world.
"No." Ares leaned her head on Maya's shoulder with her arms still on either of her sides. Maya wanted answers but she couldn't give them to her. Ares was grateful for her concern, but she was doing it for her safety. She can't expose her secret to anyone, for her own safety and theirs.
Elias was just as curious as his mother was, but he didn't want to force her, so he skillfully changed the subject. "Do you want some ice cream, Ares?"
"Mmm!" Ares replied as she always did, leaving Maya's embrace. But the enthusiastic expression on her face was refreshing.
'So cute!' Elias thought.
The three of them enjoyed their ice cream as they made their way to the car. While on Detective Cross's side, he was finally rid of that crazy photographer Travis. He quickly wanted to head back to his family when his phone ringing stopped him in his tracks.
At the sight of the caller ID, Detective Cross hurriedly answered the call, "Hey Liam, you got something for me?"
"Wow! Not even a 'Hey Liam, how was your day?' or 'Liam, the best intelligence analysts slash computer forensics specialist, who also happens to be my partner, what do you have for me?'," the voice on the other end of the line feigned being hurt.
Liam Chase was a few years younger than Detective Cross. He was so well built that it suited his platinum hair and ice-blue eyes. They have been partners for so long that they could be considered brothers. An annoying brother that needed to be watched. Sigh! When did he start being someone else's babysitter? He wished he could spend more time with his family now that Ares was around. But instead, he has to spend most of his time with someone as annoying and unappealing as Liam Chase.
Detective Cross became irritated, "I don't have time to be your emotional coach. So, do you have something for me or not."
"Yeah, I do," Liam didn't want to annoy him any further and told him what he found, "So, you know I tried to widen our search statewide with all the other active kidnapping cases and I just keep hitting a dead end, yeah? But get this, so I tried to match her DNA to the Cox's, and it's a 99.9999% match."
"Wait! So, you're telling me that the girl that was strapped up, covered in blood in their basement is theirs. But there's no record of her even being born. How is that even possible?" Detective Cross questioned unconvincingly.
"I know right?! That's where I did some deep digging into the Cox couple and that's where it keeps getting weirder. They only have records for the past ten years, nothing beyond. It's like Emma and Ryan Cox didn't exist until ten years ago. It could only mean one thing…"
"What?!" Detective Cross grew impatient waiting.
"They're false identities. From there, I hit another dead end. But whoever they are, our girl is definitely their biological daughter. My best guess is that they gave birth to her in secret and avoided hospitals."
"Yeah, that makes more sense. Good work. Oh, with everything going on, I almost forgot to tell you that our girl's name is Ares. I'll fill you in on everything later," he said, hanging up.
'This case just got a lot more complicated!' Detective Cross thought.