Third Person's POV
As the battle nearly starts on the other side of the ring lies a few of the minor reapers there. One of them is Taurus, the guardian of Trixie.
Or rather that is somehow the temporary title being implied to him.
"You need to spy and keep an eye on Trixie."
Taurus closed their eyes as they remembered what their Father said to them.
"Ha? Bakit ako?" He asked confusingly at that time.
"Because Master says so."
He frowned. "I'm a sharpshooter. I'm not a spy, idiot."
"Ikaw ang isa sa mga best assassins ng organisasyon. As of now, hindi ito ang order na galing sa akin but directly from our boss. If you wish to decline, you may have an idea of what the punishment might be, Taurus."
He thought that it would never actually benefit him anything more than a few stars and praises. It is somehow not interesting anymore to be ordered in a sudden matter and been given the most boring mission he ever been heard.
He sighed in defeat at that conversation and replied, "Fine."
I never did this for him. I'm doing this for my Master and for the sake of my sister, Taurus thought and opened his eyes; he glanced towards the ring.
Mavis and Trixie went on the ring five minutes before the actual time of the battle starts. And now is the time.
"Five minutes had ended. Set your positions," announced Flare, the next-in-line heir of the mafia boss throne.
For some reason, Taurus felt somehow agitated for what might come or happened next. The agitation would be rather focused on Trixie rather on the other opponent.
He sighed as he walked up near the stage and crossed his arms as he observed the starting battle.
~***~
Nagsimula na ang mainit na laban sa pagitan ng dalawang magkalaban. Nagpalitan ng suntok at sipa ang dalawa.
Bumwelo ng suntok si Trixie. Mabilis na naiwasan iyon ni Mavis at bumwelo ng suntok sa tagiliran nito.
Napaigik sa sakit si Trixie at napahawak sa parteng nasaktan ni Mavis. Napahakbang rin siya paatras pero hindi pa tapos si Mavis.
Tumakbo siya at tumalon bago tumalikod at may puwersang inatake si Trixie sa noo.
Napataas ng tingin si Trixie habang nakabuka ang kanyang bibig at napaatras pa ng ilang hakbang pero napigilan niya ang kanyang pagtumba at puwersang tumayo. Tumulo ang isang patak ng pawis sa kanyang noo at hinihingal na siya.
Mavis smirked. "You already tired?"
Nainis naman si Trixie dahil sa simambit nito. Nanlilisik ang kanyang mga matang tumingin kay Mavis at nagngangalit ang ngipin na bumwelo at kaagad na sinipa ito pataas sa ibaba ng baba nito.
Hindi nakaiwas agad si Mavis kaya natamaan siya ng atake nito. Napataas rin siya ng tingin at napapikit pero ginamit niya ang kanyang dalawang kamay at inilagay sa sahig ng ring at nag-flip ng ilang beses bago napaupo habang nakatingin pa rin kay Trixie.
Tiningnan niya ito ng masama at kaagad ring umatake. Siniko niya ito sa dibdib, at nagpakawala ng ilang suntok sa parehong target ng katawan.Tumilapon si Trixie at napa-igik sa sakit.
Tumakbo papunta sa itaas ng ring si Flare at binilangan si Trixie. "One... Two... Three... Fo--"
Tumayo bigla si Trixie. Tinanguan siya ni Flare at tinanguan niya rin ito pabalik bago umalis si Flare sa loob ng ring. That's the sign that the battle is continued.
Tumingin siya kay Mavis at ngumisi habang ang kanyang kamay ay nagsimula na namang maging kamao.
Ngumisi pabalik si Mavis, binigyang tunog ang kanyang leeg sa bawat pagtagilid ng kanyang ulo, at sinuntok ang kaliwa niyang kamay gamit ang kanang kamao niya.
"I'm not done... with you..." Trixie muttered as she is catching up on her breathing. She is even smirking.
"Sino bang may sabi na tapos na ang laban natin?" pabalang na tanong ni Mavis.
Sumigaw si Trixie at mabilis na tumakbo papunta kay Mavis. Naghanda si Mavis at naghintay sa kanyang atake ngunit alerto.
Pinagpatuloy ang laban. Suntok sa suntok. Sipa sa sipa. Nagtatapunan ng bawat atake sa isa't isa.
Tumalon si Trixie at may puwersang sumipa, diretso sa mukha ni Mavis ngunit na-block iyon ni Mavis gamit ang kanyang kaliwang braso
Ito ang ginawa niyang tsansa. Habang umaatras ang kalaban ni Mavis, tumalon siya nang bahagya at naka-level niya ang paningin ni Trixie, which had her eyes widened in surprsise, at pinaulanan ng sipa sa pisngi dahilan kung bakit siya tumilapon pababa sa ring.
Rinig ni Mavis ang pagreklamo ni Trixie sa sakit ngunit wala siyang pakialam dito. Nakababa siya ng malumanay at maayos at tiningnan si Trixie, na nakahawak sa kanyang braso na itsurang namamaga.
Tumingin doon si Mavis at napangisi. Nagtama ang paningin nila ni Trixie. Nag-aapoy ang mga mata nito habang siya'y binibigyan pa rin ito ng makamandag na tingin.
Nagkatitigan lang silang dalawa hanggang sa matapos ang first round ng laban.
Tumayo na si Trixie. Mavis looked at Trixie in awe as she watched her wincing in pain. Her heart fluttered with excitement and satisfaction on the condition Trixie is in. Her body is visible of bruises and scars; bruises is mostly purplish.
The first half of the battle ended.
Trixie looked at her with a disgusted and un-satisfying look. "Ano? Masaya ka na niyan? Na napatumba mo ako sa unang laban? Well, this is just the start, girl. Huwag kang umasang ikaw ang mananalo sa huli."
Mavis shrugged her shoulders. "I'm not expecting to be the winner or anything. Kung ako ang mananalo, eh 'di oks lang din. Kung ikaw, eh 'di ayos lang din. There's a line between being greedy of winning and having fun, Trixie."
"Wow, how humble you are. You're really a disgusting b*tch," puno ng puot na sambit ni Trixie. "You're really living a life with your mask intact huh? Magpakatotoo ka."
"Thank you. I will not take note of that advice," reply ni Mavis habang may nanunuksong ngiti sa kanyang labi.
"Tch." Trixie turned her back at Mavis and went to the other side of the ring.
Mavis' POV
Hinihingal akong bumalik sa puwesto ko matapos ang unang round. Kaagad na inabutan ako ng bottled water ni Flare na siya kong kinuha at ininom agad ng diretso.
Napaupo at napasandal ako habang hinahabol pa rin ang hininga sa sobrang pagod. Though I sort of hold back, the battle still took a huge toll on my strength. It is not deniable that Trixie has fast reflexes and I'm kind of struggling with it.
Lumapit sa akin si Friar at pinunasan ang pawis sa noo ko. "Ayos ka pa ba?" nag-aalala niyang tanong.
Ngumiti ako sa kanya. "Ayos lang."
"Gusto mo ba ng tubig, Mav? O kaya ano, buhusan kita onti ng malamig na tubig sa ulo mo para-- Aray! Lucas, ba't mo ako binatukan?!"
Napahawak si Friar sa ulo niya at napatingin sa likod. Naroon si Lucas na naka-kamao ang kamay habang masamang nakatingin kay Friar.
"Don't be dramatic. She's fine. 'Wag kang mag-alala masyado. Parang 'di mo naman nakita pa'no siya lumaban sa maikling oras na 'yon."
"Still, I need to make sure if may kailangan pa siya. Hindi 'yon dramatic. Mali ka lang ng perspective."
Lucas sighed and never replied to Friar's reply. Bumalik ang atensyon sa akin ni Friar at pinunasan uli ang noo ko.
"Next battle would be using a weapon," anunsyo ni Flare at napansin kong may panibago siyang hawak na bottled water sa kamay niya habang palapit sa amin. "It would be fascinating if you would chop Trixie somehow."
"Gnada naman ng suggestion mo, Sherlock wannabe," sarkastikong sambit ni Lucas. "I think it is too brutal."
"I agree. Besides, hindi naman patayan session 'to para maging gano'n kalala ang laban," ani Friar.
"Still, it is aggreable. There is no rule that says you can't butcher off your opponent," reply ni Flare habang binuksan ang bottled water.
Ibinigay niya iyon sa akin at ininom ko ulit 'yon. Habang nag-uusap sila, palipat-lipat lang ang tingin ko sa kanila. It would be better if I took Flare's suggestion, but I wouldn't. Not that I wouldn't mind being chopped off by the other side but simply suggesting that there are other audiences besides Flare.
Ibinaba ko ang bottled water sa upuan na bakal, tumayo at nag-stretching.
"I was just wondering pero kaya mo 'yan?" Tinuro ni Lucas ang gear na suot-suot ko.
Tumayo ako ng diretso at nag-jumping jacks habang nakatingin sa kanya. "Oo," sagot ko.
"Ay waw, kaswal pa ang pagkakasagot ah. Pero seryoso nga, that's heavy."
"It's light actually," reply ko at tumigil sa pagja-jumping jacks. Inikot-ikot ko ang balikat ko.
Nanlaki ang mga mata niya. "Light?! That thing?!"
"Yep." Hindi ko na hinintay ang iba pa niyang reaksyon dahil pinapabalik na kami sa ring. Huminga ako ng malalim. I hope that my other side would not appear.
"I guess na hindi ka na mananalo ngayon."
I looked up to see Trixie smirking while staring at me directly from the not-so-far side of the ring.
Ngumisi ako pabalik sa kanya. "Confident, aren't we?" Nag-stretching muna ako bago pumunta sa gitna.
Lumapit na rin siya at hindi pa rin nawawala ang mayabang na ngisi sa kanyang labi. "Am I?" she replied, kunwaring patay-malisya sa aking sinabi. "Or are you the one who's too confident on the inside? Might be because you wanna win Flare."
"Am I?" patay-malisya kong sabi sa kanya. I'm incredibly pissed when she mentioned Flare in our battle even though he's not the reason why I am kind of letting out my strength to win.
Nawala ang ngisi sa kanyang labi. "Is it not?"
"Who would answer to such obvious question? Walang involved si Flare dito maliban sa pagiging referee."
"Aw, did it serve as a threat to you?" pangungutya niya.
Sa tingin ko, wala ng maisip siyang ibabalik na salita sa akin kaya ganto siya makaakto. A person who does not willing to give up though he already knows he's defeated might be an automatic loser on my perspective. Trixie tries to make me surrender on her whims.
"Wala namang epekto, 'day," sagot ko sa kanya. "Galingan mo pa siguro."
"If you want two cut each other's throat that badly, you may select your weapons on this side," turo ni Flare sa likuran niya.
May dalawang tao na naka-itim na palapit sa amin. Nasa magkabila silang giid ng isang parihabang mesa na mayroong maliliit na armas. Walang baril. Tanging matatalim na mga bagay lang ang naroon. Napangiti ako sa aking nakita.
Tuluyan na nilang nilapag sa harapan namin ang mesa. Pagktapos niyon ay umalis na sila at pinalitan sila ni Flare. Magkaharapan na kami ngayon.
"As you can see, all weapons are sharp and looking new. These weapons are available to be used so use it wisely. But there's a catch--"
"Pwede bang patapusin mo na ang pagkahaba-habang discussion o rules na 'yan? Atat na atat na kasi akong patayin ang babaeng katabi ko," pagsisingit ni Trixie.
Flare's eyes stared at Trixie coldly. "Ms. Trixie Angeles. May I ask you who brought you and accept you here again in this mafia group?" he asked.
Humalukipkip at nagtaas ng isang kilay si Trixie sa kanya. "Alam ko. Si Cronus ang boss dito. Bakit? Aangal ka?"
"No, but I prefer you stay quiet while I discussed about the rules of the game," reply ni Flare. "You don't want to be killed before this second game, do you?"
"Tinatakot mo ba ako?!" sigaw ni Trixie.
"I'm stating the facts," Flare replied without hesitation or even remorse for what he said at her. "You'll be killed before the battle if you don't let me finish. Otherwise, might as well you continue talking and your body will be swimming in blood."
Natulos si Trixie sa kinatatayuan niya at napayuko. There are things that should be brought upon and not should not be brought upon in situations. This is one for instance. Hindi na dapat sumingit si Trixie dahil may bantang nakarehistro na sa kanya.
"That same goes for Miss Mavis. Are we clear by the punishment?" Tumingin sa akin si Flare nang may parehas na lamig na ibinigay niya katulad kay Trixie.
I smiled. "Klaro."
"Good. Now, to continue my discussion earlier and this is just short. Again, I'll repeat it's short." He gave a sharp glance at Trixie. "These weapons are available to be used however, only one weapon should just be chosen as your weapon. If a dual knife is what you've chosen, it is accepted. When you choose a single knife and a pickaxe, that's invalid. So, choose wisely. Now, let's start the battle. Choose your weapons now."
Tumango ako at sinuri ang mga weapons. As what he said, there are two types of weapon: single and dual. Single weapons could be used in one hand while dual weapons could be used with two hands. If you choose a single weapon, you could not choose another weapon na pwede mong gamitin sa kabila mong kamay. Kung pipili ka ng dual weapons, accepted ang pagpili dahil magpares ang weapon na napili mo.
That's why he said to choose wisely.
'There's a rule of no killing' Naalala kong nasabi ni Flare 'yon sa akin pero hindi ko maiwasang mapaisip.
If there's a rule like that, then what will we have to do with these weapons? Is there a... Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang makita ko ang isang weapon. Pamilyar iyon sa akin. This is the same weapon I used before...
Napailing-iling ako. Hindi! Hindi pwedeng nandito ang armas na 'yon! Pumikit ako at tinignang ulit ng maigi ang weapon na 'yon. It has the same shape, same size, even the same curves and the design. The design... Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. That's the same weapon I held before!
Is it just a coincidence or is it...?
"I guessed you pick your weapon, song thrush." Napatingin ako kay Flare. Matiim siyang nakatingin sa akin. Napalunok ako. "Go. Pick it. I know you want to."
Napatingin ulit ako sa weapon na 'yon at bumalik ulit ang tingin sa kanya. I want to but I just can't. 'Di ako nag-aalinlangan na kinuha 'yon noon para pumatay but why am I having second thoughts right now when I have so little time?
I don't want to slaughter a person right now in front of everyone.
"Do what you must. I will stop you if you overdo it," bulong sa akin ni Flare.
Nagulat ako sa sinabi niya. Whatever the reason I have, he always understands. Hindi ko man nasabi sa kanya, na-gets na niya agad ang pinupunto ko sa simpleng tingin ko sa kanya na 'yon.
Tumango ako at 'di na nag-alinlangang kinuha ang armas na 'yon. Nang mahawakan, parang may dumaloy uli mula sa kamay ko hanggang sa buo kong katawan na isang aksyong hindi ko makakalimutan. I'm craving to do it again. That feeling. I felt that this weapon could feed up my inner demons' desire again.
Walang alinlangang kumuha si Trixie ng weapon at tinry pa iyong ibato sa ere. Nasalo niya iyon. She slides her finger on the sharp edge of the weapon and her eyes widened in satisfaction as she confirmed its incredibly sharp.
We positioned ourselves on the ring. I could see her eyes as a predator waiting to plunge kill their first victim.
Kinuha na ng dalawang bodyguard ang mesa at inilabas iyon sa ring. She smirked at me. Dinilaan niya ang hawak niyang long japanese knife. I winced in the sight.
"I'm holding my favorite weapon now so watch out, b*tch. I killed 300,000 people on this weapon."
I rolled my eyes. She wants to have the satisfaction only for herself and shared the past to intimidate me. Her favorite weapon is a simple beginner weapon for me and as far as I'm concerned, it's incredibly easy to avoid it while battling with her. But she has speed so I might take precautions.
Sa paghudyat ng pagsisimula ng laban, tumakbo kami sa isa't isa habang sumisigaw at nagkadikit ang aming mga armas. It's an ear-shattering noise.
SLASH!
May narinig na isang tunog na pagpunit ng damit. Humakbang ako palayo at kitang-kita ang bakas ng punit at bakat ng dugo sa damit nito na sumisipsip sa likidong pula.
"Sh*t," cried Trixie at tumingin sa kanyang braso. Tiningnan niya ako with raging eyes. "Argh! You ruined my clothing!"
I smirked. "Well, it's not my fault that your clothes are--"
Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. I barely dodged her sudden attack. She plunged forward with her arm outstretched with the Japanese knife. I felt a sudden sting on my face.
Napatingin ako sa gilid ko at nakita roon si Trixie na nakangisi. Napahawak ako sa mukha ko at iniharap ang kamay sa paningin ko.
It's red. There's red on my fingers.
There's red.
Red.
Red...
Flare's POV
Slowly, fear crept into me as I saw Mavis suddenly plunged forward towards Trixie, grabbing her by the neck and pushed her on the floor. Still holding the neck of her opponent, both her knees were bent on either side of Trixie, she plunged her weapon down on Trixie's forehead. Deep... Deep... Deep...
"Mavis! Mavis, tumigil ka na! Mav!" I heard my sister shouting as she ran towards the ring, grabbing the ropes tightly. "Mav, pinapatay mo na siya!"
I looked at Mavis again. Her eyes are fixated on Trixie. Eyes widened and grin plastered on her lips as she continued to plunge her weapon mercilessly to the no-life opponent.
Before I even realized, I was there with her inside the ring putting my hand over her shoulder and called out her name. The first reaction of the monster is a hiss, a bloodshot glare and pulling out of the weapon from Trixie's forehead.
As I've observed in that very moment, Trixie is dead. That's invalid for the battle. Though it may seem that is the first thing I have thought when I saw the situation, I still put the responsibility first in calming down the "beast" Mavis has become.
Right now, she's not Mavis. She's another person. Her another persona.
With a swing, she plunged the knife directed where my chest is. I immediately dodged it. I tried to back out for a moment and plunged to stop her but she immediately jump towards me and plunge the weapon to my head. I barely even dodge the attack and got a deep scar on my face.
"Tch."
I wiped off the blood from my face and looked at it Quite deep. It seems like Mavis knows how to handle weapons more than from what I expect.
She plunged again without a stop. I sighed and stood completely still in my position, waiting her to be nearby. As she attacked the knife towards me, I lowered my body, grabbed the arm where the weapon is, leaned towards her, and hand-chopped her neck.
Her weapon fell out from her hands and gave a "cling!" sound as it fell. Mavis fell into my arms. She is breathing evenly. Looks like she's asleep.
I carried Mavis in a bridaly style outside the ring. Friar, Lucas and the others went to us in a hurry.
"Flare, ayos lang ba si Mav?" Friar is the first one to ask a question.
"Looks like she snapped," said Lucas. "Hindi na niya na-kontrol sarili niya. Oh! By the way, bro, padala mo na lang damit niya sa washing room. Ako ng bahala maglab-- Aray!"
"Hindi lang ikaw, assh*le," my sister told him and looked back at me again. "She kind of went berserk, huh?"
"Hindi 'kind of' ang tawag diyan kung hindi nag-snapped talaga siya," replied Jane.
"Hijo, dalhin mo na siya sa clinic." I looked at Mama Nena. "She needs treatment. Gusto kitang pagsabihan pero sa ngayon, si Mavis muna unahin mo. Ang kambal ko na ang bahalang maglinis ng kalat sa ring."
"Lola! Why us?!"
"Oo nga po, ba't kami?!"
Mama Nena gave a sharp glare at them. "Tumulong kayo. Oh, siya. Hijo, pumunta ka na sa clinic."
I nodded and trusted all of them to do their works. I rushed towards the clinic while carrying the unconscious Mavis in my hands.
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