Gulp. Tony feel very anxious now. He knew the worry he was feeling right now was not something he could ignore. This crazy man over here always does something according to his heart without thinking in advance.
"Master won't agree with that, sir." He knew he was putting his head on the knife by saying that but still, he voiced his opinion.
And so, before he ever heads the answer, his neck has already been grabbed and his body pushed against the wall with so much force. As it all happened so quickly, Tony could only give up while his hand tightly held the wrist that was strangling him to reduce the force a little.
Ha... Cough! Cough! Huh...
Even when he now struggles between taking a breath and coughing, Tony never showed his fear. His eyes looked at his attacker straight in the eyes just like he had trained all these years.
"This is what I didn't like about you Tony. You act nervous around me, but you are not even scared. Maybe that's why my father wanted you to be my assistant because of your loyalty to him huh?"
"He... Still... Our master," Tony said even in a life-and-death situation.
The man glares sharply at his victim. It's true, even though this organization has changed hands, the one who is still on top of the empire is still his father and he didn't like the sound of it. At all!
Greedily, he pushed Tony hard to the floor as he no longer had the heart to torture him. But it doesn't mean he didn't get angry.
"Despite what you say, I am the one who holds this empire now. My father, whom you call your master, didn't even have a ball to deal with that Alexander. I show you, what I am capable of. After that, think again whom you should serve as your master."
The man said that while leaving Tony, who was still in pain on the floor.
~~~~~~~~~~
Another day,
"Hey, you look radiant as this is our last class together," Lily said to Ariana, who was sitting at her desk while looking out the window.
"About the last class, that's the truth, but our togetherness, it's for our lifetime," Ariana said that too seriously making Lily shudder, feeling some chill as it was too cringe.
The students in the senior years have already finished their final exams, so they are here now today only to say goodbye. There's no need to learn anymore. That's why the class is so noisy right now.
"Stop it girl. Now, tell me the truth. Why do you look a bit down when this is the last day we will be at this high school?" Knowing something wrong, Lily kept asking questions.
Ariana sighed deeply this time. Not rejecting the fact that her heart feeling was a bit uneasy at that time. The problem is, she didn't know why?!
"I don't know Lily. But something tells me that today won't be an easy day."
Call it intuition or superstition, but Ariana didn't want to ignore this feeling as she is quite good at smelling 'the trouble'. She already proved it to herself several times!
Lily just looked at Ariana without talking as she didn't know what to say anymore.
Suddenly,
Krrrrrrrrrrrrrrrriiiing!!!
A loud, sharp noise of the school emergency bell rang before then the situation started to turn into chaos.
"W-what's that? Is there any fire somewhere? " Lily also started getting panicky.
"Let's go." Ariana continued to pull Lily's hand to leave the class according to the procedure they had learned in case of emergency. All students and teachers must be outside for safety but,
"Announcement, all teachers and students, please move to the main hall now."
"Main hall? Why? " Lily sound confused as they never go to the main hall for an emergency.
"Let's just go," Ariana said.
After a few seconds,
"Conrad!"
Ariana stopped on her track in the crowded sea of students. Her eyes began to look towards the sound system that was installed in every corner of the building where the voice calling her family name came from there. She knew instantly, this is the result of her feeling uncomfortable earlier.
"I promise I won't hurt other people, but you must stand before me now, Ariana. I want to see the face who will become my rival soon. Perhaps, we can shed one or two drops of blood to test our compatibility. Don't you think this kind of exciting?"
"Who are you?" Ariana asks herself as there's no way that person can hear her now.
"Just keep walking. He doesn't know who you look like that's why he said that. " Lily is trying to persuade.
Ariana analyzed the situation around her. There are too many people here that will expose to danger if she refuses.
"Meet me in the field behind the main building before I blow up every corner. I'm sure your father taught you the empathy which your organization is too proud of, isn't it?"
"Ah... Such a snake. " Finally realizing who is her opponent, Ariana continued to hold her hand because of anger.
"Lily, just go and call my brother to inform them about the situation. I'll be fine. " After saying that, Ariana kept running in the opposite direction.
"Wait!" Lily managed to pull her friend's hand before she went further.
"What do you think you want to do? Just wait for your brothers before anything can't you? " Lily worried.
Ariana slowly pushed Lily's hand away from holding her.
"Don't worry, I don't think he wants to kill me anyway. Go."
Stunned. Lily can't do anything to stop Ariana anymore and now just looks at her walking away before screaming,
"And how do you know about that?!"
Approaching the said place, Ariana moved cautiously, while her eyes darted here and there to count how many enemies she was facing at that time. It's easy as there are no more students or teachers in that area.
There, behind the school building, she could see someone whom she had only heard rumors about it. The new leader of that Snake Venom Organization.
Taking a deep breath, Ariana got ready to walk into the tiger den.
Realizing that he was being approached, the man who caused all this thing, smiled in satisfaction. But he can't really see her clearly as Ariana is still far away.
"There you are. The person who has been like a ghost finally appears."
'Relax, if he wanted to kill me, I will make sure I stab him first before I die. ' Ariana made a vow inside her mind.
However, her plan instantly destroys.
Vroom! Eeeeeek!
A shiny black, sports car suddenly drifts smoothly and appeared before Ariana managed to open a step while closing her eyes to her enemy.
"Get in!"
"Mr. Smith?! " Ariana was surprised, but her body quickly moved on her own entering the car.
As soon as Ariana got into the car, Mr. Smith quickly changed gears and sped out of the school grounds.
In the chaos, Ariana did not forget to wear her seat belt before asking.
"What the hell is going on?"
"Language!" Mr. Smith still is a teacher after all.
"Are you? All this time? Are you one of us? " Ariana put a puzzle, piece by herself.
"I'm sure you have a lot of questions, especially those that are on your mind right now, but this is not the time for that Ariana. Hold tight! " Mr. Smith warns before he drives faster, entering the road through the forest, not using the main road anymore
"But, how are the others at school?" Ariana started imagining Lily.
"Don't worry. Alexander already asked us to track the movement of the enemy months ago. Our people already there saving them."
Ariana was relieved to hear that. At least a burden in his heart is gone. But not long, when she looked at the side mirror.
"They are here."
"Tch," Mr. Smith tried not to curse there.
"Gun. Under your seat." Mr. Smith finally gave instructions while focusing on his driving.
With quick movements, without her having to ask. Ariana reached for the weapon and loaded it with the bullet.
She then opened the window and,
Bang! Bang! With two shots she manages to stop one of the many cars following before focusing again.
"Geez, why are they are too many."
But her action made the enemy now fire a barrage of shots. Then it marks the start of the shootout there.
At that time, they reached a gorge next to the sea where they now moved on a narrow road. However, there was no time for Mr. Smith was driving faster in front of him already there was a vehicle blocking.
"Looks like they really prepared this time." Ariana had time to praise.
Both Ariana and Mr. Smith's car is now trapped at the front and the back.
"How long for our people to be here?" Ariana asks to know how long she can delay the enemies on her own.
"Ugh..." Mr. Smith suddenly started moaning in pain.
Hearing the tone of pain, Ariana continued to look at Mr. Smith and saw the blood that came out of his body, it looks like there was a shot that hit him during the exchange of fire earlier.
Quickly, Ariana uses the handkerchief that is always with her and presses Mr. Smith wound so that the blood does not flow out quickly.
"Hang in there, Mr. Smith."
"Well, well, well... You should come to me when I ask nicely Miss Conrad, as the me before didn't even intend to kill you but now, I do. " The voice that was heard earlier is now back. The person got out of his car and started walking towards their car while holding a gun.
Seeing the situation, surrounded by enemies, Ariana know she need to think fast. To save both of their life.
"You trust me, right?"