In the kitchen area of the Crow gang's hideout, a thin man with long, tangled purple hair was lying beside a pile of trash.His body was restless, gripped with fear after hearing Crow's words.His mind was consumed by horrific visions of Crow setting Nina's family on fire.He hugged his legs, repeatedly asking himself.
"what if Crow finds out about them?"
He felt guilty and blamed himself for what happened.In his heart, he really didn't want his source of warmth and love to be destroyed.For that night, he couldn't sleep.
The next day, at the convenience store, the slim girl was arranging tuna cans on the shelf while looking at the door.It was already past his usual time, she noted, as she glanced at the store clock.She waited for Humberto to arrive, but he never came, even by the time her shift ended.She thought he might come by later in the night, as he usually visited the store twice a day.She decided to go out with her friends for lunch before heading to the library alone.Once there, she went straight to the second floor, took a romance novel to read, and later played with the kids on the first floor after finishing two chapters.
By evening, she was tired after playing with kids and wanted to go home.She waved at the kids before leaving the library.When she arrived at the corner of her house, she saw Humberto trying to walk quietly after placing something in front of the door.She called out to him, but he ran away quickly without even looked back.She smiled, thinking he was just being shy with her.She then went to see what he had left at the door. It was a piece of paper with a note. As she read it, her smile faded.
Meanwhile, Humberto had arrived at the park.He then sat on the chair to rest and recalled what was on the note, which described the consequences of Nina befriending him.He hoped that she would forget about him after reading that note.After a couple of minutes, he returned to the hideout.
There, he continued his routine as a slave.He cleaned the large hideout, washed their cloth and did everything that his superior ordered while endurance being hit intentionally by them.After three hours, he finally got to rest for a while on his floor bed before going to the convenience store.He sighed, knowing that the place he had gone to that morning was a bit farther than usual, but he steeled himself.
"It's for Nina's family. You can do it, Humberto,' he said to himself.He also wanted to meet them, but the fear of consequences made him push that though asíde.
He then got up and prepared to go.When he got out of the hideout, the sun had already set, revealing a beautiful orange sky.
When the moon arise, he walked desperately with his hands full of groceries. He was starving because he hadn't received any leftover food at lunch, and his vision was becoming blurred.He then passed out in the park.
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In the Crow gang's hideout, all the members became angry when Humberto had not returned yet.They were all making mess and loud noise in the meeting room, which was full of trash and stank.Crow came in and threw a stick of dynamite into the air.After it exploded, all the members fell silent.Not a single voice could be heard, Crow then spoke to them.
"We are going to search that punk tonight.For those who find him first can do whatever you want to him, but remember not to kill him as his debt was not settled yet"
All members shouted like a crazy people upon heard Crow speech.After that, they all get ready with their own motorcycle.From the road that led to the basement, a hoard of motorcycles emerged, they raided every house, store and restaurant, causing such a massive ruckus that made the police to making a large operations to arrest them.Although disturbed by the police, the gang couldn't be stopped as the police manpower was too small to compare with them.
In the city suburbs, the chaos hadn't reached yet since it started from the center, and the neighborhood there was still unaware of what had happened.At Nina's house, Humberto was lying unconscious on the couch in the living room.She and her family happened to pass by the park and saw Humberto was passed out in there.They brought him to their house, where Nina treated him and bandaged his new injuries.She spoke softly, as if he could hear her.
"Why didn't you ask for help?.If you had asked earlier, none of this would have happened to you"she felt pity for him when she saw how bad Humberto condition.Then, she felt something was off as she looked to the kitchen, she noticed her mum and dad were hiding behind the wall, watching them.They were smirking making she felt more suspicious.
"Why are you two looking at me like that?"Nina asked.
"It's nothing, you can ignore us.We just like seeing your soft side when you're with that man"her mom said.
"What ar.... are you saying?.No, what are you thinking, actually?.You two look so suspicious!"her voice stuttered.
"You know, you never show interest in male before this but this one you look different"his father said while smiling proudly at Nina that had grown-up to show a love interest.
"No, it's not like that. I still treat him the same way I treat the other boys,' she said firmly without realizing that she had smacked Humberto's chest, waking him immediately.He screamed in pain.
"Sorry Humberto, I didn't mean to hit you"she became panicked, but when she looked at her parents he become angry as their smiles grew wider.
"Just leave us alone, can you?"her voice rose sharply.Not just making her parents leave them, it's also making him scared and want to leave from there too.
"No, you stay here and eat.Your condition will worsen if you don't eat.I will bring you some food"she told him.When she got up, he was holding her cloth.
"No, I need to return now, it's more important"he said with a low voice.She turned his body to face him.
"Why?"she asked.
"Did you not read my note?" he asked, confused.She then quickly retrieved the note she had left on the kitchen table and put it in front of him.He was frightened by the sharpness of her gaze.
"You see this?.How am I supposed to understand someone's writing when they've never been to school?"she sigh loudly at him while show his writing that's looked like an ancient letter.
He became quiet, not knowing what to say.He thinks all person writing is same as he never saw someone writing that is good when he works as a slave.He planned to explain it to her, but was interrupted by Nina parents as a loud voice suddenly came from nearby.
"Sorry to ruin your moment together, but you two need to hide now"her mum voice sound very serious.
Nina understood and didn't question it.She then grabbed Humberto's hand and led him outside.They went to pool and she told him to ready.He frowning.She jumped into the pool, still holding his hand, which made him absolutely shocked.In the pool, she dived to the bottom, while Humberto still panic as he doesn't know how to swim, so he hold her hand tightly with both of his hands.She dive into the floor of pool making Humberto closed his eyes.
He braced for impact, but it never came. He opened his eyesHe open his eyes, and saw they were okay.He looked around and saw that they were swimming inside a hidden route behind the floor, the floor was hologram that were projected by several devices.They reach a hidden room below the house.
"How was that, did you have fun?"Nina smiling brightly while asked him.
"No, please don't do that again"he said while lying on the ground.
She laughed before going to the computers.He get up and looked around the room that was large as living room in the house.The room was furnished with a couch, a refrigerator, and everything else they needed to live, including a small toilet.
"Why we're here?"he asked.
"I don't know but if my mum said we need to hide than it must be something dangerous"she replied and turned on the computers as she had been taught from little by her parents to came there when they said she need to hide.
He dried his body before going to her and placing a towel on her shoulder.She thanked him, the screen on the computers show everything on the house.She was stunned to see that some suspicious men has entered and ransacked her house.One of the screens show that Nina's parents were being held by them.Crow stood in front of them.
"Do you really not know about this punk?.I heard from the neighbours that he was last seen here"Crow interrogated them while showing a photo of Humberto.
"Yes, I have never seen him at all"the mum replied confidently.Crow then give sign to his members, the members punched her husband and pull 3 of his teeth.
"I will ask again.Have you seen this punk?"
The mum's body was shaking violently.She wanted to protect that child, but her husband were being tortured if they didn't get the answer they wanted.Her minds became clear when she looked her husband smile.She answered 'no'.Although, not speak they can understood each other clearly.The phrase that were playing in their head was 'We are Matthew family and we will always help someone that needed, even it cost our lives'.Crow sighed.
"Hahhh, I don't really want to do this since you two are stars of this city, but you left me no choice"He then ordered his members to torture Nina's parents and search for their daughter while took all valuables item.
In the hidden room hideout, Nina had been crying to see his parents were being tortured, while Humberto feels an overwhelming sense of guilt.
"They were looking for me.Just give me to them and you can save your parents, Nina"He said to convince her to save her parents.
"No, I can't do that.How about you then, if I give you to them"her voice stuttered as she sobbing.
"Just forget about me.This all happened because of me, if someone needs to die, it should be me, not your parents"he said.
In that moment Nina head's was full of thought, maybe for someone else they would have choosen to save their parents, but she was part of Matthew family and the family sworn duty was to protect someone, even if it meant risking their own lives.Her head felt heavy pressure, she can't make a decision.Humberto then called her to watch on the screens.
On the screens, a squad of police from the next city has came and arrested them one by one.Meanwhile, Crow ran away, jumping the fence at the back of the house and stole a truck to escape.Under 15 minutes the house has been secured.Nina quickly left the hiding room the same way she had entered, leaving Humberto behind.
She emerged from the pool, startling the nearby patrolling police, who watched her rise like a ghost.She quickly went to the kitchen.All she can saw was her parents bodies was full with cut and their teeth can be seen in the floor.Tears welled up in her eyes as she collapsed to the ground, while the police were covered their body with corpses bag.She was taken out from there by the female police officer.
The nights has passed, and the news about it was broadcast the following day.It took 35 lives in just one night, included the Matthew family heads and his wife.The police in the next city also helped to arrest the gangsters.58 gangsters were successfully apprehended that night, while their boss successfully escaped from the police chase.The cause of they actions was still being investigated by the police.It was call as 'Ransack Nightmare' as they killed people while ransacking their house and robbed valuables item.Now, a big ceremony were held to pay respect for those who died that night in the city.
Several days later, at Nina's house, Nina was ready with her belongings been put in the car bonnet, while Humberto had already rode the car.She planned to move to Normal City with Humberto. On the way, Humberto asked her as she drove.
"Are you really okay?"
"Yeah, I'm totally fine, so stop asking that question.You've been asking that question since the moment I came to you in that hidden room.It's not your fault"
"But it was really my fault.I shouldn't get know with you from the first time we met.If only I hadn't meet you that day"he can't escaped from his guilt even thought it has been a days.
"Hey, if you hadn't meet me.I wouldn't be at here now.You have saved me before this, now it's my turn to save you.As for my parents, don't worry.I'm sure they have no regrets.After all, they die saving someone else.It's an honourable death for us, the Matthew family"she said, trying to reassure him.He remained silent.
"For now, let's build a new happy memory here"she said as soon as the car entered Normal City.The city was filled with modern buildings but still had plenty of greenery between them.They walked around, looking at the school, store, and neighbourhood houses before arriving at their house.