CHAPTER 5
Vextral tucked his gun back into its holster and turned around. "Finish her, bury her, and clean up." He started his way back inside the forest without waiting for any response from his men. He was used to intruders in his territory, and this one was stupid enough to make herself seen sooner. This area was still part of his estate, along with the forest across the river. The land was useful for burying corpses. The trees made use of the nutrients from the dead bodies, for they grew beautifully. Some of his men would maintain to trim the grasses and sweep the dried fallen leaves.
It was freaking minutes past midnight when he heard a loud noise from his two hounds. He was at his balcony at that time, savoring a glass of whisky under the moonlight when the barking echoed in the quiet estate. The river was meters away, and he could see from the balcony that they were barking at someone. He placed the glass he was holding and stood up. He grabbed his holster that he laid on the seat across him and went out to check on it personally. His men were already going in the area.
Even without a flashlight, he can clearly see the way. And when he arrived, the dogs had already crossed the river. He took the gun out and fired directly at the intruder. He just wanted to get things done. He can see it was a woman. With her untamed hair that was covering her face. But even from afar, he can see her eyes met his.
He shot her, and she didn't even make a shrieking noise or howling in pain. But he knew it hurt. And her eyes. Oh, her eyes speak of something else. Not the usual fear that he saw when people knew they fucked up and were discovered. No. It wasn't fear at all. Instead, it was rage. It was contempt. He should be the one feeling those. But over time, he was used to it.
Her eyes. Fierce and angry. It was like purple fire. Totally different. He exhaled and tried to erase the thoughts of her. It was just another one his enemies sent, maybe trying to seduce him for a change.
One of his men was following behind him, holding a flashlight.
The two men looked at each other and then back to Rizika, who was unconscious on the ground. They stood before her feet. Blood was still gushing out of her wound. Then one of them, who had a ponytail on his head, moved and touched a finger to her neck.
"She's still alive." He mumbled.
"Then let's finish her. It was what the boss said." The one in a buzzcut with a buff figure stated.
Ponytail guy moved her hair out of her face and stared. "She's beautiful." He commented without looking away.
"So? This isn't our first time to kill a beautiful woman." Buzzcut scornfully said.
"Yeah, man. But, I mean, look. She's uniquely stunning even with eyes closed."
Buzzcut moved closer and planned to only take a glance. But his eyes were glued to her face instead.
Ponytail laughed at his reaction. "See? I told you."
"Such a waste. But let's kill her. We'll be deader than her if we don't." He had his assault rifle ready.
"Wait." Ponytail even moved the end of Buzzcut's gun away from the woman. "What if the boss had seen her face? Maybe he would think twice."
The other guy snorted. "You think he hasn't? He had great eyesight."
"But her hair was covering her face earlier. I couldn't even properly see the color of her eyes."
"Hey! Matt! Tony!" Both snapped their heads across the river. Their other mate called, and he was panting, a hand on his knees. "Hold-Hold up." He was trying to breathe properly.
Dread filled them as they thought that their boss sent John to check if they'd already finished her.
Tony, the one with the buzzcut, positioned his rifle to her head again.
"No! You idiot!" John was instantly on the water and quickly crossed the river like his life was running away from him.
"The boss said—" Matt was cut off.
"—Don't hurt her!" He pulled himself up at the riverbank and ran to the woman's side. He kneeled and felt for her heartbeat at the side of her neck. Then he sat down on the grass with a sigh of utter relief. The two boys looked at him with confusion. "The boss said to lock her to a cell and bring a doctor to check on her."
A short pause before Matt spoke. "See? He had great eyesight. He must have seen her face somehow." There was a triumphant grin on his face. "That's a relief then. We don't have to kill her."
"Maybe not yet." Tony was being negative. Then he turned to John as he tucked his rifle to safety in his arms. "Did you ask him why?"
"Of course not. I want my tongue to stay where they are." John stood up. "Come on. Let's bring her immediately. Boss was waiting."
*****************
Vextral Gage was trekking the forest alone. It was past 8:00 pm. He was on his way home from a transaction meeting. His right-hand man called him that the person they seek for sabotaging one of their shipments was caught. And was held hostage at the Dead Forest. However, trees he walked past were tall, healthy, and blooming in their prime. It was called that because it's where they bury their enemies.
He had a cigarette on his fingers, while the other hand was gripping a gun ready. He came on a small clearing, and the tied man at the root of the tree was already unrecognizable.
The eyes of the traitor were about to burst, nose bleeding and lips busted. His cheeks had a large bruise and cuts.
"Did you ask him already?" Vex asked one of his men.
"He won't answer boss. Even if we already threatened him by his family."
He dragged a cigarette to his lips and exhaled slowly. He doesn't like it when someone was stupid enough not to answer him. They knew what he can do. What he would do, but they still dared to cross the line.
"Trim." He looked at the tied guy and crouched in front of him. Trim was barely opening his other eye. Vex squatted to get eye level on him. "I'll ask you twice. But you better answer me at one. I'll assure you, you would regret it if you make it to the second."
The man didn't even grunt.
"Your tongue was still intact. You better answer me. Who paid you to sabotage my shipment?" He made a last puff of the cigarette and blew it to Trim's face. He doesn't want his gun to get dirty, so instead, he used the cigarette and dug them to his chin, making the man immediately howl in pain from the burn and his face turned upward. "No answer?" He waited for a few seconds then he stood up. "Your choice." He tossed the cigarette to his feet and grazed it on the ground. "Where's his family?" He walked away from the man who was now silently wailing in pain and sniffling.
He remembered the woman he shot yesterday at midnight. She did not even cry like this when she received the bullet. Yet this man was howling over a tiny burn from a cigarette.
"We caught them at the airport, boss. John was making sure they won't take any flight." Brock answered, one of his top men.
He tucked his gun back to its holster and felt his phone vibrate. He fished it from his pockets. "Get them here before midnight. Tie them with him around the tree. Ring me when you're done."
"Yes, boss."
Vex said and turned around. He had another interrogation to get to. He just received a message that the woman he locked up at one of the cells was finally awake.