The Steal Game

Chapter Eight: The Crow's Nest

-chapter eight-
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This day will end with a bang.

INIAYOS KO ang posisyon ng kandila at binigyan ng huling paspas ang mesa. I hummed as I made the beds. Inilagay ko ang dati at maruming sheets sa isang laundry basket.

I continued my joyous but speedy walk in the hall. One glance and I would be appreciated as a dutiful maid. Ngunit hindi ako dumiretso sa kung saang laundry room, and instead took a left turn. I was heading toward the guarded room.

Hindi naman ako tanga para gumawa ng eksena sa gitna ng banquet nila, o di kaya'y kunin harap-harapan ang lason kay Sir Parkinson. That would be suicide. Kilala pa naman nila ang maganda kong mukha.

Nang lumiko ako pakaliwa ay agad kong naramdaman ang napakabigat na presensiya ng lalaki kanina. It's as if a lion was guarding a hen's nest. His overwhelming aura is suffocating the hallway, a warning to whoever stupid enough to pass that he's not some small fry to deal with.

I hid my smirk. Buti naman at hindi isang unggoy ang isang 'to. I would be really disappointed, then.

Lumapit ako. Kahit na nakatago ang mukha ko dahil sa dala-dalang laundry basket, naramdaman ko ang paggalaw niya.

"Excuse me, Miss," tawag niya, "Hindi ito ang daan papunta sa washroom. You have to take the right hallway."

Hindi ko siya pinansin at pinagpatuloy ang paglalakad. Uh, heller. Sino bang nagsabing maglalaba ako?

"Miss," naramdaman ko ang pagharang niya sa hallway, "This is not the way to the washroom."

Bahala ka diyan. Hinayaan ko pa rin siya't nagpatuloy kaya narinig ko ang mahina niyang pagmumura.

"Fucking-" he sounded frustrated. "I told you to st-"

Mabilis kong kinuha ang kutsilyong itinago sa mga puting sheets bago itinapon ang laundry basket sa kaniya. He made a surprised yelp and jumped back. I narrowed my eyes and moved as a terribly white chaos ensued.

The white sheets obstructed his vision. Lumipad ito sa buong hallway. Itinaas niya ang hawak na baril at pinaputok sa harap. The bullet grazed and hit a plain, white sheet.

But it was already too late. I used the distraction and appeared behind him, aiming the dagger at his neck.

His eyes quickly moved to me. Bigla siyang pumihit pagilid at inamba ang paa para sa isang sipa na agad kong iniwasan. My eyes widened at his sudden movement. He immediately noticed me behind him and reacted quickly! Sigurado akong isa siyang experienced fighter.

Itinaas niya ang baril at ini-aim sa'kin. Bago niya pa ito makasa ay ginamit ko ang kutsilyo para hiwain ang muzzle nito. Then I kicked his diaphragm, making him gasp in pain. He coughed and grunted, feet staggering.

Nahulog kaming dalawa sa semento. Nagkalat ang mga maruruming sheets sa paligid namin. Mabilis akong lumapit sa kanya at kinuha ang braso niya para baliin ito. Malakas siyang napadaing sa sakit.

He raised his head to give me a deadly glare. Natigilan ako't napalunok sa sobrang sama ng tingin niya. There's something scary about the way he looks. That gaze... that's not something a simple guard would have. His aura is of a whole assassin!