𝐒𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝟎𝟏: 𝐒𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐭 (𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐋𝐄𝐓𝐄𝐃)

𝟏: 𝐒𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐋

     Umalingawngaw sa gabi ang napakatinis na sigaw ng isang babae matapos itong barilin sa dalawang mga binti ni Mathara. On the that old pavement, she crawled towards her doorway, it is her desperate journey marked by each bloody and painful inch as she drag her body. Her blood are gushing from her legs leaving a line of haunting trail as she moved.

      The moon only shone just to cast the devil's shadow. Lumalaki habang lumalapit.

     Patuloy lang na naglalakad si Mathara papunta sa kanyang biktima. As the night grows cold, she moved with an eerie calmness. The echoes of her heels vibrated like threatening taps, a haunting beat accompanying her walking towards her prey. 

     Outside that door to that mansion, the victim remained trapped, unable to open the door. Ang tunog ng heels ni Mathara, parang isang nakakasindak na musikang lumalakas habang lumalapit siya. Natabunan na ng anino nito ang biktima.

     "Maawa ka sa akin, wala akong kasalanan. I don't know why you're even here!" pagsusumamo nito nang maabutan siya ni Mathara. Basang basa ang mukha nito ng pinaghalong dugo, pawis at luha.

     Tinaas ni Mathara ang paa at binaon sa leeg nito ang matulis na heels. The woman died instantly. It was another mission completed effortlessly, as usual. She then tapped the small device in her ears.

     "Accomplished," sabi niya sa lalaking nasa kabilang linya.

     "As expected of you, my devil," tugon ng isang matandang boses. That was her father. Agad namang pinatay ni Mathara ang device at nilinis ang kanyang duguang mask.

     Ang maskarang iyon ay kulay itim. May kakaunting gasgas sa may mga gilid ngunit shiny parin ito tignan. It was given by her father when she was finally ready to battle for missions. She was still 16 years old back then, the youngest human killing machine. Now she's 21, she had evolved into a daunting force refined by years of experience. 

     Her real name was guarded secret, known only to her father, sister and two loyal clients. To the world, she was dubbed 'Death Devil', a mysterious force that struck from the shadows anywhere in any corners she may flee.

      Sa gabing iyon, may pangalawa pa siyang mission.

     Sabi ng kanyang ama ay mas magkakaroon siya ng challenge sa mission na ito kaya panghuli niya itong gagawin. A thrill of excitement made her lips curve into a smirk as she concealed her face once more behind the mask. Tinungo niya agad ang kagubatan kung saan nakapark ang itim na motorcycle. It was adorned with real bloodstains and mud.

     She raced through the city again. The usually bustling streets that's surprisingly vacant is offering her an huge path. Siguro ay dahil madaling araw na din nang nasa city na siya. Mabilis siyang nakarating sa isang mas malaking bahay na halatang bago palang ang pagkakagawa. It boasts a modern design coupled with good security features. Nakatayo din ang bahay katabi ng isang malaking ilog.

     She waved at the security camera. A sharp beeping was heard.

     Nagdala ito ng signal sa may-ari ng bahay. Death is on the gates. Ang pangalawang mission niya ay isang bilyonaryong lalaki na kalaban sa pulitika ng isa sa mga clients niya.

     Matalas ang instincts ni Mathara, naramdaman niya agad na may matutulis na bagay na nakatarget sa kanya. On pure instinct, she skillfully dodged the sharp knives that seemed almost invisible in the dimly lit surroundings.

     Hindi iyon ang may-ari ng bahay. It seems like hindi lang ang kalaban nito ang may na-hire. Pero mukhang security lang ang hinire ng bilyonaryo.

     Lumitaw mula sa kadiliman ang isang pigura ng isang lalaki. He's wearing a scarf covering his face and is wearing all black. They look like allies, but no.

     "I've waited all these years for the moment to face you, Death Devil," he declared as if he knew her ever since. Hindi pamilyar kay Mathara ang boses nito. Ibig sabihin ay hindi niya ito kasamahan sa organisasyon ng kanyang ama. "I won't lose," he added.

     Mathara isn't one for idle conversations. Iisa lang ang pakay niya– to eliminate the billionaire politician, not to engage in a battle with some stranger. Pero kung gugustuhin talaga nito ay pagbibigyan niya. She waited for his attack.

     Parang hinihintay din siya nito kaya ay tumalon siya para akyatin ang gate. The man stopped her by attacking. Dahil sa magaling naman si Mathara at sanay na sa mga bagay na ito ay hindi namalayan ng lalaki na nakapasok parin ito sa kabila ng pagpipigil niya.

     "You're good," the man spoke again with a hint of seriousness coloring his tone.

     Still uninterested with the man, she darted into the house and ascended through the walls. Dahil sa modern ang design ng bahay, ay marami itong mga unnecessary designs na ginawang daanan ni Mathara papasok sa kwarto ng bilyonaryo.

     Nahulog pa ang glass of wine ng bilyonaryo nang makitang nakapasok na ang Death Devil sa terrace ng kanyang kwarto. She shattered the glass doors and aimed her gun squarely at him ready to blast his skull.

     Mabilis din ang lalaking tagapagligtas nito, dumating din siya sa eksena nang mabilisan at sinipa ang kamay ni Mathara. Sa pagkakataong ito ay nakatakbo na ang bilyonaryo para iligtas ang sarili niya.

     She found herself with no choice but to engage in a combat with that man. Swiftly, she launched a kick, but he surprisingly blocked it, narrowly avoiding the pointed heel that aimed dangerously close to his eyeballs. Magaling din naman pala ang lalaking iyon.

     'Not bad,' she silently acknowledged within her thoughts.

     Ilang mga atake pa at halos hindi nila madaplisan ang isa't isa. They were both panting nang makarating sa ibaba ng bahay sa kakalaban. Siguro ay mabilis ang mga kilos nila gayong naabutan pa nila ang bilyonaryong matanda na nagsastart ng engine ng race car niya para tumakas. Muntik pa silang sagasaan nito sa kakamadali, buti nalang at pareho silang mabilis kumilos.

     Realizing the man she's battling with is wasting her time, she chose to retreat. Merging seamlessly with the darkness, she swiftly reached her motorcycle, revving the engine to pursue the billionaire. She glanced at her side mirror at nakitang sumunod yong lalaki. May sasakyan din pala ito.

     Sunod sunod na putok ng mga baril ang maririnig na nag-eecho sa lugar. Binabaybay ng mabibilis nilang mga sasakyan nag mahabang bridge na tumatawid sa ilog.

     The man showcased his racing capabilities, managing to surge ahead of Mathara until they were side to side. Mathara found herself on the vulnerable side, yet the man hesitated, refusing to deliver the fatal blow from his revolver. Bagkus ay binaril lamang nito ang gulong ng motorcycle. Sa lakas ng pagpapatakbo ni Mathara ay nawalan na siya ng kontrol.

     Sa isang iglap, nahuhulog na siya. Huli niyang nakita ang nakascarf na lalaki na nakadungaw sa gilid ng bridge bago siya kainin ng tubig.

     Darkness.

TakahashiKazumi2024