Chapter 7: A boy from Argentina
"I was born in a small town in Argentina," Ramón began, "As you know, people are very poor there. My mother already has four sons and two girls. When I was born, she couldn't cope it anymore and she did what most parents would do there: she sold me. I was five then and I didn't understand much. I was taken to a ship with other children and we were heading to Europe. The merchants who've bought us treated us badly without trying to starve us. We were their products, they had to make sure we've not too damaged. Yet some died of an unknown disease, probably of need of hygiene.
"When finally we came in sight of land, a violent storm broke and the waves swallowed up the ship. There were no survivals. Except for me. I was swept up to the Spanish shores and scientists took me in. They were surprised by my resistance despite the little food I was given. When they've revived me and had me cleaned up and nourished, they began to ask me questions. Seeing that I have no family to take care of me, they've decided to keep me for experiences. They made me try different kind of sports. I've even played Beyblade. But the sport that corresponds with me best was bull-fighting. The three years after the shipwreck were the three years of glory. I was the best of the young matadors. I was also a phenomenon. People crowded the arena to see me fight. They called me El Principe Ramón, or Prince Raymond. For a child abandoned by his family, I was bluffed by all the attention given to me.
"But one day, after a bullfight, I was kidnapped. My abductors had me blindfolded until we've arrived at the destination. I found myself in a dark study. I was put in an armchair facing the desk. Darkness hid the face of the man in front of me. When he began to speak, his Spanish had a strange accent,
"Soy Hiwatari Voltaire, soy el dueño del Biovolt Asesinado Organización. Quieremos que trabajes para nosotros. Si no móriras. I am Hiwatari Voltaire, I'm the leader of the Biovolt Assassination Squad. We want you to work for us. Unless you want to die."
I was young then and scared of death, so I've accepted. They took me to Japan where they have their main headquarterand I was trained as a ninja. They never inform me why they need me nor of their activities. I've simply heard that they have headquarters in many countries, such as Russia where they have a recherché centre. I also learnt how to speak Japanese and English. They also wanted me to know how to hide in the crowd so after my trainings sessions, they sent me to boarding school along with Voltaire's grandson so I could be in the same time, his bodyguard, though he had learnt martial arts as well. I can't quite remember his name since he was a quiet boy and I heard that he was mentally perturbed.
"Anyway, at the age of thirteen, I committed my first assassination. Voltaire had me dropped by a helicopter on one of the mountains surrounding the village where the victims had came to hide in. I had a map with me so I knew the village like the back of my hand. When night came, I crept up to the Wongs' house. I ran up the wall and entered easily their bedroom. I killed them in their sleep then I covered the whole place with oil. Then I lit it. The flames licked the house greedily. I admired my work on a tree. Suddenly, a window burst into pieces and out came two dark figures. I jumped down the tree and approached cautiously the bodies on the floor. One belonged to a boy with long black hair. He was unconscious, asphyxiated by the gas. The other was of a younger girl with pink hair. She too was unconscious. Or so I thought. The girl opened drowsily her eyes. I had my ninja mask off since it was hot beside the burning house and she saw my face. Before I could decide whether to kill or not the brother and sister, I heard footsteps. I took flight and the next day, returned to the Biovolt headquarters. I comforted myself by saying that I was assigned to kill the adults only. There were nothing about the kids. Voltaire was satisfied about my work and when I've finished my studies, he let me free. Of course, I still have to work for him and he sends me money occasionally but I have the opportunity to live a private life, out of the Biovolt.
"Then one day, Voltaire phoned me and assigned me with the assassination of the rest of the Wongs. This is why I am here, dressed in this fashion and at ten paces from my last victim," he finished.
Ramón's voice was still ringing in her ears. So much revelations, so much truths unfolded. So Voltaire is at the bottom of all this, Mariah thought. But she wouldn't forgive him for all that.
"What are you waiting for? Aren't you going to kill me?" Mariah trembled.
"Mariah, you know I wouldn't do that," Ramón answered.
"Not even for your boss?"
"Mariah, I love you."
Mariah clenched her fists.
"I don't want to hear anything from you again!"
At that, she ran off. She was afraid that he might follow he but he didn't. She knocked loudly on Kevin's door.
"Mariah! What happened?" the green-haired asked.
She was trembling and beads of sweat ran through her face. Her arms were bruised and her neck bore a light cut.
"The assassin attacked me," Mariah said quickly, "But I've got away."
"Holy spirit! Come on in, Mariah," Kevin briskly closed the door and carefully locked it.
"You can sleep in my room. The other rooms are taken. Do you want me to camp on the floor in case he came back?" Kevin asked the last phrase anxiously.
Mariah shook her head and went up to Kevin's room. She did a tour in the bathroom before getting into bed. She heard Kevin pulling out the sofa bed downstairs and Gary snoring in the room next to her. She suddenly felt safe, surrounded by her friends but what she'd seen and heard that night stopped her from sleeping.