Chapter 30: Please Listen Out To My Cry
This is not good…
Not good at all…
They had me surrounded within seconds. Left, right, front and back. There was no way out for me.
What in the world am I supposed to do now…?
My heart was starting to pound as I stared around at them wildly.
" Hand it over now! " one of them demanded, taking a step towards me.
I looked over at the one who spoke and backed away from him as my hand unconsciously reached inside the pocket of my pyjamas for the precious mobile phone that Kurapica had given me. I clutched it tightly in my fist. It was the only thing that I've ever gotten from him. To me, it was a gift of friendship, to proof that he cared.
Slowly, I shook my head, no.
" Give us the mobile phone and money now. "
" It's my possession, " I told him, defiantly. " It's mine. Why should I give it up to you? It doesn't belong to you. "
" Getting difficult now, aren't we, honey? " he sneered. " You better hand it over or else things will start to get ugly. "
I shook my head again stubbornly, refusing to give in.
" If I had any money with me, I'll gladly give it all to you…but I don't, " I answered.
All of them laughed as they tightened their circle around me. I was cornered like a trapped animal with no means of escape.
" Don't feed us with bullshit, girl! " he bellowed. " In this time and age, everyone has cash on them! So, don't think we're some stupid monkeys that escaped from the circus or something! "
" Please let me go… " I begged. " I need this phone to call somebody. "
" I'm sorry to hear that, sugar, but if you're not willing to surrender it over… then, I'm afraid that… " he trailed off.
The others took that as a cue to brandish their hidden weapons from the insides of their coat pockets. The sharp edges of their blades glinted dangerously in the weak moonlight as they continued their vigilant advance on me.
No…!
This can't be happening…!
" Please, I beg you! " I cried out, sinking down to my knees and clasping my hands together, my tears streaming down my face in little rivulets of moisture. " I'm telling you the truth! I have no money with me! "
However, they would not listen to my plea. It was futile.
One of them was near enough to take a swing at me but I was fortunate enough that he missed since he slipped on the wet ground and lost his balance. He fell to the ground beside me. Quickly, I stood up and started to back away from them.
They came for me, all at once but I managed to dodge a few but in the end, still earning a few minor cuts to my cheeks and arms as well as slashes to the clothes.
" Please, you have to let me go! " I yelled out. " I have to find someone with this phone! "
" Oh please, save us your story-telling, girl! "
It was the same person who spoke to me earlier on.
They came for me, one after another, fighting relentlessly but I was as obstinate as they were. I refused to hand them over my mobile phone.
Should I use it…?
Should I let loose my power…?
It will drain me of my life's energy…
Then, I will not have the strength to go on…
To go on and find him…
I avoided yet another blade point as I contemplated to unfetter my power.
But…
I don't want to kill anymore…
I don't want to kill anyone, anymore…
Most importantly, you are not alone anymore…
You have all of us here with you…
Those words…
He was the one who said them…
No…
I can't do that…
I mustn't release that cursed power of mine…
It only aims to kill if I'm not careful…
For him…
For him alone…
Kurapica-san, I'm going to find you…
Even if it means risking my life…
Before I knew it, I was already off, running away from them as fast as I could. They took off after me, I knew that since I could hear their footsteps sloshing through the puddles.
Please…
Someone save me…!
As if my silent plea was heard, he stepped out from the darkness, standing a few feet in front of me.
I stopped in my tracks and stared at him, dazed.
" What- "
He did not allow me to finish my sentence as the men who was chasing after me, collapsed to the ground, one after another. All I could see was a blue streak that flashed past my eyes and yet, all of them were now lying…motionless, in front of me.
I turned back to him, my eyes apprehensive.
" What happened to them? " I whispered, my voice shaking.
He smiled at me, that same cold and furtive smile of his which I was all too familiar with. It was inhuman…
He approached me in a slow but confident swagger as I stood there, frozen, unable to move although my mind was screaming at me to run. Try as much as I could, I could not do so. I could only stare at him, wordlessly, my mind unable to comprehend anything.
He was only a few feet away from me now.
Ten feet…
Four feet…
Two feet…
Finally he reached me, that creepy smile of his, never leaving. He leaned down until his face was level with mine. He stared into my eyes and mine widened in response.
" We finally meet again, huh, Hikari...? " he murmured into my ear.
I shuddered. His voice was so cold.
" H-How did you know my name when I-I don't even know yours? " I stammered, swallowing.
He chuckled and drew himself to his full height.
" You don't have to know my name, Hikari. I think that's not necessary…for now. The important thing is I have my eye on you, " he answered, smirking.
" Let's just say that I won't allow anyone else to harm you, " he added when he saw the confusion displayed on my face. " I'll let you off for now, Hikari. But, there will not be a next time… "
Just as suddenly as he appeared, he disappeared, leaving me standing there, alone with the paralysed men…