Chapter VIII: The Mall
The sky was peaceful, birds flew across the sky and clouds formed chunks of cotton candies. A nudge on his arm ended his fascination for the heavens.
"Err… are you ok? You said you'll lead the way," asked Dan.
Xander muttered, "Ah! Yeah… s… sorry." He almost forgot that he was now the leader of their group.
Like thieves who had just slept in their victim's house, they silently rushed back to their van carrying their weapons.
The van's engine startled the infected people nearby, causing them to pursue the source of the sound. Dan drove straight through "them", blood splattering on his wind shields.
"If this ends, I'm going to paint and accessorize this."
Normal people were nowhere to be seen; even the usually crowded park where pet contests were held was empty. Utter silence enveloped the van, each of them were holding their weapons near their bodies, like soldiers to be deployed on a mission.
"I'll absolutely get some cool clothes at the mall" says Dan again with great excitement breaking the silence.
Shiela retorted, "Can't you be more serious even just for a day?"
"We're already in a serious situation… I'm just enjoying this while I'm still alive."
It hit them hard that Dan was right. They might be alive right now but who knows, the cloak of death might just come swathing down in two seconds from her eon.
"Turn left after that flower shop. The mall is just ahead," instructed Hitomi.
After flattening a couple of infected people, they finally arrived in the city's mall. The modern architecture was breathtaking; trees surrounded it to give that mellow, natural touch. But nothing of the splendor registered as they were more fidgety about the lack of disturbances. Upon breaking into the ground floor, their vehicle wheel past stores that were all open with no hints of life forms whatsoever.
"YEAH!!! This is all ours!" bellowed Dan jumping around like a lunatic. Shiela let out sigh, and shakes her head.
Xander approached a slightly dusty directory board and studied every floor. "The supermarket is located here on the ground floor, near Toy's and Treats. Let's go."
"We travel light. Bring only what's necessary," said Michael as he caught up with Xander.
"How about Mr. Pirate Cereal? I really, really, really love those!" they heard Dan's stupid squeal.
"…what is ONLY necessary…" repeated Shiela resignedly.
Cass suddenly stopped walking; she immediately drew an arrow from her back and pointed her bow at different directions as though searching for someone.
"Who's there!" she yelled.
They heard a gun being reloaded – panic flew and Xander found his back thudded lightly against Hitomi's - they all held their weapons ready, once again aiming to kill.
Then a voice so calm and slow spoke.
"Ah… What do we have here…?"
The group backed into each other, trying to find where the voice came from.
"Kids… with nasty guns… I see… I see… tsk …tsk… you should only be playing computer games… or… doing your homework…"
"Show yourself!" shouted Michael.
"Well… that's… a bit frightening…"
"Fight like a man! Coward!" Eddie added as he fired at the ceiling.
"Oh… no… no… no… I didn't say I'm going to fight you…"
"Did I say that Mr. Sniper?" the voice added.
Suddenly a person who was holding a sniping rifle on the second floor's balcony showed up. The group also pointed their guns at him in return.
"We don't want that… Am I right…? Mr. Sniper 2?"
Another man showed up; Xander noticed that a laser was pointing squarely at Michael's forehead.
"Boys."
Then four more people showed up on the first floor with their loaded guns directed at the group. The elevator in front of them rang. The door opened revealing a man donning a white tuxedo flanked by two bodyguards. He looked like he was only in his 30's.
"Oh… I welcome you my guests…" said the man as he opened his arms wide. Eddie held the suspicious figure at gunpoint.
"Ayl shut 'ehm boss!" drawled one of his bodyguards. His stubby hand slid ominously into the depths of his pocket.
But the man waved in the air and shook his head.
"Hmm… a rather brave kid…"
But the sooner the words left his lips, his eyes suddenly turned a lot fiercer as his visage contorted to an ugly grimace. There was no trace of the calmness portrayed just a while ago – pretentious as it might be – and all that was left was anger and hatred.
"DROP YOUR WEAPONS NOW!"
But his eyes started changing again, less wild and humane – in control.
"Surely… none of you want to go boom… BOOM!"
Then he let out a hideous laugh.
"Drop your weapons…" Xander whispered to his friends. He relinquished his hold on his gun and let it clunk hopelessly onto the floor.
"BUT!" retorted Eddie, his grip tightening at his weapon.
"I don't want anybody to get hurt!"
Did Eddie not think he had not forced every neuron in his brain to think of an alternative? Did Eddie not think how restless and erratic his heart was beating as he felt the cold feel of metal slipped from his grasp? Did Eddie not think he was just as afraid as they all were? But despite all the insecurities and doubts, Xander knew one thing for certain, that his friends' safety was his priority, and if that could be guaranteed by giving up the only means for survival – their guns – so be it.
"Our leader said to drop our weapons," repeated Michael as he tossed his guns aside. The others followed suit hesitantly.
"Oh… a smart… leeeeader…"
"PICK UP THEIR GUNS!" he shouted at his bodyguards.
His bodyguards darted forward to retrieve them. Eddie was about to get it back but Michael held him off.
"Well then… thank you… for lending them… but! I'm not sure if… I'll hand it back," he chuckles.
"This guy's irritating me!" Dan said, his hands trembling with anger.
"Oh…" the man said after spotting the girls. He walked closer to them eyeing at Hitomi. "You've got more presents …how thoughtful of you. I really like miss pinky here."
Xander slipped in between them with Hitomi shadowed safely behind him. He stared at the man, willing all the hatred he was harboring to kill the bastard in an instance.
"Oh… Mr. Leader is your lover? HOLD THEM YOU FOOL! DOI NEED TO TELL YOU EVERYTHING!" the man roared with anger.
His other men rushed in and grabbed each one of them, but they all hesitated except Xander.
"You've got our weapons. Leave us alone."
"Ah… ah… ah…" the man raised his pointing finger. "Can you repeat that again? I didn't hear any PLEASE…"
It was degrading; it felt venomous, especially when he could mentally feel Hitomi's wide, scared eyes on the back of his head. Xander came to his knees.
"Please sir, can you leave us alone?" he whispered. The man nodded curtly to the person who was holding Xander.
"HUHHHH???" said the man he cupped his ears. Then Xander was pushed down forcefully his head hit the floor. Roaring furiously, Dan fought to break free from his assailant's grip.
"The boss didn't hear you kid," snarled the person who was holding Xander's head down.
"PLEASE SIR! LEAVE US ALONE!" he yelled.
The man seized Hitomi by her elbow and forced her down to her knees as well. He jerked Xander's head brutally and she could see hot, scarlet blood dripping from his broken nose.
"Is this PLEADING COWARD your boyfriend MISSY?"
Hitomi was crying, looking at the helpless Xander.
"I'll just BORROW… your girlfriend… MR LEADER…" whispered the man to Xander's ear.
"NO!" shouted Xander trying to break from the other man's clutch, he was battered down again by the man's rifle. The man pointed his gun at Hitomi's neck like a hostage.
"A… a… a…Take care of the other girls," ordered the man to his subordinates and they all sniggered.
All the guys were beaten to a pulp, until they fainted. The man in tuxedo entered the elevator again while grasping Hitomi. Before the elevator closed he said, "And… bring Mr. Leader to my quarter."
The man's quarter was a museum for bedroom furniture. Different styles of beds, couches and chairs were displayed. There he pushed Hitomi down on one of the beds pointing his gun at her. He took off his coat and pants, showing his boxer shorts and he stopped.
"What are you going to do?" she asked nervously.
"Ah…yes… I forgot! Where's my manners…I haven't introduced myself yet. I'm William Riverfield; my family leads a group of drug syndicates, so we're rich… I can give you everything you want…"
"I don't care!" cried Hitomi as she threw a pillow to William.
"Wild… just how I like it…"
"Boss! Here he is," said one of his bodyguards holding the fainted Xander, his hands and feet tied to chair.
"Oh! Yeah I almost forgot… I'm going to let him watch… us… as we have fun…"
"Xander!" yelled Hitomi desperately. Tears were beading at the edge of her eyes. "Untie him y… you you worthless evil man!"
"Surely… we don't want him to join us… SLAP HIM IN THE FACE UNTIL HE WAKES UP! We can't START if he's still out cold…"
"Yes Boss," the bodyguard said before he slapped Xander in the face, yet he still did not wake up.
Two of his bodyguards came running at the bedroom store with a small drum.
"BOSS!" they yelled. "We've got a drum of water! Thought it might've helped…"
"And I thought all of you have your brains switched with your asses. Well, what're you standin' here for?" William yelled.
"YES BOSS!"
A man held Xander's head and dunked it inside the drum. It took Xander just two seconds to come to and thrash about for dear life when fluid began to flood his lungs.
"Good… NOW LEAVE US ALONE!" William ordered, and then he walked closer to Xander.
"Welcome MR. LEADER… You're now in my precious LAIR… I forgot to tell you my name I'm William Riverfield, and you are?"
"Xander Timelock…" he replied. His blurry eyes scoured his surrounding; trying to get some heading as to where he was when he saw Hitomi on the bed, tears flowing through her crystal eyes.
"Hitomi!" he yelled.
Not minding what Xander said, "Ah… yes a very GOOD name… just as I thought… they look alike…" he muttered to himself. "…I've bought you here to watch us…"
"WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH HITOMI!" his voice ricocheted across the room.
"…having fun, so just sit tight… and ENJOY the show…" William continued.
"NO! Don't –"
A heavy blow collided with the side of Xander's face, and again, and again.
"Can't you understand? Huh? Huh? Huh?"
Xander's left eye was so bruised due to Williams' punches. Blood dripped from the back of his hands, and then he lick it and laughed like a madman. He grabbed Xander's puffy face, fingers pressed deep into his cheeks.
"You just SIT there and watch…" whispered William.
"Please sir… l… let Hitomi…ugh…go, you can torture me anyway you want," Xander begged weakly.
"Torture… hmm… BUT THIS IS HOW I WANT TO TORTURE YOU! Put that down missy… You think I don't know what you're trying to do? YOU WANT ME TO BLOW HIS HEAD OFF!" shouted William sinking his gun in Xander's mouth. Hitomi dropped the vase that she would use to hit William's head.
"Please let him go… y… you can do anything to me…" said Hitomi, her voice is shaking out of fear.
William lowered his gun and laughed "This is so amusing… two lovers… sacrificing their selves for the other… there's nothing as ROMANTIC as this…"
"NO! Don't let him! HITOMI!" Xander shouted as he tried to break free from the ropes.
"Very well then… I'll do as you wish MISSY… but I will not let him GO!" said William, as he peeled his shirt off and threw it in the floor.
"BOSS!" shouted one of his subordinates who entered the store.
"WHAT NOW! YOU WORTHLESS…" he shouted but stopped, as he saw his bodyguard bringing along another woman.
"Boss, we saw her sneaking at our food storage…"
"Let go of me you baboon!" said the woman, struggling to break free from the man's arm. Xander saw the woman's face; she looks like she is at her 20's, he felt that he saw her face before, and remembered she was one of the most popular singer-cum-model in the country. She wore an appealing attire with a fashionable layered short hair.
"… She may be behind the loss of some of our supplies, what shall we do Boss?"
"Hmmm… a SNEAKY… but sexy… mouse… I see… I see… care to join the party?" William asked while observing the reaction of the woman.
"No! You Baboon King!" replied the woman. Then William walked to her and slapped her in the face.
"DO I LOOK LIKE A BABOON?" asked William furiously seizing the woman's hairs. Then the woman spit at his face and looked at him with disgust.
"You want rough eh? Help me tie these girls in the bed!"
"No!" cried Hitomi and the woman as they were tied to the bed.
"STOP THAT!" shouted Xander furiously, his veins in his necks showed up like roots from a tree. This was the first time he felt like his head was about to burst out of anger. As tears flowed from his eyes, he wished that they had not come here in the first place. Despair was eating his guts; he didn't realize that even normal people could act like savages. He began to feel guilty because he approved of the idea to go to the mall.
"Now leave us…" William said to his subordinates, and then he spotted Xander shaking with anger at his seat.
"Ah… now you're beginning to show your true colors Mr. TIMELOCK..."
"Wow… two pretty girls in my bed… LUCKY!"
"Let us go you ugly hideous BABOON KING!" screamed the woman.
William grabbed a couple of pillows and thrust them into their mouths. "That shall do the trick… you two should just moan… ok?" said William.
William touched the legs of Hitomi, "Hmm… very soft and tender… how about you…"
Xander felt like something is moving at his back. "Shh… I'll tell the other details later, let's save them first…" said Shiela who was cutting the ropes with a kitchen knife. After he was free, with no words or sign of thanks, he stood up taking out the derringer in his pocket and rushed to William.
"You both smell good… enough with the INTRODUCTIONS let's…" said William, then a gun clicked at the back of his head.
"ONE MORE MOVE AND I'LL BLOW YOUR HEAD TO PIECES!" shouted Xander. It was a different voice that neither Shiela nor Hitomi had ever heard before. So savage, so full of rage...
William raised both of his hands into the air and turned around, spotting Shiela who was holding a knife beside the chair where Xander was tied to before.
"It figures… Another GIRL… my… my… I've got so many GUESTS…" said William with great interest.
"UNTIE THEM NOW!" roared Xander and pointed the gun at William grudgingly.
"Like FATHER… like son… Don't be such a party POOPER!" yelled William before he grabbed the barrel. The trigger was pulled – nobody cared who did it – and a bullet was shot into the ceiling. They brawled like fighters in a tournament; punches flew, smashing into their faces. Shiela was awestruck, she was about to help Xander out but unbelievably he was having the upper hand. Now he was on top of William, pounding the helpless man. Xander did not stop even when William almost had his face rendered unrecognizable and Shiela felt that it was no longer humane, so she held Xander's arms and said, "Stop it already… You're going to kill him!" but Xander pushed Shiela aside mindlessly and kept on beating William's face. Even with bleeding hands, he still kept on.
Hitomi cried, "Stop it please…Xander!" after she took off the cloth in his face. After hearing her voice he stopped. Breathing heavily he stared at the bloody face of one very broken William.
William got a glimpse of Xander's eyes. How he ended up on the gory receiving end, he did not care to wonder, but he felt Xander's stare pierce through him, a killing intent that sent a chill down to his spine, and then he fainted.
Xander got to his feet and called out for Shiela who was still stunned at what she had witnessed.
"Help me," he said untying the ropes binding Hitomi's feet.
Shiela was unable to react for a couple of seconds. It was like she didn't know who was talking to her; she didn't dare to look at Xander in the face. She just uttered "O… okay" then rushed to the woman's side and cut the ropes.
A man rushed towards the store looking troubled and said, "BOSS! The others…"
He stopped at the sight of his boss lying like a dead man on the floor. He raised his rifle and aimed it at Xander, but before he could say anything, he was shot in his right arm.
"What the **** did you just…!"
"Tch… I won't miss next time"
Another man came rushing inside the store and said, "I heard a…"
Another bullet flew to the incoming man and hit his left leg and was sent down whining from pain. Then several other men came rushing to the store, Xander held the head of the William who was out cold and thrusts his gun to its mouth taking him as a hostage.
"Stop right there or I swear, you get to bury his remains in a matchbox," said Xander – his eyes glaring fiercely at the other men. William came back to his senses and tasted gunpowder in his mouth; he saw two of his men injured, and the other aiming their guns at the man who was holding his head up. Hitomi cried "Stop!" but was held by the woman.
"I'll let him eat bullets if you don't throw them down. THROW THEM NOW!" ordered Xander, and then he took off his gun in William's mouth but aimed it at the corner of his eyes, and hissed "Talk to them!"
William coughed blood and muttered weakly "Ugh… h…he's s…serious…"
"You heard him didn't you? Or… LOUDER!" Xander roared at the top of his voice.
William shuddered, and screamed "THROW DOWN YOUR WEAPONS YOU IDIOTS! MY FATHER WILL KILL YOU ALL IF I DIE!"
His men threw their weapons at their feet.
"You there baldy, tie the others up in that bed's corner pole," ordered Xander. "DO IT NOW!"
The man hesitated but looked at William then grabbed two of his colleagues and tied them by the pole of the double deck, and did the same to the others.
"FASTER!" he shouted again. After all the other men were tied up, Xander told Shiela to tie the bald guy as well. Xander carried William to his men, pushing him down; he grasped the long hair of William and aimed his gun at the side of his head.
"Point… blank… shot…goodbye…"
"NO! P… please… you want money? I can give you lots of them! I'm rich!" pleaded William.
The words did not make sense to Xander. He lowered his head so he could speak directly into William's ear, and as he spoke, his hot breath ghosted along the length of his neck, and –
"Boom…"
He clicked his gun but nothing happened.
William screamed cowardly, tears flowing from his eyes; his voice echoed throughout the store.
"You're lucky I'm out of bullets…" said Xander. He kicked the back of William who was pushed down his face hitting the ground first.
His other group mates came inside the store; Eddie was taking another man as a hostage; Michael rushed in and got to Xander looking concerned.
"Is everyone ok? How'd…" asked Michael, surprised when he saw several men tied up in a bed.
"What happened here?"
Shiela hung her head while Hitomi cried silently in the woman's embrace.
"Looks like the situation is under HIS control" replied Dan, who was looking at the bleeding man curled down the floor. He knew that this was all Xander's doing. Back in their high school days, they got bullied and pushed around by a group of students and this had also happened – only there were no guns involved. Xander went berserk when one of his friends was beaten to a pulp. He miraculously took down two guys, , who was bleeding to death after, no sign of martial arts knowledge nor expertise, just brute strength, back then, he was thankful that he was on Xander's side.
He held the other guys and tied them up also. He had taken out his handkerchief and threw it on Xander's face, just like before.
"Wipe your face, you're scaring me," Dan said without looking at Xander.
Suddenly the fearsome expression on Xander changed and became calm. The killing intent in his eye was no longer there but he was still serious. He picked up Dan's handkerchief on the floor and wiped the blood from his face and said "Th-thank you", staring at Dan.
"Xa…" said Hitomi, but before she could complete it the woman run to Xander first and hugged him.
"You're so cool!" said the woman. "I'm Eliza Cunningwell, you can call me Liz, Eli, or anything you like…" she giggled.
"Eli? The singer and model? Wow! You're so beautiful!" said Dan excited at the sight of Eli.
"I'm one of your fans really, um... can you sign my shirt?"
"Michael, how did you all escape?" asked Xander seriously, paying no heed to Eli.
Michael was unable to speak immediately. Xander's eyes stared at him directly, like it pierced through his head; he pulled himself together and spoke "C-Cass and Shiela untied us…"
"We got our chance when those guys untied us and almost did something absurd…" interrupted Cass, "but Shiela took down most of them." Xander remembered that Shiela was a black belter, back in their high school days.
"So what should we do now?" asked Eddie.
"Remember why we're here in the first place," Xander replied. "We can go get some other stuff later, after we've got our food and other necessities."
Michael handed the guns over to Shiela and Xander. Eli followed them when they got outside, catching up she said, "I know where they keep their food."
Dan heard her; he turned around and asked "Really? Then it would make things easier! Xander! Miss Eli knows where their food storage is!"
Eli accompanied them to the basement of the supermarket; it contained different kinds of foods.
"I-I'll take in charge of the choosing of our foods," volunteered Hitomi.
"One cart is enough. Let's go, "suggested Michael.