Preview
(Presharar, the hidden village known for their hidden and valuable treasures was now invaded by the Criminal's Organization. Alice, a young nun was held captive by Jack and Ben, two of the goons and assistants of the Boss, was saved by the head nun Mother Samuel.
Meanwhile Joe and his men was cornered by one of the members of the Criminal's Organization who annihilate the villagers and one member of the Council.)
Chapter 3
Beneath Those Masks
Mother Samuel pack up a few clothes and belongings, same goes for Alice for their escape that is. They both nodded in unison before going out the room and sneak out one of the enemies at hand.
Alice was as nervous as a docile lamb, only following the head nun orders while they silently making their way out of here.
Mother Samuel went to a private room. She opens the doorknob with an ornament key and opens the door, leading Alice inside before closing the door. It was a empty yet not so spacious hallway with a dead end at the other side. Mother Samuel kneels with Alice following as well.
"Sister Alice, lets pray first hoping the Almighty Providence would guide us and lead us to a better place if something bad happens to us." said Mother Samuel to her
"But what about the Bishop Ace? He.."
"He was escorted by the Council to ground zero. We both got escorted but the Bishop specifically told me to go back to the chapel since we both have a meeting today. I guess he was concerned for your well-being as well…too bad the Council got strict to even accept his plea on going with me to rescue you." said Mother Samuel and went back to their prayers…
"Blessed are the highest, bless by our guidance and hearts and pray to the departed ones, we ask for the Almighty Providence for forgiveness of not protecting the Presharar and lead us to our path of salvation….Arar."
(Author's Note: Arar is yes to the Almighty Providence….same goes for the word Amen huh?)
Mother Samuel opens a secret door by knocking the said door 2 times and whispers near it leading Alice raising an eyebrow, she hasn't seen the head nun so secretively and serious over some things unknown to her.
As Alice was about to go in to the secret room, three people goes to the scene and a bullet was pierce upon the shoulders of the head nun, continuous firing of guns leading the head nun almost collapsing
"Don't let them get away!"
"Sister!" shout Alice going back to the secret entrance and assisting the head nun who was coughing with blood and descended to the stairs leading to one of the secret underground tunnels.
Clash of different weapons, blunt, pointy and edgy weapons as blood splattered from the scene.
In the back line was the Watchmen Joe fighting off a certain boss of the organization.
Name: Dan Kuso (alias Danma)
Position: Financial Adviser
Rank: 5th and currently the right hand of the 'Criminal'
Specialties: Annihilates enemies through close and mid-air combats using his special poison darts and a sharp and edgy knife. A real-killing machine in other words.
(Author's Note: In case you didn't know alias means, alias is the code name given to them for secret purposes and by not revealing their true names during their missions and tasks.)
"It's over…" said Dan maniacally threatening the almost collapsed Joe and points the gun below at Joe who was trying to stand up. An innocent smile crept unto Joe's lips when…
"Not…yet….I still got…." said Joe while reaching something in his packet, a device while coughing at the same time.
Dan examines it a bit and shock was written in his face.
"You….." said Dan taking a step back. Its either this, Joe is serious about this or rather making a prank on him.
"I already told you…me and my men….live in a code….a code that inherited by our ancestors….if we can't protect the village…"
"Boys! Go Back! Now! Retreat! Code Retreat! Now!" shout Dan to his earpiece and in a matter of seconds, the enemies retreat or withdraw from the area…
As on cue, Joe pushes the button, activating the detonator that will lead the underground bombs to explode but not before he thought and smiled….
"Forgive me Presharar Providence Bishop, I failed the task, This…is the only way to recompose the village once more….Forgive me everyone, Alice, Baron….Almighty Providence…." murmur Joe before his heart stopped from beating due to multiple stabs he receive earlier….
Explosions from almost the areas of Providence was made leaving the guards and the remaining survivors fried their bodies who couldn't make it in time…so was the enemies dominating the areas at hand. The once known Providence, the village of rich resources, becomes a deserted and crumbles by pieces, the villagers, the guards and the Main Watchmen, died in vain….and so does the continuous holy power preside unto the village and now was replace by curses by the devil's wrath from hell as the red flames of hot fire flickers like a small campfire bursting its anger upon a forest.
Scream all you want, the pain and with everyone's suffering cannot bring them alive once more….
The coast is getting deeper and darker, unknown when will the light can save them, As Alice assist the collapsed body of Mother Samuel when a debris came down before them with slight of flickers of fire rose upon the underground tunnel leading the enemies stuck behind.
The three men chasing after them was blocked by the big debris and small debris almost leading Alice to a safe distance away from them.
As they made it to an exit, Alice finally breathe from exhaustion, trying to keep her oxygen intact and attempts to heal the head nun.
"No Alice…..you can…..It…late…." head nun Samuel said trying to keep up her remaining energy…
"Please Mother, rest, I'll get the wet cloth and the lagundi leaves…" said Alice as calm as she can be. She place the grind the leaves and place the bits unto the wet cloth and place it unto the head nun's back and attempts to extract the bullet on her left shoulder….
"Go…..and here…."
"Please Mother, stay still…."
"Alice….."
Alice looks at her fellow and beloved sister's smile trying to convey that it's alright. Alice never heard of Mother Samuel calling her first name. She was quite used of calling her sister or something.
Finally, a tear came upon by her left eye but she wiped it off trying her best to look brave.
"Here…." said Mother Samuel and coughs some of her blood as she handed the Bishop's items and place it on her palms.
Alice widen her eyes….
"The purple robes and the bishop's baton….this…."
"The…only things…..mark….exist….of Providence…." said Mother Providence and smiles sweetly to Alice once again, only widely this time.
"But….."
"Go….protect…this…Pray…always." as she caress her orange and messy hair
"But…."
"Don't cry…..Alice…Take care…..thank you…." before the remaining energy of the head nun rest with her pair of bloody hands let go of Alice's leaving the two remaining treasures of Presharar Providence at her hands.
Alice hugged the body of once her head nun and mentor and cries silently with the flames coming from different directions cooking the village to crust and ashes. She wasn't so sure what happen so far, it's just she remembers being held captive and this what happens…She went to her pocket of her dirty nun robes to reach her personal rosary and wrapped it unto Mother's Samuel wrinkled left hand. She smile yet cried when she sees Mother Samuel smiling back at her with her eyes open. Alice gently close her eyelids and pray shortly.
As she was about to carry the corpse, whispers from behind were heard making her flinch. As much as she wanted to stay and mourn Mother Samuel's sudden death, she remember the head nun's plea.
"Protect the Bishop's items. There the only things that mark the existence of Presharar."
And with that, she runs away leaving the body behind and went to the forest.
She was trying her best to be remain hidden in the shadows and taking soft steps to hide from trees to bushes to logs trying her best to get away from the place as soon as possible.
A roadway was seen from the eyes of the young nun and quickly fasten her pace when…
"Over there!" shout an enemy and shot at the young nun but misses the shot as he hits it in a tree.
Alice went out to the clearing as fast as she can and much to the blessings and a miracle, a public bus was there waiting for her at the bus stop. She quickly went inside and in time, the bus was departing leaving three people still catching her up. One member try to open fire but…
"You fool! We can't caught like this!" he said and holds roughly the right arm of his partner before shooting at the runaway bus.
"Call the Boss."
"Roger."
"Do you get her men?" asks Dan as he went to the three members who shook their heads in unison.
"She got away sir and I think she's holding the items right now." said Ben still holding Jack's right arm.
"I see…" and hold his cellphone to call the Reconnaissance Leader.
"Yeah, were getting unto that….I already know where the bus next stop is. So there's no point of getting our men to every checkpoint around Wardington City."
"Miss…wake up…." said the bus driver waking up the nun. She opens her eyes and yawns at the same time seeing the person in front of her.
"You're here at Sign Station. I believe this is the last stop?" said the bus driver in which the girl stands up and get her things before going out.
"Thank you…." said Alice and bowing down before him.
"You should get some shower sister…I'll escort you to the nearest bathroom…"
"Thank you…."
"Robin….You can call me Robin."
Alice requested to the security guard at the bus station to let her stay in which they volunteer agree seeing that they have to give something to the pitiful nun. She went to the faculty room where a couch was reserved by Robin, the bus driver.
As she was about to enter the room to get some rest and maybe forgot the 'harsh event' happen at her home village, Someone from the back hold her left arm making Alice look back frighten but surprise in glee and a sigh in relief was replace when a familiar face was looking at her sincerely.
It wasn't appropriate and respectful but it's like instincts that she wanted a comforting hug from that person.
"Bishop…..I…I thought.."
The Bishop soothes her back and comforting her cries as she escorts her to the nearest bench near the faculty room.
The Bishop lets go of her and wipes the tears that keeps coming from her cheeks and gives her a reassuring smile.
"I escape….I don't want you to be left alone in the parish so I convince Mother Samuel to keep you safe…."
"How do you survive anyway?" asks Alice as she gets her handkerchief and wipes some smudge in the Bishop's face. The Bishop chuckles lightly and pats her head and looks at her brown eyes.
"Ground zero is known for being the tightest security area. Me, the Council and some survivors manage to get there but…."
"But…."
"It appears that someone bombed the whole area including ground zero as well. All of us panicked of course….and…..some of them didn't survive….I…."
"It's okay Bishop…I…"
"You can just call me Ace sister, We're not in Presharar anymore, well used to be Presharar…"said Ace and sighs in disappointment. It was carry out by his will to protect the village but now….this happened, and it only level up his guilt once more.
"I'm just glad you're safe. I was making my escape using the underground tunnel when some enemies was murmuring about you, they just happens to tell the station you were in. So I came here as fast as I can to warn you." said Ace and standing up followed by Alice as well.
Alice was beyond in waves of panic already. If the chances of the enemies will caught them, the items will be confiscated from her and most importantly, she broke her promise to her Mother.
"I'll wait for you here, get your things ready okay?" instruct Ace which made Alice nodded in reply before going back to the room to pack her things again.
"Sister, lets go.."
"Okay but you can call me Alice, Bishop…"
"Did I already tell you, its Ace only sister…"
"Its Alice, Bishop Ace…."
"and Its Ace to you, Sister Alice…." and chuckles softly
"Can we just discuss this later?" asks Ace rhetorically in which the girl understand firmly. As they was about to exit, A shot was heard making the girl squeal in fright but just in time for Ace to lower her head down and keeping her voice down.
Ace peeks a little when he sees the guard near the post was beaten and killed by three men and another group of men went inside the bus station.
Ace looks at Alice and signaling her to keep quiet.
"Alice…you need to trust me okay? I need you to go to the warehouse over there and hide there for the meantime…."
"But what about you…I don't want you to get hurt…."
"No, I'm alright. It looks like the enemies aren't going to give up to find us…" said Ace dragging Alice to the warehouse making sure that the men couldn't see them in the dark.
As the men went to the opposite side, away from their hiding place , Ace takes this chance to hide Alice.
"I'll be back okay? I'm going to find another way to get us out of here. I don't want you to get hurt or touched by those guys. Stay quiet and don't make a sound." said Ace with determination sounded in his voice
"Ace….what if…."
Ace shooks his head and pats her head.
"It's going to be okay." said Ace and smiles reassuringly to her again before closing the door. Ace locks the door afterwards making sure no one is going to enter her place of hiding.
Alice heard a click from outside indicating that Ace lock the door. She prays for the Bishop's safety that he will be alright.
She went to one corner near the boxes and cried silently, it was then she only realize that the villagers, Joe and everyone including Mother Samuel died in the village. And it's like twisted fate that the village is only known by the residents including her inside was burned to crust, with no evidence that there are still alive. No one, not even the outsiders has the privilege knowledge about the existence of Presharar. She looks at her dirty left hand with some tint of Mother Samuel's blood. It was a horrible sight for her, she never dare to look upon a blood of another person, but there's one thing that remains untouched and clean in her hand.
An engagement ring dangles on her ring finger that made him remember Joe, her playmate, her love and forever.
Sure Joe changes drastically and become strict by the codes by the Superior of the Council, but she knows that he only wanted what is 'right' and for the 'good' of the village. The Council assures that the code "Hepta" would be applied but then again, she was chosen by the nuns of the parish to be one of them before they could get….*coughs* married after that.
She wipes her tears away and try her best to convince herself
*Joe is in the past now Alice, You have to move on* and with that she stands up and breathes deeply trying to cope her body by this emotional pain and guilt inside of her
She wanders around the dark and spooky room finding something useful. As she take another step, something came unto her.
Her vision went blurry and the only thing she could remember was familiar constant whispers before she faint eventually.
Ace waited a good few minutes before the coast is clear. He went back to the warehouse where he kept the nun hidden. He opens the door leading two of his men capturing their target.
"Did you get it…?" asks Ace with a tint of dark aroma in his voice as he glance at the unconscious nun.
"Yeah Boss." said Ben and hand the two items to him.
Ace smiles in amusement and went up to call someone.
"We got it man." said Ace using his personal cellphone to talk to the 'Criminal'
Shun smirks a bit as he looks up to the screen.
"Yeah, I watch everything. You sure know how to keep our tracks clean. Give me the items as soon as possible."
"I wasn't called the Reconnaissance Leader for nothing Criminal. We'll be back before you know it."
And both bosses laugh at their own demise for their job well done over their retrieve-and-kill operation "Siezta".
Ace cut his call when Jack asked something.
"Uh, sir? What about her?" asks Jack as he gather the two items back at their van. Ace was instructing his men to go back to their assigned hideouts for now, until another operation will be called again. Ace looks back at Jack,
"I have other plans for her, and no I won't kill her….for now."
"But Boss, She is a decisive witness, if the Criminal finds out…" but Ace raise his hand cutting of Ben's statement before he continue
"Nothing to worry about. Just put the girl in my van and get your butts back to base." said Ace darkly and an evil smirk appear on his face when he saw Ben puts the girl at the backseat of the vehicle.
Name: Ace Grit (alias Trace)
Position: Reconnaissance Leader
Rank: 4th and currently the left hand of the 'Criminal'
Specialties: Good for retrieving information and deals with 'disguising' himself to gain trust from the target places. The current mastermind of the operations handling and planning strategies.
He disguise himself as the son of the Deceased Bishop by altering the documents, bio data and educational background and almost manipulating the mind of one member of the Council of Presharar to kill one other member of the Council after knowing his real identity.
Wardington City, one of the victim's of the 'Criminal' operations and black mail businesses which was known for the ranked bosses main lairs. This, of course, was left unnoticed and not verify by the government polices and the army since they couldn't find any trace of the 'Criminal's Organization' not even a clue since the organization's operations are quite secretive…..yet demonic in the ways of the mastermind's twisted mind.
Name: Shun Kazami (alias Criminal)
Position: Criminal
Rank: 2nd ,main boss among the bosses of the hierarchy of the organization and currently the sole supervisor of the blackmail operations in the underground activities.
Specialties: Watcher and current mastermind of the operations of the organization. He only got involved and only appear physically by tasks, missions, etc for his own amusement or maybe in master operations in case the mission would involved by the government.
Shun is seating by his comfortable and fluffy swivel chair when someone burst the doors open. He turns around casually seeing the Reconnaissance Leader with his goons and his financial adviser. Shun smirks seeing Jack, one of Ace's goon holding a medium size brown cloth wrapping the target items.
Shun unveiled the cloth seeing two of the Presharar Providence items.
"Good work men. You may now go."
As soon as the assailants and goons are gone, that leaves Ace and Dan behind.
"So…uhh…are you going to sell that to one of our black markets here in the city?" asks financial adviser Dan Kuso
"No….I'm keeping these as my personal trophies…." said Shun and stands up.
Ace and Dan look at each other and shrugs yet surprise, this is the first time Shun was keeping the bargain for himself and not to give it away so suddenly.
"I'm going to my room. I still need to make homicide plans for those tr8" said Shun before exiting the control room leaving the boss and the reconnaissance leader behind.
(Author's Note: tr8 means traitors of his organization)
Meanwhile, Ace was smirking playfully as he watch Shun's back leaving them behind. Dan look at Ace and asks
"That look….something tells me that you have something in your mind that will end up getting us in trouble….again." said Dan and examining Ace's face closely. Ace hung his head below before ending his smirk and pats Dan's shoulder.
"You want to find out?" asks Ace in which Dan nodded in reply.
Normally, Dan was the major prankster among the organization back when he was just one of Shun's assailants but since his role is now is a serious tasks, he had a bad time to set up pranks now.
"Follow me" said Ace with Dan following him behind.
Shun lay his tired body in his waterbed and put his left arm in his face, hiding his eyes and sighs audibly. He puts his left arm behind his head and stares at the ceiling then look at the glass cabinet where the purple robes and the bishop's baton are displayed. He chuckles lightly and turn to his left only seeing a lump bed blanket beside him. He raise an eyebrow.
*Huh, the lump is bigger than I last check*
Ace was leaning on a certain wall near Shun's master bedroom. Dan was smiling ear to ear after Ace explains his 'plan to make Shun scare his guts out.' as he cross his arms.
After a good 3 minutes, A high-pitched scream echoes amongst the rooms of the lair making the other men go in different position with their handguns ready, in their minds, an enemy enter their secret base. Ace looks down and instruct their men.
"False alarm boys. The Criminal is having a seizure." said Ace casually making their men went to the 4th floor to see the commotion is all about.
Shun was carrying an unconscious body with his face in an annoying expression.
"AAAAACCCCCCCEEEEEEEEEE!" shout Shun as he barge the door open and went to his right seeing Ace leaning the wall with Dan holding his hands at the railings. Shun twitched his eyebrows more when Dan finally burst out laughing and his body rolling over, cannot contain his funny bones anymore with his men from right and left look at them and have a confused look altogether.
Shun breathe trying to compose calm and collected as he can be and began to said.
"ACEE! HOW DARE YOU BRING THIS CREATURE IN MY BEDROOM! NOW I HAVE TO CLEAN MY BED ALL OVER AGAIN AND WHERE THE HECK DID YOU GET THI—THIS THING IN THE FIRST PLACE? YOU BETTER HAVE A GOOD EXPLANATION FOR THIS OR I AM GOING TO POKE YOUR EYES OUT AND FRIED IT AND SERVE FOR TOMMOROW'S DINNER! RUOUTOFURMIND" okay so much for being calm and collected as he can be.
Ace just shrugs his shoulders when Shun is shouting dramatically.
"Come on Shun, Think of it as my birthday gift to you…."
"HECK WOULD I CARE AND MY BIRTHDAY WAS UNTIL THREE MONTHS!" he shout even louder making the men at his back stand back, same goes for the men behind Ace and Dan who is still rolling on the floor laughing.
"Shun-just think of it as your amusement while you're doing your thang" said Dan and burst out laughing once again.
"AND WHAT? TAKING OUT HER CLOTHES AND GIVING HER FOOD AFTER THAT? I AM SHUN KAZAMI, THE CRIMINAL, NOT A BABYSITTER OF THI-THIS DISGUSTING CREATURE!"
Soon after, the men start laughing their will out and followed by Dan, still sticking out his laugh out. On the other side, Alice, who was now got carry by Shun is still sleeping hazily, still unconscious during the commotion. Dan stands up and try his best not to burst out laughing again anymore.
(Author's Note: Alice was drugged so she couldn't wake up until 7 hours after)
Ace chuckles and puts his hands in his pocket.
"That disgusting creature happens to be a girl, Shun."
"Well here's what Shun thinks. Shun doesn't like it and throw this damsel out of my sight." said Shun and LITERALLY throw Alice over Ace who in time catches her in his pair of arms.
"Well here's what Ace thinks. Ace thinks it's time for Shun to get a girl and get over by his name "Gay Criminal" from now on." said Ace and throw back Alice in Shun's arms who in time subconsciously catch her before she fall."
"Then Dan, you take care of her." said Shun and throw Alice again, this time he throws the girl to Dan.
"What—But dude, I can't handle this kind of girl…"
"And why not Mr. Financial Adviser, I'm your boss and your boss told you to take that as a task young man." said Shun angrily using his third persona.
"I have standards Shun, I can't take advantage of an innocent girl." said Dan before throwing Alice at Ace.
"You heard her Shun, you're her babysitter starting tomorrow." said Ace and throw Alice back at Shun again. Shun scowl in annoyance.
"Nu uh-you bring her to my place. You deal with her…"
"I give her to you as my token of appreciation to you…."
"You mean token of my burden. I can't deal with a girl in a matter of seconds, Ace."
"Hey! Why did I end up holding the nun guys? Ace you hold her!"
"No you handle her Mr. Criminal!"
"No wicked way!"
The men from both sides wore different shock and confused expressions at the same time. Their three top-ranked bosses, here in the lair of the Criminal, is now playing a game of catch.
Only this time, the 'ball' happen to be Alice's unconscious body. Well heck, who cares right?
"FINE!" said Shun before shutting the door close with Alice still cradle in his arms. He went to his nearest sofa, and putting down Alice harshly like he put down a sack of potato in middle air then went back to sleep.
*Great, Now I have to deal with this thing before I planned out my documents in the morning* thought Shun and drifty went back to sleep.
Author's Note: So that's about it then, I'm sorry if the bad guys end up winning but it's part of my story and its very crucial to adjust the scene since it's an evil organization and all that as well. I promise to have this a happy ending for Shun and Alice…..well not really. Oh well.
Seems I don't have any reviewers, well, what could I expect for such a boring story -.-" I made…
Hope you enjoy reading and see you soon! (if there are readers…Lolz XD)
Until then!
(Chapter 4 is soon soon enough and reading and reviewing some stories so far)