55

55
Brinda 

I never knew that my hands and body would move so fast apart from when I went on missions to kill and obtain other items. 

My heart raced fast as I shoved the last piece of my mother's most loved item into the backpack in my left hand. I rushed to the kitchen, opened the cabinet and brought out the safe I had kept the crypt key. 

I was still in the middle of thinking of whether I should take it along, leave it or toss it somewhere Francesco would find it easily when I heard a loud bang outside. 

No one needed to tell me.

I’ve got company.

I need to escape. 

As fast as possible. 

I dumped the safe into the backpack, zipped it and hid behind the kitchen’s door. I slid my right hand into my pocket and brought out a pistol while my left hand held the bag firmly. 

As I prepared myself for what was to come, I had nothing else on my mind than… 

To kill. 

To slaughter. 

To send whoever came after me to the jaws of death.

Just then, the screeching of another set of cars outside made me shudder. The sound came to a stop suddenly. 

I wondered if Francesco brought a whole army to take me back but I care less. 

I want to be free. 

Free as a bird. 

I'm tired of living in his bondage. 

I remained in the kitchen, daring not to move outside. I glanced at the wristwatch on my left hand. It was past midnight already. 

Out of nowhere, the release of gun shots rented the air. 

A way has been paved for me to escape. Francesco's and Marshall's men were probably the ones trying to tear each other's souls apart outside. 

I moved to the kitchen's window. 

I clenched my fists at the thought of what I had in mind but I needed to escape. It's better I die later than live in Francesco's hell. 

I had chosen the latter anyway.

I ran my fingers on the net before I let them pierce it. A few seconds later, I ripped the net. I made sure it was wide enough for me to pass through. 

As I jumped out of the window, I realised that I had nowhere to pass than exactly where the men were in a fierce fight. 

I braced myself for what was to come and made my way towards the big gate that served as the entrance. I hid behind cars, poles and other things I could use to protect myself. 

It was then I noticed Francesco's men. They were in a fight with… 

Marshall's men? 

Yes. 

Marshall's men might have come for the crypt key while Francesco sent his men to get me. 

When I reached the gate, I heard a loud scream from Bullet. I can never forget her voice. I froze thinking that she was stabbed or shot instead. 

I slowly turned around and it was then I saw her running towards Mark who was losing his balance. By the time she reached him, he was on the floor already with blood gushing out of his left arm. 

I raised my head a little to see a masked man who was alone on the rooftop, aiming his gun at Bullet. 

I can't let her just be killed like that. 

When we knew each other at first, we were enemies but now… I can't watch her die in front of me. 

Thinking it through deeply, I pulled out the gun in my left pocket and shot the man dead. 

I guess it's not yet time to leave Francesco's den.

THE DANTE'S MANSION 

“How dare you, Brinda? How dare you try to escape?” Francesco belted just before he kicked me hard to the floor. 

Earlier, I had no choice but to save Bullet’s life. So I did and after we wiped out Marshall's men and made the others run for their lives, Francesco's men handcuffed me and brought me back to Dantes mansion. 

Then, here I am on my knees in Francesco's room facing his fury. 

One thing has amazed me though, Francesco hasn't asked me for the crypt key. Why? Why is he keeping it in my possession? 

There is a lot going on in his mind and my back yet I can't seem to understand or find it out. Francesco surely had a lot of other secrets than what meets the eye. 

“Why? Are you scared that I would have died?” I asked him, trying to be confident a bit. 

He knelt beside me. “Scared?” He scoffed before he grabbed my neck pushing me to the damn floor in the process. “Do not ever question my actions!” 

“Really? Are you scared that I can see through you? I know that you care about me. Be it obsession or love. You can't let go of me.” 

Playing mind games with Francesco can be a lot of fun. Not to talk of the fact that he is furious but he can't do anything to me. 

“That's all a joke. I only brought you back to watch you die in front of me. Don't forget that you have just seven months left to live. And time runs out quickly.”  He said, cruelty, very easy to spot in his words. 

I let out a sigh then I let my right index finger move gently on his face. “I wonder the kind of person you are. You want me dead… yet you want me alive. May I know why?” I raised a question I had always wanted to ask for months.

“You are mine… Forever!” He shouted. He slowly released his grip on my neck and pulled me up. His anger fading off suddenly however, his lips curled up. “You will be punished for your sin of trying to escape.” 

“Why? Why do you want to punish me? Didn't you say that I should kill your sins? Didn't you say that I am yours forever? Should you be tormenting such a person?” I threw my words at him. 

He placed his left hand on my lips then it trailed on it gently. “If you are to kill my sins, I have to commit some, right?” 

“How about I strike a deal with you, then?” I asked inquisitively. 

“You are in no position to strike a deal with the devil,” he said authoritatively. 

“Don't you want to know your father's killers? This black rose might have as well made a detailed investigation.” 

It is nothing but a lie. I just needed to buy some time and tease him more. My investigations so far have met a deadend. It felt as though someone was clearing away all the shreds of evidence that I have been managing to follow. And it's someone close by. 

“To hell with finding his killers. First off…” He chuckled, “I want to commit a sin with you. An everlasting sin.” 

He lifted me from the floor in his bedroom and as I patiently waited to be dropped somewhere, he finally did… But in The Dark Room.

I watched him take off his shirt within the twinkle of an eye. “Let's see how long you can last.” He smiled as he took his time to reach the bed.

“I bet you won't know till you start the passionate game.” I smirked then I waggled my right eyebrow.