Chapter 28: He’s Alive
Ezra’s Point Of View.
BLATANT NOISES, panicking screams, and faces of fear dominated the whole surrounding of the church.
The people were in a commotion but I haven’t gotten over the warning and threat I received yet. I blinked twice and read the message again as well as the photo of Mommy and Daddy, making sure I’m not being delirious, but it’s real. Someone held them captive and I don’t have any idea who the person is behind it.
Who are my parents with?
I almost fell into the weakness of my knees when someone was fast enough to extend a hand and catch me from falling on the ground. None of myself turned to Hyde. I stared at him for a few seconds and then, I hugged him tightly.
“W-What’s wrong?” he asked worriedly.
“My Mom and Dad–”
Unbeknownst to me, the light inside the church had turned on again. I carefully glanced at the church and searched for Kiana’s presence but she was nowhere around our sight.
“Where’s Kiana?” I asked, confused.
Anxiety started to attack me again. I turned to look at Xavier’s direction and I approached him immediately.
“Where is Kiana, Xavier? Where is Kiana!?” I shouted as tears kept streaming down my face while hitting his chest.
What’s happening?
I thought everything was fine. I thought we were all at peace. I thought the chaos between us has ended. But what the hell is this? Who planned this?
Hyde stood behind me, trying to calm me down but there’s no way I will until I find Kiana and my parents.
I looked around the church again. My eyes were locked with Joaquin and Axle, who were as if out of themselves. Without hesitation, I went to the two and questioned them.
“Tell me the truth, do you have anything to do with this?”
“Ezra, please,” Xavier whispered, signaling me to stop because I’m making a scene despite the people creating upheaval.
I don’t want to put the blame on them but I’ve noticed that they were always out of the picture these past few weeks, like they were busy with something else. I want to know what is happening because I’m so confused. I feel like there’s a bomb in my head.
“We have nothing to do with this,” Joaquin answered directly.
“If that is so, where’s Kiana then? Do you know anything?!” I added, but they only swallowed hard. “Answer me!”
I don’t know where my parents and best friend are, and it’s driving me crazy not knowing their condition. I don’t know what to do now.
I lifted my eyes at Axle as he spoke and revealed a secret. My jaw dropped in shock and I froze at where I was standing. I can feel my hands shaking.
“Raiko is alive…”
My eyes widened and I gawked at nowhere. I gasped for air because it seemed like I’m running out of breath.
“H-How did that happen? H-How is he a-alive?” I stammered with the question.
I’ve got no answer from them, meaning they know nothing else aside from it. I eyed them one by one. I don’t have any idea how it happened and how they knew that Raiko was alive. I’m in great astonishment.
“We need to find Kiana now,” Iñigo said suddenly.
“My parents…” I mumbled. “They are missing, too.”
I let them read what the unregistered number texted me and showed them the picture. Hyde massaged the bridge of his nose in stress while the six’s palms landed on their foreheads.
“Fuck!” Axle cursed and kicked the floor.
“Axle, we’re inside the church!” Joaquin’s rebuke.
“Stop! We’re running out of time,” Hyde spoke. “Xavier, Iñigo, Axle and Clarence, go find Kiana. Jeremy and Joaquin, come with me and we’ll search for Ezra’s parents. Let’s move! Now!”
We immediately followed Hyde. We didn’t waste any more time because every second of us was precious. When I got in the car, I stopped and faced Hyde.
“W-Where are we going to find them?” I asked in panic.
Hyde was about to answer me when my cell phone buzzed for a call. An unknown number is calling me and it’s the same digits with the unregistered number who texted me. I slowly picked it up and answered. I turned on the loudspeaker so that the three could hear as well.
“How are you, Ezra? Do you still remember my voice?”
I covered my mouth in disbelief and I almost threw away the phone I was holding. I felt goosebumps all over my body. Axle was right. He’s really alive.
“R-Raiko?” I uttered.
“Bingo! The one and only, Raiko Tan,” he answered on the other end of the phone. “Are you surprised to hear my voice again?”
I was speechless. I can’t find a word to say. It seemed as if I bit my tongue and swallowed it.
How could this be possible?
“Oh, by the way, do you want to hear your parents’ voices?”
I was gripping my phone tightly when he mentioned my parents.
“How dare you! Where are my parents?! Why are you with them?!” I screamed loudly.
“Relax, Ezra. They are in good shape…” he paused. “At the moment.” And suddenly, he laughed out loud.
“Where did you take them?!” I shouted angrily. “Tell me where they are, Raiko! Don’t you dare lay your filthy hands on them or else I’ll kill you!”
“Oooh, scary!” He burst into laughter. “Why are you being mad? I’m not doing anything yet.” I could hear him having fun annoying me.
“Demon! You’re a demon! You’re so evil!”
The three of them are cooling me but no one can stop me at this moment. I’m so angry to the point that I want to end his damn life. He’s making me lose my temper.
“I'll send you the address. You’ll get to see your parents but don’t ever bring a police officer with you if you don’t want your loved ones to die,” he said emphatically, making my blood boil even more.
“If something bad happens to my parents, I’ll make sure you’ll go straight to hell!” Then, I ended the call.
“Baby, calm down,” Hyde said beside me. I took a deep breath and rested my brain to be able to think clearly.
When Raiko sent the address, we immediately went straight there. The crazy man was smart because he chose the secluded place, and the narrow and dark road to hide the people he abducted. My eyes blazed in anger as my lips curved in a smirk.
Try me now, Raiko. You haven’t yet seen me kill an animal that is supposed to be dead in the first place.
There are only four of us and I’m not a fool to think that Raiko’s staff is alone. I knew he still had a lot of men we could fight before we got to him. But he can’t whirl me. I’m wiser and more normal than him.
I carried a gun behind me that was hidden in the compartment of the car and I knew that the three of them were also carrying weapons.
We went up to the far floor of the building and surprisingly, no one rushed at us. We were alert and cautious of the area.
When we got to the center, we stopped walking. I managed to familiarize myself with the place in case I don’t get out of here alive.
“Show yourself up, Raiko,” I said and the sound echoed around.
In a few moments, we heard footsteps approaching us. Until Raiko finally showed up.
“Did you miss me, Ezra?”
“Where are my parents?” I asked directly.
“You’re too straightforward, Ezra. I like that. You’re making me laugh. Great.”
He clapped his hands and grinned that I was horrified but I didn’t budge. He’s too different from the Raiko I’ve known. He’s gotten worse.
His innocent face before seemed to look like a drug addict now. His body also turned thinner and on top of that, he was even more insane.
“I have no time for your nonsense. I didn’t come here to meet you. I’m here because I have a purpose.”
“Ouch.” He pretended to be hurt by what I said. Then, he turned to Hyde. “Oh! So, you’re with your boyfriend.”
“Don’t try to divert my attention, Raiko. Answer me, where are my parents?” I questioned him again.
“Not so fast, baby. I will play with you first,” he said with a demonic smile and then turned his back on us.
He snapped his finger once and whistled, which caused his entire people to come out. I stretched out my hand and smirked. I looked at the three who also raised the edge of their lips.
I almost forgot that they are bad boys. When there are many opponents, they are more willing to fight.
It started when one of Raiko’s men attacked and luckily, it happened to me. I ran my fist over his thick face before I turned to kick him.
If I will count, Raiko’s men are only thirty here and they are equally big, but that is no reason for us to have a hard time overthrowing them.
Each time they approached, I gave them a punch and a kick. I usually hit the middle and the sensitive part of them. Because of the anger that Raiko gives me, it adds even more to my strength and eagerness to fight.
I didn’t notice the two of them rushing behind me but Hyde immediately knocked them down. The one on my side dodged. I turned around and jumped against the wall before kicking him hard in the face. He fell to the floor but I was still not satisfied, therefore, I punched his stomach.
When he lost consciousness, I bowed when another man tried to rush at me. I even blocked my foot to trip him. When he fell, I quickly kicked him in the neck.
When all knocked them down, I thought it was over. But because Raiko was cunning, he applauded again and some of his men even came out.
I ignored the tiredness I was feeling and relentlessly fought with his men again. It lasted for maybe more than an hour. Although we can kill them at once by shooting them, I encouraged the three with me to try to not use their guns if unnecessary. We may use it later or if we’re stuck in a situation where we will need it, but as much as possible, not now.
When we were exhausted again and knocked his men out, Raiko smiled and clapped like a child watching magic at a carnival.
“Bravo! You have brought down my men.” He laughed. “And because I know how to keep a word, I will show you your dearest parents.”
I was stunned when he brought out my parents who were both hand and foot tied and with their mouths covered. Anger welled up in my chest and it overflowed even more. Mommy was screaming but because of the tape in her mouth, I couldn’t hear it. I was about to tell Raiko when I was suddenly shocked when he presented someone else to us.
Kiana…
She was still wearing her white wedding gown even though it was very dirty and torn. I stared at her face and noticed the wound on her cheek that made my blood boil even more.
“What did you do to Kiana?! Why did you hit her?!” I shouted and pointed the gun at him. Xavier and the others suddenly appeared.
“You, motherfucker! I’ll fucking kill you!”
Jeremy stopped Xavier from starting with Raiko. Even when he was alone, he wasn’t scared at all so I knew he still had a lot of people watching us.
“Your friend is so talkative, Ezra. I was annoyed so I shut her up,” Raiko said and then laughed like crazy.
I was even more fuming in rage. I want to hurt him so bad. I want him to taste hell. I want to punish him to death. I’m not so brave but my courage comes out when important people are hurt and taken from me.
“Oh, wait, there’s more.” Raiko snapped his finger again. “I’ve prepared many surprises for you, Ezra.”
His men went out but the only difference was that they were carrying hard weapons this time. I glanced at Hyde and nodded. It became easier to overthrow them because we increased the force.
Every rush at me, I shunned and dodged. The seven used the hardwoods as their weapons.
I suddenly fell to the ground when the pipe hit my thigh. I groaned because of the pain. Hyde quickly assisted me and relentlessly kicked the man who had hit me.
“Do you want to fucking die?!” Hyde growled.
I stood up despite wincing in pain and pulled him away. He might kill the man any time.
Raiko’s men continued to attack us and when we knocked everyone down, we gasped for air and breathed heavily as if we came from a death race.
“Now…” Raiko surrounded my parents and Kiana. “I want you to choose, Ezra. There is only one you can choose.” He stopped walking and took a gun out of his pocket. “Your dearest parents? Or your beloved best friend?”
He touched Kiana’s cheek, which angered Xavier. Clarence couldn’t stop him from rushing to Raiko and punching him. Raiko was knocked down slightly but immediately pointed the gun at Xavier’s head. We were stunned.
“Xavier…” I whispered, voice shaking in dread.
I was nervous because I knew that Raiko would not hesitate to shoot it, especially since I memorized the function of his brain.
Raiko immediately stood up and pushed Xavier back hard on us. I breathed a sigh of relief. I grabbed Xavier by the shoulder and forced him to calm down.
“One wrong move and they will die together.”
I clung so tightly to the gun I was holding. I want to shoot his fucking head. I want to kill him to end the insanity in the world!
“Now choose, Ezra. Two lives or one? Who do you want to die? Your parents or your best friend?” The screw in Raiko’s brain has loosened up.
“Why do I need to choose either who will be saved or who will die?” I said, showing no emotion.
The smile disappeared from his lips and his forehead furrowed slightly. I grinned widely and mustered up courage to turn the tables.
“Why do I need to choose if you can die first?”
I immediately pulled out my gun and shot him in the knee. He writhed in pain. The rest of his men came out, but I knew seven could handle them. They also took their guns out and shot Raiko’s men.
I didn’t take my eyes off Raiko as I slowly approached him. His legs are trembling while trying to crawl.
“You ruined this most special day for us and Kiana,” I said indignantly. “You ruined the moment we were hoping for. You ruined our peace. You ruined our lives!” I shouted and fired the gun again at both his knees.
I watched how the blood gushed out there. I’m mad to the point that I can’t think straight. What is happening is making me crazy. I don’t know anymore. It’s bringing out the dangerous monster inside of me.
“N-No, Ezra! D-Don’t do that!” Raiko pleaded. “D-Don’t shoot me! Please!”
“I’ve been wanting to kill you since then, Raiko,” I said, smiling before my eyes flamed in anger. “You ruined everything!”
“You’re too slow, Ezra. Shoot me now.”
His emotions changed again. Though the hand was shaking, I tightened the grip on the gun even more and pointed it at him. I swallowed hard.
“Ezra! No!” Hyde shouted from behind.
“Now you will finally go to hell where you belong!” I screamed loudly and closed my eyes.
I was about to pull the trigger and shoot his head when I suddenly looked behind me in tremor.