Merciless' Vice Versa

II

"Where's the portal and what do I need to do to open it?" Her playful facade completely vanished.

Isang seryosong ekspresyon ang suot-suot ni Maze habang hawak ang kwelyo ng knight, the knight's sanity seems like leaving his body.

Hindi ito makahinga ng maayos dahil sa mahigpit na pagkakahawak ni Maze sa kwelyo. Maze saw his reaction, napataas ang kilay nito at unti-unti siyang binitawan.

Binalik ni Maze ang ngiti sa labi at sumandal muli sa single sofa.

The knight continue coughing and chasing his breath, nanginginig ang buong katawan nito sa harapan ni Maze.

Sinapo ni Maze ang pisngi gamit ang kaniyang kamay, nakapatong ang kaniyang siko sa handle ng sofa.

She sarcastically gave him a worried tone. "Ahh.. oh my goodness, chairman. Why don't you sit properly instead of sitting on a floor? Ikaw ah, you're making me feel bad." She gave him a mocking eyes.

Sunod-sunod na napalunok ang knight at pinilit na makaupo ng tuwid sa kaniyang kinauupuan kanina. His entire body still trembling because of fear, death scares him so bad.

"Now, speak."

Napakurap ang knight at pinilit na magsalita. "H-hin-."

"I don't like people stuttering."

Pumikit ang knight at pilit na hinahabol ang hininga, he took a deep breath and tried to speak without stuttering. His lips trembling and his hands and feet are so cold as if he's in antarctica.

"Hindi ko a..lam! Hindi ko alam!" He shouted, nakapikit pa rin ang mata at patuloy ang panginginig ng katawan.

Maze smiled sweetly, she waited for him to continue his words. Her fingers are tapping the sofa's handle patiently. Tanging tunog lamang ng nanginginig na paghinga ng knight at ang tunog ng aircondition ang naririnig sa buong kwarto.

"Hi..ndi ko alam kung saan o kung paano, pero.."

Patuloy siyang tinitignan ni Maze habang may suot na matamis na ngiti sa labi. Na parang tuwang-tuwa pa siyang nahihirapan siya.

"Hm? But what?"

Nagmulat ng mata ang knight pero hindi niya sinubukang titigan sa mata si Maze, his eyes darted on his arm who's bleeding because of the harsh pinch he's doing to himself. For him to stay in sane.

"Pero may tumulong sa akin para pumasok dito sa lugar ng mga normal na tao."

Maze squinted her eyes, she keep nodding her head slowly while still tapping the sofa's handle with her fingers.

"Who?"

Hirap na lumunok ang knight, it is like as if there's something stuck in his throat. Nanlalamig pa rin ang kaniyang paa at kamay habang patuloy siyang pinagpapawisan ng malamig.

He's going to negotiate in order for him to survive!

"I.. I will tell you who but promise.. me that you will not kill me!"

Napatitig si Maze sa kaniya bago napahalakhak, napahawak pa siya sa tiyan na parang mayroon talagang nakakatawa sa sinabi ng knight. Her pretty eyes seems disappearing when she laughs.

Mas lumilitaw ang biloy sa kaniyang pisngi.

"Haha! Ha.. oh my gosh. You're.. haha! You're kinda cunning, huh? I like you!"

She cleared her throat and composed herself, natigil na siya sa kaniyang pagtawa at normal na ulit na ngumiti.

"'kay. I promise."

She will not actually kill him, she's just tryna scare him a little bit. Looking at his scared face made her satisfied.

"Ang taong iyon ay nakatira sa isang isla, ang alam ko ay sa isla ng masciete siya naninirahan. Siya.. siya ang tumulong sa akin. Ngunit hindi ko talaga alam kung saang portal ako pumasok dito o kung paano niya iyon nagawa. Pagkapasok ko sa portal nang ako'y nasa mundo pang iyon, nawalan na ako ng malay sa hindi malamang dahilan at pagkagising ko ay nandito na ako sa mundo ng mga normal na tao. Nagising ako sa isla ng masciete, kung saan siya naninirahan. Ang kaniyang ngalan ay Hudyi, ngunit kung plano mo siyang puntahan, kakailanganin mo siyang bigyan ng handog na makakapagpasaya sa kaniya."

Maze narrowed her eyes at the last words he said, she suspiciously stared at him before rolling her eyes. Iniisip niya talaga kung ano naman ang naging handog ng taong kaharap niya kaya't napapayag yung Hudyi na tulungan siyang makapasok sa mundo ng mga mortal.

"So, what did you offered to him?"

"Hinandog ko ang.." Nag-alangang sabihin ng knight ang huli niya sanang sasabihin. His hands suddenly trembled uncontrollably again, mas lumala ang pagkaubos niya ng hangin.

It feels like someone's trying to force him. Napatingin siya sa kaniyang kaharap, there she is, smiling widely with her cold sarcastic eyes. Nakakrus pa rin ang binti nito while giving him a pressure.

"I.. I gave him the Empress' Strand of hair!" He panicky shouted the last words. Saying that will make him killed.

Sa hindi malamang dahilan ay biglang lumamig ang buong kwarto and as if time suddenly slowed down, all the things around them slowly moves, his eyes caught Maze' cold grey eyes and in the blink of an eye.

He was slammed on the wall with maze choking him. He spit out a blood.

"Come again?" Her playful voice became cold but her lips continue to smile.

Ang kaniyang kamay ay nasa leeg ng knight habang binubuhat pataas ang knight mula sa pader. Her grip tightening like telling him to speak quickly or else he'll die.

"I-iyon ang isa sa k-kaniyang hininging handog, he said that.. t-that the hair I gave him can make the empress' suffer and it will not stop unless the empress' takes her own l-life.."

Nasuka siya ng dugo nang mas lalo lamang higpitan ni Maze ang pagkakasakal sa kaniya. His lips turning purple.

"And why is he doing that? Hm?"

"I-i don't know! But I heard him talk to someone in the world of immortals! He said that.. after one dissapear, others will also dissapear. I-i don't know what.. what he's t-talking abou- ehk!"

Bumagsak sa sahig ang knight at nawalan ng malay. Sinipa siya ni Maze para mapunta ito sa gilid, she wipes the blood in her hand and coldly opened the door of the VIP area.

Sumalubong sa kaniya ang apat na tauhan ng knight, she brings a smile into her lips. She doesn't feel happy anymore, albeit, she's smiling. That damned lowly knight pissed her off.

"Chairman said he wants to be alone. He also said that you guys will be the one who will give me the prize, but instead of a thousand million, make it a thousand billion. This is his permit." May iniabot na maliit na crest si Maze sa isa sa kanila.

Nanlaki ang mata ng isang tauhan at agad na sumunod sa sinabi ni Maze, lahat nga ay hindi pumasok sa loob at nanatili sa labas ng pintuan.

"Sundan niyo ako Miss Everred."

Maze nod her head sweetly and followed him. Siguradong manggagalaiti sa galit ang chairman na iyon kung sakaling malaman nitong nanakawan siya ng mahigit billiong dolyar.

Now, with that money. She can use that to use a very luxurious ship in trip to masciete. What a great life she has!