Chapter 7: I Volunteer

“Let's hurry!” Y said nervously.

“No, not yet, X bring a hostage. They will be our key to escape if those officers catch up to us.” Their Boss ordered. 

“Even without hostage we can escape but the boss that's a good idea and exhilarating,” X said smirking. He pointed his fingers toward the customers. The customers start to quiver once again, afraid they will be chosen. 

“Then, I will choose... you!” he pointed towards the Little girl. The grandmother suddenly tightens her embrace to the child.“No, not her please!” she begged. But X spare no mercy, he continued his walk towards them; however, Zitrey stops him by blocking his way. 

“Don't touch her!” her obsidian eyes were darker than usual, she glared at X like throwing a dagger. “I'll go instead,” she added with her chilling voice. 

X suddenly laughed like there's no tomorrow. “You? Who would believe your a hostage and not one of us? Give me the child.”

Zitrey blocked him once again, “I. Said. I'll. Go. Can't you understand human language?”

“You!”

“X doesn't waste our time, bring him. And Y get that Young woman too.” their boss commanded.

X want to complain but didn't. “Tch.” He was about to grab Zitrey, but the said person flicked his hand. “I can walk on my own,” she said and followed the Boss. X gritted his teeth and followed them too. 

Y hardly brought the young woman with them. This woman didn't want to leave her wounded father. Yet, she has been forced by Y, pointing a revolver on her back. 

Five of them already left the small convenience store. They used the back exit that was only exclusive for the employee. As if these robbers studied the store 'cause they even knew the turns of the way of this mazelike pathway. The Robbers fast their pace when they heard the siren getting nearer. 

Y covered the mouth of the young woman with a cloth to prevent her from shouting for help. He even has a hard time pulling the young woman because of her strong will to escape. On how hard they deal with the woman, it's how easy with it on Zitrey. She just quietly followed them without complaining. 

The Young woman beside was thinking of her as weird. Who has the right mind to follow robbers voluntarily? Even following them, she didn't feel fear at all. She's far from ordinary.

They already walk far enough but still no sign of police officers. 

At the secluded place near the convenience store, there's a black car waiting for them in the middle of the road. The Boss opened the car and threw the bag with things they rob into it. 

“Boss how about Z?” Y asked worriedly towards his companion. It seems like the lady awhile ago successfully called for help, this makes Z in danger. 

“Why worry with him. He can manage himself. If he's caught then that his problem, not ours.”

“B-but-”

“Your brother is right. That child is brilliant he can escape on his own however we won't leave him behind. He's one of us already. Let's wait for him here for 30 seconds if he's still not here at that time then let just see him in our meeting place.” The Boss said giving the possible solution to their problem.

“What about these two?” Y added. The young woman whose lively awhile ago and want to escape immediately was behaving well and in silence like Zitrey. This Young Woman calm a bit when Zitrey managed to whisper that her Father will be alright, as well as them because help will come sooner. 

Just then, the Boss hasn't yet responded to his subordinate when a group of police officers surrounds them. Y immediately put the revolver at the young woman's head. At the same time, Zitrey let X grab him and put a knife at her neck as an act. Though her countenance was scarier compared to X. 

“Put down your weapons if you don't want to witness the scattered blood of these two innocent people,” X said threatening them. 

A woman in blond hair suddenly emerges between the group of police officers. This woman was an eye-catching as she was so stunning at her black with gold lining police uniform: blond hair tidied and ponytail so well, lips like an apple that reflected on her porcelain skin, her body curves were so perfect that will make you awe. Beautiful yet has an aura of authority, strict and coolness. 

“I wonder what kind of hole they're hiding. It's so hard to find out; yet, these thugs show up voluntarily. Thank you so much. It saves us time.” Kate said smirking. 

“D-don't come near here, if you don't want us to kill these hostages!” Y yelled threatening them, yet her hands show contrary. It was tremendously trembling.

Kate stops her steps. Her gaze passes through Zitrey for a second and go back to Y. The Young woman hooked in his arm with a gun aimed at her head shows no fear at all. It was like this woman was only concerned with her father, not with her own self. The officers that saw these two person's expressions, were in doubt if they're really a hostage. They seem not normal.

“I never thought that those thugs who brutally killed the cashier were afraid to hold a gun.”

When the Boss heard what Kate has been said. He aimed his silencer gun towards her. “We didn't kill the person. That footage was edited.”

Kate's eyebrow rises up. “Ooh, you're telling me, you're innocent.” 'This guy was not a typical robber, who usually gone mad and crazy in this situation, yet this guy remained calm.' she thought.

“You f*cking police officer, cut the bullsh*t! Put down your weapons, or else I will end his life.” X shouted, deepening the knife at Zitrey's neck. A small amount of blood instantly runs through the silver blade.

The guns of the police officers instantly aimed at X, making this madman put more force at his knife. His expression shows excitement while doing this with Zitrey. “It's payback time~,” he whispered through Zitrey ears. 

When Kate saw this, it triggers her anger. Although she wants to become mad and tear apart the person hurting her little sister this instant, she still remains her decent role in front of her subordinates. 

“Put down your weapons.” Her underlings instantly look at her with an expression of 'why?' Having no response at their commander, they instantaneously followed her command, putting down their weapons at the ground. This act questioned them; this is not the usual action of Major Nightroad.

“Now make your subordinates leave us,” the Boss added, aiming at Kate.

“Leave,” Kate said towards them yet her eyes never been left at Zitrey's neck, a scarlet liquid flows in it like tears. The eyes of officers show opposing to her idea, 'Why would they leave? They could easily capture these unlawful people.' Yet they still have followed her as they trust and respect their commander's decision. 

“Why the h*ll that woman is still here.” complained by X because she, herself didn't leave. 

When all of her subordinates left that even their silhouette couldn't be seen. That's when Kate takes a deep breath and... “Aghskudgahatxdbskhhduaajksdbdowjieoamn!” she said in one breath. They don't understand what she was saying yet they knew she's cursing them. “I'm warning you, let go of that boy!” she added threatening X.

“D*mn woman! I'm not a fool to do what you say!” X responded. 

Kate took a step towards them. The Boss immediately warned her. “Don't move or else I'll shoot!” he said pulling the trigger. 

But Kate didn't fear this and the only smirk, then said “'You will regret with all of your life, hurting that boy!” These made the three of them, on guard. 

Just then, Kate swiftly kicked the 3-feet iron pole on the road towards Zitrey direction. At the same time, Boss pulled the trigger aiming at Kate. She smoothly avoided the bullet by horizontally inclining her body. The bullet missed it marking and penetrated at the tree. 

“It's payback time,” Zitrey mumbled back at X and instantly elbowed the madman. This made the grip of X loosen and be free from him. She then turned around aiming her hard kicked on his waist. X took many steps backward, hardly balance his body because of the strong force. Suddenly, a silver lining passes through Zitrey's eyes. She caught the iron pole and played it at her hand, swayed in the air like it was a sword.

Kate straightened her body and pulled out the two pistols at her thigh and aimed directly at Y's revolver that was aiming at Zitrey. Before Y could even touch the trigger, the said gun fell from the ground. Kate instantly runs towards the dumbfounded Y, however, bullets instantaneously fly in her direction restricting her approach. Kate jerked her movements facing the Boss that shooting at her. The corner of her eyes saw that the young woman seizes the opportunity of the situation and run away. This made Kate sigh a relief. 

In a split of seconds, Kate and Boss did a sidestep and nimbly run towards the place where they can defend themselves against the firing bullets. 

“D*mn you brat! How dare you?” X complained, however when he looked again at his opponent. He felt shivers down his spine. A dark eerie aura was surrounding Zitrey, like a reaper of the dead. Feeling this, X's anger and hatred increase more.

Holding the iron pole Zitrey steps forward. X quickly pulled out daggers in his coat that full of said weapon then sprung up and constantly threw his small blades towards Zitrey. 

Facing these flying daggers she continues her walk and avoided these by simply hitting the end of the blade accurately and stop its momentum using the iron pole. Zitrey continues moving forward making X steps backward and threw all his dagger hiding inside his coat. These routines continue until someone broke it off.

Y get his revolver once again and aimed at Zitrey. When she senses this, she instantly jumped sideward losing the mark of her two opponents. 

The car that's supposed to be brand new was covered with holes from the nonstop firing of the sharpshooters: Major Nightroad and the Boss of the Masked Man. Thankfully the place they'd fighting are secluded, if not innocents life will be involved. 

Kate was hiding behind the tree. She takes off the magazine of the pistol and loaded it again. These were the last ammo left. She never thought the leader of the thugs will be so skilled at using guns. Every time she tried to get nearer. The Boss shoots her nonstop, restricting her from moving forward because of this Kate thought that this man was afraid of close combat. 

Using the empty can beside the tree. She threw it in the Boss direction, making him lost his attention. In this blink of opportunity, Kate runs as fast as a cheetah, then jumped over the car towards the back of the Boss, aiming the pistol at his head. “Hands up! You lose!”

Meanwhile, shivering Y was pulling the trigger nonstop, closing his eyes while aiming at Zitrey. He slowly opened his eyes when he felt that there's no bullet left on his gun. Only then, a gust of wind swept past on his entire person. Constantly, he felt an unbearable pain throughout his body. It was like thousands of claws were scratching him. Making him laid on the ground and twirled and shouts in agony. Zitrey standing above him sways the iron pole and look at Y coldly. 

X witnessing this he angrily shouts, “What did you do to my brother?! Get away from him!” He furiously charges towards Zitrey. 

Zitrey jumps backward and defends herself against raging X. A 'clang' sound and a spark come out from striking of their weapons. She simply swayed the iron pole against the massive force X given off.

 “F*ck you, F*ck You! F*ck You!!!”

Because of anger, Zitrey could easily read his movements, with this she sidesteps to avoid his attack and fiercely strike back. The knife at the hand of X escaped from his grip because of the strong impact. It rolled at midair then penetrated at the ground. Without his beloved weapon, X suddenly kneeled on the ground lifeless and drained out of energy.

“Brother...”

When he heard this hoarse light voice, that almost whispering, he instantly crawls his way towards his twin brother lying down on the ground and gently embraced him. 

“A-are you alright? What part of your body is hurting? B-brother is here to cease your pain.” Hearing this usual concerning the voice of his brother and his warm embrace, Y fear and pain seemed vanished, with this he holds his brother's arm tightly. Surprisingly this madman has this kind of characteristic, yet it was only towards his little brother. 

When Zitrey knows that her opponents have no will to fight back. She played the iron pole at her hand then threw it in the air. At the same time, the gloomy cloud covered the moon slowly dispersing, allowing the gentle light to pass through. 

The iron pole rolling at the air reflects the moonlight and falls down precisely between the thumb and four fingers of Zitrey. As if there's a scabbard on it. Then she played it again on her five fingers and put it at his back.

 Zitrey in the moonlit holding her iron pole at her back reflecting the light of the silver moon was like a Dark Knight of the night sky.

But the pole suddenly fell to the ground. 

In this brawl of five persons, someone secretly watches them at the corner of the place, smiling evilly. “Found ya.”