Maverick (Blank)
Chapter 38: NGNL Collaboration Event (12)
[Viera~]
The hair on Viera's neck stood on end. A soft voice calling her name. Silence enveloped her body; her legs trembled weakly.
"What are you doing, Willie?!"
Willie's steps grew closer. "To have you." Viera's eyes widened, her teeth bared.
On the other side, Blank, who was slumped over, still had consciousness, albeit very little. (GET UP!) His vision was blurry, his body weak, but his mind and heart were trying to rebel.
Blank could still hear, could still feel. Viera in danger made his heart burn. (BASTARD!) A plea arose in his mind. (Viera, bring Willie here...) Blank couldn't run.
At the same time, Willie chased Viera. His hands seemed to want to hug her, but Viera managed to dodge. "Viera... Don't resist..." Blank began to move his fingers.
A swift grab from Willie caught Viera's collar. His face drew near. "It's useless, Viera." Viera's face paled. Reflexively, her right fist punched Willie's ribs, breaking his grip. "Ugh... Why is her punch so hard?"
Viera ran toward Blank, who was still slumped, hiding behind him. "Kaelan, wake up, Kaelan." Blank was still weak from the drug's effects.
Viera took Blank's phone from his pocket. The screen lit up. "Damn, what's the password?" Viera's eyes trembled, but Blank's finger movements diverted her attention.
Viera quickly showed the screen over Blank's thigh. Her fingers began typing slowly. Willie approached slowly; cold sweat dampened her temples.
As only one digit remained, Willie swung a knife, startling Viera and making her leave Blank. The knife hit nothing, but only one number was left to unlock Blank's phone.
"Viera... Enough..." Willie stepped forward. Viera's back hit a pine tree; a dead end was behind her. Willie jumped, trying to catch Viera, but the girl managed to duck and run forward toward Blank.
But before Viera could hand over the phone, Willie quickly approached, so the password still lacked one digit. Viera stepped away. "GO AWAY!" Viera shouted.
Willie ignored her. Viera's hands began to tremble, but her eyes saw Blank's fingers tapping. Both his hands gave numbers: five on the right and two on the left. Viera guessed the number seven. The screen unlocked immediately when she pressed it. (It worked.)
Viera pressed the message and was about to make a call, but a voice came. "Viera..." Her pupils moved. Willie placed a knife against Blank's neck.
"Raise your hands, Viera, or Kaelan dies tonight." Viera froze. The knife drew closer. Blank could feel Willie's menace, but his body still couldn't move. Viera raised her hands. "What do you want?!"
"Come here," he said softly, making Viera's heart race. Her steps began to approach. "Give me the phone back." Viera remained silent, but the knife drew closer to Blank's neck, leaving her no choice. Viera handed over the phone. "Let him go, but give me your knife."
Willie nodded, taking the phone. But as Viera tried to grab Willie's knife, he threw it far away instead. Viera's neck veins tensed. "Bastard!"
From afar, Novan watched them. The pine trees served as cover, so they weren't visible in the dark night. (Hurry up, idiot!) His hand clenched a small syringe. His eyes looked at Blank. (He didn't drink the full dose. If his will is strong, he can move a little.) Novan clicked his tongue.
Willie smiled, looking at the girl before him. He got the phone, but Viera got nothing. His hand grabbed Viera's collar. "Come with me." Viera resisted, shrinking back and letting her sweater slip off.
Willie stared at Viera. His heart raced when Viera wore a short-sleeved shirt. His mind began to scramble. Willie's hands grabbed Viera's shoulders, throwing the girl's body down right in front of Blank.
Blank's legs began to move. His heart shattered hearing all this. (WILLIE, YOU BASTARD!) His body began to lift forcibly; only disgust filled his heart.
Willie was on top of Viera. The girl couldn't move. His face drew closer. "Viera... You're so cute..." Viera's body trembled. Her hands reflexively punched Willie's chest, but both were caught. Her body couldn't react. Willie pulled up the corners of his lips and smiled. Viera closed her eyes.
At the same time, Blank moved until his wallet fell. A right foot kicked Willie's sensitive area. Viera's eyes opened. It was Blank standing before her with weary eyes. Willie fell with Blank's phone nearby.
Blank grabbed his phone and collapsed. His body couldn't stand anymore and only began tapping the phone screen before him. Willie, in pain, stood up. His eyes reddened looking at Blank.
Blank shielded his phone with his body. His face looked at Viera. His mouth moved slightly, and Viera noticed.
But at that moment, Willie kicked Blank's head from above, stepping on his temple. Blood began to drip from Blank's head. Viera ran away, leaving him.
"Bastard." Willie, failing to focus, tried to chase Viera. The girl kept enduring and ran randomly toward trees and wooden houses, making it hard for Willie to catch her. "Stay there, Viera!"
The two stared at each other with a pine tree in between. Viera moved her feet; when Willie went left, she did too, circling each other without finding an opening to catch.
But a feint from Willie deceived Viera. When she looked right, Willie went left, causing Viera to be caught again. Her leg kicked Willie's body but was caught.
Willie, annoyed, opened his own shirt. Willie's body was revealed before Viera, enraging the girl. Viera slapped Willie with her right hand, but again, her hand was caught. Both of Viera's hands were restrained above.
Willie began to smile. They stared at each other, drawing closer. Their faces were only 8 inches apart. Viera's eyes began to well up. "Let go!" Willie drew even closer, making tears flow down her cheeks. She closed her eyes, unable to bear Willie's face.
Thud.
A hard kick to Willie's ribs. Viera snapped awake. Novan chased the fallen Willie, his body pinning Willie down from above. His right hand rose.
Thud, thud.
Novan punched with his right and left hands. His punches were mercilessly hard. (What are you doing, you bastard?!)
Both hands joined together and punched Willie's nose until it broke. (I told you to bring Viera! Look what you did!)
His punches didn't stop. Willie's hands began to go limp. His teeth were shattered, his nose already crooked. His face was red, and blood flowed from his forehead. (Just die, you bastard!)
One final punch hit Willie's temple. Slowly, blood began to flow. Novan snapped out of it and looked at Viera. His body stopped when he saw Viera holding Blank's head with both hands. "Kaelan! Are you okay?!"
Viera didn't see Novan beating Willie brutally. The girl took her sweater and began cleaning Blank's wound. Novan approached. (Sorry, Viera. I have to take you.)
His steps halted. Blank's wallet had fallen, and his ID card was visible. Novan picked it up and read it. "Arion Kaelan Davea..." His eyes widened, and he quickly looked at Blank. (That kid... He's Dos's target!?)
Novan glanced back. His teeth clenched. Leon and Erna were running quickly, as was the media team following them. (Damn!) Novan sighed. (I failed tonight.)
Novan approached Viera. "Viera? Are you okay?" Viera looked over. "Novan! Please carry Kaelan!" Novan's legs felt heavy, but one hand grabbed Blank, letting his back carry him.
Leon and Erna arrived first. Erna covered her mouth. "What happened..." Leon saw Boyka sprawled out. On the other side, Willie lay on the grass with a shattered face. "Oh my..."
Novan approached. "Miss Erna, we must hurry. I'll tell you what I just saw." Erna looked at the injured Blank, but her eyes quickly shifted when she saw Viera cleaning her white sweater. Her steps quickened, and she hugged Viera tightly. "Viera..." Tears began to fall down her cheeks; her back trembled.
"It's okay, Miss Erna. I'm safe." Even though her legs were also weak and her mind chaotic, Viera tried to appear strong. Her eyes glanced at Blank, carried by Novan. (Thank you again, Kaelan.)
Viera remembered the earlier events: when Blank managed to knock Willie down, so Blank succeeded in pressing the call button and hid the phone on his body to keep it safe. The sound of Willie's stomping was actually heard by Erna and the others from the villa.
But at that moment, Blank moved his mouth with a vague sound. Viera tried to understand. Blank said, "Three minutes~" That was Blank's instruction before he was beaten by Willie. That's why Viera thought to go and buy time.
Viera looked at Blank, then was distracted by Erna, who was still shedding tears on her shoulder. Viera also hugged Erna. Tears and trembling hands could be felt. "I'm sorry, Miss Erna..." Leon watched the two women comforting each other. His face looked at Boyka with a dropped jaw. "How could you lose, Boyka?"
Robert raised his hand. "Mr. Leon, what about Willie? His pulse is still beating, but his breathing is weak. This man is critical."
Novan approached. "I'll call the nearest clinic." Robert nodded. "Alright." Novan's phone opened; a message was typed to call an ambulance.
They all rested there for 10 minutes until the ambulance arrived. Two nurses began lifting Willie. One nurse approached Novan. Novan just nodded. They all left.
Viera and Erna had improved. Now they only felt physically weak. Novan raised his hand. "Miss Erna, let's go home." Erna nodded. She led Viera home, as did Leon, who carried Boyka on his back.
Their steps left the place where the tragedy occurred. The night returned to silence. The full moon shone perfectly, and leaves swayed in the wind. Time passed; everyone headed to the villa.
In the beautiful night with many stars, a steep cliff 100 meters high looked beautiful and captivating. Sharp rocks with a 90° angle would be perfect for rock climbing.
The ambulance stopped in front of the cliff. A nurse asked, "Why are we stopping here?" The nurse who was the driver injected his colleague until he lost consciousness. His legs stepped toward the large door at the back of the vehicle.
Willie lay motionless. The nurse pulled his leg until Willie's head fell to the ground. His mask was removed. It was Gru. His foot approached the edge of the cliff.
His hand threw the body. Willie plunged from the top of the cliff to the bottom. Gru watched from above. "Fool." His steps moved toward the ambulance again and left the place.
The night grew quiet again with crows flying. Pine trees moved their branches, and the sound of a waterfall carried a rabbit to drink water from the edge of the pond.
Now at the villa, everyone shook their heads, especially Lauren. "Two nights. Why is that kid always injured?" Lauren looked at Blank, who had returned with a bruised temple.
Lauren looked at Erna. "What happened?" Erna, who was hugging Viera, shook her head. "Wait, I'll take Viera to her room first."
Erna escorted Viera to bed. The girl was weak with eyes almost closing. "Viera, just rest for now." The girl lay on her bed.
Erna stepped out. Her gaze turned to Novan. "Novan, what happened?" Novan looked over. (Instead of lying, I'd better tell just the last part.)
Novan began to explain. Erna, Lauren, Leon, and the media team listened. There was no false information; Novan only told a small part of the whole information to keep himself safe.
Everyone sighed. Leon raised his hand. "What about Willie?" Novan clasped his hands together. "That's my fault. I punched him excessively out of anger. I called the ambulance from the nearest clinic. Maybe he was taken to the hospital."
Everyone scratched their heads. Their hearts felt tight with swirling thoughts. Erna said, "Let's rest first. It's already late. We'll continue tomorrow."
Everyone nodded and went to their rooms. Erna accompanied Viera, and the others left. Blank was alone, with Novan watching him. (This kid... He's not ordinary.)
Novan returned to his room. Nothing would be done tonight. (This is an unexpected variable. Should I ask Joe for help?) His rear landed on the soft bed. His hand held his chin. (But Joe needs one more day to get here. Better use him for later in Italea.)
Novan pulled a strand of his hair. (My target is Viera, and now there's one just as big.) His teeth showed. (Damn!) Novan lay down and closed his eyes, waiting to see what tomorrow would bring.
Time passed. Viera opened her eyes. Her throat was dry. Her gaze swept the room. Erna was lying near her. Viera walked out to get water. Her steps halted when she saw Blank sleeping alone in the living room.
She straightened the messy blanket so Blank wouldn't get cold. Viera sat before him, looking at the teenager with a bandage on his head.
Viera's hand touched his hair, the corners of her lips raised. "I'm sorry, Kaelan. Because I asked you to go out, you got hurt." Her fingers stroked Blank's black hair. Her eyes welled up. The last sentence before Blank weakened flashed in her mind.
Her lips approached his ear. One sentence was uttered. "Let's be friends, Kaelan." Viera moved back, her cheeks reddened, and she left Blank alone.
The moonlight began to enter through the air vent, illuminating Blank nearby. The scent of teak wood was felt. The warmth from the blanket Viera had fixed provided comfort.
Time passed. The sun began to rise, illuminating the Sweas countryside. Flowers bloomed with a gentle wind blowing.
In the morning at the villa, Novan was sitting beside Blank. His fingers moved. (What should I do with this kid?)
In the room, Viera was still sound asleep. Erna woke up and read a message. Her fingers scratched her cheek.
[From Demma]
[Miss Erna, later you...]
Erna looked at the time. 2:30 AM, Demma sent a message. She pursed her lips. "This person is weird. How could Master Kiki find him?"
Her eyes looked at the sky. "But I myself haven't seen this person directly either, yet his requests are many." Her eyes blinked. One memory flashed in her mind.
[H-1 Before Departure]
"Erna, if there's any trouble, contact this person, okay?" A business card with a phone number was given. Erna raised her eyebrows. "Who is this, Master?"
Kiki smiled. "At least it's for safety. I can trust him. I've told him that if there's a message from Erna, it means from me too." Erna nodded. "Alright, thank you, Master."
[Back to the Present]
Erna remembered Master Kiki's words before departure. She also didn't know much about Demma.
Ding Dong.
The bell rang. Erna stood up and walked to the front door. Novan watched Erna from behind. When the door opened, two men stood at the doorstep. "Who is it?"
A man 170 cm tall with a jacket, hat, and sunglasses greeted. "Hello, I'm Tenma. I'm the delivery guy." He waved with visible canines. His eyes looked at Blank sleeping on the mattress. (Oh dear...)
The taller man in a shirt handed over a card. "We're following a temporary contract from NGNL Company." His hair was neat, with a watch.
Erna was startled. One name was uttered. But Novan's eyes widened, his heart seeming to stop for a moment. Casually, Erna asked.
[Are you Demma?]