Estela by Miu

Let me not be too late!

Let me not be too late!

I chanted while driving like a madwoman on a motorcycle I stole.

A while ago, we were just enjoying buying souvenirs, and the next thing I knew, Leanna got kidnapped right under my nose without me even knowing.

My brother entrusted her to me, and I failed him.

If something happened to her –– I could never forgive myself.

I held myself from crying.

This is not the time for it.

I glanced at my watch. I was getting nearer.

I left the motorcycle on the side of the forest and ran deeper inside.

I was following the tracker when it disappeared.

Crappy P***!

Something must have happened at the locket.

BANG!

NO!

Without thinking, I sprinted towards that sound while ignoring the men lying unconscious along the way.

In the end, I saw Four injured with a gunshot on her shoulder and leg. She was limping, avoiding the bullets coming from a lean man.

Saber!

Saber sensed my presence and quickly avoided the daggers before it could even graze him.

As expected of an S class hitman.

Four quickly took the opportunity to hide against the protection of trees while I flung forward at the man, slashing him with two daggers in hand.

Saber just avoided my sharp blades. But, I still managed to slice some of his flesh. I didn't stop attacking, not allowing him to retaliate with his gun. He tried to point, but I kicked his weapon and twirled my body with my knives in hand to land him the finishing blow.

However, this man had luck on his side. He tripped against one of the protruding roots, and my knife missed his throat.

"Don't kill him!"

I briefly lost my focus when Four shouted, and that was all the man needed. He kicked my feet, and I fell on the ground as he flipped himself up and pulled out another gun from his vest, and aimed at me.

"Young miss!" Four shouted in a panic.

BANG!

Argh!

The gun flew from Saber's hand as he recoiled, grunting in pain as he held his broken wrist. And before I could even render him unconscious, someone already beat me to it.

Cedrick magically appeared behind Saber's back and gripped the man's arm before he hit Saber's nape, and the latter fell on the ground –– unconscious.

"One . . . ," Four whispered and limped towards us despite her injuries. "I'm sorry––!"

SLAP!

Before Four could finish her sentence, a resounding slapped echoed, and she fell hard on the ground.

"Disgraceful."

Cedrick stared at her in contempt as he wiped his hand with a hanky –– gone was the kind, well-mannered secretary he portrayed.

"This is not the time to render punishment. Where's Leanna?" I got up and roamed my eyes.

"She escaped."

Despite everything else, Four forced out the words from her bleeding mouth. Her face was expressionless without a hint of anger –– only shame and guilt.