The Hunt Begins

I sit alone in a dimly lit room, the soft glow of a desk lamp casting long shadows across the room. The meeting with Viper still send shivers down my spine. My deal with him has been sealed, and now he's the one tasked with investigating that shitty prisoner who torments me.

However, I can't shake the feeling of unease that lingers in the air. Viper— That sick dickhead, if I have a choice, I wanted to avoid him. Whatever. I have no choice... I need to deal with that mothefucker before I could focus on redeeming myself in the group.

My thoughts are interrupted by the muffled sound of footsteps approaching the door. I tense up, reaching for the hidden weapon I keep nearby. The door swings open slowly, and Viper enters, his presence filling the room with an air of menace.

He looks around, taking in the cluttered room, and then fixes his steely gaze on me. “Time to talk, Ian,” he says in his gravelly voice, and I know that the hunt for the escaped prisoner has officially begun.

Viper settles into the worn-out armchair across from me, the leather creaking in protest under his bulk. His eyes bore into mine. He looks quite smug. He must be enjoying this.

Fuck you...

“What do you know about this escapee, Ian?” Viper's voice demands answers.

“He has been after me since August 16 and has been harassing me everyday,” I begin. “He is that bastard that escaped from the New Bilibid Prison.”

“Oh,” he seems surprised.

“Abel Iriñia was sentenced with reclusion perpetua for murdering the whole 17 members of a small gang in this city—”

“Enough, hahahahaha! I know more than you do. Aren't you a lucky boy?” Viper leans forward, his fingers steepled together, forming a formidable barrier. “I've been tasked to look for this guy. The latest clue we have is that he is here, in this city. And you confirmed that. Dilaw can now look for that son of a bitch with greater chance of succeeding...”

“?!”

“Hahahaha... Unlucky for you, lucky for us. I guess I should give you a discount... you're making my job easier after all,” he is laughing like as if that guy is nothing. And why is he sending a highschool dropout against... against that shitty bastard?

“With your face, it looks like you're doubting my decision. Dilaw— Don't underestimate him. His one of my capable members. Though I agree that I might be underestimating that escapee, however, I am just using him to test Dilaw. I promised to give him a promotion if he could capture that guy alive...”

“You sir, is very wise—”

“Stop with your bootlicking. It gives me the creeps.. Let's get back to your business. It looks like this Abel comes after you everyday. That makes it easier. We can set up a trap against him. But why is he after you?”

I take a deep breath, steadying myself. “I think he blames me for something. Something from the past. He wants revenge, and he's been relentless in pursuing it.”

Viper's eyes narrow as he processes the information. “Revenge,” he muses. “You... So you're also a sick son of a bitch... hahahahaha... I guess that's why we click well together..”

What? Don't lump me together with you.

“Do you know why he killed those 17 gang members? It's an impressive feat if you ask me.”

“No sir... In fact, can you tell me about him... I believe this is part of what I hired you for...”

“Hahaha.. sure. Anything for you, Mr. Doccia,” he is mocking me. “Abel, well... he is born in a coastal town in Manila. He lived a relatively normal life as a loving husband and devoted father to a young daughter.”

Daughter? That bastard mentioned something about ‘his daughter.’ Am I being framed by someone? Who the fuck is it?

“He worked as a mechanic in a small garage, providing for his family and staying far away from the criminal underworld. But tragedy struck when his sweet and delicious young Maria was brutally raped in their quiet neighborhood. Those 17 or probably more were suspected to have raped her for three days and 4 nights 'till she died. But the case remained unsolved even until now so we're not really sure..”

Well, weaklings die... I don't feel pity for such weaklings. And this dickhead got a boner while telling the story... He's really... He makes me feel like I'm such a good person.

“Bur for some reason, Abel was certain that it's that shitty gang that raped his barely legal daughter. The police suspects that someone informed him. Maybe a witness was present... Anyway, he took the matters on his own hand and annihilated the whole gang. He has been such a behaved mothefucker until he suddenly he escaped just recently. And we now know it's because of you...” he looks so happy. “Are you one of those that raped his daughter, Mr. Ian?”

“No! I don't even know who this Maria is... Nevermind raping her.”

“Fine fine. Calm down... hahahahaha... Why do you look so angry? Does it remind you of your dead mother?”

“Grrrrrrrrt...” No... calm down. He's pissing you off on purpose. And why would you care about a dead bitch? She never even loved you...

“Hahahahahahaha... Whatever reason he has to come after you, we'll know eventually. But for now, let's focus on catching him alive... The netizens are pressuring the government after all. Most of them believes it's alright to leave him alone because he was convicted due to a justified reason... But we can't have that. We have to catch him... But to avoid outrage, he has to be alive,” he is now serious. “It should be easy to catch a worthless criminal. But despite the combined efforts of the police department and our syndicate, we're still having a hard time. Do you know what that imply?”

“Someone is helping him.”

“Yes. Escaping from that maximum security isn't something a simple and single criminal with nothing but muscle should be able to do. Yet he did it without even triggering the alarms. And he also travelled such distance to come after you. Moreover, he's good at staying off the grid despite coming at you every single day. Though that's ought to change now because we have a clue of where he will go... to you..”

I knew it..

“It looks like you also reached the same conclusion. Do you have any idea of who wants your head?”

There could be many... But they can't be a simple person. Fuck... Why did that bastard come to mind? I investigated him and there's nothing special to him. He can't possibly help that escapee.

“?!”

“Ohh.. You have a clue huh... Who is it?”

“I am not sure Sir Viper but it might be from my own syndicate...”

Maybe that's why I failed my shipment last time. If there's a traitor, that would make sense. FUCK! Who is it?!

“A rat huh? That's none of my business. The only thing I care about is to catch that guy... alive. Now then, our hunt begins...”

If there's really a rat, my boss told me to capture it. Maybe this is a blessing in disguise after all.

Finally... I am starting to see the situation clearly. I'm gonna win in the end of this story... I'll make sure of it.

The days that follow are filled with a relentless sense of anticipation. Viper and his team are on the move, scouring the city's underbelly for any leads on the escaped prisoner. I have no choice but to bide my time, waiting for updates that will hopefully bring an end to my torment.

「August 31, 2021 | Tue」

「21:38」

It's been a while since that bastard came after me. We've been expecting him, yet he never came. But I don't feel relieved. In fact, I couldn't get a proper sleep due to anxiety and fear. It's so terrible that I actually wish for him to visit me now—

“Miss me?”

“?!”

Fuck!! He's here! He's actually here. Fucking hell... He scared me!

“No..” I quickly regain my composure. There's no point in getting scared.

“Do you know what's inside these plastic bag?”

“Why should I care?”

“They're broken shards of beer bottles.”

“So?” I smile at him in mockery.

“‘So?’ I WILL PUT ALL OF IT INSIDE YOUR ASS!” he grabs me by the neck, pinning me down into the ground. This bastard is really fast... and FUCK! He's so fucking strong!

This mothefucker... What the hell are you waiting for?

“DILAW!!”