The faint light of dawn replaced the darkness of the night, Archer slowly approached Master Woods who had been restlessly awaiting his return. As soon as he sighted Archer, Master Woods rushed to his side, examining his features as if he had just reunited with his long-lost son.Tangie watched the unfolding scenario, her brows raised in confusion, silently wondering who he was.Archer observing the confusion on her face, squared his shoulders standing upright.“Master, this is my wife, Tangie. Tangie Sullivan…” “Lord Sullivan’s granddaughter,” Master Woods nodded, “I couldn’t miss the face…”Their short introduction was interrupted by quick footsteps and heavy breathing echoing in the air. Archer turned around to find Mariah cradled in Fred’s arms. “She still has a pulse!” He exclaimed, “It’s very faint but I can feel it.”“Huh?!” Tangie gasped, relief coursing through her instantly. “Hurry, let’s get her to the nearest hospital…”“She might not make it to the hospital,” Fred object
“Are you playing with me, Celestine?” Mr. Stranger roared.In the Drunken Badger, Celestine sat across Mr. Stranger, staring at his phone restlessly. The activities of the night had ended, and the morning sunlight seeped into the room, stirring the ladies of the night awake. As if they were strangers to him, Mr. Stranger drove them away, his gaze hardened with frustration. Celestine could see the lines of his jaw clench against each other. “Get out all of you!” He yelled, sending the ladies scurrying out of the room.What seemed like a really cool aesthetic for all their atrocities was now just a hall with a mess of cigarettes, empty bottles, and ashtray.Playing with him is the last thing he wanted to do, even he was worried that Archer had not called him yet. He thought about calling him but he held back, knowing fully well that Archer was in danger.“Give me your phone,” Mr. Stranger demanded. Without an argument, Celestine handed over his phone, secretly praying Archer was sti
Celestine smiled to himself, indeed Archer was no ordinary man. “You couldn’t break him, I suppose.” He muttered to himself as he walked away.The doors of the Drunken Badger felt like the doors of heaven. As he pushed it open, Celestine stepped into an air of refreshment and relief.Their threats were mediocre, his sister survived. And he didn’t betray his friend. “But Mr. Mathew as Big Dot?” Celestine shrugged, “Why is it always our closest friends?” Making his way towards his parked car, with his mind heavy with thoughts, Celestine felt eyes boring into his back. The hair on his neck stood up in response to the creepy glare. He stopped abruptly, turning around to see who was watching him. Standing there, almost as fair as the sun was the person that brought him to the Drunken Badger in the first place. Celestine’s heart pounded in his chest as he struggled to hold her gaze.“Mercy?” He called out, he fit the description. Fair, very fair- that was all the description Archer gave
Celestine’s eyes narrowed as he assessed the man blocking his way from reaching his sister. There was something about Fred that impressed him, but the recent occurrences didn’t allow him see past his actions as just innocent.“Who are you?” Fred repeated, closing the door behind him as he stepped outside. Celestine smiled wryly, shaking his head in disbelief. “I’m her brother,” he declared, “I have every right to see her.”Fred hesitated, his gaze flickering between Celestine's features and the features of Mariah etched on his mind. There was little to no semblance between them, save for the jet-black hair. But then again, everyone had jet-black hair.“I… I’m sorry, I’ll need more proof than just words,” Fred said, his tone calmer than before.Celestine’s gaze hardened, his eyes scanning the features of this adamant man’s face. Fred stood tall in a posture of unseen strength, his angular jawline a mere coincidence of nature. He didn’t seem to care much about his looks. Celestine no
Celestine was gradually losing his patience, pacing Mariah's hospital room with his phone pressed to his ear. He was trembling from the mere thought that something could have happened to him. "Where did he go to?" He asked, turning to Mariah, who was equally antsy. Fred rose from her bedside unable to watch the siblings panicking so much. "Celestine, can I call you that? I suggest we handle this matter on our own until we can get to Archer... But before then, we have to move Mariah someplace safer than here..""Where else would be safer? These guys are everywhere!" Celestine replied frantically."Could you please think for a minute?" Fred charged, "If this guy could get past the hospital security with a gun in his pocket then he can get past anywhere, and certainly he won't be the only one to come looking for you or Archer...""I suggest we all go home...to the mansion. I'm sick of this place anyway..." Mariah concurred, staring at her brother with hopeful eyes.Celestine clenched
“No,” Celestine declared firmly, his features clearly showing his defiance. Fred and Mariah looked up, startled by his unexpected interference.“Look,” Celestine started, more calmly. “Asking him if he ever betrayed anyone or who he betrayed or whatsoever would just be the same as putting words in his mouth or giving him a free pass to lie to us instantly. Do you think he’ll admit it even if it were true?”“What do you suggest I ask him then? Master Woods is not that kind of person, I’ve known him for years… he’s upright, he’s almost a saint.” Fred said softly. As Mariah observed him silently, he found that his rugged appearance was an opposite of his character. Fred was soft spoken, exuding a type of confidence in his words. She was lost in his unconventionally striking charm that her brother’s voice seemed distant in her mind until he called out her name.“Mariah!” “Huh?!” Mariah replied, shaken out of her head only to notice that Fred was no longer with them.“Are you alright? H
Fred’s words hung in the air, thick with tension. Mariah felt her heart beat skip as she watched the two men glaring at each other with death stares.Celestine’s expression shifted as he dashed his gaze away.Fred remained calm as usual, and that calmness irked Celestine.His anger simmered on, boiling within him until it was almost pouring over. Then suddenly, sadness washed over him like a wave, doubling the weight of the situation on his shoulders. He sank on the couch, the reality of Archer’s predicament hitting him like a brick.He in fact realized that Fred was right. He had to prove him innocent. It seemed as though the entire people of Utah were against him now. He had to prove that he was innocent. But how? He felt helpless and frustrated by the injustice happening to Archer in such a short period of time.His defiance melted away alongside his fury, leaving behind a deep sorrow in his heart.“What can I do?” He asked softly, his voice barely above a whisper.“What can I do
Celestine’s mind raced with silent contemplation, trying to make sense of the stranger’s claims.“Why Archer’s blood?” He asked, furrowing his brows.The mercenary smirked, his previous surrender replaced by a scornful expression. “Perhaps, you don’t know what a mercenary means. I was just to get his blood, what for? I don’t know…”Fred exchanged a glance with Celestine, both making a silent note of that clue.“Who hired you?” Li demanded, his voice breaking the eye contact between Celestine and Fred.The mercenary’s smirk faltered slightly, as he turned to face Li. “You can have my name, but my loyalty to my employer remains.” He said softly. Without a stress, Celestine knew that was his final say.A surge of frustration coursed through him but one look at Li’s face, and his confidence returned.“I’m not very reasonable, Mr. mercenary…” Li began, the corners of his lips lifted in a half smile. “You see, I myself, am a mercenary… and my employer demands answers.”Celestine shot a quic