Maverick (Blank)
Chapter 13: Blank's Childhood (12) End
Kaeri stood amidst the many armed men while he only held a doll and a phone, gifts for his two younger siblings at this moment.
In the silent, dark, and cold night. The moonlight illuminated him. His eyes were unfocused, and his body trembled. (Have I been too long out of practice for killing people?)
He looked around at the men ready to assault him, but he smiled and looked at the two gifts he carried. "Hey, is there no room for negotiation?"
The man in the wheelchair laughed loudly upon seeing Kaeri's desperation. "Hahaha! Now you're afraid of your own death, aren't you?"
The young man's hands trembled. He then smiled at the man until his eyes were covered. "I beg you... I will come back here after delivering these two gifts."
The man laughed even louder. His index finger was pointed, and his voice began to command. "Kill Kaeri now."
All the men finally gripped their weapons. Kaeri, standing ready, bit his lip, but his eyes now returned to their original state, ready to pounce on anyone who approached.
Three men ran toward him carrying knives and a club. But Kaeri used the doll to deceive them by throwing the teddy bear at their faces and kicking the sensitive area of the man, causing his knife to fall. Kaeri hurriedly picked it up; now he had a weapon.
Slash. Slash.
Two slashes hit the throats of the other two men, making them clutch their necks. Quickly, Kaeri threw one of the men by grabbing his hand and directing him toward the clustered men.
One man with a machete came swiftly from behind, but Kaeri managed to twist his body and stab right into the stomach. Then he dragged it to the right, damaging the man's abdomen with Kaeri's attack, and he obtained his second weapon—the machete.
"Ah, so it is difficult after all." The man in the wheelchair furrowed his brow. He watched the scene of his men arriving, being killed one by one by Kaeri's movements. But he remained calm and observant.
Slash. Slash. Slash.
Two close-range weapons of different lengths expanded his techniques and rhythm. He used the machete for joints and paralyzing points, while the knife was the main weapon for killing effectively.
Slowly, 10 men had fallen. The other men watching him trembled slightly to advance. "Wait... Is he human?" It was no wonder for Kaeri, as he had previously become an executive within 5 months and won the Underring Branch 4 event without serious injury.
Slash. Slash.
The next victims began to fall. Kaeri performed a vertical movement with the machete to slash the chest, then thrust the knife horizontally to stab the heart.
With red eyes and visible veins, Kaeri stood again and looked at all the men around him. "Who's next?" In a heavy, flat tone that broke the silence.
No one moved until...
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Kaeri looked at him—a man with a large, tall build and a skull tattoo on his chest. The man carried an axe in his right hand and walked slowly but surely.
The man previously in the wheelchair moved his chair back. He lowered his head and saluted him. "Thank you for your help... No. 2 of the main Underring..."
[Joe Artos]
There was no smile. Only thick eye bags with a sharp gaze that pierced the heart when Kaeri looked at him. But he couldn't give up now; this was an enemy more dangerous than himself.
The man named Joe picked up a machete lying on the ground and looked at it. "Hmm... I need this at least for now." He then began approaching Kaeri with slow but certain steps. "Hey, are you Kaeri, the one who destroyed Underring Branch 4?" His words broke the morale of the armed men.
Kaeri stared into his eyes with a slightly scrunched nose. His hands showed veins as he held the blood-stained machete and knife. One of the armed men widened his eyes and stepped back with a trembling body. "He... he is the vice-boss of Underring!"
All the men lowered their heads as if saluting, so only Kaeri and Joe, armed, stood tall. Kaeri took a deep breath and lowered his head briefly until...
Kaeri immediately used the machete in his left hand with a curving technique, but it was deflected by Joe's machete as well. Kaeri thrust his knife, but the axe in Joe's right hand was so fast that he reflexively dodged and retreated.
They returned to their original positions, and Kaeri furrowed his brow. (Damn, this man is tough.) He then glanced briefly to his left and saw a gap blocked by 3 men in the alley.
Quickly, Kaeri ran and threw his machete, hitting two of the armed men's heads.
Crack. Slash.
One downward slash from the knife successfully tore the stomach of the remaining man. He ran as hard as he could even though he was already panting heavily. (No! I can't die.)
He continued through the narrow alley with graffiti and green trash cans filled with black plastic until scattered small cans. Running with clenched fists, he forced his nearly numb legs. (I want to meet Maya! I also want to meet Kaelan!)
"No... I can't."
Bang.
"Ackk..."
A bullet pierced Kaeri's back. His eyes began to blur, and his body felt weak... But with the little strength he had, he forced himself to walk forward. His breath was ragged, and his heart beat fast as he forced himself to keep his eyes open. (Maya... Kaelan...)
Bang. Bang.
One bullet pierced his thigh, and another pierced the middle of his back. Then Kaeri fell.
"Ugh..."
Blood came out of his mouth, and his eyes began to blur. His body grew cold, and the whole world felt silent to his ears, but that wasn't what he could feel. His heart was torn apart.
(Forgive me... Mom... Maya... Kaelan...)
Kaeri began to close his eyes. His breathing slowed, and his eye bags instantly became heavy. Blood began to spread on the dirty floor full of dust and trash around him. His body trembled slightly, and the cold had reached his hands and feet. His eyes were watery but couldn't cry. There was only one teardrop before he closed his eyes.
(I promise... in the next life.)
His eyes began to close.
(I'll be a good brother.)
The night wind blew and entered the narrow alley. The full moon emitted its beautiful light and illuminated Kaeri's body, now lying motionless. The warmth he could feel for the last time, because that night was...
[Kaeri's last breath]
Dark clouds began to disappear, and now the full moon shone perfectly. A girl sitting on a balcony looked at it and placed both hands on the concrete railing.
The girl closed her eyes briefly and exhaled heavily. One question arose in her mind. "I thought I saw brother all day today, why is he gone now?"
She then held her forehead and felt a heavy headache. "Was it a hallucination?" Her eyes trembled, but she returned to the hospital corridor.
She walked slowly and opened door number 254. As she entered, her eyes widened, and her heartbeat momentarily stopped seeing what was in front of her. "M-Mom... You're awake..."
Her mother was seen awake and sitting up. An IV line pierced her hand, and she looked at her daughter standing at the door. Her eyes welled up, and they...
Hug.
The daughter hugged her mother. Tears began to flow slowly in the quiet, cold room. The warm embrace gave them strength, even though tonight was a cold embrace received by the older brother.
The full moon lasted for 3 nights, and a younger brother waited for his brother on the porch. He sat with his cat while stroking its soft fur. His eyes sparkled when he saw the perfect full moon.
Inside the house, the changed paint colors were visible. Two stick figures were drawn holding hands. Gold-colored balloons were filled with the message 'Happy birthday my best brother,' and a birthday cake was already in the refrigerator along with the red candles he brought.
The teenager held his own hands and cheeks while raising the corners of his lips. "Kaema... Brother is coming home tomorrow!"
"Meow."
The cat's soft voice dispelled all the existing silence. The teenager smiled until he closed his eyes toward his pet. "I can't wait, haha."
That night, the full moon began to lose its perfection. The dark night was adorned with the calming moonlight. Until finally, dawn arrived, and the world brightened again as before.
---
In a corner of the city at a cemetery. An old man with a scar on his eye and white hair stepped forward while carrying white lilies to search for a name. After finding it, the man finally felt relieved.
[Kaeri Victoria]
The man exhaled. He placed the flowers on the grave. Many other flowers were already given, and the man began reading the names and greeting cards.
[From Maya To My Beloved Brother]
[Brother, I didn't expect this... Why did you suddenly leave us? Why did you lie? Why weren't you honest with us? We're disappointed, but we love you very much... I want to meet you, at least to say a proper goodbye... I hate it! But I can't...]
The man then looked at the other card.
[From Reynald]
[Kaeri... Thank you for everything you gave... You taught me many things, and indeed, no one knows fate. I truly appreciate you. May you rest in peace... Brother...]
The wind brushed the man's hair and the flowers around the grave. He gave his flowers without a name tag or greeting card. He placed both palms together and pressed them to his forehead while closing his eyes.
"Kaeri. Even though you violated the first pledge, I cannot hate you." He then removed his hands and held the tombstone before him. "Thank you for everything."
The man stood up and then left the cemetery in the morning. This quiet morning passed without anyone knowing. The world didn't stop turning until another morning came again.
Morning after morning began to change. The sunlight shone brightly and warmed. Some paint was seen slightly faded, and balloons had deflated in a house in a village.
[September 20, 2024]
A 17-year-old teenager lit the candles on his birthday cake. He then blew them out, but his face was flat and his eyes dull. The condition in his house was very quiet, so much that the silence left no sound inside at all.
"Happy birthday."
The teenager uttered with slightly lowered lips. He cut the cake into two pieces onto two small plates. He placed one on the other side of the table and one for himself.
"Enjoy your meal, bro."
He then began to open his mouth and slowly ate the cake. But tears began to flow down his cheeks, and he gritted his teeth. His face looked downward, and his shoulders began to tremble. His hands clenched tightly until veins were visible.
"1 year... It's been one year..."
He slammed the table before him with a shattered heart. His body trembled violently, and his eyes reddened. "Why... Why, bro..."
Blank had received no news from his brother for exactly one year since his last birthday. At that time, Kaeri was still smiling and making him laugh, but this birthday only brought bitterness and disappointment.
Blank remembered all the memories with his brother. Many photos of him with Kaeri were displayed on the walls, but now they were gone. His heart felt completely lost, and it lasted quite a while.
[8 Months Later]
Blank was seen with long, messy hair sleeping in his room while watching a video of a young man sitting at a desk facing the camera as if chatting with him. This person was the one Blank watched most often every day for 6 months.
[No need to be sad. The world will not soften itself even if you cry so hard]
[Find your own path because your life is your decision]
Blank smiled at those words. "Thank you for always making me strong." He then took the book 'Shattering the Status Quo' and pointed it at the young man on his phone screen. "And thank you for this book."
The teenager then looked at social media and typed someone's name. "Haha, you're an amazing person, it turns out."
[Young talented investor educating the younger generation]
[Reynald: 2,200,000 followers]
Then he looked at another profile that felt somewhat familiar in his mind. But he couldn't remember clearly. "Hmm... seems somewhat familiar."
[Brand Ambassador NGNL Company]
[Viera: 1,300,000 followers]
Blank lifted his hips and stepped until he opened the window to watch the morning sunlight shining on him. The teenager walked until he saw a large mirror before him. He chuckled softly. "Hey, look at this poor kid." He covered his lips. "I'll get a haircut later."
Blank walked and entered the living room still filled with photos of his brother with him, giving a sincere smile with closed eyes.
"Dad said not to search for my family."
He then stepped closer to the photo of his brother. "But there's no prohibition against searching for an adoptive brother like you, right?"
Blank raised the corners of his lips, then he spoke loudly. "So I've decided now, at 18 years old."
With a burning heart and surging spirit, he clenched his fist and narrowed his eyes sharply.
[I will go to the city]