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CHAPTER 82 - Saik vs. The Narco. Part 4.
(Pov - Saik)
Well, well, well. This is... way too fun. It feels so good. I feel amazing. I even feel inspired to deliver a reflective monologue about it. Ahem. Let's see...
The wind slaps my face as I ride this stolen motorcycle at full speed. The tires roar against the cracked pavement, and the smell of gasoline and dust fills the air. The city, with its crumbling buildings and chaos-filled streets, slowly fades behind us. This is freedom. This is life.
... What a shitty monologue. Couldn't I come up with something better? Whatever. This is fun.
"Slow down, slow down, please!" Fer shouted, digging her nails into my sides as she hugs me tightly.
Her name is so short, but I keep forgetting it. Come on, come on, don't be such a screamer.
"Slow down? But this is just getting started." I said, zigzagging between the street debris.
If you're going to have motorcyclists as members of your criminal organizations, at least clean the streets. This ruins the fun.
Wow. Look at them all running away. The pedestrians scatter like they're seeing a monster.
Not that I'm the monster, of course. If it were up to me, my parents would disown me and never speak to me again. No, the real monster everyone's fleeing from are the motorcyclists chasing us, shooting into the air like they're in a cheap action movie. Their bikes roar behind us, and bullets whistle through the sky, but I'm not worried. I know they won't shoot me. They have strict orders not to harm me. Orders from my father? From the Death Crows? I don't know, and frankly, I don't care. This is just a game, and I'm winning.
Though they really should improve their acting. It's getting boring.
In the distance, the city starts to fade. We're reaching the edge of civilization, if you can call this lawless dump that. Soon there'll just be highway, with some gas stations and crappy stores where I can stock up on food, water, and gas for the trip. But first, I have to deal with these idiots tailing me. Their shots and the noise of their bikes are a headache. Killing them is a hard no. I don't want to ruin my mother's good deeds with deaths caused by her son, but I absolutely have to shake them off.
Plus, I'm fed up with their generic voices and insults. Don't they have anything more original?
"¡Oye, oye, detente, solo queremos hablar contigo"! (Hey, hey, stop, we just want to talk to you!)"
"¡Tienes 10 segundos para detenerte! ¡10, 9, 8...!" (You have 10 seconds to stop! 10, 9, 8...!) said another, in a tone that's supposed to be intimidating but sounds more like a kid throwing a tantrum.
Seriously? They think their shouts and wannabe thug giggles are going to scare me? Come on, I've faced worse things.
Idiot motorcyclists who think laughing around me is terrifying. These guys are nothing more than a bunch of idiots with guns and bikes, thinking they're kings of the world. Well, let's see how tough they really are.
!!Kya!!
Without warning, I swerve the bike sharply to the right, grazing the rear wheel of one of the motorcyclists. His bike wobbles, and the guy lets out a panicked scream as he struggles to stay balanced. What? Almost fell? Poor baby.
I accelerate, heading toward an open field that looks like an improvised soccer pitch. A group of kids is playing with an old ball, but when they see us coming, they run away in terror, screaming like we're demons. Idiots, who in their right mind plays outside in a place like this? Anyway, this spot is perfect for what I have in mind.
I brake hard, kicking up a cloud of dust. I dust off my hands calmly, like I'm about to start a card game instead of facing six armed thugs. Is this calm a good idea? I'm Saik, I have his personality, but would the original Saik do this? I'm having a blast. The original Saik is a bit colder and more serious. Am I failing as a double? Another option is that Saik is more evil than he thinks. Me, Saik, evil? Well, I'll think about that nonsense later.
Fer, still clinging to me like her life depends on it, mumbles something through sobs.
"We're dead!" she said, tears streaming down her face.
... Wow, what a performance. But it doesn't fool me, because yes, it's an act. I don't sense genuine fear in her, just a mix of nerves and worry that this plan will fail. How much do you know about my father's plan, Fer? I'll interrogate you later. For now, I get off the bike, stretching my arms. Ah, there we go.
"Shut up. This is just starting."
The motorcyclists stop a few meters away, forming a circle around us. One of them, a guy with a scar on his cheek and a shark-like grin, kicks my bike until it falls over. He circles me, pointing his gun at me. The others follow suit, slowly walking around us while aiming their pistols. Their laughter echoes in the air, but there's something fake about it, like they're performing for an invisible audience. Their acting is... good, but... How can I describe it? They'd easily fool an ordinary person, but I can sense people's malice and danger, and they pose no threat to me.
There's something real about them; maybe they are criminals acting this way to scare me, but they still aren't a danger to me.
"On your knees, kid!" the scarred one yells at me, waving his gun up and down.
There are six. Six morons who think they have control. I could take them out in a second by hitting them in the throat, but that would be too... permanent. I need to get rid of them without killing them (for now).
I scan the terrain around me. Loose dirt, big rocks, dust floating in the air. Perfect. I'm Saik, but I'm also a legendary ghost. Spiritual power flows through my veins naturally; I don't force my soul to create it. So, in theory, I'm not breaking my promise, because I'm not the original Saik.
If I apply a bit of spiritual energy to this environment, I can turn this field into my game board.
"Listen up, morons. We all know you can't hurt me. Your boss would skin you alive if you touch a hair on my head. So, why don't we skip the drama and line up so I can beat you one by one? It'll be faster."
They laugh. All of them. Their guffaws are so fake I almost feel sorry for them. Do they really think I'm a helpless rich kid? Is that what I seem like? I guess that's good; it raises less suspicion.
One of them, a burly guy with tattoos covering his arms, steps forward and grabs me by the neck with one hand. His fingers clamp down hard, lifting me off the ground like I'm a doll.
Wow. This hurts. Ah, now I have to control myself not to kill him.
"Who says we can't hurt you, rich boy?" he said right in my face.
Ugh, his breath stinks of stale beer and cigarettes. Don't you know about oral hygiene?
"Hey, let him go! You're really hurting him!" Fer shouted, taking a step toward us with clenched fists.
Hey, hey, don't ruin the act.
"Shut up, Fer." I said, without looking away from the guy.
They're willing to hurt me just to fill me with real fear. Father, father, father, you're overdoing it, though I highly doubt you planned this part. Even Fer broke character because they're actually harming me.
Aren't they planning to obey my father? What if I humiliate them? Ah, well, well. They'd be furious.
"This just got interesting." I said, before going silent.
The thug squeezes harder, but I don't resist. Instead, I gather saliva in my mouth. Yeah, it's gross, but effective. I spit right in his face. The spit lands in his mouth, and the idiot, in a reflex, swallows it. Perfect. It wasn't just saliva, of course. It was laced with a small dose of spiritual power, just enough to cause an... unpleasant effect.
Spiritual power has curious effects on normal humans. If it contacts the brain, it turns them into zombies without will. But if it reaches the stomach, like in this case, the result is... let's say, less elegant.
The guy starts turning green, his eyes widen, and he lets out a groan before doubling over, about to puke.
I take advantage of his weakness. His arms loosen, and I lunge at him, punching him straight in the mouth. I feel a crunch, probably his jaw, but I don't stop. The guy's vomiting, but with my fist blocking his throat, he can't expel it. The vomit starts coming out his nose, and I, with a quick move, break his nose with a hit. Ugh, gross. But effective.
Time elapsed: two seconds. This guy will live, at least long enough that I won't be blamed for anything. One down, five to go.
The others, seeing their buddy collapse, charge at me like a pack of wolves. But I'm faster. I propel myself forward, rolling on the ground into a somersault that positions me right where I want: near the rocks. I grab five large stones, each the size of a baseball, and toss them into the air one by one. They're not just rocks, of course. They're infused with a spark of my spiritual power, enough to cause a... controlled impact. I hope. I've rarely needed to do this in life, and I failed most times.
Ignoring my previous action, the thugs surround me, grabbing my arms and legs. One of them pulls out a roll of duct tape. Ah, well, a textbook kidnapping. He's about to tape my mouth when the rocks fall. Each one hits a motorcyclist on the head, right at the most vulnerable spot. My spiritual power activates instantly, and the five drop to the ground, unconscious, like puppets with cut strings. And... Yeah, they're still alive. Ah, one less worry.
They're not zombies, no. I've perfected this technique to not kill them, just knock them out. Number 2 insisted so much that I not consider killing as the first option, that I learned to control my spiritual power for situations like this. And, I admit, it's useful. Very useful.
"Huh? They... fainted?! All of them?!" Fer shouted, eyes wide as saucers.
"Head blows. I aimed for the most vulnerable area. Instant concussion."
"... You... aimed...? How? Did you know where they'd be?"
Ah, the interrogation begins. I don't have time for this. I highly doubt she suspects I used some trick; she's probably just surprised I managed to knock out all 5 at once.
"Blah, blah, blah. Explaining bores me." I said, wiping the vomit off my hand with a handful of dirt.
Gross. Isn't there any water around here?
Fer stares at me intently, like she's trying to solve a puzzle. Then, with a mix of caution and curiosity, she asks:
"Are you... smart?"
Ah, well. What a creative way to call me an idiot.
"What?"
"Well... you're supposed to... um..."
She stammers, clearly uncomfortable. How much does she know about me? Did she investigate me? If so, how professional she is at her job.
"I mean, you did that like it was nothing. You don't seem like a normal kid."
"Grades don't define intelligence. Satisfied?"
She opens her mouth to say something but stops. I shrug and lift one of the thugs' bikes. This one looks in better shape than the previous; I'll keep it as compensation for not killing them.
Ah, well, the guy who was vomiting is choking, so I sit him up carefully. A few pats on the back... He puked it all out... and... Done, out of danger. I toss him to the ground. He won't die. I can leave now.
I get on the new bike and start it. Fer is about to climb behind me, but I accelerate a few meters to get away from her.
"What are you doing?" she asked, confused.
"Check your earring." I said, pointing to her ear.
"My earring...? Huh? Where is it?!" she shouted, touching her ear in panic.
I pull the earring from my pocket and toss it to her. She catches it clumsily, staring at it like it's a bomb. What? Are you that scared they won't know where we are?
"I already removed the tracker and destroyed it. My father can't track me anymore. We're officially off his radar."
Fer pales. Her expression shifts from confusion to genuine fear. Her acting stopped being an act. Welcome to my world.
"Saik, listen to me." she said, her voice trembling.
This bike is really nice.
"This country isn't like yours. You have no idea what you're getting into. 'Los Cuervos de la Muerte' aren't the only criminal gang here. There are things worse, much worse. The roads are full of thieves, killers, traffickers. Nobody travels because it's suicide. And if you try going off-road, you'll run into narco bases, drug fields, brothels of... all kinds. This place..."
She gestures toward the city behind us.
"Is a paradise compared to what's out there."
... Brothels of all kinds? I get it... I think you just gave me a new mission, Fer.
Her words echo in my head. Drugs, sex, murders... Wow, sounds like hell. Have I been to hell before? No, I was in a similar place, but it wasn't exactly that.
... Wait a minute...
Something in her description sparks something in me. A boy and a girl, underage, facing criminal gangs in a lawless country... It's like the plot of "Dark Summer"! That novel about Joe, an 11-year-old kid who became the nightmare of criminals while protecting his little sister without her knowing the danger they were in. This is perfect! It's my chance to be Joe!
"What? You got it, right?" Fer said, interpreting my silence as a sign I'm reconsidering.
This is getting way better.
In the novel, his little sister never realized they were in danger because he did everything behind her back so she could live without fear. I have to do all that without her noticing. Hehe. This is getting interesting.
"Come on, let's go back to your father. We're still in time."
Ah, Fer, you have no idea what you've just unleashed.
"Hey, Fer." I say, leaning toward her.
"Yes?"
"Get on."
She sighs in relief and climbs behind me, hugging me less tightly this time.
"Thanks for understanding." she murmurs, almost like she's about to cry from relief.
Ah, don't thank me, because soon you'll be crying for real. Sorry, Fer, but from now on, I'm Joe, the protagonist, and you're my little sister. We're going to kick those criminals' asses, and I'll do it without you realizing the danger. This is going to be epic!
I accelerate, leaving the soccer field and heading toward the highway. Fer tenses behind me.
"Huh? Saik, it was the other way!" she shouted, pointing toward the city.
"Didn't I tell you already? We're going to another city."
I feel her body go cold against mine and her hug become much stronger than before. A sob escapes her throat, and I know she's crying. Don't worry, Fer, your new big brother will always protect you.
"An adventure awaits!" I shouted, raising one hand to the sky like the hero in a movie.
"Nooooooooo!!"
I laugh, and the wind carries my laughter as the road stretches out before us. Next stop... where? No idea. I think I need a map. But one thing's for sure, this lawless country is about to meet Saik, and they have no idea what's coming.
... Should I inform the original Saik that my personality is changing? This definitely isn't his personality.
There's something in this country that makes my special power not work at 100%. Original Saik, whatever it is in this country, it's dangerous. And if it affects me, it could be even more dangerous than legendary ghost number 100.
Though, well, you probably already know more than I do about the situation. I'll focus on avoiding getting killed.