Danger

MARGAUX

I could imagine how me and Kevin looked in the eyes of the onlookers. We were merely standing, facing each other at arm's length, the two of us locked in an intense staring contest.

Who was I? It was very easy to tell him who I really am.

'I'm Margaux Cortez. Yes, that Cortez.'

I had often wondered what it would be like and how people would react if they found out that I was a sole survivor of what Takahashi had claimed, 'tragic accident' that happened inside my home. I wonder if they would believe me or if they would think that I'm bluffing.

A tiny part of me knew that some people would probably not believe my claim. They will probably mock me and ask me that if I was really part of the Cortez family whom the world had known had all died inside their own house, why did I not come out? Why did I hide and only made myself known after one year of silence?

I have an answer to all of their possible questions. However, I had no energy to explain what really took place.

I wanted the world to know what really happened to me and my family. But at the same, if I did that, I would also be exposing to the world that we were part of the Mafia and that was something I couldn't afford to do.

I held Kevin's stare, contemplating how to answer him without giving anything away and at the same, providing him with a hint which I'm sure he would find useless unless he acquired sufficient information regarding my family's death.

I was in the middle of landing at an appropriate response when Mary was suddenly at my side, her cold hands pulling me a little.

"90 degrees, suspicious. We need to get out of here, Margie," she whispered in my ears. I followed the direction she had indicated, slightly angling my head to a different position so as to mask that I was checking out the suspicious individual that Mary had pointed out.

Sure enough, out of the corner of my eye, I found a woman wearing almost the same black ensemble as me and Mary was wearing: leather pants and conservative enough top just right to show some curves and meet the dress code needed to get inside the esteemed bar.

Her bob cut hair was dyed blonde and her eyes were lined with heavy eyeliner. But it was not enough to hide that she was of Japanese descent. The tiny slit of her eyes was still evident and her crimson-colored lips was thin enough to stand out and made her race way too obvious.

What was even the point of her trying to hide that she was Japanese when it was still as plain as day? I scoffed.

'Nice try Takahashi'. I sarcastically thought. Her presence didn't faze me. But then, I was certain that she was not alone. She was only the lookout. If ever she spotted us, I knew that one by one, Takahashi's men would begin coming out of their hiding.

I gave Mary a brief nod, quickly turning towards Kevin.

"I'm Rose. That's all you need to know." I said, grabbing Mary's hand right after, pulling her towards the exit.

About halfway through pushing against people and carefully making our way out of Rhythm, Mary tugged on my hand, abruptly halting our pace.

I turned to face her and found a horrified look on her face.

"What's wrong?" I said, making a quick look around, making sure that we were yet to be spotted.

There had been countless times that Takahashi's men had almost caught us. The operative word being 'almost'.

I find it a little idiotic of him to keep using his own men to chase after me and Mary. I could completely understand why he wouldn't use my father's men that were left under his command. I could easily recognize them. However, there are other people whom he could actually tap that were not his men to run after us.

Using his yakuza, it was not difficult for me and Mary to spot them and make our exit in a certain place to avoid being caught by them.

But, at the same, I was partly grateful that he was that brainless to let his men come after me and Mary. Though, that did not let me stop being wary of non-Japanese people as well.

He could, at one point, choose to use them one day and I didn't want to be caught off-guard when that happens.

"I'm scared," Mary mouthed, the fear was evidently visible in her eyes.

"Me too," I admitted, squeezing her hand that I was still holding, trying to give her some reassurance.

"I'm scared of the uncertainties, Mary. But we can't let him win. We can't let our fears overwhelm us." I said, locking eyes with her.

"I know that. But what if.." She trailed off while I watched her take a deep breath.

She didn't have to finish her sentence. I knew what she was going to say. The fear on her face told me exactly what she was thinking.

What if Takahashi had come here himself? What then?

"We fight, Mary. We will fight him. Besides, he can't afford to kill you. You and I both know that."

"I'm not scared for me. I'm scared for you." Right at that instant, I wanted to hug Mary. She was the only one I have left.

Everyone whom I cared about was all… gone.

However, we were yet to be in a safe zone. Takahashi's men were still out here. At any minute, one of them might spot us and once again, Mary and I will have to make a run for it, just like that tragic night.

"You know I share the same sentiments, Mary. I'm more scared of losing you than me getting killed. But, let's laugh and cry about this kind of stuff later. Right now, we need to make it out of here."

"You're right. I'm sorry. Let's go,"

I offered Mary a faint smile before resuming our pace. Upon stepping out of Rhythm, the cold night air instantly hit me and so did a blinding light from a black car from afar.

Squinting, it took me a minute before realizing that we had been spotted, the plate number on the car registering in my vision.

"Crap!" I muttered, instantly grabbing Mary to head back inside. We must find a different passage. In a few minutes, I could imagine the Japanese yakuza flooding the street right there, blocking us from making our escape.

'Curse you, Takahashi!' I mentally screamed, awakening the burning hatred I have for him, the unmistakable fury rising inside of me.