Seeing Red

. . .

Zeirenne opened the envelope just to be greeted by a dark-themed letter. She started reading the content: Meet me or I'll make sure everyone else meets their boom! - Miura Takumi.

The letter got crumpled inside her clenched fist. "So when do we leave?" She said into the open, letting her voice reach another body from the other cubicle.

She heard a cocking sound, guessing a gun was pointed towards her from the other side of the wall. Eventually, her company spoke, "Now."

"And if I don't come with you?"

The other person huffed, Zeirenne knew he was smirking when he said, "This mall will be blown into pieces. Along with everyone inside. You, me, your boyfriend, and every other breathing creature here today."

A clicking sound echoed around the small comfort room as Zeirenne stepped out of a cubicle. She fiddled on something before her neighbor stepped out of his lavatory, aiming the gun straight through her head. She raised her hands in surrender.

"Alright. I'll come with you."

The man grabbed her by the wrist before twisting her arms around her back. He gripped her hands together before pushing her out of their initial rendezvous point.

They both walked their way out of the mall and Zeirenne found herself sitting on the backseat of a car. With this unknown man taking the wheel.

"What's your name?" she asked, testing the waters.

She raised an eyebrows upon seeing her driver fixing his tie before answering, "I'm Wilfredo Angelito Solomon Bernardino Santiago y Buenavista Fernandez. You can call me Willy." He answered and Zeirenne almost erupted in laughter. It was the very first time she's seeing a kidnapper blatantly introducing himself. But at the same time, she knew. Willy was not the type of hitman who hides his name. There's no need for secrecy because no one survives from his hands... she guessed.

"It's nice to meet you, Willy."

After the long ride, Zeirenne gaped around a heavenly compound. There were flowers of all colors and butterflies were fluttering along the breeze. With the sun already setting around the horizon, everything looked magnificent. She had to fix her focus before stepping inside a grand mansion that gave off a different vibe than its actual inhabitants.

Taking a single step into the carpeted floors, a horrible stench greeted her senses. Not her conscious senses, but her instinct ruled the verdict. This place houses demons, and the fancy ornaments and flowery painting wills never be able to conceal such a grim atmosphere. She had to maintain a straight face all throughout their walk.

"I've brought her, Miura-dono," Willy said after knocking on a wooden door with flower carvings on the ridges. Two musclemen stationed outside the room pulled the doors forward, making way for Zeirenne and Willy's entrance.

"You've come. Have a seat," Miura Takumi offered the seat in front of him. He was gazing outside a wide Victorian window that showcased the paradise there was outside.

Zeirenne's nostrils were greeted by the smell of chamomile tea and something odd as she walked closer. "I see you're having problems sleeping," she said before warming the seat she was offered with.

"Ahhh," Miura Takumi breathed, "I am indeed having troubles sleeping. All because of a small, pesky mouse."

"That's not good. Do you want to try our pest service? As an apology for bumping into you from our last trip in Boracay, I'd gladly offer it to you for free."

Miura Takumi's laughter echoed around the walls of his ballroom-sized tea house. "Thank you for your offer. But I don't think that was our very first meeting," he took out something from his side table. Zeirenne's eyes did not miss the revolver lying inside the drawer.

"Is this yours?"

Miura Takumi flicked his wrist while holding up a handkerchief. It was the same handkerchief he showed her on the dawn of the Annual Doomsday Gala. Zeirenne recognized it, of course. But she had to display a look of complete ignorance. As if she was seeing this hanky for the very first time.

"Hmmm," she said while rubbing her chin, "Is that limited edition? I don't think that's from our collection."

Miura Takumi smirked, tossing the handkerchief up before watching it fall into the ground, revealing the embroidered flowers along the edges. There was a noticeable AK embroidered on the upper right corner.

Upon reaching the ground, its white cloth slowly turned red. With this, Zeirenne noticed a pool of red something scattered on the floor. As far as she could guess, it was blood. Fresh blood--splattered not more than five minutes ago. Meaning to say, the exact moment she was admiring the beautiful garden, someone was being slaughtered inside this very room.

"Do you know why it's hard to kill innocent people?" he said before bringing his blood-lusted gaze up, "Because it's messier. They're white like this handkerchief. It's such a waste to stain such a beauty. But at the end of the day, every color they have will turn into nothing but red. So it's more fun to watch. Soaking a black cloth in red doesn't make things as exciting."

Zeirenne maintained their eye contact. "That's a very unique comparison. It sounds as if you're speaking from experience."

Miura Takumi laughed once again. "Do you want to see an exclusive example? I think I have something prepared." He clapped his hands and two men rolled in with a TV monitor.

On the screen, every frame from Sunrise Mall's nook and cranny was being broadcasted. There were families walking together and friends bonding with each other. She even saw some of their fans who took photos with them earlier. Most of them were entering different stores, probably looking for the two CEOs.

At the center of all the moving frames, Jin can be seen sitting on the same position as she left him. The table however, was already bearing countless dishes.

"That's my boyfriend..." Zeirenne muttered and Miura Takumi nodded, "How long have you known him? Do you wanna see his true colors?"

Zeirenne furrowed her brows before an unpleasant feeling started creeping underneath her skin. Seeing the smirk on his face, she knew she was facing a demon. A purebred demon.

"If the scene gets messy... then he's pure. If this frame doesn't show much, then he's another spawn of my father," he said, "Oh wait. Ahahahahaha," his vile laughter filled the whole room.

Zeirenne could swear he was Satan himself when he brought his gaze up, clawing his seat to puncture the thick couch with his nails.

"Of course things will get messy! He'll die from an explosion after all! Ahahahahahahaha."

. . .