When The Tables Turn, The Hunters Become The Prey

One week have passed since the horrific incident that made Zaqiel question things. Since then, he was keen in observing the movements of the Phantom Hunters. Little did the squad know, Zaqiel was already scheming on his next move. This would continue until Don Firo called the crew for another meeting.

"New target lads. A man by the name of Payne Garnett" Don Firo said.

Hearing those words made Zaqiel's jaw dropped. The Phantom Hunters next target was none other than his brother. All the build-up of his scheming is reaching its conclusion.

"An informant gave the tip and some concrete evidence that proved he's a monster. He's seen going to this address. As per usual, eliminate him and all the individuals you see in that household" Don Firo added.

Zaqiel was observing the room. He was looking at the faces of the Phantom Hunters and the Don.

"Do they know that I live in the same house? I never gave my personal information to these people. I have to be careful" Zaqiel thought.

"Let's go" Al said.

They were dispatched and began heading towards the location. As they were on the road, Zaqiel approached the Phantom Hunters.

"Guys can we stop by at this location first. I need to pickup something before going to the mission" Zaqiel said.

"Is it really that important of a thing?" Shaun asked.

"Yes it is" Zaqiel answered.

"I think it wouldn't hurt to follow Zee, am I right Al?" Kylee said.

"Yeah sure. Let's just make it quick" Al agreed.

Zaqiel knew his mother, Mrs. Sylvia, is in grave danger the moment the Phantom Hunters step foot on their door. If there's a perfect time to take out the crew, it would be now.

"I'll protect my family one way or another" Zaqiel thought.

They stopped by in the abandoned building that Zaqiel uses since the beginning. Everyone entered inside. Zaqiel made changes months ago by adding lights, putting up stairs, making the whole thing presentable. They went to the 2nd floor with Zaqiel leading the way. Khris turned the lights on.

Zaqiel was reaching something from his pocket. It was a pebble. Suddenly, he flicked the pebble to the lights causing for it to break and make the room dark. The Phantom Hunters were alerted. They opened the second light in the room and found Zaqiel holding Shaun by his head.

"What are you doing Zee?" Al asked.

"You guys, I can trust you right?" Zaqiel asked.

"Yeah of course.. Of course" Kylee replied.

"Calm down for a bit, let Shaun go and say what you wanna say after" Al said.

"You did a lot of things for me in which I am grateful. I really do, I owe all of you for the strength that I have right now. I want all of you to just walk away from this mission. Let go of the target and I promise all of you, I won't hurt you. You have my word" Zaqiel proposed.

"Is this some kind of a sick joke? If it is then you better stop cause it's not funny" Floyd said.

"IT'S NOT" Zaqiel shouted.

Al signaled Floyd to relax.

"I don't know what's gotten into you but you know that won't happen right?" Al said.

"I am begging all of you to give it up. I vow to protect someone.." Zaqiel begged.

"Protect? Who?" Kylee asked.

"Hold up. You're not gonna tell that you're related to this Payne guy aren't you?" Al asked.

Zaqiel didn't respond and was looking away. Al quickly got it.

"Whatever your relationship is with that being, you know he's a monster right? We cannot let him live. That is not possible Zee, you know that's not how it works right?" Al said.

Zaqiel had a disappointed yet sad face. The Phantom Hunters just rejected his proposal.

"Let me go man, you're hurting me goddammit" a struggling Shaun said.

Zaqiel tightened up the grip.

"You're not going to stop, I'm aware of that. It was... a futile attempt of mine. Believe me when I thought all of you as a comrade.. were.. You left me with no choice" Zaqiel said with a disappointed tone.

Just like that, he snapped Shaun's neck, killing him instantly. The Phantom Hunters were shocked of what Zaqiel did. Zaqiel threw another pebble at the lights causing for the room to be dark again.

"I can't see" Floyd shouted.

"On your guard guys" Al commanded.

Zaqiel, having a clear vision in the dark, grabbed Floyd. He carried him all the way to the side, breaking the windows that were closed by some cartons. They went free falling from the second floor towards the ground. He grabbed Floyd by the head while Floyd was struggling to fight back.

"YOU DAMN TRAITOR" Floyd shouted.

As they landed to the ground, he used the impact to bash Floyd's head to the ground. Floyd's skull were crushed thus he died immediately.

The rest of the Phantom Hunters were watching from the second floor. Zaqiel was staring back at them like a cold blooded killer.

"He's not gonna stop Al, let's get out of here" a scared Khris suggested.

"No, we end it all here" Al said.

"I'll try to hold him off for a while, think of something Al" Kylee said.

The Phantom Hunters went on to different routes. Zaqiel climbed all the way back up to the second floor. There, Kylee was all alone standing in the middle. She looked at the dead body of Shaun.

"This your final lesson. I'll teach you how to experience death" Kylee taunted.

The two fought, exchanging punches and kicks. Unlike before, their fight had an intention to kill each other. Kylee used to overpower Zaqiel in their sparring before but now, that's not the case. Zaqiel had the upper hand for the entire fight.

He broke Kylee's knees and grabbed Kylee by her right hand. She was trying to fight back using only her left hand but it was useless. Zaqiel was absorbing the punches. With no resorts left, she stopped entirely with a body language of a person giving up.

"I don't blame you... The duty to protect someone... Do what you must do" Kylee said in a low tone.

Zaqiel punches Kylee in the heart area, leaving a hole there. Before he did that, Kylee whispered something to him in which he didn't heard but was able to read on her lips. She died while having a smile in her face. Zaqiel had a frown face when he placed her body next to Shaun's. He left the room in order to find the rest of the Phantom Hunters.

Zaqiel went downstairs and found Khris outside, standing on a tree.

"I can't do it, I'm sorry Al. I'm outta here" a scared Khris said.

He jumped from branches to branches away from the scene. Zaqiel followed him. A chase happened with both of them being able to showcase their parkour skills. Soon, they found themselves in a dead end. They were in the side of a highway with no more trees to climb further more. Zaqiel cornered Khris.

"I don't want to die please, let me go" Khris begged.

Zaqiel was calmly approaching Khris. Khris was walking backwards, afraid of the danger he's facing. He didn't realized there was a moving fast truck incoming. Zaqiel tried to grab Khris but it was too late. He was hit by the truck thus splattering his entire body. Zaqiel left and went back to the abandoned building.

Al was standing outside of the entrance, waiting for Zaqiel.

"The snake is finally here" Al taunted.

"I didn't have much choice Al" Zaqiel replied with an apologetic face.

"You did you son of a bitch. You chose to kill every single one of us, stop acting like you're the victim here" Al fired back.

Al picked up a giant bar which he picked up from the rooftop of the building. The edges of it were very sharp. If Zaqiel were hit by it, he would instantly die.

Al swung it against Zaqiel. Zaqiel found himself dodging every attack Al made. He could not make a counter due to the speed of the attacks of Al.

"We welcomed you, treated you like one of us. This is how you gon repay huh? Bashing them brains out like it was nothing?" Al angrily said.

The once calm Al was rampaging at the wake of his comrades' death. Zaqiel continuously dodges the attack until he retreated inside the building. Al followed him. Zaqiel hid in one of the pillars.

"Why are you running? Don't you have someone to protect to?" Al said as he was trying to find Zaqiel.

Al started to attack each of the pillars he come across to in the hopes of one of those is where Zaqiel was hiding. As he finished doing it, there was one left.

"Found you" Al said.

He stroke down the last pillar while Zaqiel evaded away from it.

"He completely lost it, there's no more logic in him" Zaqiel thought.

He provoked Al endlessly while dodging all of the attacks. The attacks would hit walls, floor, ceilings, anything but Zaqiel. Zaqiel was finally cornered and he let out a smirk.

"In case you haven't noticed, this is an abandoned building. The foundations aren't that strong and now you destroyed them. What happened to the calmness you were preaching back then? Illogical actions led you to this" Zaqiel said.

Al stopped attacking and dropped his weapon. The building began to crumble. The whole thing was about to collapse. Zaqiel hurriedly went back to the entrance in order to exit his way out. He looked back and saw Al was standing in the middle, looking above. As if his life was flashing right before his very own eyes.

"Everyone is gone.. There's nothing to live for.." Al said.

Al was crushed by the building. Zaqiel barely escaped from all the rumble. He slowly stood up and looked at the places where the Phantom Hunters died. He was catching his breath and turned his back to the building.

"I'm sorry" Zaqiel whispered.

He slowly walked away from the place. It was not the end. There's still one more person left in his objective. It's time for him to face Don Firo.