6: Act

Leilyn hums under her breath, closing her eyes. “Speak of the devil.” She mutters with a sigh.

“Oh my god! What are we going to do?!” Zack almost shouts in fear.

Leilyn opens her eyes, giving the teens an amused look. “Well, for one, you three need to calm down.” She huffs as she gets up. “Yes, all three of you. I know Zack isn’t the only one panicking.” Her words has Jason and Richard laughing nervously. “You three stay in the living room. I’ll go see what they want.”

With Leilyn in front, the four of them walk back into the house. They change from the outdoor slippers to indoor ones. As instructed, the boys sit their behinds on the largest couch in the parlor, Zoranne switching on the hologram TV for them and tuning it to their favorite movie channel.

“I want you three to be perfectly calm. Especially you Zack. I won’t be surprised if you are called to answer some questions. I want you to act surprised when they inform you that they are in the hospital. Do not tell them that you’re having problems with your dipshit parents. Also, don’t show too much emotion. These people are good. And also, do not, I repeat, do not act surprised by anything I say.”

“Okay, Mrs. Xander.” Zack nods in understanding.

“Go upstairs and get a hoodie. There’re some in the closest in the room you were in.” Leilyn jerks her head towards the stairs. “I don’t want them getting too inquisitive about your healing injuries.”

“But what about his head?” Jason asks.

Leilyn calmly walks over to Zack, in no rush to answer the still ringing bell. She inspects his head, gently removing his bandage. Seeing as it’s a new one (she cleaned the wounds again and changed his bandages again while he slept through the Nano-Healers operation), it’s clean, not even a smudge or speck of blood is on it.

“Hmm.” She turns his head sideways, parting his hair to take a good look at his skull. “Well, you’re healed alright. But I advise you to be careful. When they are gone, I’ll re-tie the bandage again.” She folds the bandage, placing it on the glass center table. “If they persist to be let in, I’ll invite them to porch. I so do not want my hard work in here tarnished.”

Zack winces, knowing what she meant. “Sorry.”

“It’s okay.” Leilyn flicks her hand dismissively. “After I cleaned you up, I couldn’t sleep. So I took the liberty of cleaning the entire house for the second time this week before performing my morning exercises. Boredom sure is a great motivator.”

Zack nods curtly. Leilyn turns and begins to walk over to the door.

“Zoranne will inform you all when Zack is being called.” Leilyn turns to face them. “I want you both - Jason and Rick – to stay inside and out of sight. Your presence here will be a red flag for them.” The boys respond with nods of understanding.

Once again, Leilyn switches to a pair of outdoor slippers before going out the front to meet the Enforcers standing by her gates. Behind them is their car, someone still in the gear.

“Good morning, gentlemen.” Leilyn greets as she reaches the gate. She crosses her arms, staring at them with her usual cold gaze, dissecting them. They squirm under her gaze, sharing unsure looks between themselves. “How may I help you?”

“Yes, good morning Mrs.…”

“Xander.”

“Xander?” Another echoes with a curious expression. “Pardon me but are you perchance related to the world-wide known Mrs. Leilyn Xander?”

“I am she.” Leilyn arches an unimpressed brow when her confirmation has them going wide eyed. “Once again, what can I help you with?”

“Um, yes.” The strawberry blond Enforcer brings out his Enforcer badge, his partner following suit. A hologram pops up from the sliver badge, presenting their names and ranks to her. “My name is Sam Rogram. And this is my partner, Thomas Huang.”

Ahh, she was right. They are 2nd class.

“We have some questions to ask you ma’am.” Sam continues. “May we come in?”

Leilyn’s narrowed eyes turn into slits. “You can ask your questions from over there.”

Sam and Thomas share a look.

“Ma’am, we were told that a Zack Smith stayed with you last night.” Sam says.

“Yes. What of it?”

“His parents were attacked last night. We just want to ask him some questions.”

Leilyn puts up a show of frowning and pursing her lips into a thin line. After a minute of dissecting them with her eyes, she tchs.

“Zoranne. Open the gate.”

The gate slides open without a sound. She throws them an irritated look before saying, “Come on in then.”

The men nod slowly, before Sam raises his finger and pressing it on the Ear-Seed on his ear.

“Only the two of you can come in.” Leilyn says, cutting him before he starts to talk. “I am quiet uncomfortable with people, much less Enforcers, suddenly invading my privacy.”

“Ma’am-“

“It’s either they stay out here with the car, or you all stay here.” Leilyn didn’t allow Sam to talk. “I am perfectly fine with talking to you here. So, decide.”

Sam and Thomas begin a stare down with her, getting an unimpressed brow in return. They finally give up with curt nods of understanding. Once Sam informs the person in the car that they were to wait outside, Leilyn gestures at them to come in with a cold smile.

Leilyn leads them pass the front yard and unto the porch. She gestures for them to sit down on a comfortable porch bench swing, and once they did, she too takes a sit on the other bench.

“So, once again, how may I help you?” Leilyn ask, leans back on the chair and crosses her legs before interlocking her fingers.

“We need to talk to Mister Smith.” Sam says. “We are conducting an investigation and we need to speak with him.”

Leilyn stares dispassionately at them, face impassive.

“Zoranne, please inform Zack that his presence is required.” She says out loud, making the two men before her to frown in confusion. “My A.I.” She says, not giving any other explanation.

When the two Enforcers see that she isn’t going to add anything else, they didn’t press on the issue. After all, the rich and wealthy tend to ow one or two of those.

Zack comes walking to them, dressed in an oversized, purple hoodie. It covers his entire upper body, even his hands. Leilyn smiles at him, nodding in approval at his choice.

“Mrs. Xander.” Zack says as he reaches them. “You called?” He frowns, throwing a side eye glance at the two men at his left.

“Zack.” Leilyn nods. “These two men have some… unpleasant news to share with you.” She turns to look at them, Zack following her lead, his brows furrowing.

“Hello, Mister Smith.” The two Enforcers bring out their badge again and present their names to the teen. “We’re Sam Rogram and Thomas Huang. We are here to ask you some questions.”

“What’s this about?” Zack asks.

The Enforcers share a look between themselves, not knowing how to put the news to the teen. With a roll of her eyes, Leilyn decides to help them.

“Unfortunately Zack, your parents were attacked last night.” Leilyn says bluntly, face impassive and eyes blank.

Zack whips his head to face her, eyes going wide in shock. “What?” He whispers out.

Leilyn turns her head to the Enforcers, arching a brow at them.

“Oh.” Sam clears his throat, grabbing Zack’s attention. “Like Ms. Xander said, Zack, your parents were attacked. A neighbor decided to check up on them when he noticed that they haven’t stepped out of their house in their usual time. Both Mr. and Mrs. Smith have a schedule and they mostly keep to it. So, they decided to check up on them. They knocked on the door multiple times, but nobody answered. Music could be heard coming from the house but no one was answering the door. So, they decided to check through the windows. Luckily, they weren’t blackened. On the floor were your parents, in a pool of their own blood.”

Zack slowly sits on the swinging bench Leilyn is on. His eyes are blown wide in shock and mouth agape, unsure of what to say.

“Are… are they dead?” The teen whispers out.

“No. They are still alive.” Thomas answers. “But they are in a critical condition. Your father was severely beaten, almost to an inch to death. His face was beaten into by either an object or fists. Your mother-“

“Step mother.” Zack corrects him, expression still frozen with shock. It was said robotically, almost as if it was an everyday occurrence.

“Your step mother,” Thomas continues, “Had the back of her skull cracked open due to her skull being bashed in. Unlike your father who needs his entire denture replaced, your step mother only has some of her teeth knocked out. Their current appearance isn’t… pleasant. It was as if whosoever did this to them has some grudge against them. We are not sure that they will even make it. According to the doctor, their chances of survival are 40%. Not even Nano-Healers can heal the injuries they sustained.”

Zack nods numbly.

Leilyn keeps staring at them with her usual dispassionate look; elbow on the hand rest of the swinging bed and her cheek rested on her closed fist.

Well, it’s a good thing only the dumbed down versions of the Nano-Healers are released to the public.

“So, have you found out who did this?” Zack asks.

“No, Mister Zack.” Sam shakes his head. Zack face squeezes into that of pain and sadness. “But we are still investigating.” The Enforcer hurriedly adds.

“Please, find out who did this.” Zack says in a broken voice. Tears begins to fall from his eyes and he tries to wipe them away, but to no avail. “Please…”

“Don’t worry, Mister Zack.” Thomas says. “We will do everything in our power to catch them.”

Zack tries to reply but he just breaks down. Leilyn shifts over to him and throws a hand over his shoulder, comforting him. She speaks to him in a soft voice, telling him that it’s okay.

“Ms. Xander.” Sam calls out, getting the copper head’s attention. “If I may ask, what is Zack to you?”

“He’s my apprentice.” Leilyn replies automatically, not even a hint of hesitation could be found in her voice. “Both he and his friends visit me once in a while.”

“So, you’re a friend to him?” Thomas repeats.

Leilyn heaves a silent sigh of irritation under her breath. “Yes.” She nods. “He and his friends took it upon themselves to visit the lonely lady in the woods, who isn’t quite welcomed in the town. It’s nice to have them over.”

“I see.” Sam nods.

“We were told that you and Mr. Smith had a fight yesterday. Can you please tell us what happened?” Thomas asks.

“Sure.” Leilyn nods. “Like I said, I’m not quite welcomed in town. The people have this crazy superstition about the woods-”

“What superstition?” Thomas asks, getting an irritated look from Leilyn. He sheepishly averts his eyes.

“The people of the town have this crazy believe that the woods are cursed, that anyone who steps foot into it will die. Because I’ve survived for a year and a half unlike others, they believe I am also cursed. I’m called a witch and so many other things by them.”

“I take it that Mr. Smith was one of the people who believed this?” Sam asks.

“Yes.” Leilyn answers.

“How did that make you feel?”

“I felt, and still feel, indifferent about it.” The woman smiles but it’s filled with sharp daggers. “I’ve been called worse. This isn’t the first time I’ve been called names, so it’s now a normal thing for me.” She shrugs.

“So, I take it that due to this superstition, Mr. Smith didn’t want his son to associate with you?”

Leilyn nods. Beside her, Zack is now calm and has a far-away look in his eyes. She smiles sadly.

“Zack is a nice boy. I didn’t want to get him or his friends into trouble, so I usually try to send them away. But teenagers are persistent.” She huffs with a smile. “I didn’t like the way Mr. Smith treated Zack yesterday.” She continues, a light frown set on her brows, her lips pursed into a thin line. “I had to bring him down a notch to cool him off, before he did anything irrational. And due to Zack’s fear and mine, I kind of forced the boy to stay here and spend the night in a guest room. Now, I’m glad I did.”

A heavy silence blankets them. The Enforcers and Leilyn stare at each other. Sam and Thomas are looking at her to see if she’ll show any signs of deception, and Leilyn is just looking at them with unimpressed, emotionless eyes. Leilyn gives them nothing, and neither did Zack, whose face was still blank.

“So, you had no animosity for him at all?”

“Why would I? He’s just a father being worried about his kid, although, he exhibited it wrongly yesterday.”

The Enforcers nod curtly. They ask both Leilyn and Zack few more questions before Leilyn ends their interrogation with a cold smile.

“I think that is quite enough.” The caramel skin woman says. Her eyes are cold, as is her tone and smile. “Zack here has had enough. I suggest you take your leave and give the boy some breathing space, and time, to wrap his mind about his new development.”

“Yes.” Sam nods. “Say, do you have any relatives, Zack?”

Zack shakes his head. “No.” He says hoarsely.

“Do- do you have anywhere to stay?” Thomas asks.

“I can stay with my friends for a while.”

“I thought their parents were hostile to you?” Leilyn asks with a frown.

“Oh…”

Leilyn closes her eyes and sighs under her breath. She opens them again and looks at the worried teen with fondness.

“You know, you can stay here until you get back on your feet. Lord knows I have plenty of rooms to spare.”

“Really?!”

Leilyn nods with a smile.

“Thanks, Mrs. Xander!” Zack glops her, making her release a grunt.

Leilyn pats his back, eyes rolling in fond exasperation. Zack releases her, a huge grin on his face.

“Now then,” Leilyn gracefully stands up, dusting the skirt of her red, knee length gown. “Why don’t you head in and freshen up, I’ll see them off.”

“Okay.” Zack jumps up. He turns to the Enforcers with a lost look. “Can… can I come get some stuffs from the house?”

“Not now I’m afraid.” Thomas says sadly. “The place is still… a mess. We’ll try to clean the scene as best as possible.”

“Oh… I see…” Zack frowns sadly.

“But we’ll let you know when you can go, okay?”

Zack nods. He thanks them for their hard work before heading inside.

Leilyn leads them back to their vehicle, the two men in front (yes, she’s that paranoid). Leilyn is about to command Zoranne to close the gate when Thomas turns back and faces her.

“Ms. Xander?”

Leilyn tilts her head in reply, a brow arching questioningly.

“Forgive me for asking, but… what is your real relationship with Zack?”

The corner of Leilyn’s lips twitches in amusement. She was wondering when they were going to ask. It was pretty obvious they wanted to question her the moment she hugged the teen.

“I see Zack and his friends as siblings.” She answers silkily. “And the boys see me as the sister they never had. Do not fret, I only have platonic feelings for them. Thinking of them any other way apart from sister or parent point of view is frankly disgusting.”

The men nod in understanding, relief clear as day on their faces.

With another goodbye, they walk over to their hover car, the gate behind them closing. Leilyn watches as they drive away, an impassive smile on her face. Once they are fully gone, she walks back into the house, the boys waiting for her. When Zack opens his mouth to speak, she places a finger on her lips.

“Zoranne.”

“I sense no chips on you or Zack, Ms. Leilyn.” The A.I replies.

“I see.”

“Chips?” Rick asks with a frown. “What chips?”

“Sometimes, Enforcers place chips on the people they view as suspects.”

“Wait… isn’t that against a privacy law or something?” Jason asks.

“Yes; but when has the government ever played fair.” The copper head gestures at Zack to sit down. While the blond hair teen takes a sit, Leilyn walks over to the glass table and picks up the bandage. While she re-wraps it around Zack’s head, she continues talking. “The government has never been one to understand the concept of privacy. They spy on everything and everyone. Especially those of wealth. Currently, I’m number fifty-six on their ‘To Watch’ list.”

“What?” Jason hisses. “Are you telling me that our conversations could be eavesdropped on right now?”

Leilyn scoffs. “Jason, who do you take me for?” Her smile turns into a smirk and she arches an eyebrow. “It’s one of the reasons I built Zoranne and her sisters at an early age. My family and I have so many dirty secrets that will be detriments to us if discovered. Instead of purchasing an already made A.I, I built my A.I kids with my own hands to help hide those secrets and ensure that they stay hidden. Heck, she’s destroyed the footages of Zack ever going home yesterday.”

“What?” Zack looks up with a frown.

Leilyn pats the teen’s head – done tying the bandage around his head – and walks over and sits down on the single couch.

“When you were asleep, I took the liberty of destroying every footage of you ever leaving my house. From the cameras on your street to those in your home, I deleted them all.”

Well, what’s left of them. For some reason, she couldn’t shake the feeling that the footage from Zack’s street have been tampered with. What’s even more baffling is that he camera directly facing the Smith’s house had nothing in them. As if they stopped working, or the videos have been wiped clean from the face of the earth. She wonders if it’s the teens doing… but quickly crosses that out.

“…you knew.” Zack whispers. “That’s why you weren’t surprised when I told you about it all.”

Leilyn nods. “I have given Zoranne the same instructions I did for those close to me: to destroy any information or footage incriminating you in any crimes. She destroyed everything concerning you of yesterday. So, even if the Enforcers dig deep, they won’t find anything that will incriminate you in the crime.”

“Wow…” The teens breathe out.

The boys could not believe that they forgot about the cameras. It’s a good thing that Leilyn was on their side.

“Leilyn?”

“Hmm?”

“Do you know what will happen to me if my parents die?”

“As their orphaned child, you will gain all of their monetary asserts, no matter the will – that is if there’s any to begin with. The law clearly states that if a deceased person have a child or children who are under the age of sixteen, their estates will be given to them. If they have living, certified spouses, who can take care of them and has a good working condition, the will written will be met. As you’re fourteen and have no one to take care of you, your parents’ asserts, everything about them, will be handed over to you.”

“Wow.” Zack whispers.

“Yes. You can thank the war for that. But still, you’ll have a lawyer checking on how you use them every month. That is, until you reach sixteen. Then the asserts are fully yours.”

“But what if a child purposely kill their parents for their money?” Jason asks.

Leilyn arches a brow at him, internally wondering why he’s asking such question. “Before the asserts are given to the child, the deaths of the parents will be fully investigated, to see if the child was involved or not.”

“So that’s why you deleted the footage.” Rick says, getting a nod from Leilyn.

“For the bullshits they made Zack passed through, their asserts will be their payment.”

“Wait.” Zack looks at her with a confused frown. “But… they’re not dead…”

“They will be. Soon.” A cruel smirk graces Leilyn’s lips.

“How?” Jason frowns. “I know the Enforcers say that it’s a 40% chance, but won’t they wake up?”

“Not if I have a say in it.” A deadly glint was in Leilyn’s eyes, making the teens squirm in discomfort.

“How?” Zack asks.

“That’s for me to deal with.” She closes her eyes, smiling warmly. “Now then…” She claps her hands, standing up. “Are you three planning on going out?” The shake their head. “Okay then. If any of you is hungry, there’s food in the fridge. You can bring them out and heat it up. Be careful not to burn down my kitchen though.” She squints at them. “Also, there’re snacks everywhere in the fridge and pantry. Have a go at them. Just don’t ruin my kitchen, capish?” They nod in understand. “Okay then! Have fun boys! I’m gonna get some shut eyes.” She waves at them and makes her way up to her bedroom.

When Leilyn makes it to her room, she heaves a tired sigh. She removes her gown, throwing it aside. She hurriedly removes her bra, groaning when her breasts are freed from their suffocating cage; massaging them with a relived sigh. She removed her panties before picking up the dirty clothes and dumps them in the empty hamper. She proceeds in taking a hot shower, moaning in delight as the hot water ran down her tensed body. It takes her twenty minutes to be done, and when she come out, steam follows her.

Leilyn doesn’t waste much time in cleaning up and three minutes later, she’s dressed in a black, laced, sports bra and panties. Once she’s done drying her hair with an electric bonnet, she combs her ever stubborn hair and ties it up in a high pony tail with a shoe lace. Before she makes her way over to her bed, she decides to call someone.

“Zoranne, call Sensei.”

“Yes, Ms. Leilyn.”

A holo-screen appears before her. It takes just three second for the person on the other end to answer. The face of the man who trained her to be who she is today comes into view.

“Daughter.”

“Sensei.” Leilyn smiles warmly at him. “How are you and the others?”

“Drowning in your comfort.” He says in a flat voice.

Leilyn chuckles. “It sounds as if you’re displeased.”

“Daughter, you’re going all your way to spoil your siblings and I. Siblings who definitely don’t need to be spoilt.” He sighs. “More so than usual.”

Leilyn rolls her eyes in amused exasperation. “Sensei, just enjoy your vacation. It’s been long since you had one with Lexus and Ihara.” She smiles fondly at the man. “Speaking about vacations, how are the services?”

“Top notch.”

“Good. I didn’t pay one hundred million UPCs for lousy service.”

He sighs. “How many times have I told you that you shouldn’t waste your money on us?”

“Countless.” She grins roguishly.

He sighs again. “You are as stubborn as Shinji. No wonder you two get along so well, like gasoline and fire on human skin.”

Leilyn’s grin widens the more.

“So, why did you call me, daughter?”

Leilyn cocks an eyebrow. “What? Can’t I call my wonderful Sensei out of the blue?” She pouts, holding her hands together and batting her eyelashes at him. He just gives her a deadpanned and unimpressed look. “I can never lie to you, can I?”

“You keep forgetting that I trained you to become the skilled assassin you are today, Leilyn. Your expressions are too easy for me to read.”

“It’s not my fault that you are ancient.” Leilyn crosses her arms, a pout still there. He just gives an eye roll in response.

“Now, tell me the true reason you called-”

He is interrupted by the door banging open. As a reward for their unthoughtful interruption, he sends senbons flying at the intruder. Said intruder catches them in between their fingers. Knowing him, they’re definitely laced with poison. Obviously.

“Still as fast as ever, I see.” Leilyn comments with a smirk.

“What have I told you of knocking before entering, Shinji?” Sensei drawls, turning around and cocking a brow at the newcomer who’s grinning like a fiend.

“Gomen, gomen~” The intruder cheerfully says, walking into the room. He drops Sensei’s senbons on the glass table. “I just came to tell you that-”

The man finally notices Leilyn on the holo-screen and his eyes go wide a little.

“Lyn-Lyn!”

“Hey, Shin!” Leilyn greets back enthusiastically, waving at him with a large grin.

Shinji walks over to the holo-screen, getting a sigh from Sensei. “It’s been forever since I last saw you! How’re ya?!”

“Shin, you just saw me three months ago.” Leilyn deadpans. “And I’m fine.”

“Sis, that was like forever.” Shinji flicks his hand.

Leilyn rolls her eyes. “How’s Hide?”

“He’s fine. Enjoying his vacation with Lexus and Ihara.” The blue eyed man chuckles.

Leilyn smiles at that.

“So, judging from your impromptu call, to Sensei in fact, I take it you want someone dead. So, who’s it?”

Leilyn arches a brow. “Am I that obvious?”

Both men cock their brows at her, faces amused, making the woman to huff. Without further ado, Leilyn tells them what happened, giving them the full details and the main reason for her calling.

“Hmm.” Sensei hums, a fisted hand on his cheek. “So, you want his parents dead?” Leilyn nods. “And how does the boy feel about this?”

“Unmoved. He’s even pleased that they’ll be gone. I get a feeling that he wishes that they died instantly by his hands.”

“Hmm, sounds like someone I know.” The long haired man gives Leilyn a pointed look, making her smile to turn sharp. “Oh well, I take it you want Shinji’s help?”

“Yes.” Leilyn nods. “Except for you, Shinji is the only one my mother and brother are familiar with. I want him to take the boys to them and set them up. They will find it easy to find new lives for them and be happy.”

“Sure sis!” Shinji raises a thumb at her, a large grin on his lips. “No problem!”

“Thanks, Shin.”

Suddenly, Shinji’s demeanor changes and his expression became serious.

“Do you plan to leave them after you helped them?”

“No.” Leilyn instantly replies. “Unlike the rest, I’ll like to stay in contact with the three of them. I have a feeling that they will be my protégées.”

Shinji nods at her reply.

The three enter into a lengthy conversation after that. Leilyn moves to her bed and takes on a relaxing position. It takes thirty minutes before the two men were satisfied with their discussion with her.

With a promise to call Sensei again – and this time having an uninterrupted conversation –, Leilyn ends the call. She issues Zoranne to wake her up around two for lunch. And with that, making sure that the windows were blackened, Leilyn falls into a light nap, dreaming about the past.