Chapter 17 - Reflection

Thong stood over Claude's body, his body twitching as his red eyes glowed in the darkness. He pulled his hood over his head as he let out a small chuckle. Sudden pounding hit his head as he stumbled back, while clutching his forehead. He back slammed against the wall as he reached for the doorway.

???: He refuses to see what we have done. I refuse to let that happen.

Thong's eyes closed as he fell to the floor. Minutes passed before Thong's body shifted, his hands flat on the ground as Thong pushed himself back up, his eyes now their regular yellow color. He raised one hand to his forehead before analyzing the room. Lit by the moon's light, Thong saw Claude's head slumped over, blood all over his mouth.

Thong's thoughts: So I was able to kill him… No one else was here to do it. It was me and me alone…

Thong struggled to get himself up, falling into a sitting position with his back against the wall. Thong's breathing lightened as he stared up at the ceiling of the room.

Thong's thoughts: Was I actually able to kill someone?

Thong looked down at his left hand, seeing Johnson's blood covering it.

Thong's thoughts: The big guy is still alive, so I have nothing to worry about. The police aren't hurrying here, likely because of the Eclipse's connections. They're buying me time to leave.

Thong pushed himself upward, hearing voices of neighbors surrounding the house.

Thong's thoughts: Those little girls probably woke up the whole neighborhood by now. People are going to head inside any moment now.

Thong could no longer feel his legs, an inner fear building inside of himself.

???: Run, now!

Thong shook his head before running outside of the home from the window he first entered.

Man: I see someone running out. That's probably the bastard!

Thong reached the back wall of the home, jumping upward and grabbing onto the top part of the wall. He climbed over as he felt something heavy hit his head. Thong fell over the wall noticing a rock was thrown at him. Thong picked himself back up before running through the woods behind the wall. He could see lights near the wall as he ran further in.

Thong's thoughts: Was it possibly someone else that got him before I did? No way, I was the first one there. I saw him alive before Johnson got me. What's happening?

???: Another kill to our name, truly a wondrous sight.

Thong's stops in his tracks before looking around.

Thong's thoughts: This voice again, I heard it before. When I was with Jason and again here. Whenever it appears, it seems to be around a period where I can't remember anything.

???: There's no point in hiding it now, shorty.

Thong's thoughts: Shorty? What does he mean by that? How tall is this guy?

???: We are the same, but since you refuse to believe that, allow me to name myself. I am Minh.

Thong: Minh? That's like my father's middle name.

Minh: It's better to go with something familiar. But we completed another mission. Two murders under our name, all thanks to me.

Thong placed a hand on his forehead, his breathing beginning to quicken.

Minh: You keep lying to yourself, but I'll allow you to, so I'll stay quiet. But when you refuse to act, I will appear again.

Thong stumbled through the woods, getting as far as he could from Claude's home. He had killed another man, but that was not the part he was confused about.

Thong's thoughts: Who was that? They know so much about me… What are these jobs doing to me?

Thong stood at the outer edges of the woods, feeling how the blood was still all over his face and left hand. Thong touched his face only to notice how his mask was pulled down. He pulled up his mask and hid his bloody hand in his pocket before entering the public light once again, avoiding people as he returned to the all too familiar bank. Thong made his way inside as Dianshi waved goodbye to someone in an office room. Dianshi turned and looked at Thong in shock.

Dianshi: I didn't expect you to come back so soon.

Dianshi looked in shock at how bloody Thong had returned.

Dianshi: None of that is your blood, right?

Thong: No… I think I was just too careless.

Dianshi: We have a bathroom down the hall over there. Go clean yourself up. We'll handle your payment and forward it to the account you gave us.

Thong nodded before treading towards the bathroom. Dianshi let out a sigh before heading over to the woman at the front desk.

Thong scrubbed his hands in the sink looking up at the mirror to see his reflection. Pulling down his mask, Thong splashed water to remove the blood. As he rubbed his eyes, he saw the scar that remained over the left side of lip.

Thong's thoughts: Grandpa…

Thong head pounded once more as he finished washing his face. He took off his sweater before throwing it into the trash can.

Thong's thoughts: There's too much blood, I can't clean it all out.

Thong met with Dianshi at the lobby, who was dressed up to leave.

Dianshi: I already had the payment forwarded to the account you gave us, here's the receipt and the envelope you told me to leave aside. Are you sure you didn't want the full amount to be forwarded to that account?

Thong: No, I needed some cash to use.

Dianshi: If you're so inclined, I cannot convince you otherwise.

Dianshi turned around heading towards the entrance before Thong's head shot up.

Thong: Are there any members in this organization that are connected to loan sharks?

Dianshi stopped before turning back to Thong. Thong's eyebrows were furrowed as he stared at Dianshi with his bright yellow eyes. Dianshi let out a sigh before facing the entrance once again.

Dianshi: The Eclipse has connections to all sorts of groups. We have connections and members that may also be connected to the loan sharks you may have interest in. If you're so inclined to know more about them, use this.

Dianshi's hand flew back as something flew in the air. Thong narrowly caught it with both hands before seeing it was another letter.

Thong: Thank you for everything, Dianshi.

Dianshi: Don't make it sound like you're leaving, idiot. I'm here to help our members, that's all.

Dianshi left the lobby as Thong looked down at the envelope.

Thong's thoughts: I'm not as big as Pablo and Pedro, I'm not as fast as Jason, I'm not as skilled as Mike, but there must be a reason I was brought here. Was it destiny? Could I protect my family this way?

Thong left shortly after Dianshi, avoiding to leave at the same time as he didn't want to make the walk home awkward. Thong entered his neighborhood again, passing Beatrice's shop and entering his own. The lights were off.

Thong's thoughts: It's the middle of the night. I don't have any time to waste. The Eclipse has given me an opportunity. My family comes first.

Thong entered his room as he stared at his mirror.

Thong's thoughts: And I hope Minh isn't here to stop me.