Encounter

[WARNING NOTICE: This chapter contains acts of violence that may be upsetting for some readers.] 

Pharis just stared at Lunari who's in her arms. She's barely breathing and has lost a lot of blood from the gunshot but it still wouldn't sink into Pharis's head. It's as if she's still daydreaming, telling herself that this isn't real but no matter much he tried to pinch herself, she just wouldn't wake up. 

Lunari cough and tried to look at Pharis's face, "I-I'm sorry… I'm n-not going to m-make it." 

"Shut up," Pharis said firmly as she looks at the woman. She covered her wound with her hands to stop the bleeding but it's too late. The bleeding wouldn't stop and the injury is critical. 

"We will get out of this together. You can't die yet. You have to pay for your sins in prison," she said while gritting her teeth. Pharis can't accept the truth that she's facing right now or more like, she won't. 

Lunari smiled and tried to reach Pharis's cheeks. "You really look like your father," she said as she imagines the man she loved. 

Pharis's face darkened and mumbled, "This is so unfair…" 

Everyone she cherished is always taken from her and the only person that made her feel the love of a mother is now dying in her arms. For a teenager Pharis, this is just too much. 

She might look like a tough kid but deep inside, she's a child that never grew up. A child that longs for mother's love. 

Just why does she have to experience this again and again? Are the heavens punishing her for being a bad kid? 

At that moment, Pharis didn't realize that a tear fell from her eyes. This is the first time she cried and at this moment, all of the pain that she has kept all these years came out. It's piercing her heart more that she couldn't think straight. 

She has forgotten that her mother, Penelope is in front of them, watching with a grin on her face. 

Kiel noticed that she's too occupied and thought that he wouldn't depend on her and just deal with Penelope alone. Besides, he despises the woman so much that he wants to be the person who will kill her. 

"If you only came to my office and do what I wanted you to do, this wouldn't have happened," Penelope said while looking at the dying woman. She couldn't care less if she dies because she can always find someone who will replace her. Actually, now that they angered her for ruining her basement, she doesn't care if Pharis dies too because someone can replace her, and that is her missing twin. 

If Pharis tried to fight, she will kill her too. 

Kiel slowly breathes and gathers his power to release his combat form and Penelope noticed this making her grin. His claws slowly grew as well as his fangs so he signed the kids to stay back. The kids scaredly follow his directions and went behind Pharis. 

"Mark this day as your death anniversary, Hundrel," he said and released hot steam from his mouth as his eyes became all red. Then his purple veins became so visible in his skin as his skin color change from brown to pale white. 

Instead of being scared, Penelope felt amazed by this human subject in front of her and said, "No one told me that you can do this… perhaps, you've been hiding this from all of us all this time?" 

That's right. Kiel has been hiding his full potential all this time because he doesn't want them to benefit from it. And now, he has a chance to use it to escape with the kids. He must do it right because it's now or never. 

"I'm going to kill you, Penelope Hundrel!" He yelled and dashed towards her, intending to strike her with his claws, but the woman unexpectedly avoided the attack as if it was nothing! 

"What?" he blurted. The woman was faster than him! 

"Well… you've grown, F1301 but…" suddenly the woman vanished confusing him and making him lose his focus. 

"Still have a long way to go." 

His eyes dilated when he heard her whispered in his left ear. How did she get there so fast?! 

Before he could look at the woman, he felt something pierced the left part of his body.

"What-- Ahchk--" He slowly looked at Penelope who's now grinning from ear to ear but then her emotions abruptly changed. "What a waste," she said and looked at him sadly and took her hands out of his body causing him to drop on the floor. 

At that moment, Kiel felt weak and useless. The years he spent here was all for nothing. He got immediately defeated by Penelope. 

Penelope smiled again and looked at her color purple right hand that is covered with Kiel's blood. It doesn't look like a normal human's hand because it looks like a monster's. Her claws are stronger and longer than Kiel's yet this is not her full form. She barely used her power! 

With just that one attack, Kiel felt like he has lost all his stamina and strength that he couldn't move his body. 

"W-what's happening to me?" he said and tried to bear the excruciating pain that he's feeling right now. He looked at the kids who are crying in the corner. He can't give up already. 

Penelope grin as she watches him try to crawl. "That's useless," she said. "My hand has poison and acid and it has already entered your body. In just a few minutes, you will melt and die without anyone knowing except for the people who will die with you today," she stated and looked at the kids. 

Kiel's eyes widened as blood streamed from his mouth. "N-no…p-please," he said in between coughs. He tried to reach her with his hands but he's too weak as blood started coming out of his stomach. 

She ignored Kiel and started walking towards the kids with a grin plastered on her face. "Hello cute little rodents," she said as she stared at the kids. The boy used himself to protect the girls even though he knows that he wouldn't be able to make it. He's very scared yet he stood in front to protect them. 

"I won't let you hurt them!" he yelled as he tries to hide his fear but his tears are betraying him.

"Aww… what a brave boy. It makes me want to… rip your face." Without notice, she retracted her claws and immediately run towards the boy with a grin on her face but before she could reach him, she saw a ball of fire coming towards her fast and was barely able to dodge it. 

She looked at the person who caused it and saw Pharis looking down with a dark face. 

"I think you've forgotten about me, mom," she said and looked up with a terrifying grin on her face. "You've hurt my feelings." 

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