FATEFUL NIGHT

"WHAT do you want?" Levi glared at the burglars. He shielded his body in front of Shari, knowing these guys could end their lives with his one wrong move. "You can have everything valuable in this house. Let my mother go."

The men laughed, ignoring Levi's pleading. Two of them came at Shari and Levi, pointing the guns at their side temples to restrain them.

"Let me go!" Shari struggled to think about how to get away. One of the intruders slapped her hard, his palm left a mark on her face, but she could only scowl at him.

"Stop resisting! I will kill you!" the man beside her threatened.

Shari had never been this frightened all her life. How ironic that she joined the police to look for a thrill, and now that she faced this dangerous situation, she couldn't do anything but rattle.

"Don't hurt her! You—piece of shit!" Levi was horrified when he saw blood on the side of Shari's lips.

The man harshly grabbed Shari's neck. "It's her fault you are dragged into this mess."

Shari's eyes widened. "W-what do you mean?"

"You shouldn't peek at the thing you're forbidden to see…" the man said cryptically.

"Shari, what's going on?" Levi turned to her.

"I-I don't know," she whispered. Her eyes started to blur as soon as she realized the trouble she had caused. Shari couldn't find the courage to tell him it was indeed her fault.

This was all about her accessing the top-secret files of the Cheng Shipping Lines. Despite not telling a single soul about their illegal activities to get away from danger, everything ended this way. Shari thought she was too stupid to think they'd never bother her again after the case was dismissed.

"Let us go!" Levi wanted to fight back, but it made him think twice, seeing his mother crying hopelessly. Lalaine was completely traumatized. Perhaps these people had something to do with all the recent raids he did. There were lots of illegal activities, which he closed when he became the Chief of Police.

"Your house is surrounded, Chief. If you don't come with us, your mother will meet her demise," said the man holding Lalaine. He pulled the trigger that lightly missed his hostage's head.

"Wait… I will go with you. Leave my mother here and Shari." Levi tried to negotiate.

"You are not in the right place to compromise, Chief. Your lives are in our hands," the man warned them.

Lalaine seemed to get through her senses suddenly. Her face beamed as if she had found a way to escape. She gazed at her son, "Levi, remember I love you so much. When I'm gone, look for your father." Lalaine glanced at Shari while her tears kept on cascading down her cheeks, "I'm glad I've met you, Shari. Please take good care of my son."

The next thing that happened made Shari's and Levi's eyes broaden in shock. Because Lalaine had bitten the wrist of her captor and forcefully grasped the gun. She was successful in doing so. Lalaine had pulled the trigger on the men beside the couple and hit them on their bodies. It was a stupid move, knowing it would cost her life. But that very short time was enough for Levi and Shari to duck and retrieve their guns and hurriedly run to the terrace. Levi quickly grabbed her mother when bullets started to ricochet.

However, it was too late because the other goons had targeted Lalaine. There were ten gunshots behind them, and all had landed on her.

"Mum!" Levi dashed to catch her mother's body bathing her own blood. They were on the terrace, taking cover on the brick wall.

Lalaine smiled. "That… was stupid, right?"

Levi kneeled while Shari, despite her wobbling legs, stayed alert and positioned herself near the rail, pointing her gun at the open glass door.

"Why did you do that? Why?!" Levi's hands trembled as he held her mother's face.

Lalaine took a long breath, unable to utter the words she wanted to say. She slowly closed her eyes like she was only drowsy.

"Mum! No! Don't leave me!" Levi gently tapped her cheek, but there was no response. He put his fingers to her neck to check her pulse. He couldn't feel it anymore.

"Mum! No… please, come back!" Levi's voice cracked. He tightened his clasp to his pistol and hugged Lalaine. "I'm sorry, Mum. Had I known this night would turn like this, I wouldn't invite you over for dinner…."

Meanwhile, Shari's eyes dimmed when she realized Lalaine had passed away. The woman did not deserve to die because of her! She bit her lower lip to control her sob.

I'm sorry… she wanted to say, but no words came out of her mouth.

"Chief, quit fighting! Just come with us. We didn't mean to kill your mother but look what happened?" the familiar voice of Lalaine's captor thundered.

Shari did not hesitate to pull the trigger when one guy went through the door. One of the perpetrators fell bleeding.

Levi had carefully put down Lalaine's motionless body on the cold floor. He stood up and aimed for their enemies. But he was instantly glued to the floor when red lasers appeared and moved in his body. The same thing happened with Shari. There were snipers positioned outside focused on them.

"How dare you bring all these men against me? Coward!" Levi gritted his teeth.

The same man answered. "I know you're dangerous, Chief. I am always prepared for this shit. Now, if you don't drop your weapons, my men will never hesitate to kill you, and your body will be buried in your own garden. Let me tell you. I'm quite creative… I might hang the corpse of your girlfriend in the doorway."

Shari and Levi looked at each other. These people probably wanted to capture them alive because until now. They didn't kill them yet.

Levi tilted his head, giving her a signal to give way. One of the snipers below had fired, giving Shari a mini heart attack when it almost hit her body.

"They will kill us… either way. Let's fight back." Shari couldn't find the courage to let go of her gun.

Levi held her hand. "We'll get through this."

"Throw your fucking guns down!" the man ordered.

"Go… do it." Levi urged her after he threw his weapon away.

She swallowed hard before she obeyed. Her hands were still quivering when she tossed the gun below the railings.

Levi went back to his mother and kissed her forehead. "I will stay alive to avenge your death, Mum."

"Enough with the drama. Get them!" the leader of the intruders said, and his men followed.

Levi and Shari did not fight back this time. When the men reached them, they hit a sensitive spot on their necks, making them lose consciousness.

"Bring them to the barracks. Boss will be the one to kill them."