26 The kill

Timo stood rooted to ground minutes after she had vanished into the crowd. He was trying to make sense of her cryptic words and the warning hidden in them.

He was brought out of his reverie when screaming was heard from the front of the room. All the guests started to run away in panic.

In the chaos, Timo saw Shew standing calmly at one of the corners looking straight ahead at the stage where the minister lay dead. He started to run towards her but was pushed back by the panicking crowd. His mind was a mess but his priorities were clear- saving her. Making sure she was alright was his main concern at that moment.

After some struggle, he managed to reach that corner but by then Shew had disappeared again. Scared for her Timo started to look around but found her nowhere. He caught a glimpse of a red dress being followed by Ian. With his heart in his throat, he followed them- as stealthily as possible. After turning a corner, he found himself under a dark alcove facing a brightly lit corridor.

It didn't take much of an effort for Timo to recognize whose back was facing him. It was without a doubt, Shew. Ian looked worse and begging on his knees in front of her.

His instincts told him to stay hidden until the right time. So he did just that.

***

Shew was spitting fire through her eyes at the vermin kneeling in front of her. It had taken her five long years to reach this exact moment. She was this close to her goal. Her grip on the gun painfully tightened. A number of gruesome scenarios were running through her mind where this person would beg her for death.

Ian tried to act cocky, he had to buy time for his men to reach him. He was taken by surprise and wasn't a bright moment of his life.

He smirked at Shew, "I never could have guessed you were an assassin."

Shew sneered at him but didn't reply. She didn't know what was holding her from pressing that trigger.

"What have I done?" He tried reasoning, "It was the minister and you already killed him."

"Oh right!" She scoffed, "I know that he was just a shield you guys used to hide your business under." She rolled her eyes at his surprised look. She wanted to spit on his face.

"How do you know this?" Ian was dumbfounded. No one except their inner circle knew about the minister being only a puppet in their hands. It meant that a spy had infiltrated their organisation.

Shew rolled her eyes at him, "Remember Phil Parker?" She couldn't understand how someone so dumb was the head of a leading underground organisation.

Ian was speechless. It had been almost half a decade since he heard that name.

"He was your friend!" She screamed, "And you betrayed him!" She looked with bloodshot eyes at the man who was clearly trembling.

"H-How do y-you know all of this?" Ian stuttered. He couldn't help it. Phil bloody Parker was haunting him even in death.

"How do you think?" her voice was cold. Not a trace of emotion could be detected from her voice. Her anger was understandable but this was worse.

"Sh-Shew?" Ian took a guess. It had to be her.

Shew chuckled darkly, "Now you recognize me, uncle!" She fixed her cold eyes on the man who was trying to reach her, "What do you expect? A happy family reunion?" She spat taking a step away from his dirty hands.

"You look like Rose." Ian sputtered. There were tears in his eyes.

Shew grew angrier at the mention of her mother's name. She saw red and her leg went up to kick the man in the chest, hard. He fell back and his spine hit the cold marble floor.

"Don't you dare say her name!" She warned him furiously, "You don't deserve to say any of their names!"

Timo who was watching everything from his hidden corner shuddered. He took a deep breath to steady himself. He was torn. A part of him wanted to run to her and comfort her but he was aware that she wouldn't appreciate the action. She might even shoot him in anger for disturbing her hunt.

So lost Timo was in his musings that Ian took notice of him.

"Well, look who decided to join the party," Ian smirked victoriously. He found leverage over the woman who was thirsting for his blood. "Come out Tim, no more hiding. You never told me your girlfriend was a murderer."

Shew froze, her blood ran cold hearing Timo's name.

Within moments she heard the sounds of footsteps so familiar, her heart clenched at the thought of him watching her in this state. But she didn't let herself get distracted. She couldn't afford it. Or both of them would be in mortal danger.

"Enough Ian!" She commended, "Get ready to say hi to your other friends in hell."

"You were the one who killed them all?" Ian was shocked. They had suspected it to be the work of their competitors. Don't blame him, he evidence suggested the same. As revenge, they had wiped out their rivals. Making it easy for this little woman! He was seeing red now but he had to buy time!

Ian steeled himself, "Look now Shew, I am just a businessman-"

"-And this is just good business uncle." Shew deadpanned and pulled the trigger.

There was pin-drop silence for a moment or two until Shew collapsed to the floor crying in front of Ian.

"Why did you make me do this?" She screeched, pulling at her hairs, "Why? Answer me!!" She kicked the dead figure getting blood on her dress. She was shrieking as grief overtook her senses.

Timo was stunned by the scene unfolding before him. He was pulled out of his trance as her sobs intensified in volume. Involuntarily, his feet took her to him. He quietly held her in his arms for a few moments before she broke free from his embrace.

She looked at him woodenly, "I am sorry Timo." She pulled out her gun pointing it at him.

"Shew!?" Timo was beyond hurt and shocked. He was also, terrified. Just why? Why was she doing this to him?

He couldn't get in another word as something pricked him and he was taken away into a shroud of darkness.