Unexpected Twist

"Elsa?"

"Rina!"

"Stop right there!" Elsa replied with a glare.

"Please don't come any closer," Rina pleaded in fear.

Ruben and I abruptly halted as we stared at Elsa in shock. She was holding Rina with a dagger close to her neck. I wasn't all that surprised but I didn't think it will be so sudden.

"What do you want exactly?" I voiced out as I calmly stared at her.

For a while, she was at first taken aback by how calm I was, she was expecting me to be shocked by the outcome of things, "You are not surprised?" She asked.

"Were you expecting me to be surprised?" I asked in return.

"Now that you know my true colour, aren't you disappointed?" She questioned.

As I stared at her, I remembered what the man said 'The devil you know is better than the angel you don't' It's no wonder I was having this strange feeling earlier about her, what I can't figure out is why she took the first bullet for Rina.

"Answer me!" She bellowed. Placing the dagger close to Rina's neck.

"Disappointed you say?" I asked back as a smirk appeared on my face. "I am least disappointed, I've known your true colours earlier than you think, I'm just wondering why you pretended to be a hero and took the bullet for her."

"For every success, there are sacrifices to be made. This is just a minor problem that I could deal with, since you've known my true colours, I am sure that you know what I want from you," she responded.

"I can't believe you could resolve to do something like this to achieve your goal, from all that you told me, Rina has been very kind and nice to you, treating you as a friend. Now tell me, where did she wrong you or why are you so bent on ending her life?" I asked.

"One does not need a reason to do whatever he wants to, it's a pity that old idiot killed himself before I do. Look at all the bunch of useless lackeys he brought here, they couldn't even stop any of you which is annoying but I guess I have to do the work myself."

"So what are you planning to do?" Ruben who was sick and tired of hearing her talk asked, he was able to get over his shock and compose himself.

"Isn't it obvious already? I wanted him to be my assistant without any issues but since he refused, I have no choice but to do it the other way round, that is, putting her life on the line!" She replied, directing her gaze at me.

"That is scrap! You know I never liked you before, I kept wondering why but now, I know why and it isn't obvious," Ruben replied in disgust. "What makes you think that even with all these, he will accept your offer?"

"I don't care!" She yelled as she was getting upset by Ruben's words. "I don't care, not a bit! If you don't agree, I'll use this dagger on her and won't be affected at all!" She said, staring at me.

"Elsa, let me go, please! We can talk this out," Rina pleaded as a tear dropped from her eyes.

"That's the last thing I'll be doing!" She responded and gripped her even more tightly.

"You know, doing this won't take you anywhere," I said with a look of disappointment on my face. "I will not promise you what I can't do and I will not agree with you simply because her life is in your hands right now. What makes you think that I'll accept your offer just because of it? Have you asked yourself if she is worth the sacrifice, or if I am willing to do it for her sake, have you? You concluded only because you think she matters a lot to me, tsk tsk, how naive you are to think so!"

"What?"

"Ezekiel?"

I stared at their faces and as expected, Elsa and Rina were in shock. If not for anything but for how I spoke without any consideration. Yeah, I had to even if I didn't want to. Elsa had already got her mind made up and nothing was going to change it unless I give in to her demands which I am not planning to do. I needed to find a way to make her loosen her guard a bit and then I will strike immediately, I would not be able to act at this moment as she had the dagger on Rina's neck, any careless action from me might cost her life.

"W-what are you saying exactly?" Rina asked with a stammer. She was still in disbelief as she spoke.

"You heard everything I said! What's there to explain?" I responded coldly.

"A-are you telling me that I worth n-nothing?" She was finding it difficult to believe what I said and at the same time, holding herself from shedding tears.

I sighed watching her struggle, inwardly, I felt bad for her but my face had a different meaning, I had an indifferent look on my face which meant that I was not a bit touched by her tears. I ignored her and turned to look at Elsa, the act was working perfectly on her, it was only a matter of time before I'll carry out my plan, for now, I needed to buy more time.

"You once asked me why I rejected their offer despite how good it was, well, here is what happened," I spoke again turning to look at Rina, hopefully, it'll be the last lie I'll have to say. "When you attacked us in school and made fun of us, I had to swallow it and pretend as if nothing happened. The fact you insisted on making us work for you to pay the ten silver coins we owe you is an insult to my pride but I overlooked it just for my plan to work out. Elsa, it seems we both have the same ambition but our plans differ, I intend to eat deep into you, Rina and then slowly take over everything you have, do you know why? Because you belittled me and for that, you need to be thought some lessons!"

As I spoke, I placed my attention on both girls, one was breaking down, her face was a definition of utter shock and tears streaming down it. Her body had become weak — so weak that she was standing on the support of Elsa who was still holding her. Elsa on her part was totally drawn to what I said, she was still shocked but there was a smirk on her face. The dagger was no longer on Rina's neck, this was a good time to act.

"Ruben, now!" I yelled to Ruben who was quite taken aback at first but seeing the urgency in my voice rushed into action, he knew what I wanted him to do and so he quickly dragged the dagger out of Elsa's hand.

Elsa saw the situation of things and quickly pushed Rina to me, I immediately caught her to stop her from falling.

"You are going to pay for this!" Elsa yelled and pulled out an object from perhaps her spatial box, she threw the object up and it emitted dark fog which covered us all. Before the fog finally disappeared, she was no longer there.

"Stay here, we'll be back to take you home," I said to Rina who had her head lowered on my chest. Thank heavens that I was taller than my age and so she was comfortable laying her head on my chest though, she isn't tall.

She didn't reply and moved away from my side, she was still very much upset about everything.

"I'll explain when we return," I said to her, hoping to calm her down. Still not answering me, I sighed and ran off with Ruben.

"I can still smell her, so she hasn't gone far!" Ruben spoke as we took off.

"I can smell her as well, from my guess, she should be at the roadside," I replied and increased my pace. I needed to catch her as soon as possible or if she eventually escapes, it'll be very difficult to find her.