The Villain's Name

RO

The news that there's a wounded soldier who returned to the camp spread like wildfire. Everyone from the training grounds and the elders from the sanctuary went to our area to observe what's going on. There, in the middle of the woods, all of us stood.

The wounded man among the three was transported to the medic tent where he was treated. Thankfully, the bullet only pierced the first layers of his skin and that the use of his legs was not compromised. The other two stayed in the area where they narrated the details of what exactly happened.

"We were gathering the vegetables on the baskets when a bullet hit our horse. We knew then that we were attacked because of the blue bullet. Roger pulled John to cover him, but he was already hit." – Froilan narrated with extraneous hand gestures

"There were four of them who attacked us. I think one was their leader. He was human, or at least… was a human. Unlike the Aenelus who have purple eyes, his was black. There was also a bondage on his left arm where the supposed implant was to be. He was really skilled. It was him who hit John. He's the one who got away."

I frowned, didn't speak a word. Some of the listeners asked questions about the soldier who ran away, as if they were either fascinated or afraid of him. I'd rather they're afraid of him. As to me, what I was thinking of was that leader of the soldiers. A human, really? A man leading the troupe of the enemy?

For some unknown reason, I felt a pang of hatred deep in my stomach. How can someone do that to his own kin? Most of all, he should really make up his mind. If I get to know that he'll rat us out to the Aenelus, I swear I'll make it my life's mission to kill him myself. With my bare hands if need be.

"Have you seen his face, their leader?" – I spoke, just when the conversation started to die down.

Froilan looked at Roger, who nodded at him. What I interpreted of that exchange of conversation was that it was Roger who's going to give me the answer.

"He's a huge man, Ro. A beautiful man, even. At first look, he can be mistaken as a full Aenelus. However, on close proximity, you'll notice the color of his eyes. It was black. Pitch black. We were outnumbered, he's one of the strongest people I met."

One of the strongest people he met, Roger said. My curiosity about this mysterious turncoat has aggravated. Hearing enough, I turned around from them and head to the medic tent where John's torn thigh was patched up and sewed. Looking at the pain he was holding back, I guess there was no anesthetic. His scared eyes looked at me and I had to look away. The doctor caught my eye and gave me a reassuring smile. I took that as good news.

"Will he be fine after this?" – I asked Dr. Simon

"Yes. the hit was a fortunate one. It didn't hit any born or major muscles. I think the soldier missed."

Missed? According to Roger, that man was the leader of the Aenelus soldiers. As what he said, he's the strongest among them. How could he miss?

"Really? I was told the one who did this shot was the leader of the soldiers."

"I'm pretty sure, Ro. He missed his target, that's the only explanation for this… or else he intended to miss. Well, the former sounds more believable."

I shrugged. I wasn't there so I couldn't be the judge if this soldier has the ability to miss a target. However, it was more believable than the latter idea of the doctor. He already betrayed the human race by siding with the enemy. I'm certain he won't find it hard to do it again.

"Hang in there, John. I have to find Benz."

I got out of the tent again, made my way back to the training grounds where everyone was still gathered to hear what Roger was narrating to. I couldn't believe it. I don't think there's too many details in that story that made it last this long, but what do I say? I guess Roger was loving the attention.

"Hey, Ro. I heard what happened."

Benz suddenly appeared beside me and gave me a poke.

"Great, I was looking for you." – I said, my eyes still focused on Roger retelling his story with elaborate hand gestures

"Where's John?"

"He's in the medic tent. He's fine, don't' worry. Were you sleeping?"

"I was… until I heard everyone panicking and I woke up."

"You heard Roger's story then."

"I did. This is something we should worry about, Ro. We may be revealed. "

I gulped. I know. That's exactly what I was thinking for the last twenty minutes. That's exactly why I searched for him. We have to think of a plan to enhance our security and make sure something like this don't happen again.

"We shall meet the founders for an emergency meeting. We don't know this man who got away. We should always be ready for a possible attack."

Benz nodded.

"Actually, I do. His name's Hans Spiderwick."

Hans who?

"How did you know him?"

"Well, he was a son of a family friend. My parents used to work with his."

"Your parents were scientists." – I said

He gave me a nod, waiting for me to realize something.

"His parents are scientists too?"

"Yep. I don't know if they're still living or dead but what I know about Hans is that he was held captive by the Aenelus before, right before he decided to join them and get the implant. Some says he can't be killed now because of the effect of the Aenelus implant."

I frowned. That was stupid. Anyone can still be killed…and if I listened correctly to Roger and Benz, that Hans man wasn't a full Aenelus yet. He's still a human: vulnerable, destroyable. I don't know if that fact made me feel better or worse.

Little did I know I'll be meeting him sooner than I thought.