The Dirge

FUNNY how life plays with her as if it is having a satisfactory time giving her mischievous tricks. Just when she was about to start her life anew - just when she is about to start her life to settle, unanticipated and excruciating things will occur. Suffice to say, the world is full of wonder - the world is full of unexpected things. Full of bewilderment for she wasn’t able to find the explanation unless she’ll compromise and take time to scrutinize it. Too bad, people nowadays would rather spend their life doing foolish business; attending parties, and such rather than simply exploring the missing answers to those often called philosophical questions. Oftentimes, those philosophical questions remain unanswered as people remain unbothered by the truth.

            Blanche was riding her big bike all the way home while Aerith was driving her wheels. She was behind Blanche, following her path as she drive her bike almost a couple of hundred kilometers per hour. There’s no time to waste, she once thought. They badly need to get there in no time if she wanted that person to be safe and sound.

            "Alpha 01, Alpha 01, this is Bravo 01, what's your twenty? Over." a voice coming from Blanche's radio communication device attached to her helmet suddenly withdrew an oscillating sound - which caught her attention. She could barely understand the phrases that the person is saying due to the transmission of their device, but she was certain who that is.

           About to respond, the transmission emitted harsh mechanical noises which made her flinch.

            “Agent Blue, Agent Blue, This is Violet. Over,” Blanche's communication device suddenly casts another voice. She sighs, perhaps she's just mixing things up.

            “This is Blue. Over,” she responds.

            “The troops are on their way, following us to our mission. We better get ready, it seems that this is going to be a bloody hell. I’ll be taking another route, the road which was leading to your backyard. Take the straight route toward the front, let’s meet inside the house. How do you copy? Over,” the voice on the other transmission line commanded which made the sniper's hands tighten as she heaves a deep sigh.

            “Lima Charlie. Over," she acknowledges the command by using their phonetic codes, which means that their communication is loud and clear - that she understands what is expected of her. It was the last conversation they had until such time that she heard the beeping sound of Aerith’s car behind her and maneuvering in the opposite way.

            This must be a freaking crazy thing to deal with. Yet, life must go on and she, Blanche, needs to save her life. It took her fifteen minutes before she arrived in front of her own house.

            “Violet... Violet, this is Blue, over.”

            Silence. A deafening one covered the other line. She waited for a second until Aerith’s, also known as Violet’s, voice appeared. “This is Violet. The backyard was clear, over.”

            “Same as the--- holy shit!” Leaning below her bike, which was the only thing she could do as the man wearing an overall face mask started to fire her with a pistol. She removed her full-faced helmet and places her radio communication device on her ears right after.

            “Blue!” Aerith screamed on the other line as Blanche faced her opponent’s adrenaline. Blanche got her pistol which she happened to place on her platform boots and take aim. The target was down but another one just arrived - just how many of them does she need to kill? Hurriedly, she got the revolver and took a deep breath, Blanche stood up and fire toward the opponent and run abruptly inside the house.

            “Blue, this is Violet. Are you all right? Over,” she heard a voice from her earpiece, making her sigh.

            “I’m fine. Get your feet inside the house and be careful. Look for Venus while I secure the place. Out,” Aerith commanded.

            “Roger that.”

Without their, Aerith and Blanche's knowledge, someone is watching every move they are doing. Every step they take and every word they said - every detail is being monitored. Who would have thought that someone is capable of doing these things? A smirk formed on the suspicious person’s lips who was watching over them on a television screen.

            Slowly opening the front door, the sniper steps her foot inside. As soon as she get herself inside, another man-in-black faced her but before the man could aim, Blanche shoots him using her pistol. Running towards the stair, a familiar figure run beside her - it was Aerith.

            “Welcome to my trap,” the culprit said to itself while smiling like a mentally deranged person, as they make their way up the stairs. The person was there - being indulged with lunacy - standing still and watching them from the television.

            “I found nothing,” Aerith stated as she run her hands through her coffee brown hair, out of frustration.

            Blanche silently hissed as she scrutinize the place, she couldn’t help but clutch her teeth. “Meet me after five minutes, I’ll find her.”

            Without any second wasted, Blanche inspects every room on the east phase of the second floor while Aerith checks every room that is located in the west section. Bizarre; that was the thing that Aerith's mind keep on telling. She can feel that someone was watching every step she takes.

            “Venus? Where are you?” Blanche said, lowering her voice. She needs to be cautious, their foe might still be here, somewhere.

            “Blanche!” that voice makes Blanche stiffen. She knew who owns that voice.

            “Venus!” impatiently, she run towards the girl named Venus as the latter ran towards Blanche. But life was, indeed, full of plot twists.

            A gunman aim to fire her from behind before Blanche could even take the aim and shoot the damn bastard. The world, most especially her's, Blanche’s world, seems to stop at this very moment.

THE ENVIRONMENT she live in was full of contentment. Happiness was all over the place. More likely a combination of contentment and happiness, now that makes life perfect. At least for her, it was the definition of the perfect life. Without any problem - a stress-free environment - where she could live peacefully.

            But just when she was able to feel that kind of sensation, a terrible thing had happen. A thing that will make her regret all the decisions she made in the past. Right now, all the contentment and happiness that Blanche felt just vanished through the air. Replacing it with detestation, vengeance, and outrage. That’s when she conceded that all is fair in love and war.

            She had been a secret agent who used to kill another human - those humans who are committed to being a so-called drug syndicate. But not until now, not until she's on the verge of losing everything she had - including her loved one.

            Her trembling hands and fingers held the trigger of her pistol, shots continuously at the gunman, feeling nothing but emptiness and out-of-this-world distaste. Her mouth popped open as she stare at this beloved place of theirs. Before, it was the place that she’ll choose to live in but now that it was a mess. It's more likely that she’ll just regret living in here.

            The place looks chaotic. A broken window, shattered vases were scattered all over the place. Bullet traces can be seen in every direction she glances. But what caught her attention most was the metallic smell of a red substance oozing from someone’s body and it was dropping on the floor.

            “Baby,” she mustered as a tear fell on her cheeks slowly. Blanche run towards her, Venus, as she dropped her pistol and hugged her. Venus almost fell to the ground but good thing she was able to catch her.

            “Baby…” Venus utters as she coughs with blood yet still can manage to smile. That smile makes Blanche’s heart melt so easily. Her eyes were irresistible to stare with. “I… I love you.” She added, caressing Blanche's face softly.

            “Don’t say another word, I’ll bring you to the nearest hospital. Just please, don’t let go. Please,” Blanche said as she kissed Venus on her lips and carry her.

            But just when she was about to make her way down, a stinging sensation was fast spreading over her thigh and blood was oozing from it - she almost drop Venus - good thing she was able to lean on the stairs handrail.

            “Freaking hell it is!” fuming mad Aerith arrived and fire her gun towards those men - who shoots Blanche. “Go make your way outside! They’re hella waiting for you!”

            A simple nod was the only thing she could give Aerith as a dark smoke covered the place. Shit! She felt someone hold her in an unknown direction and later on, they were outside.

            “Baby, we’re now---” her voice was cut off because Venus’ body was turning a bit cold and becoming stiff. “Hey, Venus! Venus, wake up!” she said, shaking her but to no avail.

            “Damn! Somebody, ready the car and help me bring my wife to the nearest hospital!” losing her usually prim and proper posture, her calm and relaxed mind, she stare at these people as they move real quick just to help her.

            “Hop in,” a car stop in front of them, and without a second thought, she hops in, careful not to hurt her wife. She’s becoming lifeless, blood keeps oozing - she needs immediate medication. Blanche wanted to break down, but she knew to herself that it will not be a big help. She needs to be strong, she needs to be calm. Everything will be alright, she keeps on repeating to herself.

            “Venus, wake up. Please,” she whispers, shaking her. Blood already covered her clothing but Blanche doesn't care anymore. What's more important right now is Venus. Her status looks like total devastation.

            “Blanche…” a man who was driving call her attention.

            “Focus on the road!” she cried. There’s no time in chit-chatting with someone, she thought. Tears are making their way freely on her cheeks as she stared at the body of half lifeless wife. It felt like forever - it is never-ending.

AS SOON as they entered the hospital, she run directly to the emergency room while still carrying Venus who is now in the middle of battling life and death, not minding if the doctor was still on duty. She badly needed to be sure if Venus was safe. Please, make sure she’s safe.

            “What happened here?” the doctor asked her as they took care of her wife. Placed her on the hospital bed, carefully, and checked for her vital signs.

            “Several gunshots on the back,” she simply answered as she held her cold hand.

            “She’s barely breathing. We need to conduct an operation right away,” the doctor said as she commanded some nurses.

            “Please, make sure that my wife will be safe. Please,” she pleaded. She never pleases anyone but for the sake of Venus, she will swallow her pride hard.

            “We’ll do everything to save her,” the doctor simply answers as they leave Blanche.

            Minutes had passed and Blanche can’t even take a seat and de-stress. Her mind was occupied with what-ifs. What if Venus would not survive? No. Venus was strong. What if… no, nothing bad will happened. She reassured herself.

            “Blanche,” Aerith's voice interrupted her preoccupied mind.

            “This is the reason why I wanted to live my life anew, Aerith. I goddamn want and need to live a peaceful life!” Blanche said, shaking Aerith harshly as tears flow down her cheeks. Blanche couldn't even convey what's this feeling that gradually taking over her sanity; it was as if she was losing her mind. Just thinking about how Venus looks after being shot, makes her insane. Blanche couldn't think straight - that's how Aerith see the latter.

            The pain was also painted on Aerith's face, she couldn't afford to see her comrade being in this kind of situation. “Calm down, Blanche. Calm down,” she said, wrapping Blanche in her arms. She feels like drowning.

            “I won’t forgive myself if something bad happens to my wife. I swear, I'll be taking my revenge," Blanche clutches her hands, staring blankly at the wall that faces her. Her face turns dark as she loathes every single creature in front of her.

           Not so far from where they were standing, stands a man who's wearing a victorious smile. "You're not going in anywhere, not until your dead." He mumbles as he silently leaves the place without any clue.