Femme Fatale

Chapter 9: First Blood

“Heh?” I raised my foot and hit the back of his head “Sorry, but I’m not here to die.” managed to get out from being trapped at the floor

“You should’ve stay down, catface, your death would be nice that way.” man about to attack me again “Now, let’s do it the rough way.” change his way of holding the knife and the gaze in his eyes “I’ll take that mask off your face and put your head on display.”

That moment I know I can’t just fight him without using any weapon, so I have my knife revealed. I had a doubt first if I should kill or not but now, I must kill this monster in front of me or else I’ll be the one ended up dead.

“A knife made from glass, that’s fancy.” man attacking with more speed, precision, and strength “I hope you won’t break it; I like to keep it too.”

“Aww!!” I’m on defense but the man stabbed my left arm

“Hahaha, this is getting fun!” man laughing evilly “I want to see you bleed more!!” attacking me hastily

“You’re a madman!!” fighting him with all my might

The man is a professional in the field of stabbing people and I’m an amateur, but I have to fight for my life. My left arm is wounded first but he also succeeded to cut my right thigh and my left foot. The next thing I know, he’s grabbing my neck as he raises me at the wall, but I won’t let him end me. With the determination to survive, I kicked him with my right foot and when he stumbled, I jumped onto him and without delay, stabbed him.

“Who’s bleeding now, huh?!!” piercing the knife deeply to his heart “Die, you monster!!” watching him die slowly

“Nene!!” Dr. Tranter crashed the front door and saw me on top of the man

“I just drew first blood, Justin-samchon.” get off from the dead man and sit near the body “The two ladies, did they make it to your car?”

“They’re resting at the backseat; those cuts are deep.” Dr. Tranter looking at me worriedly “I told you to call out to me but you never did!”

“I killed him, didn’t I?” about to get the knife when it suddenly light up and appear in my hand “This is really a magic knife.” noticed the small light in the handgrip of the knife “Is this, what I think it is?”

“Human soul.” Dr. Tranter staring at the small light “His body may not be in prison but his soul will be contained in that knife.”

“I should be guilty but I don’t feel it at all.” trying to stand up with Dr. Tranter’s assistance

“What you’ve done is self-defense, if you don’t kill him, he’ll kill you and chase after those two ladies, he meant to behead you, Nene.” Dr. Tranter said

“I know, his eyes tell me he meant everything he said.” put my right arm around Dr. Tranter’s neck as he carries me out from the house

“Forgive me, it’s my fault that you’re hurt right now, I put you in jeopardy, I shouldn’t have told you about that fiend.” Dr. Tranter carrying me towards the car “Look what he did to you, those cuts they’re not just scratches, he meant to kill you in every chance he could get.”

“I overestimated my martial arts skills and my superhuman strength and agility, I need to be stronger against such monsters.” feeling determined

“If you’re a normal human being, I’m carrying a cold body right now.” Dr. Tranter sighs heavily

“You’re right, I barely made it out alive, that’s why I must be stronger.” looking at his serious face

The new girl was drugged to sleep, since she won’t be in any danger anymore, we left her alone, also to learn her lesson not to go and sleep with a stranger. We dropped off the two ladies at the hospital and they agreed to keep me and Dr. Tranter’s identity unknown when they file a report to the police. And just like those two, Dr. Tranter gave me his potion which contains herbs and medicinal plants that cures internal injuries, as for the external he only needs to patch me up with some leaves and with his power as a healer, I’m good as new in just a few hours.

Monday morning, we’re heading back to the campus when we heard the news on the radio. The two ladies we saved told the police everything about the man who abducted them, and the victim who was killed and to be replaced by the girl whom we left. The investigation at the place of the crime is still ongoing but Dr. Tranter already told me that there were ten bodies buried in the field. He saw how those ladies were killed slowly by the man, who I drew my first blood, their belongings were also buried along with their bodies so the police can identify everyone once found.

“How’s your weekend with Justin-samchon?” Hammond waiting for me to get my things in the locker “He told me you guys went for a field trip.”

“Do you know where could I have combat training?” closed my locker and look at him

“Seriously, combat training??!” Hammond looking at me in disbelief “Why would you want to learn the art of war all of a sudden??”

“Well martial arts aren’t enough for me; I want to learn how to use weapon in a fight.” walking with him to our classroom

“Why are you going to military??? I thought it’s only required for males.” Hammond walking beside me

“Military, that’s a great idea!” smiles at him “Thanks, brother!!”

“Really, what’s going on?” Hammond getting confused “You’re acting weird today, you know that, sister??”

I told Dr. Tranter about my idea to take lessons from someone who served the military to gain knowledge about weapons combat. He found me an ex-marine who’s good at close fight and knows how to use blades better than anybody else, since I only need to use my knife. In case of long range, I had Hammond who taught me to throw a knife like a dart with great precision to the target area.

“You just had your first kill, two weeks ago, do you really have to go for another hunt today??” Dr. Tranter hesitating to follow the man he told me

“It’s April fools today, I know we just attended a mass but how can we just let this arsonist on the lose?!” walking with him as we tail the man “You just told me that he’s about to set an apartment on fire, should we just let him burn the residents alive??”

“We can call the cops for this one, as water spirits, fire is our weakness, we won’t be able to use any of our power and abilities as a merfolk if we’re being exposed in too much heat.” Dr. Tranter stopped walking “Let’s just get him arrested by the police, alright?”

“I may not have the ability to read minds like you but I’ve signed up for this, I need to collect human souls and these souls I’ll be collecting come from bad guys, I know I’m putting justice in my hands and I’m only pretending to be a hero by saving lives though the truth is I have to kill people for my own purpose.” reasoning out to him “I already started, all I need to do is to finish it … whatever it takes.”

“Jack won’t let you do this, if he’s here.” Dr. Tranter walk again “He won’t forgive me for tolerating this madness.”

“He’s not here anymore, father didn’t think of me when he chased mother in afterlife, so why should I consider of how he thinks of what I’m doing??”

“Your still in the rebellious stage, huh?” Dr. Tranter glance at me “I know Jack was wrong but doing wrong to get back at him isn’t a great idea at all.”

“I’m not getting back at father, I’m avenging my mother’s murder that also caused my father’s suicide.” setting things straight

“You were provoked to do it, if you didn’t find out that they’re also searching for you, you won’t have this kind of idea of revenge.” Dr. Tranter said

“That’s my second reason, I’m taking this risk to fight for my life, I don’t want to run away and be killed.” following Dr. Tranter who’s leading the way

“Now you have another reason, saving people lives.” Dr. Tranter stopped when we reached the apartment

“I know I’m just playing hero but I want a name.” looking at the apartment that looks like fully occupied by tenants

“Catface???” Dr. Tranter read my mind “You’re the hero and I’m the sidekick??!”

“Well you can’t call my real name and so am I to you when we’re in a mission.” glance at him

“Healer is fine, don’t think of anything else, I don’t like those names!” Dr. Tranter crossing his arms “I can’t believe I’ll be a sidekick to someone who’s half of my age.” glance at me with a smile on his face “Don’t go on a mission without me, hero.”

“How could I do that if you’re the one telling me who the target is??” reassuring him that I won’t do solo

“Let’s go back to the church’s parking lot first and make a plan, we still have until evening before you go hero time again.” Dr. Tranter starts walking

When we arrived at the parking lot to get his car, we went back to the apartment and waited inside the car until evening, like what cops usually do in the movies when they’re on the watch of someone suspicious. The arsonist was also waiting for midnight to come but my mission is to prevent him causing a fire, so I’m on the move when Dr. Tranter sensed that the arsonist is thinking of spilling the gasoline all over the place.

“Hello there!” appeared in front of the arsonist who’s about to go towards the apartment

“Shouldn’t you be at home now?” arsonist playing it cool “It’s dangerous for a young lady like you to stay out this late night, you’re still wearing your mask from the party you just attended.” walking forward “Go home kid, something bad might happen to you if you’re wandering alone this late.”

“Will you give me a lift, mister??” following him “You just told me that it’s dangerous for me.”

“I don’t like cats, go on your way and stop following me.” arsonist didn’t even glance at me as he continue to walk towards the apartment

“Why, you don’t like to have a witness with your crime??” staring at him

“What are you talking about??!” arsonist grabbing the container tightly “Are you drunk? Go home, I don’t have time for a youngster like you!”

“I’m completely sober, how about you ahjussi??” annoying him more “Do you like playing with fire that much?”

“Don’t tell me I didn’t told you to go home, now you won’t be home alive.” arsonist pointing his gun at me

“I thought you’re just an arsonist, are you going to shoot people too?” walking towards him

“I don’t like survivors, if they don’t die with fire, I’ll shoot them with this gun, I’m a perfectionist so I can’t have any witness.” about to pull the trigger

“There’s no doubt that you should be my second.” grabbed his arm immediately before he shoots me “!!!” felt the bullet that almost hit me

“You’re the first one who missed my bullet!” arsonist fighting back at me “Quite strong for a lady … but this is not just a sparring, kid.”

“Yeah, I know, I got the same intention as you, the only difference is … you’re my only target.” still in the offense to end things swiftly

“Now, you’re really pissing me off.” arsonist spit his blood from his mouth “Should I burn you alive, first??” light up a match and throw it near me

“I didn’t see this coming.” I’m suddenly inside the ring of fire “That’s why you’re still holding on to that container.”

“Let’s see if you still miss this bullet.” arsonist get his gun from the ground and point it to me again “Die, b*tch!” pull the trigger without hesitation

“I guessed you’re not a sharp shooter at all.” I throw my knife first to his chest but the bullet caught my right shoulder this time

“Hey catface!” Dr. Tranter slapped me with a bucket of water “Get out of there!”

“Shouldn’t you throw it on the fire and not on me??!” walking away from the fire

“Two weeks ago, I’ve cured your stab wounds now I have to take that bullet off from your shoulder.” Dr. Tranter looking at me “Where are you going?”

“Making sure I hit the right spot.” walking towards the arsonist who’s lying on the ground

“He’s a dead man already, does it really matter where you hit him with your knife??” Dr. Tranter staying still where he’s standing

“Oh my God! I do hit him hard straight to his heart!!” the knife lightens up and returned to my hand “I know it’s weird to be happy at this moment but I am happy that I hit the heart with that throw.” looking at the dead body on the ground

“Alright, that’s enough let’s go home.” Dr. Tranter walk off first towards the car

Dr. Tranter didn’t look back at me and never say a word while we’re in transit, I know that he doesn’t like what I’m doing and I barely survive again for my second kill. He took the bullet out from my right shoulder before he told me to drink the potion and put the leaf on my wound. The morning I woke up, the wound’s gone like nothing happened but the bullet on top of my drawer reminds me everything.

“Are you still mad at me for what happened last night??” get in to his car after I prepared myself to get scolded before we reached the campus

“I’m a doctor but you’re making me change my specialty, do you know how hard it is for me to take that bullet off from you??!” Dr. Tranter frowning

“I’ll be careful next time, promise, please don’t be mad at me ... Justin-samchon.” acting cutely at him

“I’m not mad at you, I’m mad at myself because I’m letting you go astray, you’re not smiling last night but the thought you had in mind is disturbing.”

“That I felt relieved when I killed him?” staring ahead “I must be thinking the same way like these fiends, but I’m not killing for fun, it’s for a cause.”

“I’m well aware of that, I’m afraid that you might end up like them in the end.” Dr. Tranter glance at me before he starts the engine of the car

“I don’t think so, as long as you’re with me, I know I’m doing just fine.” reclining my seat “Wake me up when we get there.”

“None of this is fine, killing people is never a good thing to do.” Dr. Tranter driving the car carefully “But it’s all for self-defense so I can’t argue.”

“And for saving other people’s lives, I’m doing a good and bad thing at the same time, but the good outweighs the bad, so it’s alright.” taking a nap

We arrived at the campus after a drive from home, and we’re back to our normal lives. It’s already April, I had to be a full-time student for two weeks and set aside my other identity, but bad guys don’t have a break. During the third week and also our prelim week at school, there’s a r****t on the loose and he’s targeting college female students. He already had three victims from the campus, those who’s going back and forth from their home alone. That’s why every female student is being notified every day to have someone to accompany them whenever they go out from the campus.

“Nene!” Hammond running towards me “Geez, that exam, have you solved them all??”

“I tried to solve everything but when I come up with the answer some were in the choices but most were not, so I just chose the nearest number to my answers.” reading the book while walking “I hate Prof. Nevaeh’s exam, he used all the theories for us to derive the formula.”

“Yeah me too, I hate how complex his exam is, I only memorize the formula in the chapters we tackled but I don’t know which numbers should I applied them, so in the end I guess pretty much everything.” Hammond scratching his head “When I saw you pass your paper; I stopped stressing myself.”

“What done is done, we still have midterms anyway, let’s just do better next time.” closed my book and about to tap Hammond’s shoulder when I saw his girlfriend coming by “Here goes your lover who’s an incarnate of jealousy.” automatically keeping my distance from Hammond

“Hey sugar bunny!” Hammond open his arm as his girlfriend come to him “Did you wait for me??” kiss the girl’s lips

“Alright, I’m out of here.” about to walk away from the two love birds

“Nene, wait!” Hammond shouted “You’re not going outside the campus tonight, right?” looking at me worriedly “The professors have a gathering and I think Justin-samchon is with them, you’ll wait for him tomorrow morning, right??”

“Maybe, but if I do, you know I can handle it, I’m not someone who needed protection.” wave my hand goodbye at him

When the news spread that the r****t is preying with the students in our college, almost every girl decided to date the athletes in the campus. Hammond is well known in archery so some girls tried to make him their bodyguard but only one succeeded and now they’re dating. I’ve got dating offers from some of my classmates and guys from other departments, but using the situation to their advantage is kind of lame for me.

“Good luck with your group matchmaking tomorrow.” waiting at the bus stop “You may borrow my dresses if you want, have fun girls.”

“I really don’t think this is a good idea.” Roommate A “Just wait for Dr. Tranter tomorrow morning.” Roommate B “We won’t force you to go with us tomorrow anymore, just stay with us tonight.” Roommate C and all of them nodded

“I’ll be fine, you girls know I can defend myself, I’ll call you when I get home, alright?” get in the bus and sit at the widow side “Be careful on your way back, girls!” looking at the three as the bus starts to hit the road again

After 15 minutes bus transit, I only need to walk 10 minutes more to reach my house. When I arrived at the first corner of the street, I kind of have a feeling that someone is following me. I’m not afraid of what he might do to me but I’m afraid that he’ll be the third soul in my knife. I’m almost near the house and I’m still thinking if I should go straight or re-route and fight him on the street. I turned around to see the stalker, he should be hiding and not letting himself get exposed but he confidently walks up to me.

I’m just letting him come to me and all prepared to defend myself in case he attacks but he just walked right past by me. I don’t know if I’m being paranoid at that moment or what, but the strange man is probably going on the same way as me and I’ve just mistaken him as a bad guy. Fortunately, I didn’t react like a crazy girl when he came near me, I saved myself from embarrassment.

I arrived at the house with relief, ate the dinner I’ve prepared and cooked, bathed before I went to bed. I’m exhausted from the exam week so I fall asleep early, I thought I’m only imagining things but I could sense there’s something above me. I opened my eyes and find the same man I saw earlier; he was surprised to see me awake but instead of getting off me, he smiles like he doesn’t care if caught him or not.

“You’re really different among other girls, you know that.” r****t holding onto my arms gently as he raised it above my head “You should be screaming right now but I don’t see any fear in your eyes, I think I’ll be gentle on you as long as you’re this obedient.”

“So, you’re not just a r****t but you can get in to someone else house too.” looking at him as I think of how to outsmart him

“I can do anything, in the name of lust, moans are like melody to me and I like it the most when I see someone totally wrecked.” r****t moving closer to me and sniff my scent like he’s about to eat me “Mmm … you smell like cherries.” licking my neck

“You want me to be the cherry on your top??” I feel disgusted but I have to keep my cool and make him unguarded

“Hahaha!” r****t laughing out loud “So, you’re a type of girl who spread her legs to any man huh? This is supposed to be a r**e case but if you’re willing.”

“You should take your clothes off first, I’ll wait for you here.” staring at him with a smile on my face

“Oh alright.” r****t get off me and take off his clothes immediately as I had the time to get my knife at the top of my drawer and hid it underneath my pillow “You like what you see? It’s kinda big, right?? You sure, you can handle this???”

“Holy s**t!” I only see the man’s private part on books but I never seen the actual thing before “I don’t think I can do this.” my eyes, I want to take them off “Should I kill him now?” muttering to myself as I look away

“Now, there’s a reaction on your face.” r****t climbed up to my bed again “Your cute face makes this hard.” take my hand to touch his thing

“!!!” I just close my eyes and let my hands to the work “Bloody hell!!” my left hand stabbed him while my right hand squeezed his hard stick

“F**k!” r****t lay down on my bed as blood coming out from his mouth

“My hand!” looking at my right hand “Die, you bastard!” turn to the man dying in front of me “I need to wash my hand.” get out from my bed and about to go to my bathroom when the knife suddenly appeared in my left hand “Justin-samchon, you can hear me right? come home right now, please??!”

Half hour later, Dr. Tranter came, I’m waiting for him in the living room. The moment he saw me stood up, he embraced me immediately and my tears starts to fall out from my eyes.

“I’m too scared Justin-samchon!” embracing him back as I cry to his chest “I couldn’t take what he’s about to do to me so I stabbed him.”

“It doesn’t matter, as long as you’re safe.” Dr. Tranter patting my back “Forgive me, if I’m not around when you need me the most.”

“I killed him even though he didn’t kill anyone.” pulled away to look at Dr. Tranter’s face

“He’s a r****t so he’s not a good guy too … I’ll go to your room and figure out what happened, stay here and pull yourself together, your mind is all messed up.” Dr. Tranter went to my bedroom and leave me alone in the living room

I rolled the dead man’s body with my blanket to cover up his disgusting look. I never felt guilt when I killed the first two villains, I had but this third, though he’s not that worst, I killed him because I feel sickened. Unfortunately, he chose me as his victim, he provoked me to take his life away.

Dr. Tranter and I moved the body out of the house and left it on the field near the police station before the sun rises. We put the man’s information on a piece of paper for his identification and the police to investigate his place. We made sure that we left no trace even my fingerprints at the man’s stick, Dr. Tranter soaked the body in the water before we put him in the roll again.

“That would be the first and last time I’m going to help you clean up your crime.” Dr. Tranter driving the car on the way home “No more killing at our place, alright?” glance at me “I don’t like dealing with dead bodies.”

“You think, I like what happened?” frowning at him “I’m still not sure if I should’ve killed him or not.”

“He’s already killed, there’s nothing we can do about it but to accept, at least you only need 97 souls.” Dr. Tranter staring ahead “Let’s have breakfast.”

“You’re only saying this to make me feel better.” staring at him “But you really want to say something more about what happened.”

“Even if I say it, will it make a difference?” Dr. Tranter look at me “We’re in this together Nene, I’m always on your side.”

“Thank you, Justin-samchon.” hold onto his arm

“You’re my family, you don’t have to say thank you to me.” Dr. Tranter pats my head

Two weeks later and its already May, first Saturday of the month and I had my fourth kill, a man who bury his victims alive to see if they could escape before their last breath. Luckily, we saved the last victim on time and sent him to the hospital Sunday morning after a long drive from the site.

“Going to church right after we’ve been in action, I should be helping those people with mental problems but I’m letting you do your own way to them.” Dr. Tranter sighed heavily “I’m no longer qualified as a psychologist, I should be a surgeon, don’t you think?” asking me sarcastically

“I don’t know about medical field but you’re still a doctor even if you’re no longer a psychologist.” I answered him honestly “You’re born a healer.”

“Yeah right.” Dr. Tranter gets in to the driver’s seat after a walk from the church “You’re too focus with paying the magic knife of yours, aren’t you forgetting the main reason you’re doing this madness? Shouldn’t you start building a rapport with your main target??” giving me a serious look “You can’t just ask a man to marry you in an instant, not to mention that man isn’t an easy target, he’s the heir of Godeth family.”