IN THE CAGE

147. AS BEFORE

...NORMAL pov...

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The sad news about Lilian Alder has reached the ears of Indira and Anggara. Two brothers who now live under the same roof - in the Rashid family mansion - became conflicted after hearing the news. Indira is the one who is angry and provokes Anggara's anger because of his rampage.

Of course, the reason for Indira's rampage came from Anggara as well. Indira blames Anggara for Lilian's sudden departure. 

"If it wasn't for you moving him to an inadequate hospital, Lilian wouldn't have died" Indira's argument later that afternoon. The afternoon after Jemaine Emery told him about Lilian.

"I've done what I can. It's not my fault that that woman was destined to die. He had been sick for a long time, it was only natural that he would give up. After all, the reason it was able to survive until now was because of our family that accommodated its treatment up to this far." Aggara fight back.

Anggara has felt enough of all the resistance that Indira continues to give lately. The girl blamed him for everything that happened on this earth. Even Joseph's death was Anggara's fault.

God fucking. Why is the life of the bodyguards more important than his position as the head of this family? Why did his sister become hostile to him due to the death of useless pawns?

"Rather than blaming me, Indi. You should be thanking me. If it wasn't for me saving you, you'd still be locked up in Caspian's house and be a prisoner of your crazy husband."

"Why should I thank you? You made that crazy man my husband! You're the one who made us die now, Anggara. Fawn's gonna kill us. MOTHERFUCKER!" Indira got out of control and shouted. He felt himself stuck in a situation he was unable to change at all. It was as if his destiny was only one, death.

"Don't be shallow-minded. You think one guy like Fawn is enough to get rid of all of us? Don't you see how many bodyguards Evan has deployed to protect us? Even though your husband is crazy, he still puts our well-being first as well. You better stop acting and start obeying your husband, Indira."

"I have no intention of obeying the killer." Indira grabbed a vase of flowers on the buffet table and slammed it onto the floor. "After all, sooner or later we're gonna die. Fawn will kill us all, and you Anggara. You managed to put an end to our family curse that always ends up as a loser!"

"GUARD YOUR MOUTH, INDIRA!"

"I don't care anymore. I hope you burn to death yourself!"

Indira ran out of Anggara's study and slammed the door rudely. For a moment, in the silence of the corridor, Indira found her knees losing steam. He leaned against the wall and closed his eyes.

What's he supposed to do?

Indira pondered the situation now with fear. Sooner or later, he'll be hunted by Fawn. His head will be the triumphant trophy of the Hunter family. He's gonna die. Indira does not want to die.

"I have to run away..." Indira opened her eyes and came with that determination. His knees were still shaking violently as he walked down the hallway towards his room. The orange light outside the window slowly dimmed to black. The night has come.

Like being chased by a grim reaper, Indira packs her things in panic. Indira did not know why, the more time turned around, the more she felt an overwhelming panic. It was as if someone was whispering at his nape and telling him to leave immediately.

"I'm sorry, Dad, Mom. I'm not interested in dying here." Indira muttered as she dragged her suitcase out of the room. He glanced at the silent corridor of his room and swallowed the horrified saliva.

Since when did Rashid's residence make him shudder?

While Indira was stepping on the second floor corridor with caution and nervousness, something big was going on on the first floor. Indira almost set her foot on the marble staircase connected to the first floor, if only she had not seen the terrible events unfolded below.

Callum Rashid - Indira's father - sat down at the end of the stairs, choking on his own blood. He pressed his neck, trying to prevent the blood from breaking out of it. However, the effort was futile. The big nicks there made his blood spill without being prevented. Without a chance to scream, without making a fight, Callum Rashid fell to the floor still holding a gaping wound on his neck. The man's eyes were open, horror and full of terror.

Near the bloodied Callum Rashid, a woman in all-black clothes stood with a cold expression. The woman, who was unmistakably Fawnia Alder. The figure of the woman that Indira last remembered, shone a hateful look at her.

"Dad?" Indira closed her own lips. He took a few steps back with tears soon spilling. His father had become the first meal of Fawnia's hatred.

"It's started.." muttered Indira. Fawn's revenge has already begun. "What should I do?"

With a cold shivering body, Indira ran limping away from the stairs. Indira wants to find Anggara, yells at his face and blames him. But, taking time there.., to the Anggara workspace is a waste. There is no security there. Anggara will not be able to save him.

"Joseph, you shouldn't have died and left me!" Indira started crying again. He did not know how to escape his death. Should he approach Fawn and beg for mercy at the woman's feet? Fawn was reminded that Indira was not a cruel woman. He was very friendly and smiling cheaply.

He'll probably forgive--she

"Who would I fool?" Indira slaps her own face. The Fawn in his memory was a different Fawn from the Fawn he found at the end of the stairs. The woman exuded a dangerous aura. Also, given what Fawn had gone through to get to this stage, it was impossible for her to be able to make Fawn forgive her. Impossible.

"Miss Indira..."

Ha's?

"Are you going somewhere, Miss Indira?"

Behind Indira, the sound of footsteps from boots approached. Indira thought he had run fast and without a sound, but how..., aah..., is this a rumor about Fawn that he always hears from Joseph? That Fawnia is a bodyguard that is able to move fast and is very good at infiltration? He was able to get rid of his opponent without a sound.

"Why are you here, Fawn?" Indira turned her head and found her former bodyguard standing behind her, holding a knife. That knife must be the same knife he used to get rid of Callum Rashid.

Thinking he would lose his life by the same knife that had taken his father's life made Indira tremble even more in fear. He did not want to die in such a frightening manner.

He doesn't want to die.

"I came to visit," Fawn said calmly. "I have unfinished business with Angga's boss."

"..."

"Return to my previous question, Miss Indira. Are you going somewhere? You left your copor in the corridor."

Indira gulps. "I.., I'm not involved in anything, Fawn. You should know this very well. You've been with me all this time, you know how much I hate being involved in this. Please..."

"I thought so until Anggara involved me and my mother in personal matters." Fawn breezed closer to Indira, and every step she took to get closer, Indira took one step away.

"I understand I'm a bodyguard. My life doesn't mean anything to people like you. This job, I chose it because I was ready to die. But, Miss Indira..., arbitrarily to me and forcing me to get rid of people who mean something to me..., you don't think I'll just obey you guys, do you?"

"..."

"As much as I put my loyalty to you, you're still a stranger in my life." Fawn reached for Indira's neck and grabbed her. "You should treat your subordinates with great care, Miss Indira. Just because we're your weapons doesn't mean we can't hurt you."

"So, are you going to hurt me now? You gonna kill me? After what I did to you and Aunt Lilian?"

"Don't you dare mention my mother's name" Fawn lashed out at Indira by adding strength to her grip. Indira instantly had trouble breathing in her giggles.

"Now.." murmured Fawn. "I wonder what Anggara would do if he was in the same position as me."

"You didn't profit anything from hurting me, Fawn. I know you're not a woman who would feel the satisfaction of revenge. You better stop as long as you haven't gone too far. You're not a monster, I know you..."

"Swshhh!" Fawn whispered in Indira's ear, the index finger on her lips implying a request for Indira to ease her voice. "If you're noisy, Anggara's boss concentration can be chaotic. You know it's his working hours now, right?"

"Fawnia.., please..., stop this!"

Fawn sighed. He had earlier dragged Indira with a strong restraint around his neck, dropping Indira to the floor with a single push. Fawn crouched down near Indira and rubbed the young lady's long brown mane.

"I'm in the process of stopping all the madness that your husband and brother are going to do, Indira. What do you think I'm doing to chase you and risk my own safety to get here?" Fawn turned her swipe into a jambai in one fell swoop.

"Revenge? You're right, I'm not the kind of woman who's going to hold a grudge. I'm more of the kind of person who'll curse you for life than kill you. But I can't do that."

"..."

"Although cursing you is the easiest solution for me to move on with life, I prefer to get rid of you for my good in the future."

"You're not gonna get anything out of this, Fawnia."

"That's your fault, I'll get what I want most if I get rid of you." Fawn patted Indira's cheek twice before dragging Indira to follow her.

Back then, all Fawn had in mind was one.

Safety of Arcelio Hunter.

"If I get rid of you and Anggara, I'll save Ace from danger. At least, after what Ace did to save me, I need to return the favor by getting rid of the enemy."

"You're doing this for Ace?" Indira responded in the midst of her pain. "Are you crazy?"

"I'm not crazy, I just..."

In love?

Fawn smiled obliquely at Indira who was looking at her. The fear and horror that chime in the brown iris is like entertainment. Fawn knew what he was doing was a crime, but she did not feel any remorse now.

"It's coming to an end, Miss Indira. I'll get everything back to how it was."

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