03: Unfolding The Truth

Ezra’s Point Of View.

THE SCORCHING sun was dotted with fluffy blue clouds that drifted lazily in the gentle breeze. I was awakened by the barks of the stray dogs fighting outside.

“What time is it now?” I asked myself, opening my left eye while rubbing the other.

I glanced at the alarm clock above the side table next to me. As soon as I figured out the time, I immediately got up and headed straight to the bathroom. I hurried to take a shower and get dressed before going downstairs. It’s late in the morning. I wonder if they have already eaten. I’m embarrassed to show up because I’m afraid they might think I’m acting like a VIP in their own house.

Why didn’t I wake up early?!

When I came downstairs, I was dazzled that I didn’t find any of them at home. They aren’t in the kitchen, not in the living room either, not in the garden, not even in their bedrooms. I roamed around every corner but I didn’t see them nor get a glimpse of their shadows.

Where did they go?

I turned to look at my phone in my hand, just in case they texted me. But then, I remembered that I don’t have their numbers saved on my contact list. I concluded that maybe they haven’t eaten anything yet. I just decided to cook lunch. I’m going to wait for them until they are home, so we can eat together.

I’VE BEEN watching television for almost an hour now, but they aren’t still coming back. I was even more puzzled but I just kept watching to draw away the questions that started to form inside my head.

Then, I thought of finding gas in the garage. I’ll fill my car, because it might be broken completely and I won’t be able to use it when I need it.

When the fuel gauge was full, I headed back inside the house to get the car key, but I stopped walking when I noticed that there was a letter stuck in the vase on the table near the entrance door. I picked it up and read the letter.

Good morning, Ezra. We’re sorry for leaving you alone. Don’t worry, we’ll be back home later.

I raised an eyebrow after reading the letter. They didn’t include in the message where they were going. It’s kind of suspicious and I’m getting curious. I want to know where they are.

Why didn’t I notice this paper earlier?

I picked up my phone and the key before I rode the car. I opened the google map to detect their location. As luck would have it, we are mutual friends on social media platforms.

It was only a matter of time as I accomplished tracking the place, but my forehead furrowed in perplexity when I realized where it was.

Why are they there?

I DROVE towards the place where they were. It was also an hour of driving before I arrived there. I parked the car at a far distance and got out. As soon as I walked a few steps, I covered my nose when I inhaled a pungent odor.

What kind of place is this?

I looked around. The place was surrounded by lots of frail wood, galvanized rusting, unpleasant smell, and scattered garbage. I slowly went inside and couldn’t ignore the noise. There is someone in here.

“You really are fearless…”

I can hear a man’s sarcastic voice. I walked closer to their direction to hear what they were saying.

“Enough of your chatter. Let’s start now, so we can end this fast,” said another.

That voice seems familiar to me. Where did I hear it?

I moved even closer to them. My intention was no longer to hear their voices clearer, but to find out who they are. My eyes widened as I saw Hyde and the six behind him along with the other men I don’t know. The seven looked different today than they were in the house.

What are they doing in this place? By the tone of their voices, are they fighting?

Trembling reigned in my chest as one of their opponents raised a sharp steel. I think he is the leader in their group because when he hinted a signal to his allies, they took thick woods as their war munition.

“Even then, you didn’t change at all, Hyde. You’re still impatient,” teasingly said the fat man with a tattoo on his arm.

He motioned a finger to his forty backups and they began to fight. My lips hung open in amazement, and at the same time, in concern. I was amazed because the seven budged at an urgent pace against their opponents. On the other hand, I was worried because their opponents were holding weapons and just one blow to their head, the seven might be in coma.

No! Erase! What foolishness am I thinking? It won’t happen! I won’t allow it!

I noticed that their opponents were targeting Hyde rather than the six. They were coming after him to knock him down, but they knew they couldn’t do it alone, so they joined forces. Good thing Hyde managed to block their punches with his right forearm and seized their weapons. He jabbed their eyes with his fingers and threw them to the ground.

After half an hour, there was nothing left of the seven’s opponents. So, the fat man with the tattoo took advantage of the situation.

“Are you tired already? When did the seven of you become weaker?” he continued teasing.

“All your people are lying on the ground and unconscious by now. Is that what you called weak?” Hyde boasted, flashing a playful smirk.

How can he be brazen right now that he’s in the middle of danger?

The man was raging. He was about to hit Hyde with the ridgy steel he was holding when I couldn’t help myself but to meddle.

“Stop!” I closed my eyes and shouted.

Uh-oh.

I think I made the wrong move by showing up. In an instant, I stole their attention. The seven frowned in bewilderment as they looked at me. Maybe it’s because they least expected I will find them and come over.

“Ezra…” Clarence uttered my name.

“Who is this one?” The fat man asked the seven and was about to take a step towards me when the seven snapped back to their senses.

“Don’t you dare involve her…” Hyde warned his enemy.

“I’m not your servant, Hyde. You can’t command me.” The man grinned and turned to face me.

“W-What are you going to do?” I asked, nervous.

He got closer and closer to me as I got farther and farther away. I was shocked when he smiled sweetly at me and even caressed my cheeks.

Yuck!

I was annoyed. He kept touching me, so I twisted his arm and kicked him straight in his genitals. He knelt down in ache as he growled.

“You, bitch!”

The fat, ugly man cursed me to death while dealing with the pain I caused by kicking his balls. He deserved it anyway. No man has the right to touch a woman without her consent.

He rounded his fists, getting ready to attack me to avenge. Although before he even could, a hand quickly blocked him.

Hyde…

“Try to touch her once again and I will break your bones…” Hyde threatened the man.

I lifted my gaze at him. He was serious but fury can be seen in his fiery eyes. His enemy wasn’t shaken. He provoked Hyde instead by attacking me when I was suddenly dazed at the speed of the events.

“H-How…”

My jaw dropped, unable to say a word after witnessing a mind-blowing scene. How can this be possible? I want to faint.

“I warned you but you didn’t listen. It was your fault,” Hyde said lifelessly to the man that was knocked out at the moment.

I scanned the site across the place. The seven overthrew their enemies. I haven’t yet absorbed what happened in my mind when Hyde suddenly pulled me and faced me with his red boiling face.

“Are you out of your mind!?” he shouted.

I closed my eyes tightly. I couldn’t keep up with his stare because I might melt in the fire he was emitting in no time.

“Why did you come here?! How did you know we were here?”

He asked me consecutive questions but I couldn’t open my mouth to respond. I was at a loss for words while looking at him scolding me.

“Ezra, say something!”

I almost jumped at the loudness of his shout. It felt like it echoed in my ears. I guess I have no choice but to speak or else he’ll explode like a dragon spitting fire.

“I-I came here to look for you, guys. I used a g-google map, and detected Axle’s location was open, so I found w-where you are.” I stammered.

Hyde was even more pissed off by my response. He tugged his hair like a mad man who lost his insanity. Then, he turned to Axle.

“Bullshit!”

Axle shrugged his shoulders. “I didn’t know. I must’ve forgotten to turn it off.”

“What if something happened to you? What if Rox hurt you!?” Hyde blurted out.

“Why are you so angry!?”

He was stunned when I yelled back at him. I just don’t understand. I get the point that he’s mad at me for following them here even though I know it was dangerous, but he’s being too much. Not that I’m assuming, but he reacted as if he was ever concerned. He’s acting strange as if he was always worried about me.

“I-I’m just… Damn it!” he defended irritably before he walked away without a clear explanation for his action.

Did he lose it? Is he insane already?

When Hyde was gone from my sight, I turned to the six jackasses who were looking at me. I arched an eyebrow at them and they immediately averted their eyes.

“Why are you here?” I asked them, baffled by what was happening.

They swallowed hard and their shoulders slumped down. I have no idea of what was going on, but the war I witnessed today wasn’t an ordinary fight among strangers. I want to know their reason. I want to hear it so I can understand. There must be a reason for sure.

“I’ll ask all of you again, why are you here in this abandoned place? Why are you fighting like that?” I repeated. “What are you? Who are you rather?”

I don’t know why they are fighting in this place. All I know is that those who riot in the underground or vacant lots are gangsters or mafia groups. Now that I think about it, I still don’t fully know the seven. The information I know about them wasn’t enough for me to say I know them well. I don’t know their true identities yet.

“We are bad boys if you will call it…” Xavier answered. “You’re right, you still have no idea of ​​who we really are, Ezra.”

“We have a lot of gangs, and Rox is one of the gang leaders that we fight with so we are here, to account for a battle. Maybe you think we’re not the person you don’t expect us to be, but you’re mistaken,” Joaquin explained furthermore.

“Playing games isn’t everything we are good at, we’re also skilled at using knives and guns. We can do such things to our opponent. We can hit them, beat them, and even kill them…” Iñigo added seriously.

I can’t adapt to what I’ve heard. I backed away and shook my head, refusing to believe the truth. I can’t seem to put it in mind. I feel like my brain has stopped functioning, and my world crashed.

“Now, answer me, Ezra…”

Hyde stuck steady in front of me. I didn’t even realize that he had appeared out of nowhere because of my utterly dumbfoundedness. He stared at me intently as if it was penetrating my soul. It sent chills to every part of my body.

“After everything you knew and heard about us, do you want to leave us now?”

A large, painful lump began to form inside my throat, making it difficult for me to gasp for air. Tears welled up in the corner of my eyes. I blinked it back, trying not to allow it to fall, but doing it won’t do because it still fell on its own, and there’s nothing else I could do but to just let it flow freely like a river.

I asked myself a question I never wished to have an answer, weighing the decisions I should and shouldn’t make.

Do I want to leave these bad boys?