DOUBLE-BLADE

Double blade (fiction)

1

Michael Bonn was standing in front of a sari-sari store, at a crossroad facing a narrow alley that goes slightly uphill from his point of view, leading to a park fronting a big church, waiting for a friend. He looks at his watch. It’s 9:15 AM. The meeting was set at 9AM. Maybe he’s not coming. He’s contemplating on leaving the place and go to a nearby carinderia. He hasn’t had a chance to put something solid in his stomach and manage only to gulp a cup of warm coffee.

Then all of a sudden, like a fish jumping high out of the water to evade a bigger fish preying on it, Rod appeared at the end of the alley, running as fast as he could, sprinting towards him and three men following closely behind, one of them brandishing a short sword, not the usual sword that he sees every day, this is something special, the kind that he saw only in the movies. Ooops, he did it again, his mind tries to assess the situation.

Rod’s face paled out of fear, he hides behind his back like a frightened child. Bonn, caught in-between the slayer and his would be victim, has to defend him. Ohhh sheet, I hate him. Why would I have to do this every time? In his mind he knows that he must put his focus on this three bullies or he’s dead. Good! Maybe I’ll be lucky enough to get out of this in one piece. He thought, seeing that they’re lining themselves in a single file coming at him. I can deal with them one by one. He prepares himself and takes a cat stance, hands slightly raised in front, signaling these thugs to stop, while getting ready for a quick step sideward. Right timing is essential or I might just say my last prayers and go to heaven.

The man on the right lunged at him with his special twelve inches double-blade knife. Very quickly, as fast as the blip of an eye, he stepped backwards to his left and simultaneously catches the wrist holding the weapon and executed a quick wrist-twist followed by a long backward step while pulling the hand and outbalanced the man and brought him down hard. With a move as fast as the wink of an eye, he grabbed the weapon from the hand of the assailant. It happened so fast that the two guys behind was taken aback. Seeing that he is holding the knife, they ran as fast as they could and was out of sight in a second. He let go of the hand and let him get away.

“That was a closed call”, said Rod standing behind him. “That guy who tried to hack your back with an axe went limping before he could land a fatal blow. Do you know about it?”

“I don’t know. I thought I’m fighting against three”

“There were six. The two guys behind carried the one who got weakened. What kind of power is that? It’s really cool, man”.

“Maybe he’s sick or epileptic. Not my power though”.

“It’s okay if you don’t want to tell me. I understand but I don’t believe you”.

Michael looks at him and knows that he’s serious about it. What’s he talking about? I thought it’s three against one but there were three more attacking my backside. His thoughts beleaguered him. They could have gotten me if not…what power is he talking about.

Michael doesn’t know those weird guys who attacked him. They were chasing Rodrigo, his best friend, who quickly ran behind him and he was left alone to defend himself. I should kick his ass.

“Why do they want to kill you?”

Rod grinned, “I kicked the butt of the smaller one yesterday”.

 

 

2

He did it again. I should keep a good distance from him. He thought. He’s such a bad-ass. One of these days, I might find myself in a ditch. Michael’s thoughts bothered him. He doesn’t know his enemies. They’re Rod’s enemies.

“Let’s go to my friend’s house. They’re having a party now”, suggested Rod.

“Where, is it far from here?”

“It’s only a few blocks away” and he starts walking.

Michael Bonn is understandably reluctant but he followed him anyway. He thinks. I shouldn’t be following him. He’s a trouble-seeker. He seems to have enemies sprouting at the wrong time. But what excuse can I tell him. I should make a list of good excuses and memorize them. Bonn didn’t like the way Rod childishly situate himself into unnecessary trouble that he can’t handle alone.

“Hey! This is the house. Don’t worry they’re all my friends here”. Rod said and proceeded to open the steel gate. Bonn noticed that it’s a newly painted dirty white bungalow.

“What’s the occasion?” He asked. Fixing his gaze down the tiles that looks like a parquet floor.

“It’s a get-together party for all members of our group to get to know each other”, he answered while walking over the patio topped with exposed-aggregate finish.

The beautifully designed solid wood front door has a shiny natural varnish that blends well with the faked parquet. Bonn admires the way it was done. He thinks. It’s prepared for this occasion – a get-together for members? Suddenly, he realizes the intricacy of the situation, “What about me?” He asked Rod. His anxiety resonates with his voice.

“I’ll introduce you to the group”, he assures him looking at him sidelong with a grin while opening the door.

The living room and the dining are joined together as one room. The seats were arranged at the sides that makes it spacious for a dance party. The CR is located at the far corner beside the kitchen. There are four guys arranging the twenty cases of beer in one corner of the kitchen and two girls cooking - dressed informally. On the other end, which is the living room, is a three- in- one stereo softly playing an instrumental music - no lyrics - blending soothingly with the color sky blue covering the walls. The two ladies were looking at Michael, smiling. Both have a short hair down to the neck. He smiled back and started to walk toward the comfort room to pee when he heard Rod calling him.

“Michael come, I will introduce you to my friend”, He’s standing beside a taller guy by maybe three inches.  

“Please give me a minute”, he said walking pass the two girls looking at him and smiles sweetly.

“This is Edds, the owner of the house”, then rest his palm on Michael’s shoulder and said, “This is Michael”. Edds is silent, not saying a word.  

Edds’s face looks grim with a squared jaw…athletic body…a look that can easily scare anyone, flaunting a beard that looks like he hadn’t been shaving for maybe a month. He wears a collared brown t-shirt, tucked in his maong pants, and a black colored rubber shoes. He looked at Rod sidelong and said, “Members only”, with a reedy voice. Bonn didn’t expect Edds to speak in that kind of voice and he struggled to keep a poker face. He expected something more manly. Meanwhile, Rod looks at Edds with an expression of surprise.

“Okay, okay I forgot”, Rod was apologetic, “I’ll talk to him outside”. He made a head turn to signal Michael to follow and walk out the door…opened the steel gate…and close it behind them.

“I’m sorry about what happened. You have to be a member to be able to attend the party”, Rod said. “I thought…” His words hang in mid-sentence.

“I can go home by myself. Just have a good time”, he said with a feeling of relief. It’s better to walk around the city center of Manawas without you. He thought, turning his back on him and went on his way.

3

He’s angry and didn’t believe he forgot about it. He’d known Rod for a long time…he likes to break some rules and get away with an obscure reason. He thinks. Why are they so strict in choosing their members? Are they hiding something, afraid of something or what?  Michael’s curiosity was aroused. What kind of games are they playing? What nasty secrets are they hiding? His thoughts beleaguered him.

 At school Rod didn’t talk about it. Neither did Michael. There’s a chilly silence between them - just concentrating on what they’re doing. After the class, Michael sat on a bench at the school yard to relax as he always does during breaks. Rod sat beside him.

“I’m sorry about what happened yesterday. Edds was angry at me after you’re gone. He thought that I told you something about the group and didn’t believe me when I said that you know nothing about us. He admires you though, for your fighting skill. Not that I told him, word reach him about the ruckus yesterday among the three guys and how you skillfully handled them. But they’re a big gang and they’re mean. He told me to take you in for your protection”.

Thinking about it, Take me in. Michael can’t believe what he’s hearing. What exactly does he mean? Is it for my protection? It’s totally unexpected and unbelievable. Maybe it’s about time to find out about his group. I have to watch my back now because of him and his group is offering protection. It’s better than being alone. I can always keep a big distance from them if I have to. He thought. His nosiness took the better part of his judgment and he blurted.

“Do you think I will fit in?” He asked.

“Sure, but I have to warn you. There’s no turning back once you’re in’.

“I can live with that”, he said clearly underestimating the group.  

Michael Bonn’s decision, which is really quick, was made out of curiosity and will haunt him for the rest of his life. Once in, the only way out is death. He’s not aware of what’s coming. “Come with me tonight”. Rod said.

 Calaoa is the next village west of Balwa, his native village. They followed the asphalted road and then turned into a dirt road and keep going on until they reach a wide rice field. Slowly and with utmost care, they walked over a narrow slippery walkway beside the paddy. With batteries almost worn, their flashlights can only light a few feet ahead. Going one step at a time to avoid wet mud that can easily make them slip and fall in muddy field. Finally, after their tricky walk, they were in front of a small hut surrounded by banana trees all around. In front of the hut were two men standing waiting for them. Michael knew that Rod was making a signal as they approach the hut. He was drawing circles on the ground with his flashlight. He gave them a warning signal while we were coming near, Michael thought. 

Nick, tall and slender about five feet seven, piercing eyes, a deep scar on his left face right below his  eye down to his jawbone and Tom, little bit shorter, bulging stomach, a round face and short hair, a smiling eyes. Both were displaying a sunburned skin and just about in their mid-twenties.

They’re peasants Michael thought.

They were looking at Rod with query eyes and Nick said, “Who’s with you?”

Rod standing beside Michael, puts his hand over his shoulder said, “He’s Michael. He’s one of us now”.

Nick nods his head. “Let’s sit down over there”, pointing at the chairs in front of his hut and started to walk towards it.

Michael who sat down last, thought, both of them have their pistols tucked in the waist underneath their pants. Are they expecting an enemy?  He figured it out when the flashlight caught it and took notice of the handle bulging underneath the shirt. This is scary, but with a tinge of excitement – at his tender age, he still has to learn how to fire a gun. Would they let me have one? I need to practice shooting at those empty can of sardines lying in the trash pit. His thoughts thrilled him.

He looked at Tom putting a bottle of gin on the table along with a bowl filled with ice cubes and a plate of sliced lemons and went back inside the hut.

Rod was talking to Nick; it sounded more like he’s giving him an order, “Giyna will celebrate her eighteenth birthday. Introduce him to her”.

He nodded his head in agreement then looks at Michael sidelong gazing at him like someone he would hang in a tree.

Tom appeared again with a glass and a plate full of small pieces of fried chicken.

Rod picked a piece of crispy fried chicken meat and said, “We’re not staying for long, have to wake-up early tomorrow morning”. The way that he relished that piece of meat makes Michael want to pick one too, but he chooses to wait for the right time.

Nick drinks his toast of pineapple gin with one gulp then said, “OK, Michael come here the day after tomorrow”, and then he picks a piece of chicken while passing the drinking glass to the next person beside him.

Rod took the glass and filled it with gin just enough for a swig and pick the chicken for the second time. Then he passed the glass to Michael which is sitting near him.

One glass, it looks like a drinking tournament, Michael thought, I’ll take a nip as an excuse to pick that chicken.

After two shots and two chicken picks Michael said, “Rod, I think we have to go. Tomorrow will be a busy day. We have exams on two of our subjects”, while taking a sidelong look to the two guys.

Rod looking at Nick said, “We have to go”. All the while Tom was silent and listening.

On their way home, Michael asked, “What is the name of our group? There must be a name to define us from others.”

“The group has no name. Our existence is kept secret”.

“But why, what’s so secret about us?”

“You’ll find out later”.

“Do we have a leader?”

“There are only a selected few who are able to see him and talk to him. He’s called Ancient”, and felt regret as quickly as he said it. I shouldn’t tell him anything until after the initiation.

“Is Ancient a shy guy?”

Rod said with a firm voice and a stern face, “From this point on, you must learn when to shut your mouth if you want to live long”. Rod said looking at him straight in the eye.

For the first time he felt fierce anger inside him and wish he could beat him with his bare hands, but he knows that he can’t do that to him thinking, He can easily beat me in a hand to hand combat, he’s a new recruit and I have to be patient. He tried to understand his innocence and lack of knowledge about the group. But he can’t tell him everything until he’s sure that his best friend is ready. In this group there is no such thing as best friend. He thought.

Rodrigo Kilmadraass picked up the phone, “Hello, Rod here”, he said.

“How’s it going?” he recognizes the voice at the other end of the line.

“Fine sir, he’s lassoed”, he reported back.

“Make it quick. I need him to do something”, and hangs up the phone.

(The whole story of Michael Bonn can be read after publishing of the Book – Double-Blade).