RÊD FLÂGS
Red Flags - Episode 49 & 50
(Badasses•Bad•Jerks)
★★★★★★★★★
SAME NIGHT, 9PM~CARSON'S MANSION*
Emory lay quietly on her bed, her eyes f+çking puffy and her lashes wet with tears.
She's curved into a ball, scrolling through her galley and staring at the pictures she snapped with Lizzy alone, and the ones the four of them snapped together.
Their girlfriend date at the beach last year summer,, Rebekah's birthday last year on a cruise ship, and when they spent their vacation together in Paris in the beginning of this year.
There are so many pictures, and as she scrolled, she cried.
It was Rebekah and Nina who brought her home from the bridge since she refused to allow Levi.
The two offered to spend the night with her, but she had to disagree, just to be alone.
She started deleting Lizzy's pictures one by one, and when she got to a particular video, she pressed play.
Lizzy is grilling meat while Nina and Rebekah are dancing in the background.
Emory is the one making the video so she didn't appear.
"Are you both gonna dance all day? I can't grill all the meat myself!" Lizzy said.
"Aren't you the mommy figure? Come to think of it you're already 22 but we're all 21. Be the mommy and stop complaining" Nina said, twerking on Rebekah.
"Emz should I just kill them?" Lizzy faced the camera.
"I support" Emory replied from the background, and Lizzy immediately left the grill, chasing Rebekah and Nina around while Emory laughed.
Emory cried harder watching it, and as she pressed delete, she felt her head banging.
Headache.
She dropped the phone, and Sybil came in, holding her phone and watching the news on it.
Lizzy's body was found with a bullet in her chest at river Cema around 8pm. The discovery was made after the cops received an anonymous report about how someone jumped into the river.
Her house is currently under search, and a human robot was found with several vibrators which she named LEVI. The trenchcoat and vans were found too, but the biggest shocker is the dead body of North Diaz...
Sybil sighed as she sat in bed beside Emory...
"Do you want me to sleep here?" She asked.
"Don't bother" Emory's faint voice came.
"But for real... Banks is scary. I almost peed myself when he shot Lizzy on the bridge." Sybil said.
"Can i stay alone?" Emory said.
"Sure, goodnight" Sybil stood and left the room.
Her parents came in almost immediately, but Emory pretended to be asleep.
Tate gave her a deep kiss on the forehead, and Mr. Carson sighed.
"She doesn't deserve this" he said.
"But who killed Lizzy?" Tate asked.
"Isn't it obvious? It's probably suicide. She's an obsessed girl who'd do anything to be noticed. Didn't you see what they found in her house? A human robot and plastic penises and... don't even let me start" Mr. Carson said.
Emory listened with heavy eyes till her parents left the room too, then her phone began ringing.
She took it, but the moment she saw 'Criminal' as the caller, she dropped the phone.
This will be his tenth call since she came home, and she hasn't picked any.
She sank herself into the sheets, closing her eyes.
*
RAIN'S PLACE*
Every goddamn appliance in the house is currently scattered on the ground, either broken, cracked or shattered.
Rain has been throwing things away since she came back from the bridge, and right now she's standing in the middle of the mess she made.
Levi's words to Emory at the bridge rang in her head again...
"I'LL KILL YOUR PARENTS EVEN IF THEY'RE THE ONES WHO HURT YOU. I WASN'T BLUFFING WHEN I SAID THAT,.. FOX"
So Emory is the fox?
Gawd...gawd...
She picked a stool and threw it at the TV, shattering it too before entering her bedroom.
She knocked down all the stuffed foxes and sat on the ground, backing the wall as she began crying.
"Emory haven't you done enough? Why must you take everything from me!!!"
*
TERRAVERDE PALACE*
Rebekah is sitting up in bed, backing her pillow while holding a framed picture of herself and Lizzy.
She could still remember she sneaked out of the palace the day they snapped that picture.
She secretly went out with Lizzy alone, just to make Nina and Emory jealous.
"It shouldn't have been you, Lizzy" she mumbled, throwing the frame at the wall.
It broke, and Conrad came in.
"I see she's getting thrashed already" he said, picking up the broken frame.
He threw it out.
"Did you eat?" He asked.
"Yeah, but it was bitter" she replied, and he sat beside her.
"Want something to quench the bitterness?" He said.
"What?" She blinked, and he snapped his fingers.
A maid brought in the biggest pint of ice cream, making her gasp.
Conrad took it, and the maid left, then he handed it to her.
"Have fun" he stood to leave.
"No, stay longer!" She quickly said.
"And what do I get in return?" He smirked.
"I dunno... anything" she shrugged, and he sat back.
She opened the pint and began eating with the small spoon.
"I feel better" she said.
"Courtesy...yours truly" he winked.
"You're so full of yourself" she replied, and he smiled.
"I know"
Rebekah moved closer to him, making sure their arms are touching before she continued eating.
*
NINA'S PLACE*
Nina is standing in front of her wardrobe, staring at the dress she and Lizzy twinned with.
Sadness swirled in her eyes as she stared, and she slowly took the gown.
She hugged it to her chest. "Lizzy" She muttered in disappointment.
She walked to the disposal bowl and threw the gown inside, then she went back to her bed was about to climb up when the door barged open, and her foster mother came in.
"Get out here and take Sabrina's bags inside" she ordered.
Nina blinked. "Sabrina is back?"
"Out" Mrs. Young replied with a roll of her eyes before leaving.
"An evil girl left, but another evil one just arrived. Perfect. Very perfect" Nina muttered, leaving the room.
She went downstairs and met Sabrina coming in with the parents.
She's their real daughter, the bitch.
"This charity case is still here?" Sabrina said with a sneer, eyeing Nina like a fly.
"We had no choice. Someone has to wash the cars" Mr. Young said.
"That's kinda true, but her face annoys me" Sabrina said, walking up to Nina.
"Welcome home, miss" Nina greeted respectfully, and Sabrina sniffed the air around her tauntingly.
"You didn't change, you still smell like an orphan" she grinned, pushing her out of the way.
"You know how I like my tea, right?" Bring it upstairs after taking in my things" she said, going upstairs.
"Welcome back my baby!!" Mrs. Young shouted, following her with her husband.
Nina went out, and her her jaws dropped when she saw the big bags waiting beside the car.
Should she have told the girls about her sufferings during the truth circle?
She made to lift one of the bags, but it pulled her down, and she fell.
"Darn it"
*
LOFT*
Levi came here alone after leaving the bridge.
He's currently in the gym room, working himself on a chest press machine and sweating profusely.
Just the sound of his harsh breath filled the gym, and as his muscles tightened and loosened, he groaned, reminiscing about what happened at the bridge.
He felt satisfied immediately he released that bullet into Lizzy's heart, though that's just a mini version of what he was planning to do before.
He'd have captured her and tortured her brutally till life falls out of her mouth, but the dignity of dying with just a bullet is because Emory still considered her a friend even till the last minute.
He stopped his exercise and got his phone, dialling Emory's line for the twentieth time.
She's still not picking.
He should be on his way to her mansion right now and hack his way into her door again, but he decided against that tonight.
She can cry all she wants for Lizzy tonight, and they'll just continue the drill tomorrow.
He'll give her a hard-to-give break, and then he can barge into her space again.
If she behaves stubborn, he'd have no choice but chain her up again no matter the consequences.
He left the gym, his body glossing with sweat, but he was surprised to see the tiger sitting at the door
It's like it's been waiting for him.
He crouched in front of it and stroked it's back.
"What's up, Buddy" he said.
The tiger locked eyes with him, and he instantly saw his mother's eyes in it's eyes.
Though he never set eyes on Xusan, but he saw plenty of her pictures with Master X, and she's the most beautiful Chinese woman ever.
She owned this tiger when she was still alive, and it was passed down to him together with the foldable belt when he turned fifteen.
FLASHBACK, AGE FIFTEEN*
"You're giving him a tiger and a belt as his fifteenth birthday present?" Uncle Reginald said surprisingly.
Levi has been staying with him and his wife since he was born. Master X refused him totally, claiming he's a devil.
"They're gifts from Xusan, not from me" Master X replied.
His back is on them like he does anytime they come with Levi.
"Thank you, father" Levi said slowly.
"Take him out of here" Master X replied, and tears fell from Levi's eyes to his black shirt.
BACK TO THE PRESENT*
Levi stood slowly and retrieved his phone.
He ordered spicy beef, and it came in a jiffy.
He took the order and emptied in a plate for the tiger.
It was eating peacefully as Levi climbed the stairs, dialling Emory's line for the 21st time.
*
TERRAVERDE GRILL*
Chadwick pulled his new car up in front of the building, and he was smiling as he stepped out.
He admired the red Maybach for like two minutes before entering the grill.
He waited by the door, searching with his eyes till he saw Issac.
Isaac waved, and he walked to him, rolling his car keys in hand.
"You got a new car? Cool" Isaac smiled.
"Sure, you heard about Lizzy's death?" Chadwick asked.
"Of course, it's the news of the night. They said it's suicide, she was obsessed" Isaac replied, and Chadwick nodded.
"Well deserved"
"Why did you want to meet me?" Isaac asked.
"It's about Hyce" Chadwick replied.
"Did he send you to...me?" Isaac asked quickly.
"Nuh-uh... I'm here on my own. Look, i know you're not gay, but maybe if you just become friends with him, he might be ok with that. This guy will do anything for you. You're like his button" Chadwick said.
"Hyce is cool and kind. He's like my helper, but...
"But what?" Chadwick asked.
"But he hates me now" Isaac replied.
"That's bull, he doesn't. In fact, he's at his father's mansion tonight, and it's not far from here. You know McCall mansion right? You can go confirm" Chadwick said.
"For real?" Isaac stood, grabbing his bag.
Chadwick nodded, and Isaac rushed out of the grill.
"Mix beer and rue for me please!" He hollered at the bar man.
"Sure!" The man replied, and Chadwick smiled.
*
MCCALL'S MANSION*
It'll be boring to sleep at Levi's mansion alone, and going to the Loft is a no since Levi loves being alone after a kill, so Hyce decided to come home.
He looks damn tired as he pushed the door open, meeting his dad in the living room.
"It's been close to two months since you last stepped your father's house" General McCall said.
"Not my fault. You always nag anytime I come, so staying at Banks place is much more comfortable" Hyce replied, walking towards the stairs.
"What was the fingerprint you came to my office to scan?" General McCall suddenly asked, and Hyce stopped, gritting his jaws before turning back.
"I'm a General, Hyce. You don't expect me to not find out, and the fact that you're my son doesn't mean you get to do what you want. Is Banks corrupting you?" The man said, and Hyce frowned.
"What!"
"He's the leader of a frat club, and his father runs an illegal business. How sure am I that you're safe with him?"
"Banks is more than my best friend, dad. He's like my brother" Hyce replied plainly.
"Who's his mother?" The man came closer.
Hyce sighed.
"Who's his mother, Hyce?" He asked again.
"Xusan Zheng... she's Chinese, from a family of fighters" Hyce replied, and McCall's eyes widened.
"Did you just say Xusan Zheng? Oh Hyce...you know nothing, do you. They're not just a family of fighters, but they're bloody assassins, and this Xusan was the scariest female in the family. They possess the deadliest fighting weapons, and they keep dangerous wild animals as pets. They killed more than two thousand people some years back in China. Killing is in their blood and death follow them around" McCall explained vividly.
"But Xusan changed when she met Master X" Hyce defended.
"So you know the story?" McCall said shockingly.
Hyce kept quiet.
"The fact that she changed doesn't change the fact that she was an assassin, and that Banks is her son! A student died some hours ago and she was obsessed with him, who knows if he did the job!" McCall said.
"Dad!" Hyce snapped.
"End your friendship with him" the man said, and Hyce smiled, going closer.
"NO" he said to his face, walking out straight.
"It was a mistake coming here" he muttered.
"Hyce! Hyce McCall!" He called after him, but Hyce was already out.
He was about to get in his car when he saw Isaac standing beside it, and his eyes calmed.
"Isaac?"
"Hey ... Chadwick told me you'd be here and... I came to say...sorry" Isaac said, and Hyce walked up to him.
Isaac blinked in a girly manner, and Hyce smiled before pulling his cheek.
"Aren't you such a silly boy?"
"Thanks to you, my mum is getting better, and she's looking forward to seeing you again" Isaac said.
"Let's go see her" Hyce replied.
"Really?" Isaac smiled.
"C'mon" Hyce replied, and they both got in his car.
Hyce drove them out of the mansion, sighing from time to time.
He has been restless since Lizzy's death, and anytime he feels this, it means something huge is coming.
Why does it feel like this is just the beginning of the battle?
*
NEXT DAY, CARSON'S MANSON*
It's a Saturday, so Nina and Rebekah decided to spend all their day here.
They've been here since daybreak.
They had to drag Emory out of her room and made sure she ate with them, then they went back to her room after breakfast.
While Nina checked her wardrobe for clothes to steal, Rebekah used her black nail polish.
Sybil is with them too, and she's chatting with Rain on her phone.
"You like black nail polish too much" Rebekah said.
"Yeah, it's my best polish color" Emory replied from the bed.
"And did you smoke last night?" Nina asked, taking a look at the ashtray. There are three cigar butts on it.
"Yeah... somehow" Emory replied, checking her phone.
After Levi's 21st call last night, he didn't call again, and her overthinking self has been mulling over it.
Basically, she's at fault for not picking because of Lizzy, but is he supposed to stop calling?
"Are you expecting a call?" Rebekah asked.
"No... just that .. Levi..."
"What's up about him?" Nina came closer.
Emory told them how she ignored his calls, and Rebekah heaved.
"I understand you, but you realize he did it for you, right? That was the simplest death I've ever seen him give someone. We should be thankful he didn't capture her, he'd have tore out her flesh" she said.
Emory gulped.
"Banks is legit scary" Nina said.
"I swear" Sybil supported.
"But he's always been there for you, Emz. Are you aware he's the one who saved you from the freezer?" Rebekah said.
"What! No it was Omar..." Emory shook her head.
"Omar took you out of the freezer, but it was Banks who broke the lock, broke the door and turned off the switch" Rebekah explained, and Emory came down from the bed.
"But he didn't tell me, he didn't!"
"He choose not to" Rebekah replied, and Emory went silent.
The girls finally left her at 6pm, and immediately they left, she began trying Levi's line, but he's not picking.
She was restless as she tried for the tenth time, and when he's still not picking, she left the house.
She drove to the Loft and surprisingly, the door is locked.
She pulled the beam switch to announce her presence, but nothing happened still.
She tried his line again, but he's still not answering.
She stood there hurtfully for almost ten minutes before sitting by the door.
Her knees were propped up, and she wrapped her second hand around it, resting her chin on her jnees.
She was sniffling as she tried his line again and again and again.
The tears finally fell when he didn't pick the twentieth time, and she buried her face in her knees right there.
She spent almost an hour there, and it was already past 7pm when the door finally opened.
She spranged up, and he finally came to view, his lips pale like the other time at the tub.
His eyes looks soulless, but she doesn't even mind as she walked fast to him, wiping her tears.
She stood on her toes and held his shirt, jumping up and wrapping her legs on his waist as she gummed herself to him.
Her arms circled his neck, and he smiled slightly before sliding his arm on her waist.
"I shouldn't have ignored your calls, I'm sorry" she said.
Without replying, Levi's hand went to her sneakers, and she pulled them off her feet, throwing them off before touching her foot, feeling the warmness.
"Did you eat?" He asked.
"I couldn't, you weren't picking my calls and I got scared that you're mad at me" she muttered, and the small smile appeared on his lips again.
"What would you take?" He asked, going to the center room.
"I'm not hungry" she replied, bringing her hand to his face to caress his beauty mole.
"But I am. I'm f+çking hungry" he replied, and she gulped as she rubbed her ear, not missing the undertone of what he said.
She gasped when he placed her on the table and spread her legs, so her gown pulled to her waist
He stood in the middle of her legs then pulled her to the edge of the table.
Her panty rubbed on his crotch, making her body freeze.
"That's...that feels good" she said slowly as their eyes bored into each other.
"You know what'll feel better?" He whispered.
"What?" She made the mistake of asking.
"My tongue inside your tight little pu$$y" he replied, and before she could gasp at it, he impatiently pulled down off her red panty.
"L--evi!" She gripped him.
"Xhen, I prefer Xhen" he replied, pushing her to lie on the table.
*
*
RAIN'S PLACE*
Rain is sitting on her bed, the box is in front of her again, and she's staring at her ballerina flats and dress with black sadness.
She's crying, and a bowl is under her chin which she's collecting the tears in.
She sniffled hard, rewinding to the past when it all started.
FLASHBACK, YEARS AGO~GERMANY*
Ten years old Rain came out of the Ballerinas Academy with her friends surrounding her.
She's hanging a fancy pink bag on her shoulders, and her wavy hair is in two ponies.
She's the prettiest of all the girls, and as they showered her with questions, she felt like a god
• How are you so good?
• I learnt the dance for three nights but still didn't get it, what's your secret?
• You're so cool, Rain.
• I wanna be like you.
"Rain!" Her mother's voice called from the roadside, and she smiled wider.
She waved at the girls before rushing to the plumpy woman who immediately hugged her.
"I see how they shrouded you, it's not easy to be the best ballerina dancer" she said.
"Of course" Rain flipped her hair, and the woman smiled.
"Why did you park your car at the other side? I hate crossing the road" Rain complained.
"There's no space here anymore as you can see" the woman replied as they started going for the road.
"When next is dad coming to visit? And why is he even keeping us from his family in Spain? They don't even know he has a wife or daughter" Rain asked again.
"It's for the best I'm sure, and he's coming next week unfailingly. My Fred always keeps to his words" the woman replied.
"Don't act as if you love him more" Rain rolled eyes, and the woman laughed, then her phone began ringing.
"It's him!" She said, happily picking the call and clicking loud speaker.
"Dad!!" Rain shouted.
"I dunno when you both will be seeing me again, but I have to go into hiding" Fred's voice came.
"What are you talking about?" The wife said fearfully.
"I've been framed for rape. Emory the daughter of my brother lied that I raped her and I'm currently wanted! I have to go" Fred replied.
"No...dad you can't go without...dad!!!" Rain screamed.
The tension of the call made them forget that they're currently crossing the road, and they got stuck.
Before a snap, mother and daughter were jammed by a car in the middle of the road.
The mother died on the spot, and as for Rain, her leg got condemned, so it was amputated and replaced by a prosthetic leg.
She woke up three months later in an hospital, and she couldn't stop her tears as she beheld her new fake leg.
Her ballerina dream is shattered, and all her hope got lost.
She lost everything.
"I'll end Emory myself! She must pay for taking everything from me" she muttered vengefully.
BACK TO THE PRESENT*
Rain wiped the tears on her face but another round fell into the bowl.
"She has her two parents but I lost mine because of her. She has her two legs but I lost my right leg because of her. She's knocking me behind in academics too, and now the guy I like is ready to kill for her? F+ck... I feel powerless suddenly. Where the hell are you dad!!! Where are you!!!" She cried loudly, sliding from the chair to the ground.
The ringing of the doorbell interrupted her, and she quickly dropped her bowl of tears.
She wiped the tears, covered the box and hid it before going for the door
She was sure it's Sybil, but that changed immediately she opened the door and saw Prof. Hayden.
"Prof. Hayden? What are you doing in my house?. No... How did you find my house?" She asked shockingly.
Prof. Hayden smiled and slid his hand under his neck, pulling off something.
It's a silicone face mask!
Rain gasped as he pulled it off completely, and immediately it went off, his real face surfaced.
Rain froze, her eyes widening to her temples.
"It's Fred, and I missed you too, daughter" he smiled.
"D-d-daad?" Rain stuttered.
TBC.
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