novelraw Chapter 22: Volunteer
Chapter 22: Volunteer
Chapter 22: Volunteer
Kit:
Kit felt his heart thrash against his ribcage at the mention of P’Kim. He knew that P’First wasn’t going to go easy on him, just as he knew that P’Kim would probably do everything that P’First told him to do just to save Kit and his friends because of his obligation to his sister…and he didn’t want any of that.
But it was already too late to do anything about it. Because it was at that moment that he saw P’Kim being escorted inside by P’First’s men, followed by P’Aawut and some of his other men that Kit hadn't seen before.
P’Kim was wearing a steel grey jacket and dress pants, paired with a red shirt. He seemed to be the only pop of color in this sea of black and white and even in such a dire situation, Kit felt his heart flutter at the sight of him.
He came! Kit thought to himself, his mind stuck between joy and panic as she saw the guns being pointed in P’Kim’s direction. He came for me!
Despite their disagreement the last time they had met…P’Kim had decided to show up, even though he had had his doubts about the situation. But here he was, the magnificent man who had put his own life at risk to save his.
However, he still hoped that his sister didn’t know anything about the abduction. Because he knew she would worry and he didn’t want that. His sister had suffered all her life while taking care of their mother and then their father’s debts; in the end…he didn’t want to be the cause of her suffering.
P’Kim’s eyes met his from across the room right at that moment and he felt his heart almost skip a beat.
Even though he didn’t say a word, but Kit felt like he was trying to communicate with him through his eyes, telling him to be patient. After all, he was here now. He was here to take care of everything.
Kit swallowed his saliva, wetting his parched throat. He gave a small nod, even though his heart kept on hammering rapidly. Please be safe…he wanted to say it out loud, but was afraid to voice it. Afraid that those around him would try to hurt P’Kim even more.
“Nong Kimhan!” P’First clapped his hands together in excitement, that cunning smile never leaving his face. “It’s been such a long time.”
“P’First.” Kim’s voice lacked humor as he looked at the other man. “Let’s skip the chit-chat and get down to business. Tell me what you want.”
“Like I said before, didn’t I?” P’First smirked at Kim menacingly. “Whatever you’re will-”
“It’s been a long day and I have no mood to be poetic, or sit around waiting for you to deliver your punchline.” Kim took the seat opposite to P’First. “The Ayutthaya and the Channarong families have been enemies for decades, Phi. So don’t pretend to have a righteous bone in your body and suddenly care about your subordinates when we both know you don’t give a flying fuck as to what happens to them.”
First’s smile slowly turned into a sneer as he looked at Kimhan in utter disgust. “You’re no better than any of your peers, you spoilt little brat!”
“You kidnap those kids, hold them hostage and then proceed to blackmail me for ransom while under the guise of being a caring and genuine leader.” Kimhan scoffed. “And I’m still the spoilt brat? Tell me what you want and let’s get this over with, shall we? And don’t even bother wasting your time on petty threats.”
“Petty?” First’s lips tugged at the corners. “Fine. As you wish. I want the ten million baht that this punk’s father owns me. And I want five men. Five of the finest you can offer.”
“Liar!” Kit shouted; eyes wide upon hearing the amount that P’First had just mentioned. “That’s not how much my father owns you! You’re doubling the amount!”
Suddenly, Kit’s head snapped to the side as the slap resonated in his brain, the sound reverberating inside the huge warehouse. The pain of the slap followed a few seconds later as Kit tasted blood, stars dancing in his vision as he tried to blink several time to clear them.
And then…a gunshot followed. A body dropped to the ground at Kit’s feet, followed by the gasp of horror from Earth and Ben.
Kim placed the gun onto the table in front of him, smoke still rising from its muzzle as he heard P’First tsk in regret. “Now that’s six men.”
“Aawut.” Kimhan called and his right hand man handed him the tab that he had been holding. “It’s done, Sire.”
“Check your account.” Kim told P’First nonchalantly. “I’ve added a little advance so you can buy some men who would be willing to work for you. Unless, of course…you still want to take mine and then sleep with one eye open. Because I can guarantee that they will be the best I can offer you, P’First…but I cannot guarantee you their loyalty. I’m afraid it’s a concept the men in the Channarong family find very difficult to grasp.”
Kit could tell by P’First’s expression that he was getting angrier by the second. But instead of yelling or shouting at P’Kim…a slow, menacing smile appeared on P’First’s lips instead…and Kit knew that they were in deep trouble even before the words were out of P’First’s lips.
“If that’s the case…how about I just keep your boy.”
P’Kim went to pick up the gun, but P’First slammed his fist down onto the glass table the next instant, making a significantly loud cracking noise as blood splattered onto the table. Kit’s eyes widened in horror as he noticed that P’First held a small knife in his hand and it had stabbed the side of P’Kim’s palm.
“P’Kim!” Kit spoke from his spot, struggling to get out of his binds.
No! He couldn’t let him get hurt because of him! P’Kim didn’t deserve this!
But just like the first time he got slapped, one of P’First’s men who stood behind them, grabbed him by his hair and yanked him back, causing him to yelp out in pain as they held a knife to his throat.
“Say one word and it goes right through.” The man spat at him, digging the knife deeper into the vulnerable skin of his neck. Kit winced as he felt the knife prick his skin. He felt something drip down his neck, but with his head yanked back in an awkward position, he couldn’t tell if it was blood or sweat.
“Let them go.” Kim’s voice was dangerously low and rough. “You got the money. Don’t try to make unnecessary trouble.”
“And what if I do?” P’First smirked. “What if I want to make unnecessary trouble, Nong Kimhan? What are you going to do about it?”
“So you want to turn this scene into a bloodshed just because you’re feeling bored?” Kim removed him hand from the edge of the knife, ignoring the sting and the blood that dripped everywhere, to place his hand back on the arms of the chair, but this time he took the gun with him. “Is that the kind of leader you plan on being? I’m disappointed…your brother was much more sensible.”
This time, when P’First slammed his other hand onto the table, it shattered into a million pieces and fell to the floor in a rain of glass that scattered everywhere. From the corner of his eyes, Kim noticed that the boys were still wearing their shoes, so there was no chance that the shards would get to them. However, the trickle of blood down Kit’s neck didn’t go unnoticed.
“Don’t you dare bring my brother into this!” First roared in anger, drawing his own gun and a second later, both men were pointing their guns at each other’s foreheads, their fingers on the trigger.
Kim smirked as First grit his teeth, but then he motioned for his men with a slow tilt of his head.
Aawut was shoot the man who held the knife to Kit’s throat the next instant, before he could follow First’s orders and slit his throat. And just like that, everyone’s guns were drawn, fingers on the trigger, ready to cause a bloodbath.
“I volunteer.”
Both Kim and First turned to look at the boy who was sitting to Kit’s right, frowns on their faces.
Ben looked directly at P’First, having silently observed him for long enough to understand what exactly was happening. “You don’t really want to keep Kit or any of us here, do you?” He now told the man with long hair, tilting his head to the side. “You just wanted to get even with P’Kim on some level. You wanted him to come crawling to you once he learned that kit had be abducted…you wanted him to bow down before you. But when none of that happened…you’re just throwing a temper tantrum.”
“Little boy…” P’First sneered at Ben. “You should keep your mouth shut when adults are talking.”
“You got your money already and if I’m right…you got more than what you asked for.” Ben continued without fear and even though Kit tried his best to motion for him to stop, he didn’t. “If you really want to keep Kit here…just for the fun of it…then I volunteer to take his place. Take the offer and end it peacefully…or go on with your games and end up losing even more of your men. The choice is yours.”
“Ben!” Kit and Earth both whispered to the boy, begging him to look at the two of them. “Stop! What are you doing!”
“Ending this nonsense.” Ben said hoarsely, looking down at the ground, at the pool of blood that had accumulated from the body by his feet. “If it stops this mayhem then I’m willing to do anything for it.”
The room became eerily silent for a long time, so quiet that the caws of the crows from outside felt loud in the silence of the room.
Suddenly, First threw back his head and laughed, causing everyone, including Kit and Kim to tense up for a second. And then he lowered his gun, signaling his men to do the same.
Kim told his men to do the same, however, he didn’t lower his guard for a single second.
“Looks like we have a new deal.” First sighed, leaning back in his chair as he placed one leg over the other. “Go on, untie them, let them go. All except for the little volunteer.”
As soon as the boys were free of the bounds, they tried to get to Ben, who was still tied to the chair, but were stopped by the men around them. So they boys were escorted back to Kim’s side safely.
Kit wanted to run into Kim’s arms, but he stayed put; holding onto Earth’s hand tightly as his friend trembled from the sight of the blood.
Kim got up from the chair leisurely, keeping an eye out for any kind of threats. “What are you going to do with the boy?” He asked, because he didn’t think killing him was beneath P’First.
“That’s no longer your concern.” First gave him a smile and a wave. “Goodbye, Kimhan. It was nice doing business with you.”
“From now on, if Kit’s father borrows money, shoot him.” Kim reminded First. “Or I will.”
With that, Kim turned and took Kit’s hand firmly in his before escorting him and Earth out of the warehouse…leaving Ben at First’s mercy.