[Margaret]

IT WAS already a desperate attempt to save someone who was already down, vengeful, and torn. But for me, I shouldn't give up now. I arrived at the place after ten minutes. I strode faster just for me to reach the place that the person I called a while back had mentioned to me.

It was a run-down building. One of those that were about to be demolished this year, according to some rumors. And I guessed I shouldn't be surprised as to why no one would ever think that I'd possibly find the one I was looking for in this place.

"Don't be afraid, Margaret. You can do this," I encouraged myself. Though I hated going to places like this, this time I didn't have a choice.

I had to do this.

With sure steps, I entered the building as I tried my best not to create a noise. It was better that way. Let's just hope no heck of a devil would know I entered here.

But I got startled upon hearing moans and screams. My heart beat fast almost immediately. Not to mention that the scream belonged to someone I knew.

I didn't waste any more time. I hurried kn traversing the direction where I heard those sounds. Wala na akong inaksayang panahon. As I got closer, however, more screams resonated in the area along with groans of pain.

What the heck was going on?

When I arrived at the scene, a brutal view greeted me. I suddenly felt weak because of that.

A heavily panting Brent wearing a hooded and bloody jacket while carrying metal tubes on both hands— also covered in blood— was looking at his fallen enemies with cold eyes. Not even a single trace of remorse could be seen in those eyes at what he had done. Not one person lying around the area could even find the strength to get up anymore.

"No way..." I could only utter those words because of weakness and disbelief.

As if on cue, those cold eyes vanished in an instant. What replaced them was an unimaginable surprise as he looked up and finally faced my direction. He was gaping, as well.

"M-Margaret?"

I closed my eyes as I heard it. I still don't want to believe that it was true. That when I opened my eyes, I'd know that all of this was nothing more than a nightmare.

But sad to say, what I wished for didn't happen. The truth was even clearer than before the moment I opened my eyes. I wanted to cry, for some reasons. But not at the moment. I still needed to do something.

"What in the world are you trying to prove by doing this, Brent?" I started as I slowly aalked towards him. Yet I thought I trudged than actually walked.

He avoided his gaze from me. "How did you know that I'm here, huh?"

"Is that even important? What kind of bad air entered your mind and you're doing this now, huh? What in the world are you trying to prove?"

"That's none of your business! I have reason for doing this so stay out of it!"

I scoffed and shook my head. "Stay out? Do you think it's as easy as that? In case you're still unaware, various people already included me in dealing with all of this mess you've been doing. Why don't you tell them the same thing?"

"What the heck do you want, huh? Why did you follow me all the way here?"

I could feel Brent's anger toward me slowly rising. But I shouldn't falter. "Whatever my reason is for going through al this shit just for you is none of your business."

"Then why are you even here if it's like that? But you're right. Everything you see around you right now is full of shit! So get out of here and stay away before I decide to include you in all of these if I lose my cool!"

Even if I wanted to feel afraid and be surprised because of this, I couldn't. Did I go numb or something?

"Fine! Do it but let it be known to you that I'm not afraid of you. If I have to deal with you and fight you just for you to stop, I won't hold back and I never will!" I announced firmly.

Well, he started shouting at me. So here, I ended up doing the same thing. Both of us ended up in a staring game. His stares were hard and cold, but not as cold as how I saw it a while back.

Brent just cursed before kicking one of the guys that I didn't notice had stood up and was about to attack him. He must have vented out his pent-up frustration through that kick because of our confrontation.

And that was the last straw.

"Just stop it!" It was late for me to notice that I approached Brent and tried to stop him.

But he protested and before I knew it, he struck me on my left arm with the metal tube he was holding. But I thought it was enough to snap Brent out of his vengeful reverie. Now he was looking at me— particularly to my arm that was hit— in horror.

I tried to endure the searing pain since I was quite sure that I had a high pain tolerance. I guessed I could still bear this. But I had to admit, Brent was strong.

I smiled bitterly.

"M-Margaret... I'm sorry." He looked sorry... and afraid.

I tried to face him despite the searing pain. "Is this what you really want to happen, Brent? That even the people who had nothing to do with your grudge, the people who're truly important to you, are getting involved and hurt because of the hate you're been keeping in your heart has blinded you to this extent?"

Now he looked confused... and lost. He ended up throwing one of the metal tubes he was holding to the wall out of anger and frustration.

"Until when are you going to torture yourself like this, Brent? Until when will you remain like this?"

"Until they finally understand their mistakes to the people who shouldn't be involved in their foolishness to hurt others!"

"But you don't have any right to deliver this kind of punishment to them."

"Then who will? Tell me who will!"

I exhaled because I was starting to have the urge to strike him back with that metal tube he threw a while back. "Just how many lives are you intending to destroy before you feel satisfied, huh? You think you're a judge and an executioner at the same time to do this kind of punishment? What exactly are you trying to attain if you let this continue? No matter how many people you hurt this bad, none of this would ever bring back your friend's life!"

It was late for me to realize that my tears fell after that. It was late, as well, for me to see Brent dumbfounded. Perhaps something had struck him inside because of what I said.

"None of this pain, this blood, and your revenge will bring back a life that was lost and taken. Do you think Vanz would be happy because of what you've been doing? Do you think the other people who are still alive and truly cares for you and loves you would be happy? They won't be happy with this at all. None of these kinds of suffering would ever make them happy."

None of us spoke a word after that. It was total silence around us.

Because I couldn't bear the tensed atmosphere between us, I guessed... it was time for me to leave. Somehow, I did my part of the job. But the last decision would still come from Brent.

"You need to stop doing this," I said after a few moments.

"I can't..."

I frowned. "W-what do you mean?"

"I can't... because I don't know how."

"You have to try. You've already involved and hurt a lot of people in this. That's enough." I must have sounded pathetic for actually pleading like that.

I was still trying to bear the pain coming from my arm. Seriously... Not once that I thought of the possibility that Brent could do this to me. I tried to hold the part that he hit. But I ended up wincing at the sting of pain.

This was indeed crazy.

I was about to turn around and leave since I could feel that my job there was done. But before I could even comprehend what had happened next, it surprised me to see Brent let go of the other metal tube he'd been holding and knelt in front of me. What had surprised me more was when he hugged me with his face buried to my stomach.

I couldn't move. I didn't know how, especially when I felt his shoulders shaking. Next thing I knew, he uttered two words in the most heartbreaking tone I had ever heard from him.

"I'm sorry..."