I Must Kill You
By then, Phoenix had already finished his cigarette. He lit another one, but he didn’t smoke it. He simply
held it.
“With no adults around, our food supplies at home were bound to run out one day. We managed to tough
it out for five months, but our parents didn’t come home. Out of necessity, my sister took me with her to
beg for food. For seven years, we traveled from the north to the south. For those seven years, most of
what we ate was garbage scavenged from bins. Going hungry and being exposed to the elements was
our life. Regardless of how hungry she was though, my sister would always make sure that I ate my fill
first before eating what was left.”
“You know that my sister’s called Poison Spider by others. She easily drew people’s attention, and she
had plenty of partners. She was also vicious and greedy. Many people loathed her. But no matter what
she did, I would never show her any disrespect, because I saw this with my own two eyes—she was
tricked by an old man into selling her body when she was twelve, all so she could get me a pair of
tattered cotton pants to wear. At the age of fourteen, she gave birth to that man’s child. The reason I was
able to survive during our trek to the south was because my sister traded her body for my life.”
“She has been tricked and hurt by far too many men in her lifetime. Naturally, she loathes men with
every fiber of her being. Regardless of all she’s done and what others call her, I am the only one who
can never look down on her or humiliate her with scathing words, even when others do so. Anyone
else may be able to mistreat her, but I am the only one who will never do that! My sister only has two
family members left—me, and her son. Her body has been wrecked due to all the abuse she suffered
when she was young. She would only ever have that one son.”
“Do you know why her son also has the surname of Warde? Because to my sister, her son’s father is
unimportant. That boy is hers. That was the crux of the matter!”
Elio finished his third cigarette at last. He raised his head to look at Matthew. “Can you blame me for
saving her son?”
Matthew fell quiet. At last, he discovered how these three people’s odd personalities came to be. To be
honest, he actually pitied Poison Spider a little after listening to Elio’s story. It hadn’t been easy for her to
survive until today. It was no wonder why she was so cruel. This world had been savage to her; how
could she repay the world in kind after going through all that?
After a long silence, Matthew spoke at last. “It’s a touching story. I think I had the wrong idea about them
before, but I’m afraid that I won’t be able to help you right now. I have things that I want to achieve myself
as well!”
Phoenix chuckled. “I didn’t tell you that story just so you would help me. I just thought that our situations
are somewhat similar. You protected your younger sister with your life. Likewise, my older sister
protected me with hers. Whatever you are willing to do for your sister, I’m willing to do for my own as
well! So what if Eastcliff is Billy Newman’s territory? As long as my sister is in danger, I will go through
the depths of hell to save her!”
Phoenix tossed his cigarette butt into the ashtray and got up from the couch. It was only then that
Matthew realized Phoenix was really tall, clocking in at over six feet.
Phoenix pointed at him. “I apologize, but I must kill you!” he said softly.
With that, he abruptly moved and arrived in front of Matthew. He came right at Matthew with a right hook.
Matthew immediately felt danger the moment he saw Phoenix attack. He brought both arms up to block
the blow, but the force made him feel like he had been hit by a truck. Matthew couldn’t stop himself from
staggering a few steps back.
Didn’t this mean that Phoenix was as powerful as Lord Voodoo?
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