As Xiandre reached the massive door carrying Amelia on his back, he chanted.
"Sa batong 'di natinag, sa tatak na 'di nabiyak, patahimikin ang tinig, gisingin ang halakhak ng lakas. O tarangkang pangwalang-hanggan, kandadong lihim ng alamat, sa ngalang 'di binigkas—buksan ang pintuang sagrado't masukal!"
The door magically opened once more, though this time it didn't close afterward.
It revealed a hallway. In the walls were blue torches with scratches; they could hear the torches growl and moan as if in pain—like the torches were the very souls of humans themselves.
Xiandre walked inside, realizing the others were no longer there.
"I guess I did tell them to continue, but now I'm kinda worried where they might've gone," Xiandre said.
"It's not that dark here, unlike the other room. This place seems brighter and smaller," Amelia commented.
The two continued walking down the straight hallway in silence. The only sound was Xiandre's footsteps echoing in the clear, empty corridor, with only the torches serving as furniture.
Xiandre walked and walked, until he finally broke the silence between them.
"This hallway is quite far, don't you think?" Xiandre said.
"Yeah, you've been walking for probably an hour by now," Amelia replied.
"True."
(Silence)
"So... I actually have a question for you," Amelia said.
"What is it?" Xiandre responded.
"Why did you fake your death?" she asked.
"...I got tired."
"You got tired? That can't possibly be it," Amelia replied.
"I'd be lying if I said yes."
"So you actually just got tired of being the most wanted criminal in the world—and even recorded in the entire history?" Amelia pressed.
"Remember what I told you back then?"
"I do," Amelia replied.
*Flashback*
"CALLING FROM NAO, THE SMILING REAPER HAS ASSASSINATED COMMANDER LUNAR!" a soldier yelled into the microphone inside an underground NAO headquarters.
Commander Lunar, the leader of the headquarters, lay dead in his office with a gunshot to the forehead.
Xiandre walked the hallways of the base with an invisible cloak, laughing at the chaos unfolding.
He was just about to reach the exit door when someone shot him in the back.
He turned and saw that the shooter was a girl around his age.
"I have a bulletproof vest. Sorry, that won't hurt me," Xiandre said.
Without hesitation, the girl adjusted her aim and shot at his head—but to no avail. Xiandre's mask was also bulletproof.
"Tsk."
"You mad you can't penetrate me with bullets?" Xiandre asked.
The girl charged directly at him. Xiandre sighed and glanced at her ID.
"Her name is Amelia Voidstar," he thought.
Amelia was already right in front of Xiandre, about to throw a right hook.
Xiandre dodged with ease, only to be met with a kick to his left side—which he dodged again.
He quickly maneuvered behind Amelia and pinned her to the wall.
But Amelia broke out easily, kicking off Xiandre's mask.
She caught a glimpse of his face, but he luckily had a second mask underneath.
"Dang, you're quite the fighter, aren't you?"
Amelia launched a punch at Xiandre's face, but he blocked it with his palm—then blocked her second punch with his other hand.
She swiftly threw a side kick, but Xiandre moved his head just enough to dodge it.
She pointed a gun at his head. Xiandre grabbed the barrel, causing her to misfire. He then struck her in the stomach with his ankle.
Amelia staggered back. Without hesitation, Xiandre took the gun from her and fired at her left leg.
He grabbed her by the throat and slammed her against the wall. Amelia kicked him away with her right leg, sending him back slightly. As she landed on the ground, she stood and threw several punches, all of which Xiandre blocked.
He then kicked her in the side, catching her off guard with his speed and strength.
Amelia gasped in pain. Xiandre followed up with a kick to her ankle, causing her to kneel. He gently lifted her head—then landed a hard right hook to her face, knocking her to the ground.
As Amelia fell, the NAO soldiers finally located them and swarmed Xiandre.
He held Amelia up, pointing a gun at her head.
"You all already know this, but I'll shoot her if any of you try to fire at me," Xiandre warned.
"SMILING REAPER, HAND HER OVER NOW!" the soldiers yelled.
"STOP!"
A voice cut through the chaos.
"Second-in-command Baltora?" "What should we do next!?" "Commander Lunar is dead!" "Yeah, the Smiling Reaper killed him and he's right there!" the soldiers shouted.
"SHUT UP, ALL OF YOU!" Baltora roared.
The soldiers fell silent as Baltora calmly walked in front of them and faced the Smiling Reaper.
"What's the meaning of this, Smiling Reaper?" Baltora asked calmly.
"Meaning? I just wanted to see him get what he deserved," Xiandre answered.
"And what exactly did he do to deserve this?" Baltora asked.
"Hm, what exactly? You see, your commander committed crimes that required my involvement. He used his authority to cover up things—one of them being sexual assault on minors. I can't forgive such a sin. But I bet you already knew more than I do," Xiandre said.
"Hm... yeah, that's right. I remember now—the Smiling Reaper only comes to take the souls of those he sees as sinners, right?" Baltora asked.
"That's right."
"Well, aren't you no different from those sinners you've killed? Killing is also a sin, isn't it? You're just a fool, getting involved in very dangerous missions and organizations. You're making enemies with everyone and anyone," Baltora said.
"To solve an incurable sin is to become a sinner yourself. That's a moral I've followed my entire life," Xiandre replied.
"I see. Well, we'll let you escape for now—but don't think you'll be lucky next time," Baltora said.
Baltora approached Xiandre, who was still holding Amelia. He crouched to pick up Xiandre's bulletproof mask, which had been kicked off, and handed it back with a smile.
"SECOND-IN-COMMAND, WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING!?" "WE CAN'T LET HIM ESCAPE!" "YEAH, HE KILLED OUR COMMANDER! WE NEED REVENGE!" the soldiers shouted.
"SHUT UP, DIDN'T I SAY!? WE ALREADY LOST THE COMMANDER. WE CAN'T LOSE OUR PERFECT GIRL—SHE'S ONE OF OUR BEST SOLDIERS!"
"Wait... this girl is the one they called the perfect girl?" Xiandre thought.
"I'm going to take my leave now," Xiandre said.
He exited the door with Amelia still hostage and found himself on a staircase leading outside.
He finally let her go.
"You're delusional if you think you can defeat me—perfect girl, or should I say, Amelia."
Amelia remained on the ground, holding her knees to her chest, crying.
"Aren't I better off dead to you?" Xiandre asked.
Amelia didn't respond. Xiandre sighed and glanced up the staircase toward the sky. It was nighttime, and the full moon shone brightly above.
"Are you crying because you're being forced into the military?" Xiandre asked.
Amelia remained silent.
"Don't worry, Amelia. That time will eventually come," Xiandre said.
"What are you talking about?" Amelia asked, sobbing.
"On November first, I'll end my life. I know what's going on. Due to the lack of soldiers from Mindanao, they sometimes force teenagers to join the military because of the ongoing war between Mindanao and Luzon."
"I don't blame you for trying to kill me. You were just doing your job—to kill me and finally earn your freedom through that achievement," Xiandre continued. "And if you're really the perfect girl, you're probably a victim of the Child Evolution Experiment, am I right?"
Amelia nodded.
"Anyway, I'll be going now. And Amelia—when we meet again, let's not be enemies. I really want to know who you truly are inside."
And with that, Xiandre began walking up the stairs.
"And another thing is, I'm really getting bored with this most wanted shenanigans, though it was really fun, a very fun one." Xiandre remarked.
*Present time*
"It had been fun being the Smiling Reaper, but I got tired of being a villain," Xiandre replied.
"Did you know some people actually saw you as their hero?" Amelia exclaimed.
"Yeah, I do know. But at the end of the day, I'm still a villain," Xiandre remarked.
"I guess you're right for killing those people. You did still commit a crime... But still, it's like you took their crimes upon yourself by ending their lives and taking it up for yourself," Amelia inquired.
"I guess you can look at it that way," Xiandre responded.
"Aren't I right?" Amelia asked.
"People who have killed once will continue to kill, and people who haven't killed once will fear those who have. Many people don't understand the consequences of killing—some find it entertaining, meanwhile others find it horribly horrifying. There are differences between people who have experience and those who don't have experience in murder itself... I, myself, have murdered people many times, and I just thought if I continued, I'd end up losing my mind and find murder entertaining, just like any serial killer," Xiandre quoted.
There was a brief silence between the two, then Amelia spoke up.
"I see. I understand now."
"Thank you," Xiandre responded.
"Sorry for asking," Amelia replied back.
Xiandre stopped in his steps and glanced at what he was now currently face to face with. Amelia glanced at where Xiandre was looking and saw another huge door waiting for them.
And just like the first one, they saw text—but this time, in English.