Chapter 318 - 318: White Room

Marie's Birthday Celebration ended at exactly 10:00 o'clock in the evening. Everyone bade each other goodbye. They had all the fun today and they were glad to have this mini-reunion.

When everyone went separate ways, Bryan, April, June, Rose and Carl, the five of them immediately approached Allen. They were the ones who helped him with the preparation.

They were aware that Allen and Marie had talked in the garden just a while ago. They were eager to know the result of his confession.

"Hey, how is it?" June asked him, putting a hand around Allen's shoulder.

Everyone was all eyes on him anticipating a piece of good news from him. Allen looked down as he felt a little bit embarrassed. He could only scratch his face. But the five people never left him alone until they got the answer that they wanted to hear.

After a while, Allen faced them with a wide smile on his face.

"I did it! I tell her everything I feel about her!" Allen said to them proudly.

"So what did she say?" It was Rose who asked him.

"She's shocked." Allen simply stated.

"Huh? Is that it?" April urged him to say something more.

"Dude! Come on….spill out the beans. We are dying to know." Carl said feeling a little bit impatient.

Allen chuckled. "Actually... she said she needed more time to think it through. She hadn't given me an answer yet."

Everyone sighed in frustration.

"Hey, why are you all giving me a face like that? Hahaha I am the one who confessed but why is it, the five of you seem the ones who are greatly affected? Besides, no need to feel sad about this. She didn't turn me down." Allen said to them, looking to the positive sides.

"I was very happy that I was able to tell her my feelings. That's good enough for me," he added.

"That's true! It will take time but she's worth the wait!" Bryan said meaningfully, glancing at April. A blush subconsciously overtaken April's face.

That gesture didn't escape the observant eyes of their colleagues. So the engaged couple received a good teasing from them.

Meanwhile, Marie together with her parents were driving back home. 

Her birthday was almost over yet Marie was still waiting for a certain someone to greet her. She hadn't hear anything from him since this morning.

'Did he forget about my birthday?' Marie pondered to herself.

She got lost in her thoughts whenever she recalled the day Black Shadow appeared in front of her at her flower shop.

She subconsciously touched her lower lip as the memory of that intense kiss they shared together just a few days ago had crossed her mind.

Before she could realize it, the car already stopped in their front gate. They finally reached their home. 

Just when they were about to enter the gate, Marie saw someone just a few meters away from their gate. He was standing beside his motorcycle.

"Dad wait! stop the car… I am getting out."

Her Dad did as she had requested.

"Where are you going?" Her mom asked her in confusion.

"I will just talk to my friend. He's here. He was not able to attend the party." Marie said as she pointed her forefinger to the man's direction.

Her Mom just nodded at her. Marie stepped out of the car immediately and walked towards Black Shadow.

"Hey… I thought you wouldn't show up today. I am glad you still make it. There's still one hour and half before my birthday ends today." Marie said to him cheerfully.

Black Shadow let out a soft chuckle. "Better late than never." 

Marie also giggled hearing his remarks. Then she stretched her right hand in front of him. Black Shadow stared at her empty palm with confusion.

"Where's my gift? You are here to greet me right?" Marie shamelessly said to him, giving him a playful smile.

Black Shadow let out another chuckle before putting his hand over her palm.

"Gift?" Black Shadow asked her

Marie bobbed her head as a response.

"Here is your gift…" Black Shadow mumbled before pulling her against his body and wrapped her into a warm embrace.

Marie was stunned for a moment. Her heart was acting abnormal again, beating loudly and rapidly inside her chest.

She had not yet recovered from the dazed when Black Shadow lowered his head, planting a kiss on her forehead.

"This is my gift. Do you like it?" She heard him whisper in her ear.

'Sh!t. I think I'm gonna suffer from a heart attack because of this guy. So shameless!' Marie thought to herself, a blush creeping over her cheeks.

"Happy Birthday!" Black Shadow mumbled once again. He pulled her closer, hugging her tightly.

Marie hugged him back and said, "Thank you."

'I really like it… your gift.' Marie added in her thoughts.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On that same night, while the members of the joint task force were having some fun there was someone who was suffering in agony.

In a certain white room, there was a middle- aged guy being restrained by metal cuffs, in the center, both his feet and arms stretched out forming an X pattern in a standing position.

He was not alone in that room. There was someone with him who was wearing all black. That person's face was covered by Black Mask. The figure in black was holding a dagger tainted by blood.

The middle-aged man started begging once again with his hoarse and tired voice.

"Please… let me go. I-I already told you everything I know about what happened before…"

"I am telling the truth… I don't know who gave us the order to attack the Falcon Family… we were just following our leader… Alfonso."

The man started to cry, begging the man in black non-stop. "Please… don't kill me… you already tortured me for three days now… It hurts… It's really painful…"

Then a sinister laugh echoed inside the room.

"Beg as much as you want. But you will never leave this place alive… I am not done yet with you."

"Do you want to know… what I am thinking right now?"

"NO...NO… PLEASE STOP! DON'T KILL ME! I am begging you. Who are you? Why are you doing this to me? What is your connection with the Falcon family?" Roland Bienvenido screamed hysterically while begging desperately.

Another sinister laughter reverberated in the entire room. That sounds intensified the fear that Roland Bienvenido was feeling as of this moment. He felt like he was facing a living devil. This person had no mercy… ruthless and vicious.

"Tsk tsk tsk… Dear Roland… I came here to collect your debts."

"Oh by the way… I really loved to hear you screaming like that. It makes me more excited. Oh… and my bloodthirst… you are the only one who could satisfy that." 

"No! No! Please spare my life."

"Just endure this… a little bit more dear. You should be glad… you are my first victim as I announce to the world that Catseye is back!"

"W-What do you mean??? C-Catseye? Y-You are Catseye… but Catseye was already dead… how could you be Catseye?" Roland stuttered because of intense fear and nervousness.

The figure in black merely smiled but didn't respond. The man approached Roland in an instant, thrusting the dagger in his stomach.

"Arghhh!" Roland squealed in pain as he felt the dagger being plunged inside his body.

"Catseye is alive! Time to make the world know that Catseye has returned! Hahahaha!"

Roland Bienvenido's cries and screams echoed in the entire white room… it lasted for several hours until finally, his voice was no longer heard. He died… with a very tragic death in that white room.