90 CHAPTER 89 GLUTE HUNTERS

"I don't know, Pe, I wish I knew." Matt raked his hair with his nails. His finger caught a strand of his hair and at that moment he realized how long his nails have become. He also needed a shower, a good shower.

"I was wondering when you would notice," Pinna said when her eyes fell on him, "When was the last time you had a nice bath?"

"It's none of your business, Pe." Matt flinched when he finally yanked his finger out, pulling out some hair with it. He shared a disturbing gaze with Pinna but looked away when it was obvious that the girl was going to give him lectures on how important it was to be groomed. Sandra had occupied his mind these past few years. It was hard not to think of her. Their relationship had not been perfect at first. Hatred was an exaggeration when compared with the first time they had met in the Grand Hall. Both of them had had a hard time getting along. They would shout at each other and get into unnecessary arguments. It had just taken a month and their behavior towards one another had changed. Matt could not tell who had started the change, but he was glad that the change had occurred, at least it gave him peace and love. But then he had murdered her in a cold blood.

He sticks out his head into the hallway and heaved when it became clear that the hallway was empty. It was time to let Sandra go, and he knew it. He had killed her, true, but it was time to let her go, or else he would be lost in the prison of his own guilt. The thought of letting her go made his heart lift. That would be impossible, he knew, but he was ready to try.

"It's clear," He said, turning back to Pinna.

"Are you sure you are alright?"

"Yes, why?"

"Just asking," Pinna grumbled with her tongue. Matt knew she was lying. Something was troubling her, but she was just trying to hide it. Pinna was not the one to hide stuff from anyone, but when she does, it was best to let it lie because the reason always was not pleasing to the ear.

"We would continue down the hallway towards the staircase. At least we now have a gun."

"And how are you certain that the gun will respond to you?"

Matt did not answer, instead, he pointed the gun to the body on the floor and pulled the trigger. A white, blue flame jumped out from the barrel and engulfed the boy on the floor.

"Why did you do that?" Pinna hissed as she backed away from the boy, who was already convulsing.

"You asked if the gun would respond to me, well, what do you think?" Matt grinned, despite himself.

"I think you should be careful the way you hold that."

"Don't worry, Pe. I have reduced the voltage, and you have not pissed me off yet" 

He laughed when he saw Pinna swallowed. She was in pain and her face was becoming pale. How long does she have left? His eyes looked down, and he cursed when it dawned on him that the clothes were already soaked with blood. Placing Pinna's other arm around his neck, he helped her out of the room, into the hallway. She had suggested that they use the stairs as some Glut-Hunters might be making their way towards them with the elevator. The flight up to the stair was no joke, not with the weight of Pinna hanging on his shoulders. They had spent hours, and by the time they got to the last door, Matt was panting and sweating heavily.

"How many feet was that?" He asked, but Pinna was not listening. She had her attention on the single glass that was on the yellow door.

"You need to see this, Matt," She said without looking at him.

Matt hurried up to her, despite his weak limb. Pinna shifted away from the door, giving him the room. The other side of the door was some kind of tarmac and darkness still spread across them. The only source of light was some blue bulb that lined the tiled floor. A man stood beside a cylinder with his hands buried inside his pocket. Beside him was an Air Tripler, as black as the night itself.

"What do you think?" Pinna asked when Matt returned his gaze to her, "I mean the cylinder," 

Matt's brow furrowed, and he wanted to ask what she meant but decided to look back. The cylinder was made of glass and had some tubes holding its cover to the body. Something in Matt's stomach tightened, however when he saw the body in the cylinder. The yellow jumpsuit gave the boy away. It was Ham.

Not giving thinking a thought, he turned the knob of the door and pushed it. Pinna was saying something about how planning would save their lives, but he didn't hear. The door had ready flung open and the man that had been standing there turned to them. The crease on his brow said it all. They were the last people he was expecting.

"Who are you?" Matt asked, raising the gun towards the man. Wait, Matt narrowed his eyes. The person was no man. It was the teenage boy he had seen back on the street. The boy that organized the race. Those pretty smiles were still on his face, blending with the trimmed hair that looked like a glossy gel.

"I don't think that is the right question you should be asking," The boy smiled. His hands were still in his pocket, but Matt was weary of his right hand. Hubot was new tech designed by Doctor Jakins. He had not dealt with one before, but from the report in the Keepers' department, there have been cases where some of them had assaulted some women and had raped her until she bleeds to death. These were new case file, and he would have looked into it if the general had not given him the time off.

"And what do you care if I don't ask the right question?" Matt asked. Pinna had already run towards the cylinder. The looks on her face revealed the fact that whatever the boy had done to Ham was not pleasant.

"Because you might never know what had happened to your friend." The boy paced the room with a pomposity that made Matt want to scream. He was beginning to hate the boy's behavior. The way he walked and the way he smiled. 

"What have you done to him?��� Pinna asked. Fresh tears have returned to her eyes, and the sight of it broke Matt's heart. It made him wonder how much tears were left in the girl's lacrimal gland. 

"The same thing I did to myself." The boy smiled but did not remove his hands from his pocket, "I gave him a gift. Just a small gift. And do you know what happened, he betrayed me. He left me alone with saying thank you."

"Oh, I see." Matt nodded with understanding. "You must be the boy that helped with his eyes."

"Helped? Is that what he told you," The boy laughed, "And you believed him?"

Of course, I believe him; you overfeed baby elephant. Matt wanted to say but restrained himself. If he had his way, this boy would be resting in jail for the rest of his robotic life.

"I never helped him. I only did what I did because I saw the potential in him. I have watched his race since I was a kid. Harmzold was my idol. I wanted to be like him. Too bad we only wish that our wish will come true."

Matt's brow elevated to his forehead when he heard the last words. The words of Jessica April did not fit the boy's lips, and he has no right quoting the best teacher in the academy.

"So when I saw him lying down thereafter those guys must have dealt with him, I wish I knew what had transpired. He begged and wiped for my help like a newborn baby. And I had agreed to help him if only he would be my racer. But you know what happened." The boy scowled, "I kept my end of the bargain, but he didn't. He ran away instead. He ran away with my precious metal. My money"

"Who wouldn't run away from any evil manic like you?" Pinna grunted.

"Sorry princess, but what good do nice guys play in the society. Can you hang out with a nice guy? Or drink with them or even sleep with them?"

"You disgust me," Pinna shouted and returned her eyes on Ham.

"You are under arrest," Matt said. It took all of Will's power for him to stay calm. The boy was pissing him off, nudging his patience and trying to see what will happen.

"Oh, you are also a Keeper." He laughed, "I guess as much. Arrest me, officer, let's see how long I would last in your cell,"

"You are not going to any cell." Matt walked towards him, "You are you going to prison, cogitesne (do you understand)?" he voiced the last part in Grayian language.

The boy continued to laugh. Matt did not know what was funny. He took hold of the boy's arm but cursed when he realized his mistake. He shouldn't have gotten so close. 

The boy slammed his face with his head. It was as if he had been waiting for the opportunity. Matt staggered backwards, blinking with horror when the boy lifted his metallic hand, pointing the barrel at him.