Wrath Of The Butterfly: Rayah Reyes Chronicles Vol. I

By Eric Lawrence

Lourdes was just a typical teenager who'd recently graduated high school, until a heinous crime left her family dead and put her in a coma. Her medical condition attracted the attention of a mysterious international security agency, which took her in for an experimental medical procedure. She woke up as Rayah Reyes, a special class agent with a computer chip in her head.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Eric Lawrence
• Release date: Oct 15, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301267620

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Wrath Of The Butterfly

Rayah Reyes Chronicles, Volume I

by Ego Lawrence

Copyright 2013 Ego Lawrence

All Rights Reserved

Smashwords Edition

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CHAPTER I : GRADUATION

Noel Buencamino kicked the door open and counted at least a dozen men scattered across the stuffy, derelict meth lab.

He raised his gun. Quezon City Police, put your hands up!

Seven uniformed policemen, guns aimed at the perps, walked behind Noel and entered the room after him.

Don’t make any stupid moves now. Noel eyed the suspects.

A lanky, dark skinned bearded man in a tattered black shirt pointed his gun at Noel, who saw him in the corner of his eye and ducked. The bullet zinged above his ear.

Pandemonium ensued.

The suspects fired at the cops, who all dashed for cover in different directions and fired back. Noel crouched behind a sturdy metal table. The glass containers and vials above it clanked and shattered to bits as casualties of the crossfire.

He hit three thugs with masterful duck-and-shoot motions.

Detective, one of the uniforms said. Kiko’s on the run!

Noel peeked above the table and saw a bald young man in a purple muscle shirt, squeezing himself out a window and running.

Deal with these clowns, Noel said. I’ll get him.

He got out of the small, dilapidated building and ran after Kiko. His forty-something body could muster only a few seconds of sprinting, but it was enough to get a crucial gain on his target, who was running towards the crowded plaza. Noel grimaced and sprinted once more, trying to get to Kiko before he reached the sea of humanity.

A young woman carrying a basket of long stemmed roses stood on the sidewalk. Kiko looked back and saw the detective was now only a few meters away. He grabbed the flower vendor by the neck and pressed his gun against her temple.

Stand back, Kiko shouted to Noel. Stand back or I’ll blow her goddamn head off, I swear!

No, please, the flower lady whimpered. I don’t want to die, please.

People gathered on the sides and watched the spectacle.

Let her go, Kiko, Noel said, aiming his gun. Come on, maybe we can make a deal, huh? Let’s work things out, let’s talk.

Kiko sneered. Talk about what?

Tell me about your boss. What’s his name? Who are you working for?

You want me to rat out my crew? Are you stupid or something?

You don’t have to rot in jail, Kiko, we’re more interested in your employers. Give us what we need and maybe we can talk about a light sentence.

I’m no rat, damn it, now drop your gun!

You don’t want to do this, Kiko, come on, let’s--

Shut up and drop the gun or this bitch dies!

Calm down, there’s no need--

You got three seconds, pig.

Kiko, don’t--

One…

I don’t want to--

Two…

Goddamnit…

Thr--

Noel pulled the trigger and hit Kiko in the forehead, slightly above his left eye. The flower lady bolted away as her captor dropped to the pavement.

The uniforms worked their way through the mob and rejoined the detective.

You been here long? Noel asked one of his men.

Yes, sir, saw the whole thing.

"Detective?"

Noel turned and saw another one of his men walking to him.

I was just wondering, the young officer said. Remember that intel about Francisco Alvarado having a junior? Think maybe there’s a chance this could be him? His son?

Noel studied Kiko’s lifeless face and shook his head. Nah, I don’t think so. Sons of drug lords are usually just in clubs and yachts, living the good life. They’re not usually part of the family business, too spoiled to get their hands dirty. This one’s probably the lab supervisor for the Manila branch.

The cop nodded. Good point, sir.

Noel straightened his white button down shirt. Can you wrap this up for me and file the report? I have to run to my daughter’s graduation.

Sure thing, sir.

Thanks, buddy.

The graduating class of 2013 filled the small, modestly designed auditorium of Quezon City Science High School. They lined up at the right side of the stage, waiting to get their diplomas and have their photos taken with the principal.

Lourdes Buencamino stood in the middle of the line, beaming and clapping as her batchmates’ names were called. Her long, wavy, black hair sloped neatly over her graduation robe. Her big brown eyes would occasionally gaze at her mother and little sister at the back of the theater, and at the empty chair reserved for her father.

A marching tune blared over the loudspeakers as proud parents jockeyed for position and photographed their sons and daughters holding their neatly ribboned white scrolls.

Two names before her turn, Lourdes looked at her father’s chair again.

Still empty.

She groaned and shook her head.

Lourdes Jean Buencamino, the voice in the loudspeaker said. She climbed onstage, took her scroll and shook the principal’s hand.

She rejoined her class and was about to sit down when she thought of taking another look at her family.

And there he was, smiling and clapping as if he’d been there all along.

Noel waved at her.

She gave him a big smile and waved back.

After the ceremony, the Buencaminos walked out of the auditorium and to the parking lot. Lourdes had taken off her robe and now donned a black mini dress and red sneakers.

So? she said to her father. Is it in the car?

Noel frowned. I'm sorry, what?

I'm asking if it's in the car.

"Is what in the car?"

The graduation gift you got me. Is it in the car, or is it at home?

He slapped his forehead. Ummm, about that...

She rolled her eyes. Oh, schmucks, here we go.

He put an arm around her. No, no, hear me out. I was kind of thinking that, you know, your birthday's coming up, so maybe we can have a two-for-one?

She looked at him with puppy eyes and pouted.

Oh, come on, honey. He tousled her hair. It'll be worth the wait, I promise.

It better not be a keychain. She turned to her mother, Divina. Remember my birthday last year, he gave me a lame nameplate keychain?

Her mother laughed. Yeah, I remember, you know how much of a cheapskate your pops can be.

Noel glared at Divina. Hey!

Divina, Lourdes and her sister Carlotta laughed at Noel’s comical aghast expression.

The little girl reached into her bag and pulled out a piece of paper.

Don’t be sad, Des, she said in her raspy little voice. I have a gift for you.

Aw, this is so sweet. Lourdes gushed and looked at Carlotta’s crude watercolor drawing of her, dressed in robes and holding a scroll."

A greeting was written on top of the artwork: Happy Graduation, Des!

You are such a darling, Lotta, Lourdes said and turned to her dad. See? Even my eight year old sister has a gift for me.

Noel bowed and threw his hands up.

Yo, girl, Divina snapped her fingers and moved her hands like a rapper. Ya' gotta chill and stop dissin' yo' old man like that.

Lourdes squinted and covered her ears. Schmucks, mom, stop.

What's eatin' you, girl? Divina went on. Ain't this the way you kids talk these days? I'm just letting it hang, baby.

Ugh, mom, cut it out. So not cool.

They all laughed as they walked to the car.

Somewhere on the south side of Metro Manila, two burly security guards opened the massive iron gates of the Alvarado Mansion. A white Hyundai Santa Fe rolled up the driveway and stopped near the facade of the grand villa.

Tonio Alvarado, dressed in a black dress shirt, got off the vehicle and walked to the house. The sharp thuds of his Chelsea boots punctuated his every step. Two bodyguards walked behind him.

He reached the lobby, which had been converted into a makeshift chapel. A coffin rested at the end of the hallway, flanked by standing chandeliers and flowers. A white streamer hung above the remains.

Francisco Alvarado, Jr.

September 15, 1985 - March 4, 2013

A portrait of Kiko rested on an easel at the foot of his coffin.

Tonio surveyed the fifty or so mourners and found his mother, Martina Alvarado, sitting near her deceased first born, weeping and being comforted by relatives and friends.

Come on, he said to his crew. He must be in his study.

Tonio opened the door to his father’s den and saw Francisco Alvarado, Sr., a pudgy, gray haired man, sitting on his chair and smoking a cigar.

So? he asked. Do they know?

No, papa. The cops don’t have a clue that Kiko’s an Alvarado. I sent Gonzalo to pick up his remains. He told them he’s his kid.

Good. How about the cop who shot him? Did you find out who?

Tonio unfolded a sheet of paper. His name’s Noel Buencamino, a detective at the Quezon City Police District.

You got his address?

Yes, he lives in North Fairview.

Francisco puffed on his cigar and poured himself a shot of whiskey. Good work, son, good work.

Tonio scratched his head. So?

What? Francisco drank his whiskey.

Ummm….what do you want to do?

Francisco banged the glass on the table. "What do you think I want to do?"

Uh, right, of course, papa. I’ll make it happen. He turned to leave.

Tonio.

Yes, papa?

Let me know when you’re doing it, I’m coming with you.

"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you…"

Noel, Divina and Carlotta sang to Lourdes as she climbed down the stairs. She was still in her sleepwear tank top and shorts. Noel carried a big round chocolate cake stabbed with two lit candles, one in the shape of 1 and the other, 8.

"Happy birthday, happy birthday…."

Lourdes smiled and clasped her hands under her nose.

"….happy birthday, Lourdes!"

Schmucks, this is so sweet, you guys.

Blow out the candles, honey, Noel said.

Lourdes gave the candles a hearty blow. Divina and Carlotta applauded.

Did you make a wish, young woman? Divina asked.

Of course.

Noel raised his eyebrows. Dare we ask what?

Lourdes took the cake from him and walked to the dining room. Don’t worry, pops, it’s not about a boy.

Aha, so you did think about making your wish about a boy, and then, ummm, you changed your mind?

She got a knife and cut the cake. "Pops, there’s no boy. The minute-- no, the second I decide that I may like somebody, you’ll be the first to know, I promise."

He sat in front of the dining table. Ah, don’t worry about it, I was just teasing. It’s just that, you know, you’re eighteen now, and when I was that age, I was really….

She put a slice of cake on a small plate and started eating it.

Are we really having cake for breakfast? he asked.

She cut three more slices and put them in plates. Yeah, didn’t you hear? Since it’s my birthday, we’re going to eat just my favorite food today. I ordered burgers, pizza and fried chicken, had them delivered. And a few kegs of beer, too.

He sneered. Ha-ha, very funny.

Carlotta raised her hand and jumped. Me give my gift first!

She ran to her bedroom and came back holding a Barbie doll outfitted with a yellow summer dress. She handed it to her sister. Happy birthday, Des!

Aw, thank you so much, Lotta. Are you sure about this? Isn’t she your favorite? Don’t you love her anymore?

I do, but I want you to have her, so that even when you’re far away, I mean, you going to college and all, you have something to remember me by. Just look at her and imagine she’s me, I have the same yellow dress as hers, see?

Carlotta stretched out her attire.

Oh, yes, that’s right, you have the same dress. Lourdes kissed Carlotta. Thank you so much, I’ll take good care of her, I promise.

Okay, now it’s my turn, Divina said and gave her daughter a rectangular box, beautifully gift wrapped and ribboned. Happy birthday, baby.

Lourdes ripped off the wrapper and opened the box.

Oh, schmucks, ma, this is awesome, she said, holding up a spaghetti strapped little black dress.

Noel frowned at his wife. Didn’t I tell you not to encourage her with that anymore? How many black dresses does she need?

I know, Divina said. But this one’s special.

Lourdes admired the dress, oblivious to her parents’ discussion. She fingered the straps and pressed the new outfit against her torso.

Special how? Noel went on. She’s got dozens of that and they all look the same, this one included.

Excuse me, Lourdes said. They all look the same to you because you don’t get it. It’s a girl thing, pops.

Noel put his hands on his waist. I don’t know if you’re aware, but there are a lot of other colors out there besides black.

Lourdes turned to her mother. Thanks, ma. I’ll try it on.

Go ahead, honey. Maybe you can wear your pearl earrings, I think they’ll go well with that.

Lourdes smiled and sprinted up the stairs to her room.

Noel looked at Divina. Are you sure she’s going to see it?

She nodded. I’m sure.

Lourdes took off her top and shorts and put on the black dress.

She looked at the mirror, running her hands through the fabric.

It’s perfect.

She searched for her earrings on the dresser and spotted a small white box with a post-it. She looked at the scribbles.

March 10, 2013

Happy birthday, Lourdes.

Love, your cheapskate pops

Lourdes opened the box and gasped when she saw what was inside.

A brand new Samsung Galaxy Note II.

Oh, schmucks, pops.

She took the cellphone out and removed its plastic wrap. She pressed a button and it came to life. She got all giddy and went downstairs.

Noel was enjoying his cake when the doorbell rang. He looked out the window and saw a white Santa Fe parked in their driveway.

Honey? he called out to Divina.

Yeah? she replied from the kitchen.

Did Des tell you anything about her friends coming over this morning?

No, she said they’re coming tonight, unless they changed their plans.

He stood up and walked to the doorway. I hope she’s not serious about that delivery thing, or she’s really gonna get it.

He opened the door and saw Tonio Alvarado,