Warning: This chapter contains scenes [sexual assault] and strong and disturbing language that could be triggering to some. Take it easy and skip this chapter if you feel like this might be too much for you to take. I'll see you in the next one.

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Demon After Demon

I feel like I've dipped my feet in hell with the deafening silence surrounding the living room of our hotel. I've been trying to read the silence of the room, but my nervousness is stopping me from thinking straight. At kahit may sapat na distansya sa pagitan namin, pakiramdam ko ay nasasakal pa rin ako.

He was sitting on the single sofa in the living room while I took the chair on the dining table a meter and a half away from where he was. Kanina pa pumipitik ang oras pero maski isang ingay o salita ay walang namumutawi sa pagitan naming dalawa. Hindi ko na rin alam kung ilang minuto o oras na ba ang lumipas magmula nang pumarito siya. All I could recognize right now is the nervousness I am feeling right now.

Sumisigaw ang isip ko ng matinding kagustuhan na tawagan si Señorito. Pero hindi ko magawa dahil pinipigilan ako nang tingin na ibinibigay ni Sir Claude ngayon.

There's really just something unsettling about his surprise visit. And the way he looks at me... it's creepy. He's staring at me as if calculating my movement. He never let me out of sight. Pinapanood niya ang bawat galaw ko. Na kahit sa pag-upo ay nakatingin siya sa akin.

I didn't even invited him inside! Even out of courtesy, I was drawing the line of not allowing him to enter our room. Pero siya na ang nag-imbita sa sarili niya papasok.

I cleared my throat so my voice would not reflect the growing fear I was feeling. "Ano hong sadiya niyo?" magalang at pormal kong tanong.

"What's with all the formalities? I thought we're family?" He grinned at me... then scanned me from head to toe.

And that gesture alone gave me creeps down my spine! Naramdaman kong tumindig ang balahibo ko sa batok dahilan para mapuno ang puso ko ng takot. Even my hands started shaking immediately!

Lord, please save me...

"How are you and Tobias?" he asked. "Is he still the freak that he is? How come napagtyagaan mo ka-weird-uhan ng isang 'yon?"

Nagsalubong ang kilay ko sa nating timbre ng boses niya. Mahihimigan mo roon ang inis at inggit. But the smirk on his face only sends a thrill down my spine.

I don't feel safe.

"Hindi ganyan si Señorito." Hindi ko nagawang itago ang iritasyon sa boses ko.

Mas lalo lang tuloy lumawak ang pagkakaukit ng ngisi sa mga labi niya dahil sa inaning reaksyon mula sa akin. "Isn't he creepy? Wala namang kaibigan 'yon. He doesn't even bond with us, his cousins. Palaging mag-isa. What a total psycho."

Kumuyom ang mga kamay ko sa inis. I have never had the chance to have long conversations with him. He's often not around their family gatherings. Kaya hindi ko alam na ganito pala kagaspang ang ugali niya. Ito siguro ang dahilan kung bakit hindi sila magkasundo ni Señorito.

Despite my wobbly knees, I braved my heart and stood up. "I don't see any reason for us to have this kind of conversation, Sir Claude." I fisted my hand tighter. "I don't appreciate you talking bad about him, barely knowing him."

Naiinis ako. Kumukulo ang dugo ko. I know how it feels to be talked about badly by someone who doesn't even know me personally. At nakakainis sa pakiramdam iyon. You'll feel wronged. Lalo na't wala kang pagkakataon na ipagtanggol ang sarili mo.

At nasisiguro kong hindi niya kilala si Señorito sa paraan nang pagkakakilala ko sa kaniya. They're not even that close for him to talk like this about him. I hate how he said those words. But I hate it even more that he could say those words without batting an eye, as if it wasn't his own blood he was judging.

Lakas-loob na humakbang ako patungo sa pinto para sana paalisin na siya. Ngunit sa isang iglap ay nagawa niya agad na makatayo para hawakan ako sa kamay at pigilan sa paglalakad.

Agad na sumigid sa sistema ko ang takot at matinding kagustuhan na lumayo. Pero sa higpit nang pagkakahawak niya alam kong hindi ko magagawang makakilos.

"Do you know why he's mad at me?" Sir Claude leaned in and bent his body to reach for my ear. "I bet he hasn't told you yet."

My feet automatically stepped back to seek the very little amount of comfort of the distance I had with him earlier. Pero isang hakbang pa lang ang nagagawa ko ay mas hinigpitan na niya ang pagkakahawak sa akin bilang babala.

My palms and feet had gone cold. And my body had broken out of cold sweats. My heart started beating extremely fast out of fear.

Natatakot ako.

"Aren't you curious?" He chuckled darkly.

I bit the inside of my cheek to stop myself from showing any fear. I would never give him the satisfaction of seeing his desired reaction from me.

"With all due respect, Sir Claude, bitawan niyo po ako," matigas kong sabi.

Pinanatili kong kalmado ang sarili ko kahit na nagsusumigaw na ang loob-loob ko sa takot. Sinubukan kong muli na tanggalin ang mahigpit niyang pagkakahawak sa kamay ko gamit ang isa ko pang kamay. Subalit sa bawat subok ko ay siya namang paghigpit pang lalo nang pagkakagapos ng kamay niya.

Kahit na ayaw mo, unti-unti ko nang nararamdaman ang panginginig ng katawan ko.

Someone, help me!

"Don't you want to know what made him livid at me?" he continued, not minding what I just said.

The corners of my eyes heated up with my tears already on the verge of falling. I gritted my teeth to stop myself from crying. It won't help me in this kind of situation.

Not again.

But with his overpowering strength over my minimal force, it didn't take him much effort to capture my other hand to fully stop me from what I was doing.

Tuluyan na siyang lumuhod sa sahig at pinagpantay ang mukha namin. And there, I saw the familiar face of a demon I once saw in Kristoff. He was smirking wide, his eyes were hazed and dark.

Instantly, my body started shaking in fear as memories crawled into my mind like a movie played on repeat. Nagdoble ang kaba sa puso ko nang mawalan na ng kontrol sa sarili kong kamay. At kahit ano pang pagpipigil ang gawin ko, tuluyan nang tumulo ang mga luha ko.

His eyes are dark.

His lips are curved into a grin that's like a warning for a catastrophe.

"When I first saw you wearing a secretarial look with a skirt that covers just the right amount of skin on your legs, my mind started imagining things." Sir Claude leaned even forward, close to my neck.

Agad akong nakaramdam nang pagkaalarma dahil sa ginawa niya. Maagap akong umabante palayo sa kaniya pero mas mabilis ang paghila niya sa akin na siya ring rason para halos mapasubsob ako sa katawan niya.

His words sounded familiar. So familiar that it immediately triggered some memories I have from Kristoff. So familiar that my whole body started trembling out of extreme fear as if feeling his touch on where he left his mark on my memory.

I fought the strong urge to cry, but my tears were no longer controllable as they began to write another tale of misery on my cheeks. Buhay na buhay ang takot sa puso ko. At sobrang pamilyar no'n sa akin. Pero wala akong magawa kundi ang maging mahina dahil mas malakas sila.

Ano nga bang laban ko? Isa lang naman akong unano. Isa lang naman akong laruan para sa kanila. Isa lang akong bagay na madaling kontrolin ng naaayon sa kagustuhan nila.

Bakit ako? Lord... bakit palaging ako?

"Tangina, Kiana. Hindi ako manyak pero ang dami kong naisip na pwede kong gawin sa 'yo kahit mukha kang engkanto!" Malakas siyang humalakhak, tuwang-tuwa sa sariling mga salita. "I tried my luck with my bastard cousin. I thought he'd sell you out to me. Pero putangina! Binugbog ako ng gago!" Muli, tumawa siya. Pero ngayon ay tunog na iyon ng isang taong lunod na sa sarili niyang kaisipan. "I only said a few things. But I ended up bruised. Do you know what that is?"

Tumaas lalo ang balahibo ko nang tuluyan na niyang nilapit ang ulo niya sa leeg ko. I felt him sniffing me there.

And immediately, I felt disgusted by my own self.

Sinubukan kong maglumikot sa pagbabakasakaling magagawa niya akong bitawan. Pero bumabaon na sa balat ko ang kuko niya sa pagpigil sa bawat pagkilos ko.

Pinuno ko ng tapang ang puso ko kahit na sukong-suko na ako. "Hindi ako interesado. Bitawan mo ako," tapang-tapangan ko.

At sa pira-pirasong lakas ng loob ay sinubukan ko siyang itulak palayo. Nagpumiglas ako lalo. Sinubukan kong ikumpas ang dalawang kamay ko gamit ang natitirs kong lakas para magawa niya akong bitawan. Pero unti-unti na iyong namamanhid at nauubusan nang lakas dahil sa pagkakahawak niya.

I tried to kick him on the stomach with my right foot but he just pushed my weak body without much effort on his part. Bumangga ang katawan ko sa kahoy na upuang binakante ko. At agad kong naramdaman ang kirot sa likod at batok ko, maging sa sikmura ko.

But I chose to disregard the pain and tried to pick myself up to run. But even before I could, Sir Claude immediately reached for my hair and grabbed a fistful of it.

He ruthlessly pulled me close to his body with his lips placed closed to my ears. "Come on, Kiana. We haven't even started yet," he taunted.

Napangiwi ako sa sakit pero hindi ako dumaing. Kinagat ko ang gilid ng pisngi ko para pigilan ang aking sarili na gumawa ng ingay na makapagbibigay ng ligaya sa kaniya.

I just let my uncontrollable tears speak for my fear. And I let the loud beating of my heart block my ears from hearing what he's about to say.

Muli siyang lumuhod sa sahig at pwersahang pinasandal ako sa katawan niya. He controlled my body through my hair that he was holding ruthlessly like a stringed puppet that he's playing with.

Unti-unti na akong pinanghihinaan ng loob. Pero ayaw ko pa ring sumuko. Ayaw kong bitawan ang maluwag ko nang pagkakakapit sa pag-asang titigil din siya at maisasalba ako.

Lord, please, tulungan mo ako...

Sir Claude captured my hand. He reached for my ears and there he whispered, "I know it would feel heaven for my hard cock to go in and out of your tight little pussy in a hard way. I told him that I want to fuck you... hard and fast until you loose your voice from begging for me to stop."

My mouth parted for a silent cry out of fear and disgust when Sir Claude forcefully placed my hand on top of his erection.

I tried to forcefully take my hand back while my free hand reaches for my hair and tried to aggressively remove his hand. "P-Please, Sir, let me go," my voice cracked, pleading him.

Hindi na maampat ang pagdaloy ng luha sa mga mata ko dahil sa pandidiri sa sarili ko. Na mas lalo pang nagtuloy-tuloy dahil sa ginawa niya. But he wasn't done just yet. Dahil naramdaman ko na lang na marahang tinaas-baba na niya ang kamay ko sa kaselanan niya.

He was only wearing a cotton short for fuck's sake! Kaya mas lalo ko h nararamdaman ang pandidiri sa ginawa niya.

"Please! Let me go!" I pleaded more desperately.

I cried even more when he pulled my hair closer to him. And I cried even harder when he started kissing my neck.

Lord! Please save me!

"Help! Please! Tulong!" I cried.

Sinubukan kong magpumiglas o kahit makasagi lang ng kahit na anong bagay na makagagawa ng ingay para makakuha ako ng atensyon. Maybe that way someone from the outside of our room would hear me and help me escape this nightmare.

Pero kahit na anong subok ko... kahit anong gawin ko... mas mahina pa rin ako kung ikukumpara sa lakas niya kaya walang hirap niya akong nakokontrol.

And for the first time in a long while, I couldn't stop myself from blaming my condition. Dahil putangina lang! Palagi na lang!

Kung sakaling bang hindi ako pinanganak na ganito... may tyansa bang hindi ako ang makaranas ng ganitong klaseng bangungot?

"Fuck!" he groaned. "Kamay mo pa lang tigas na tigas na ako!"

I cried louder and harder, no longer stopping myself. Mas inilapit ako ni Sir Claude sa katawan niya. He was still kissing me on the neck, forcefully tilting my head to one side for him to enjoy feasting on my skin. And every second going by feels like an endless torture I would never be able to escape.

I screamed and tried to seek help. I begged him again... and again. But my voice is as silent as it has always been for me... barely heard by anyone... not even by myself.

I could already taste blood from my mouth but I didn't stop from screaming, hoping that someone would hear me. But long seconds passed, minutes had already gone by, and I found myself drowning in a deeper state of surrender.

Because even a light hold of hope felt like a suicide pill shoved into my throat.

Like a flickering light on the lamppost of a deserted city of sorrow. And like the dying fire of a melted candle... the little hope in my heart died.

Another scream slipped my mouth when he subdued my body on the ground, my right cheek ruthlessly pushed against the coldness of the tiled floor. He was now on top of me... rubbing his hardness on my legs.

Naramdaman ko ang pagtulo ng mainit at malapot na likido sa noo kong walang habas na humampas sa sahig dahil sa ginawa ni Sir Claude. At ilang segundo lang ang lumipas ay nagkulay pula na ang paningin ko sa kanan kong mata dahil sa dugo na naglalandas sa aking mukha.

"You'll never be able to escape me," he chanted in my ears.

He laughed and made a disgusting sound in my ears. His groans sounds like the most horrific spell chanted to make me remember this moment. Like a music from the most horrific movie that I would never dare to watch again.

Please... someone save me...

Hinigpitan niya pa ang pagkakahawak sa kamay ko at pwersahang ipinasok sa loob ng shorts niya.

I forced myself to move to stop him from doing what he wanted. But he was stronger in all aspects of my vulnerability.

"Hold it, bitch!"

Kinuyom ko ang kamay ko upang pigilan siya sa gusto niyang mangyari. Na siyang dahilan ng galit niya.

Gigil na inangat niya ang ulo ko sa pamamagitan nang marahas na pagsabunot sa buhok ko. "Come on, play with me!" he said through gritted teeth.

"P-Please... s-stop..." I pleaded helplessly.

My voice was now hoarse. It didn't even carry an ounce of conviction. But even that defeated voice didn't make him grace me a bit of his pity.

Pinagsama niya ang kamay ko at hinawakan gamit ang isang kamay niya. With my hair freed from his hand... I felt even locked up and detained with him holding both of my hands behind my back. Habang ang isa naman niyang kamay ay inuumpisahan nang ibaba ang pang-ibaba ko.

Binalot ng matinding takot ang puso ko. At dala nang pagkaalarma ay muli akong naglikot. I kicked the air, tried moving my arms to get off his touch, and tried to move my body to shake off his hand... but not even the hardest effort on my end made a difference.

Lalo na't maliit ako.

Dahil lang sa pagiging ganito ko.

I knew what's about to come. And I refuse to be a victim of another demon who only sees me as a toy they could play around.

Kaya gamit sng natitirang lakas na mayroon ako, muling ako sumubok na isalba ang sarili ko. Because no one can do it for me in this situation.

No one can save me.

Pero sana... magawa kong iligtas ang sarili ko.

"Fuck, Kianna! My cock's throbbing as fuck!" He laughed deliriously and finally took off the shorts I was wearing... together with my undergarment.

Lord, please! Save me!

"Please! Someone help me! Tulong!" I shouted at the top of my lungs hoping that my voice would pass the walls of our room.

Agad na yumakap sa balat ko ang lamig nang tuluyang mawalan ng saplot ang pang-ibaba ko. Kaya nagpatong-patong na ang takot, pagod, at pagsuko sa puso ko.

I badly wanted to stand up for myself.

But how can I save myself when none of what I did reached his heart for mercy?

Not my tears.

Not the voice that I lost already.

Not the physical strength he drained from me.

How can I survive with this nightmare if I am born to be a living toy intended for their own entertainment?

How?

The warmth of my tears comforted me again as I battled against my own losing faith. Unti-unti ko nang nararamdaman ang panghihina ng katawan ko sa kanina pang pagsubok na makatakas. Pero mas maingay ang sigaw ng isip ko na humanap ng paraan para makatakas sa demonyong 'to.

I tried kicking him, but my legs aren't long enough to do some damage. I tried hitting him with my head using all the remaining force in my exhausted body before he could do the demonic plans he intended to fo. And I was lucky enough to hit him in the face.

Thank, God!

"Fuck!" he grunted out of pain.

It caught him off guard. Kinuha ko ang pagkakataon na iyon na gumapang ng mabilis para makalayo sa kaniya. I took a peak at him and saw him holding his eye that I hit. I pushed myself to stand up and to run and save myself from him.

The door was only a few steps away from where we were but it felt like it was a kilometer away as I was feeling anxious for my own safety. Hinawakan ko ang dibdib ko sa pag-aasam na baka makatulong iyon sa pagkalma ko. Pero malalim na ang bawat paghinga ko dahil sa kanina pag pag-iyak at pagod.

"Kianna!" he roared, like a hunter who just lost his prey.

Muli akong naalarma pero pinili kong h'wag mawalan nang pag-asa.

Sa nanginginig na kamay ay nagmamadaling binuksan ko ang pintuan. Hindi ko na ininda ang katotohanang wala na akong saplot na pang-ibaba.

I ran.

I kept on running in the empty hallway of our hotel.

I kept on running despite seeing nothing because of my own tears and the blood drawing a memory of this nightmare.

"Tori!"

I kept on crying... sobbing.

I didn't wipe my tears.

I didn't mind being half-naked for as long as I could save myself.

"Tori! Fuck, Tori!"

Beyond my clouded vision, I saw a faint silhouette of a person running towards me.

Only then did I finally feel relief.

Pero dahil din sa presensya niya ay mas lalo pang nagmalibis ang luha sa mga mata ko. Pero hindi na dahil sa takot.

Dahil nandito na si Señorito.

"Tobias!" I cried desperately.

I extended my arms... reaching for him as if he's the only way I could save myself.

Mas binilisan ko pa ang takbo palapit sa kaniya. I immediately ran into his arms and safeguarded myself with his embrace the moment I reached him.

Agad din naman niyang ibinigay sa akin ang seguridad nang yakapin niya ako pabalik.

"What the fuck happened?!" he asked worriedly.

Naramdaman kong binalot niya ako ng kung ano sa baywang pero maingay na pag-iyak na lang ang naging sagot ko. I hid myself inside of his arms while tightly closing my eyes, afraid that I might be able to see that demon again.

Wala akong ibang naibigay sa kaniya kundi ang luha't hikbi ko. Hindi ko alam kung paano sasabihing gayong mas pinangingibabawan ako ng takot. Gusto kong magsumbong, pero mas gusto kong pahupain ang takot sa puso ko.

Dahil alam ko... na kaunti na lang... bibigay na ako.

"Kianna!"

Hindi ko napigilan ang mapasigaw nang marinig na naman ang boses ni Sir Claude. Maagap na natakpan ko ang mga tainga ko pero hindi na napigilan pa ang muling paglakas nang iyak ko.

I violently shook my head while convincing myself that he won't be able to hurt me anymore. Paulit-ulit ko ring pinukpok ang ulo ko gamit ang dalawang kamay ko para burahin ang imahe niya sa isip ko.

But the image of Sir Claude running after me caused my body to tremble out of extreme fear.

Pabilis nang pabilis ang bawat tahip ng puso ko at palalim na rin nang palalim ang bawat paghinga ko. I was breathing through my mouth already. Para akong may inaabot sa dibdib ko gamit ang paghinga. Na para bang hindi na sapat ang hanging nakukuha ko sa simpleng paghiga.

I tried hitting my ears, even the wound on my forehead, to try stop hearing his voice in my mind. Subalit kasabay nang paglakas ng iyak ko ay siya ring paglakas at paglinaw ng boses niya sa isip ko.

"Oh, God! Tori! Baby, stay with me, okay? Fuck!" His voice was full of fear and tension.

"It's Sir Claude, Sir."

Boses iyon ni Kuya Rhett.

I felt Señorito stiffened for a short moment. "Kill that bastard, Rhett," he mumbled under his breath.

He sounded livid. He sounded so ready to enter a war to avenge what happened to me. The danger in his voice was an assurance to me that I am finally safe.

That his cousin won't be able to hurt me anymore.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Tori," he whispered. Señorito pulled me even closer to his body. He hugged me tightly and covered my ears for me to stop me from hitting myself.

"I'm here. You're safe now. Nandito na ako," paulit-ulit niyang bulong sa tainga ko.

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A/N: Hello! We are now down to the last 10 chapters for this story. Initially, hanggang 35 lang sana ito. But I don't want to leave this story just yet.

Thank you for still supporting this story even if it took me years to finally reach this far. Kaunti na lang, matatapos na.

Marami pong salamat!

with endless love and appreciate,
aerasyne ♡